Wes Schultz is partying on – through the highs and through the lows.

He doesn't want sympathy or charity, but the first few days of May turned out to be a rollercoaster for the UFC middleweight.

On May 2, Schultz (9-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC) picked up his first promotional win at UFC Fight Night 275 when he submitted Ben Johnston (5-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) with a third-round guillotine choke. Schultz took his show, win, and finish purses and flew back across the world from Perth.

Approximately 48 hours later, Schultz was suddenly awoken by his girlfriend. A fire had started in the house as he snoozed on the couch.

"I would've, but my house actually burnt down," Schultz told MMA Junkie, his hands covered in ash from sorting through the remnants. "I'm not in my house. This is what's left of it. ... (The) Monday night when I got back. It f*cking blows. Electrical, something crazy."

Though losing material belongings hurts, everyone made it out safely, which is what matters most.

"It's toast," Schultz said. "But f*cking, what are you going to do? It's fine. Keep on keeping on. ... Everyone got out safe. I'd be f*cking toast if not for her."

Schultz said he lives a simple life, so it won't be too difficult to replace many of the belongings – particularly with the county's "dump day" coming up.

"I need no one's charity," Schultz said when asked if a GoFundMe would be started. "I just made a bunch of money last weekend. I live simply anyway. I need nothing. I got my car. I got my body, my hair. My suitcase survived the fire, not my passport, unfortunately. So, no international fights for a little bit. I got my mouthguard. I got the tools of my trade. I've got all I need."

Even with the recent adversity, Schultz is still basking in the victory in enemy territory against Johnston. He said he thought it was the most mature performance of his career. He felt calm and composed, even going into the final round of a fight he may have been losing at that time.

"A lot of people get to the UFC," Schultz said. "I feel like this is probably a bullsh*t number, but a lot of the Contender Series guys get to the UFC and go 0-2 and they're out. I feel like an actual UFC fighter now that I got in and got a win. Making it to the third round, being composed, coming out of the second, my coaches were telling me, 'We've never seen you so composed as on the stool. Then you came out. We all believed that oh my God, he's going to go out there and whoop this guy's ass.' Then, I go out there and sit down, and I'm ready to throw, and then I just immediately get grappled. ... I think I grew a lot from this experience. I can't wait for the next one."

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC fighter's house burns down two days after Perth win

The New York Giants plan on celebrating and honoring the 1986 team that won Super Bowl XXI sometime this season, as it is the 40th anniversary of the first Super Bowl victory in franchise history.

They won't likely be doing that in Week 1, when they host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football to open the season.

The reason? The game will be played two days after the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. There will be enough time to recognize the 1986 team and have a proper remembrance for 9/11.

The Giants will honor the 1986 Super Bowl XXI team at another game during the season. They don't want to do it at the opener when the pre-game will focus on the 9/11 anniversary. https://t.co/yuzfig20Yp

— Gary Myers (@GaryMyersNY) May 11, 2026

The 1986 team will likely be honored during another home game, perhaps against Washington or San Francisco, the two teams they defeated on their way to Super Bowl XXI, a 38-20 victory over the Denver Broncos at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

The Giants, led by Hall of Fame coach Bill Parcells and Hall of Fame linebackers Harry Carson and Lawrence Taylor, finished with a 14-2 record and then walloped the 49ers, 49-3, in the divisional round before shutting out the Redskins, 17-0, in the NFC Championship Game at a windswept Giants Stadium.

This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Giants not likely to honor 1986 Super Bowl champs during season opener

Both comply with FIFA rules for a binding change of national eligibility because of family ties to Iraq. The national team qualified in March for its first World Cup in 40 years despite travel problems during the Middle East conflict.

It's in a tough World Cup group that includes France, Norway and Senegal, who all feature stellar forwards in Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Sadio Mané.

Iraq coach Graham Arnold previously led his native Australia at the 2022 World Cup and now can pick two more players nurtured in Europe.

The 22-year-old Qasem was born in Sweden and represented that country at youth level through the Under-21s.

He moved to Major League Soccer team Nashville last year from Elfsborg.

The 20-year-old Naamo was born in Finland and was still playing for its Under-21 team in March.

___

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Make some noise for Marlborough softball player Erin Seder, who received 21,600 votes (52.4%) out of a total 41,210 to win last week’s award. Hopkinton softball player Avery Quebec placed second with 16,401 votes. 

We compiled another solid list of candidates for Daily News Girls Athlete of the Week. Vote below. The poll will stay open until Sunday, May 17 at 6 p.m. 

Maddie Benoit, Tri-County softball 

The junior totaled three hits against Southeastern and drove in three and scored four times against Diman. Benoit also had two hits against Bristol-Plymouth. 

Marisol Burgos, Marlborough softball 

The senior hurled a five-hit shutout, with seven strikeouts, and had a double and two RBIs in a win over Groton-Dunstable.  

Phoebe Cuneo, Franklin track & field 

The 10^th-grader won the 400-meter hurdles, triple jump and long jump against Taunton last Tuesday. She also anchored the winning 4x1 relay. Three days later at the Lou Tozzi Twilight Invitational, Cuneo placed second in the 400 hurdles in a personal-best time of 1:05.59. 

Ashley Forrester, Tri-County track & field

The senior won the 400 hurdles and 800 meters as the Cougars won the Mayflower Large) title. She also placed second in the long jump. 

Gloria Ge, Hudson tennis 

During a 3-0 week, she dropped just eight games. Ge has won eight consecutive matches. 

Ava Gill, Tri-County girls lacrosse 

The senior set the school record with her 128th career goal, tallying four times against South Shore.

Layla Huntley, Hopedale softball 

The junior had two hits vs. Nipmuc and went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs against Northbridge. 

Ava Lombardo, Framingham track & field 

The senior won the 400 at the Weston Twilight Invitational in a personal best 58.08 seconds. Also ran the second leg on the winning Swedish Relay (100, 200, 300, 400 meters) with Catelyn Last, Daria Lamakina and Sasha Lamakina. 

Sierra Lopes, Nipmuc softball 

The senior doubled against Uxbridge and had three singles and an RBI against Hopedale. 

Maggie Magennis, Ashland lacrosse 

The junior dished out three assists against West Springfield and scored four goals to go with an assist against Medway. 

Lily Mahan, Medway lacrosse 

The sophomore notched her 200th career save against Dedham on Friday. 

Callie Owens, Hopkinton track & field

The junior won both the 100 and 200 meters against Westwood. 

Mariah Sousa, Assabet softball 

During a stretch of three games in four days, the junior went 3-for-4 with an RBI and four runs against Blackstone-Millville. She went 2-for-4 vs. Burncoat and had three RBIs against Keefe Tech as the Aztecs went 3-1 for the week. 

Ava Vendetti, Ashland softball 

She had a double and an RBI against Millis; Vendetti also went 2-for-3 with three RBIs against Medway. 

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Vote for the Daily News Girls Athlete of the Week for May 4-10

We know that your life is busy, but that doesn’t mean you want to miss any news about your favorite team. So, we are rounding up all of the most important news, analysis, and commentary from LGHL and the rest of the Buckeye beat.

Buckeye Heroes Week

From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about Ohio State heroes, from the biggest names in Buckeye athletic history to underappreciated icons to the athletes who will eventually become all-time Buckeye greats. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Buckeye Heroes” articles here.

Malcolm Jenkins is the epitome of what it means to be a Buckeye Hero
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land

Buckeye Heroes: John Frank excelled in college, the NFL, and after football
Michael Citro, Land-Grant Holy Land

On the gridiron

Tunnel Vision Buckeyes Return; Iconic Buckeye Stripe Shines in Silver
Ohio State Athletics

Back in black: Ohio State unveils all-black uniforms for 2026 season
Dan Aulbach, The Columbus Dispatch

‘The Game’ Set to Air on FOX at Noon
Ohio State Athletics

Ohio State’s Julian Sayin more interested in what comes next than what might have been
Chris Low, On3

Ranking the Ohio State players from Texas who will matter most when the Buckeyes play the Longhorns
Bill Landis, The Bill and Doug Show: Premium Ohio State Writing & Talk

Ranking Ohio State’s position groups after 2026 spring practice
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts

Devin Sanchez on path to stardom in Year Two at Ohio State
Austin Ward, Lettermen Row

Ohio State’s Matt Patricia has ‘offseason repair,’ posts in neck brace
Dan Aulbach, The Columbus Dispatch

On the hardcourt

Roster Reset: Buckeyes have serious star potential at forward spots
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row

Outside The Shoe and The Schott

Ohio State APR Rates Continue to Shine
Ohio State Athletics

Ohio State athletics, football program receive high marks from NCAA for APR
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts

Women’s Golf: Buckeyes in the Lead After First Round of NCAA Ann Arbor Regional
Ohio State Athletics

Ohio State’s Eiland, Brown join ranks of lacrosse Buckeyes in the pros
Dna Aulbach, The Columbus Dispatch

Men’s Gymnastics: Buckeye Signees Compete at 2026 Men’s Development Program National Championships
Ohio State Athletics

And now for something completely different

Joel Embiid has included his son, Arthur, in many of the biggest moments of his NBA career, including the postgame press conference after Sunday’s Game 4 home loss to the New York Knicks.

The Philadelphia 76ers’ star took the podium after the sweep and fielded questions about another difficult, injury-riddled season and disappointing playoff loss, all while the boy sat with him. Given Philly’s uninspired performance and the rumors of discontentment flooding out of the organization after the loss, some in the media argued Embiid intentionally brought his son with him to avoid run-ins with reporters.

Later Monday on FS1’s First Things First, host Nick Wright went a step further, making the case that athletes should be restricted from bringing their children to these press conferences after losses.

“Bringing children to press conferences after losses should not be allowed,” he said.

“And I think Joel Embiid is obviously a great family man and an awesome dad … it is, whether intentional or not, the ultimate effect is your kid is shielding you from what could tough or uncomfortable questions. That is the point of those press conferences.”

Nick Wright: “Bringing children to press conferences after losses should not be allowed” pic.twitter.com/jXzb0RzY07

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 11, 2026

Wright noted that he supports the NBA’s tilt toward positivity around fatherhood and family compared with the regressive ideas of masculinity that athletes or media sometimes peddle. However, he said that other recent examples of stars like Steph Curry or Jayson Tatum’s children appearing with them often came in victory.

“I’m not picking on Embiid because he’s not the only guy to do it, and I do like NBA guys after in the ’90s it was the opposite … I really like how the modern NBA star has really embraced [being a family man],” he said.

“But I don’t think, after season-ending losses, when you’re talking about your future with a team, that you should have your kid on your lap. Just, I know I’ll get ripped for it, but I know I’m right.”

By placing a child between themselves and the media, star athletes bring a different energy to what are often tense interactions. There’s nothing wrong with that inherently, but it can get in the way of a player devoting the proper clarity to addressing the fanbase at the end of a season. Many times, this is the only opportunity that teams provide for reporters to talk with players.

These news conferences typically last a maximum of 15 minutes, which feels like a reasonable amount of time for a star to press pause on family time and seriously consider the questions they are asked before relaxing into the long offseason.

The post Nick Wright calls for end to superstars bringing children to press conference after playoff losses appeared first on Awful Announcing.

The New York Mets enjoyed an off day on Monday to reset after two straight losses courtesy of the Arizona Diamondbacks. But as the team heads into its series with the Detroit Tigers, some Mets players could soon see the end of their time with the team.

Though the season is just one-quarter complete, the Mets have been so disappointing thus far that speculation about a likely fire sale before the trade deadline is already taking off.

New York Mets Hurdling Toward Trade Deadline Fire Sale

“The Mets absolutely stink, and rival executives believe they have virtually no chance to turn it around,” Bob Nightengale wrote for USA Today. “This is why the Mets soon may be the center of attention once they realize that this season is a lost cause, letting their rivals know they are open for business. They have three of the top trade chips in the game in starters Freddy Peralta and Clay Holmes and infielder Bo Bichette.”

The Mets missed the playoffs last year and attempted to rebuild their roster by replacing departing stars like Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz with new ones.

But now, if the Mets are unable to turn their season around soon, they may have little choice but to acquire what they can at the trade deadline for the players who might be looking for new contracts over the winter.

New York Mets’ Freddy Peralta Responds To Trade Speculation

And that could include Peralta, who was acquired for the final year of his contract in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The 29-year-old has a 3.12 ERA with 43 strikeouts across his first eight starts with the Mets, following an All-Star campaign last year, and he could command a nine-figure, long-term deal moving forward. Even if the Mets would like to serve as his home following this season, they might explore a trade that gets them something in return for the second half of this lost campaign.

But, for his part, Peralta tried to deflect a recent question about potentially becoming the center of a fire sale in Queens.

“Really, I haven’t thought about that, because I have hope and faith that we can achieve a lot with the team we have,” Peralta told MLB.com’s David Venn. “I have confidence in the guys, and I have confidence in myself as well. I think we can turn it all around.”

For the time being, at least, Peralta summarized his outlook on a potential fire sale amid the team's struggles with a simple four words:

“I love being here,” he added, per Venn.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

After his inside the park homer and a blistering offensive week overall, Bobby Witt Jr was named the AL Player of the Week.

Witt collected 11 hits during the week, which included a four-hit performance against the Guardians on Thursday. It was one of three multi-hit games last week for Witt, who raised his batting average more than 20 points last week to .302, and raised his OPS by 82 points to .847. Witt is now at 2.8 bWAR for the season, tied for the MLB lead among position players.

Tod Palmer writes about Bridget Howard’s journey as the first female full-time broadcaster for Royals TV.

She remembers watching as female broadcasters broke into the sports world and made a mark — Erin Andrews, Jenny Dell, Taylor McGregor, et al. — and that fueled her desire to do the same.

“Those were women that I looked up to, and I saw them in roles like this and was like, ‘Hey, I can do this, too,’” Bridget said.

Now, she’s one of those inspirational women whom little girls with big dreams watch during Royals games.

Baseball America has mock draft 3.0.

LHP Gio Rojas A high school player feels most likely for the Royals. They have been all over Rojas this spring, and he’s pitched excellently. He has terrific arm speed, a big fastball and a chance for a wipeout breaking ball. If Lombard isn’t taken by now, he probably doesn’t last much longer than this, and it’s also hard to rule out Booth and his top-of-the-scale speed.

Eno Sarris wonders why left-handers aren’t throwing splitters as much despite the pitch being more popular than ever.

One of the first things that always comes up with splitters is the impact the pitch has on a pitcher’s health. Does the split-finger grip lead to injury?

“The reason that I don’t throw the splitter anymore is I did blow out my elbow when I was throwing it,” said San Francisco Giants left-handed starter Robbie Ray. “I don’t think there’s any correlation between the two, but it just happened. I was throwing it a lot in spring training, I was working on it, and never had any issue. I think my elbow was just ready to go.”

Jay Jaffe at FanGraphs covers the Giants trade of Patrick Bailey to the Guardians.

Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was scratched from his start last night due to left side tightness.

Blue Jays outfielder Addison Barger goes right back to the IL after just returning.

Mookie Betts makes his return from the IL.

Kevin Gausman reached 2000 career strikeouts last night.

The Mets are calling up one of their top prospects, A.J. Ewing.

Batters tapping their helmets as part of their in-between pitch routine can cause accidental challenges.

A deep-dive film review of Chiefs fifth-round draft pick, RB Emmett Johnson from Nebraska.

The Milwaukee Bucks are seeking offers for star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The Buffalo Bills will have the first Prime Video Thursday Night Football to open their new stadium.

The full NFL schedule release is coming later this week.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are being sued by police officers in Florida because of their movie The Rip.

J. Craig Venter, who helped decode the human genome, died at 79 years old.

Your song of the day is Typhoons by Royal Blood.

According to NFL insider Aaron Wilson, the Detroit Lions have signed all of their 2026 NFL Draft picks except for first-round selection Blake Miller. Wilson has the details of every pick in his Twitter feed, but here are the basic outlines of each signed contract:

• Second-round pick EDGE Derrick Moore: four-year, $11.426 million
• Fourth-round pick LB Jimmy Rolder: four-year, $5.532 million
• Fifth-round pick CB Keith Abney: four -year, $4.878 million
• Fifth-round pick WR Kendrick Law: four-year, $4.83 million
• Sixth-round pick DT Skyler Gill-Howard: four year, $4.643 million
• Seventh-round pick DL Tyre West: four year, $4.547 million

While it’s not surprising at all that the Lions have gotten most of these deals done ahead of Organized Team Activities and minicamp, there is one development that is certainly noteworthy. Derrick Moore’s contract is fully guaranteed, according to Wilson.

This is a continuation of a league-wide trend that started last year at the top of the second round. While it has been customary for years for first-round picks to get their contract fully guaranteed, that has not been the case for any second-round picks until 2025. However the Texans broke the seal last year by giving receiver Jayden Higgins (Pick 34) a fully guaranteed deal. The Browns followed suit shortly thereafter, giving Carson Schwesinger (Pick 33) 100% guarantees.

Second-round picks then suddenly stopped signing rookie deals, hoping to capitalize on the new trend. When the dust finally settled into training camp, seven of the top eight picks in the second round landed fully guaranteed deals. Saints quarterback Tyler Shough, taken 40th overall last year, was the deepest pick to earn those honors.

Because Moore was taken 44th overall by the Lions this year, it appears the trend of the fully guaranteed second-round pick contracts is digging deeper and deeper into Day 2 of the NFL Draft. And that’s a pretty big deal considering third-round picks generally have no guarantees beyond their signing bonus.

So with most of the draft class under contract, there should be little drama this offseason with the Lions’ draft picks—as has been the case for several years now. There’s no reason for concern that Miller hasn’t signed yet, as his contract likely won’t have a lot of wiggle room to it, and it, too, will be fully guaranteed. For reference, the Lions’ 2025 first-round pick—Tyleik Williams—signed his contract on May 21.

The North Face has signed an eight-year agreement to become the official performance apparel partner of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, a deal that will see the outdoor brand outfit American athletes through the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

Announced Tuesday, the partnership covers all 11 disciplines governed by U.S. Ski & Snowboard: alpine, cross country, freeski, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, nordic combined, Para alpine, Para nordic, Para snowboard, ski jumping and snowboard. Athletes, coaches and staff will wear The North Face outerwear and training gear at World Cup events, world championships, training camps and the Winter Games through April 2034.

Historically, U.S. Ski & Snowboard team athletes who have personal outerwear sponsors are permitted to wear their sponsor’s gear in competition for non-Olympic events, and the same will be true in the partnership with The North Face.

The agreement positions The North Face at the center of U.S. winter sports during a pivotal period leading into the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, which will mark the return of the Winter Games to the United States for the first time since 2002. Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, The North Face will supply competition outerwear as well as base layers, mid-layers, accessories, luggage and off-season training apparel.-Tex components. The collection will feature proprietary technologies such as The North Face lab-developed Futurelight, Cloud Down insulation, Futurefleece, DotKnit and DryVent technologies along with Gore-Tex.

Dennis Seydel, chief marketing officer at The North Face, described the partnership as bringing together “the best of” both organizations. “We are proud to provide current and future generations of ski and snowboard legends with The North Face as they train and compete on the world stage,” Seydel said.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard President and CEO Sophie Goldschmidt said the agreement would help provide athletes with “world-class gear that supports them from training to competition” leading into the next two Winter Games.

The North Face also plans to launch a consumer apparel collection inspired by U.S. Ski & Snowboard beginning in fall 2026, extending Olympic- and Paralympic-themed products to retail customers. The collection will be available online at thenorthface.com and at select retail locations.

The agreement comes as outdoor brands increasingly look to major international sporting events to strengthen consumer engagement amid heightened competition in the apparel market. Olympic partnerships can offer companies years of global exposure while helping national governing bodies secure funding and technical resources for athletes.

Kappa outfitted the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team athletes at the Milan Cortina 2026 Games, while Spyder and Volcom produced uniforms for the U.S. skiers and snowboarders, respectively, competing at Beijing 2022.

For U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the timing of The North Face partnership is significant. The organization is preparing for a decade that includes both the 2030 Games in Europe and a home Olympics in Salt Lake City in 2034, an event expected to draw major corporate investment and heightened public attention to winter sports in the United States.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

UFC BJJ 8 will have a new title bout set, after former ADCC champ Bianca Basilio had to undergo surgery and pull out of the co-main event slot.

The two-time IBJJF world champion in Basilio was originally supposed to get a title shot on May 21, but the reigning UFC BJJ bantamweight queen Cassia Moura now has a new opponent set. Stepping up on short notice with just a little over a week before UFC BJJ 8 event is Sabrina Gondim.

Gondim, 27, recently took bronze at the 2026 IBJJF Pans, dropping a match to the top pound-for-pound champion in Sarah Galvao. She will have an uphill battle on this short notice bout, facing a champion like Moura, who has been on a tear as of late.

Moura beat ADCC champ Ffion Davies at UFC BJJ 6 to win the bantamweight title, and before that, she won her second IBJJF No Gi World title a whopping four divisions higher at heavyweight.

UFC BJJ 8 will be headlined by the promotion’s biggest star in Mikey Musumeci, although he will be in a bit of an underwhelming match up on this event. BJJ personalities previously criticized UFC BJJ’s matchmaking, and while Musumeci did beat an IBJJF world champion on his last title defense, he now faces another unheralded opponent.

Musumeci faces Kevin Dantzler, who is a fairly talented pro grappler, but has yet to win a major title in his career and mostly competes in smaller organizations.

The rest of the UFC BJJ 8 line up will feature promotion staples like William Tackett and Andy Varela in separate bouts, along with a promising clash between entertaining grapplers in Landon Elmore vs. Keith Krikorian. The full card is as follows:

UFC BJJ 8 fight card

Mikey Musumeci vs. Kevin Dantzler [BW title]

Cassia Moura vs. Sabrina Gondim [BW title]

William Tackett vs. Enrico Said

Danilo Moreira vs. Ethan Crelinsten

Andy Varela vs. Jett Thompson

Landon Elmore vs. Keith Krikorian

Liam Crelinsten vs. Max Livingston

Azamat Bakytov vs. Thomas David

FOR THE LATEST BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU (BJJ) AND GRAPPLING-RELATED NEWS CLICK HERE. FOR ADDITIONAL GRAPPLING CONTENT, FOLLOW @BJJBEAT ON INSTAGRAM.

In the 2022 World Cup, the quarterfinal between Argentina and the Netherlands was one for the books — the referee’s book, that is. During a tense, chippy matchup in Lusail, Qatar, referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz issued a record-setting 18 yellow cards before Argentina eventually won in a penalty shootout.

It didn’t take long for the first yellow card to be handed out, with assistant Argentina manager Walter Samuel getting cautioned a few minutes before Argentina’s Nahuel Molina scored the team’s first goal.

Shortly afterward, in the 43rd minute, Mateu Lahoz gave yellows to the Netherlands’ Jurrien Timber and Argentina’s Marcos Acuña. Two more cards were issued before the end of the second half, including one to Dutch striker Wout Weghorst, who was on the bench at the time.

Six more yellows would be handed out before the end of regulation, including two given in the more than 10 minutes of stoppage time tacked on at the end. In the 73rd minute, Lionel Messi scored a penalty kick — awarded after a light foul on Acuña just inside the box — that grew Argentina’s lead to 2-0 and may have exacerbated tensions even more.

Weghorst, subbing into the game while on a yellow, scored in the 83rd minute to pull the Oranje back into it. Then, in the 88th minute, Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes followed up a bad tackle by kicking the ball right into the Netherlands’ bench, sparking a scrum that included many of the Dutch subs.

That fight led to a yellow for Paredes, as well as one for Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni.

Deep in stoppage time, Weghorst scored again to send the game to extra time, where three more players were penalized, including another off-field Dutch player — Steven Bergwjin — getting a yellow.

After the two teams stayed locked at 2-2, the match advanced to a penalty shootout — but the yellows didn’t stop. In the middle of the PKs, the Netherlands’ Denzel Dumfries and Noa Lang were both given more yellows after an altercation between kicks. Argentina ended up winning the shootout 4-3, but Dumfries was given a second yellow and subsequent red card for one more fight after the game was over.

The ending tally was eight yellow cards apiece for Argentina and the Netherlands’ players, plus a red for Dumfries and two more yellows for Argentina’s coaching staff. 18 yellow cards in all — a World Cup record.

Afterward, Lahoz faced significant criticism for losing control of the dramatic match, and for some of the controversial calls that colored the match. Still, we all know the rest of the story, as Argentina went on to win it all, after another penalty shootout against France.

Three days.

Three days was all that stood between Michigan Basketball landing its first commitment through the transfer portal this offseason after beating UConn in the National Championship. The Wolverines won it all on April 6, and then acquired the commitment of Tennessee power forward JP Estrella on April 9.

A versatile power forward at 6-foot-11 and 240 pounds, Estrella is projected to play the 4 for the Wolverines next year, right next to fellow transfer portal addition and former Cincinnati big man Moustapha Thiam, who announced his commitment to Michigan in late April.

Estrella was a major contributor for Tennessee last season. After missing the majority of his sophomore year due to a left foot injury that required surgery, he came back and made a huge impact. Across 33 games with 13 starts, he averaged 10.0 points and 5.4 rebounds (92 total offensive, 86 total defensive) per game while shooting 59.6 percent from the field and 40 percent (4-for-10) from three.

The numbers aren’t blowing anybody away, but neither did the numbers from Morez Johnson Jr. or Aday Mara before they transferred in last year. Dusty May and company have been a premier destination for big men in the portal, turning Danny Wolf into a first-round draft pick and setting up Johnson and Mara to be first-round picks this summer as well.

If history is any indicator, Estrella will have his best year — or years, as he has two seasons of eligibility left — in Ann Arbor. And a member of the national media believes that to be the case as well. CJ Moore from The Athletic recently put together an article highlighting five of the best fits through the transfer portal this offseason, and he included Michigan and Estrella.

Here’s what Moore had to say:

Estrella is a big who can pass and probably wasn’t utilized as much as he should have been at Tennessee based on his skill level. What could that look like when moving to Michigan?

Estrella, at 6-11, is not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison to Aday Mara, but he could be a blend between Mara and Danny Wolf, who also saw his assist rate increase in the Michigan offense after transferring from Yale in 2024-25. Estrella’s assist rate was not as high as either Mara or Wolf before their moves to Michigan, but the passes he’s able to make suggest he’s capable of being the type of hub Mara and Wolf were for the Wolverines.

And in the two-big lineups that Dusty May loves to play — Estrella figures to start next to 7-foot-2 Moustapha Thiam — and Estrella is great delivering high-low entries.

Then, similar to Mara, he’s more deserving of low-post touches because of his efficiency. Estrella has one of the best jump hooks in college basketball. Among players who shot at least 50 hooks last year, he ranked second in percentage of makes (58.6 percent), per Synergy. Estrella also had the eighth-best offensive rebounding rate in college hoops and is a capable three-point shooter who will probably get the green light to shoot more at Michigan — he made 4 of 10 3s last season.

The Vols were better on both ends when Estrella was on the floor. Tennessee had a lot of depth up front, but his production and efficiency suggest he should have been playing more than 18.3 minutes per game. The same was true for Mara at UCLA. I’m not predicting Estrella’s impact will be as great as Mara’s, but he’s another big man who could make May look smart.

What do you think? Will Estrella’s game be taken to the next level under May and company during the 2026-27 season? Let me know what you think down in the comments section below.

Khamzat Chimaev lost more than his middleweight title this past weekend, he lost his aura. At least, so says Dustin Poirier and Jorge Masvidal.

On Saturday, Chimaev suffered the first defeat of his MMA career, dropping a split decision to Sean Strickland in the main event of UFC 328. While Chimaev had tough fights before, this was the first time he ever actually lost, and Poirier believes that’s going to make his return fight all the more difficult because people won’t have the same fear when facing him as before.

“The next fight, whoever he gets matched up with, it’s going to be tough for him to intimidate because his aura took a hit this week,” Poirier said on UFC on Paramount+ Recap show. “With the back and forth, I thought it was real. His whole aura took a hit this week.

“Putting the belt on Sean, come on, man.”

Masvidal took things one step further. While Poirier thinks Chimaev lost his air of invincibility, Masvidal believes Chimaev’s poor performance on Saturday revealed a deeper truth: that Chimaev was never that good to begin with.

“He wasn’t the same guy, either, when he fought [Kamaru] Usman,” Masvidal said. “You could see he had signs of breaking. Same thing with Gilbert [Burns]. It didn’t go his way, he had to stand up with him.

“Like a frontrunner? You think he’s a frontrunner?” Poirier asked.

“I’ve always thought he’s a front-runner,” Masivdal said. “And the Usman fight more than anything. I literally saw Usman like a day or two before he accepted the fight. The man was not training; he was not in tip-top shape. 11 days later, he gets this fight against a guy who has been training, getting ready for somebody else. Me, in my mind, that’s always a big, ‘Damn, I have to cut X, Y, Z pounds, I haven’t been training.’ The pressure’s on me, and it’s not at the same time. The way that he fought Usman, just because Usman could wrestle back, I knew this guy’s a frontrunner.”

And according to Masvidal, that’s not something that’s going to get better. Because for all the success Chimaev has had in his career, “Gamebred” doesn’t believe Chimaev can compete with fighters who he can’t simply overpower.

“I think whether this guy is at the garage, or LA Fitness, or the greatest trainer, Mike Brown, is training him, that guy is always going to have those problems because he’s not comfortable in the fight,” Masvidal said. “I don’t give a f*ck what he does, I don’t care how many hyperbaric chambers he owns, if he can’t take a guy down and immediately decimate him, he has to stand back up with a guy, or actually guy that can always wrestle back into him, it’s always going to be a nightmare. You get him back in there with Usman again, I think Usman finishes him.”

TOP STORIES

209. Nate Diaz still planning Conor McGregor trilogy but not as part of his comeback plans, rips Dustin Poirier.

Smart. Dana White: ‘I highly doubt we have a new and improved Sean Strickland’ after UFC 328.

Emotions. Justin Gaethje reacts to Ilia Topuria ‘emotional’ beef with Josh Hokit: ‘You can’t let another man control you like that.’

Jaw. Jake Paul not sure when or if he’ll be able to fight again, doctor advised him against it after suffering broken jaw.

Injury. Yaroslav Amosov reveals injury suffered two weeks before UFC 328 win over Joel Alvarez.

Do it. Jim Miller pitches Conor McGregor as a future opponent: ‘I hear there’s an Irishman looking for a fight.’

And New. UFC 328 Report: What exactly happened between Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev?

VIDEO STEW

Arnold Allen fight week.

Volkanovski and Korean Zombie chopping it up.

Cooking with Volk.

Ilia Topuria as a rookie.

FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR

Fighter vs. Writer.

SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Genuinely good advice.

Fight to make.

These two are going to fight eventually.

What a legend.

Respect.

New fight kits.

Oof.

What is Merab doing?

OK then.

FEED ME MORE

Way Too Soon

FINAL THOUGHTS

I think the truth probably lies somewhere in between Poirier and Masvidal. Chimaev’s aura definitely took a hit, but if he goes and runs over his next opponent, it’s right back. And Masvidal isn’t giving Chimaev enough credit for competing when his Plan A doesn’t work, but he’s also right that the gulf between Chimaev’s Plan A and Plan B is vast, making him much better as a hammer than a nail.

If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKLee of @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and like us on Facebook.

Triple-A Nashville Sounds (20-19)

Opponent: Louisville Bats (Cincinnati Reds)

Record this week: 3-3

Standout performances:

Jeferson Quero (No. 8): 7-for-19, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K

Eddys Leonard: 6-for-17, 4 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K

Jett Williams (No. 3): 6-for-21, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K

Luis Lara (No. 11): 6-for-21, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K

Garrett Stallings: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Coleman Crow: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Carlos Rodriguez: 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 6 BB, 5 K

Robert Gasser: 4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Now that we’re more than a month into the minor league season, stats are starting to stabilize a bit. Nashville’s offenses has been led by Eddys Leonard, who leads the Sounds with a 1.028 OPS and .345 batting average over 116 at-bats. Luis Lara isn’t far behind him, with a .317/.417/.511 line in 139 at-bats. Other important contributors for the Sounds have included catchers Ramon Rodriguez (.319 batting average, .806 OPS) and Jeferson Quero (.257/.344/.425).

A few of Milwaukee’s top prospects have struggled to start the season. Cooper Pratt is barely hitting over .200 (.205). He’s hitting .207 over the last month and .205 over the last two weeks, although his numbers are weighed down by a 3-for-24 performance last week. Jett Williams (.243/.360/.354) also had a rough start, although he’s started to turn things around over the last month (.812 OPS).

Brock Wilken has also bounced back recently, but his season long slash line (.179/.316/.317 with just two home runs) is still far from encouraging. He’s struck out 43 times in 123 at-bats, which means he’s striking out in over a third of his at-bats. Luke Adams has been out with a shoulder contusion for almost a month, but he had a .732 OPS in 39 at-bats before going on the IL. Tyler Black, who’s up in Milwaukee right now, has gone 11-for-39 with the Sounds this season.

The Sounds have a lot of pitching depth, but a couple of their starters haven’t had great starts. Tate Kuehner (5.50 ERA) and Coleman Crow (4.70) have had a few rough outings that have ballooned their season-long stats, although both pitchers are still striking out one batter per inning. Carlos Rodriguez (7.91) has been hit even harder over 19.1 innings. Logan Henderson (1.02) has been by far the Sounds’ best starting pitcher, but he’s now in the major league rotation.

With Henderson in Milwaukee, Robert Gasser (4.08) would probably be the next pitcher to get the call to the majors should the Brewers need reinforcements. Gasser’s only allowed one home run all year and has 25 strikeouts to seven walks in 17.2 innings pitched.

Jacob Waguespack (11 appearances, 2.25 ERA, 12.94 K/9) has pitched extremely well out of the bullpen, as has Will Childers, who hasn’t allowed an earned run in nine relief appearances. Neither has Brian Fitzpatrick, who’s now pitching out of the bullpen in Milwaukee.

Next week’s opponent: vs. Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs)

Double-A Biloxi Shuckers (14-18)

Opponent: Columbus Clingstones (Atlanta Braves)

Record this week: 2-3

Standout performances:

Blake Burke: 6-for-21, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K

Darrien Miller: 4-for-11, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K

Mike Boeve: 4-for-14, 1 2B, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 0 K

Manuel Rodriguez: 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K

Dylan O’Rae: 6-for-18, 0 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K

1B/DH Blake Burke, who was just named the Brewers Minor League Player of the Month, has turned into a formidable power hitter with the Shuckers. He’s hit 22 homers for the Shuckers since his promotion from High-A in August 2025. Eight of those home runs came in the month of April, along with 8 doubles, a triple, 20 RBI, 17 runs scored, and — perhaps most impressively — 9 stolen bases.

The Brewers don’t usually rush their prospects, so don’t expect to see Burke in the major leagues this year — especially given the wealth of 1B/DH options currently on the 26-man roster. Still, he should be in Triple-A pretty soon if he keeps hitting like this. He’s looking like a legitimate power hitter, a trait that should translate to the majors someday.

Jesus Made’s season-long stats still look solid (.275.360/.427), but his numbers have taken a nosedive over the last month. He’s now hitting .242 with a .698 OPS over the last month. Over the last two weeks, his numbers are down even further (.233 batting average, .578 OPS).

I’ve consistently said not to worry about Made, but at this point he’s been performing below his (admittedly sky-high) expectations for about a month. I still wouldn’t worry too much, for a couple reasons.

One, Made is still a good two years younger than the average Double-A player. Going from High-A to Double-A is often considered the hardest jump in the minor leagues, and pitchers have adjusted to how they pitch him. He was so absurdly good to start the season (and last year) that anything short of eye-popping stats start to feel like a let-down, but he’s also not striking out that often (16 Ks in his last 95 at-bats) and has still looked like himself at the plate. Development isn’t linear. If Made keeps hitting like this for another month, then it’s worth a deeper dive into his mechanics and approach.

I generally try to avoid speculation, but it’s at least worth noting that Made’s recent downturn has overlapped with the hospitalization of Luis Peña, who collapsed in the dugout during a High-A game. I’ll get into Peña’s situation more in the High-A section below, but the short version is this: Brewers GM Matt Arnold said Peña was okay following the incident, yet he hasn’t appeared in a game in nearly three weeks. The organization announced more than a week ago that Peña was scheduled to see a neurologist, but there hasn’t been any public update from either the Brewers or Peña’s camp since then.

Hitting is as much mental as it is physical, and the Peña situation was undeniably scary. Made and Peña have known each other since they were twelve years old and are reportedly very close. If Peña is still dealing with something serious, it wouldn’t be surprising if that’s affecting Made as well.

Less-heralded prospects Dylan O’Rae, Mike Boeve, and Damon Keith have all continued to play well with the Shuckers. O’Rae is hitting .299 with an .809 OPS, while Keith is hitting .338 with a 1.093 OPS in eighty at-bats. Boeve’s season-long numbers are less impressive, but over the last two weeks he has an OPS of .762.

Tyson Hardin and Brett Wichrowski, both top-30 Brewers prospects, haven’t been effective this season. Hardin had a breakout season in 2025, but he’s already allowed almost as many earned runs (25) as he did all of last season (28) and has an ERA approaching eight. At least he’s still striking guys out, with 43 Ks in less than 30 innings. Wichrowski has nearly identical stats, except that he’s striking out less batters and has allowed twice as many home runs as Hardin.

Manuel Rodriguez (5.40 ERA), Bishop Letson (6.75), and Jaron DeBerry (7.25) have also been struggling. Letson’s at least had a couple solid outings lately, giving up three hits and two runs in four innings in his last appearance. Ryan Birchard has been limiting opponents’ production, but he’s also walked 26 batters in 20 innings.

Next week’s opponent: @ Montgomery Biscuits (Tampa Bay Rays)

High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (19-12)

Opponent: Peoria Chiefs (St. Louis Cardinals)

Record this week: 4-2

Standout performances:

Luiyin Alastre: 7-for-15, 2 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K

Andrew Fischer: 9-for-23, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 7 K

Josiah Ragsdale: 6-for-21, 3 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K

Eric Bitonti (No. 25): 8-for-23, 3 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 10 K

Travis Smith: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 K

Braylon Owens: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

Bryan Rivera: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Andrew Fischer turned in another impressive week, recording three home runs and six total extra-base hits in just 23 at-bats. Josh Adamczewski and Marco Dinges also both bounced back this week with six hits each. Adamczewski hit two home runs, while Dinges hit one. Adamczewski’s OPS is still over 1.000 on the season, while Dinges’ is “only” .908.

Josiah Ragsdale has also kept hitting. Over the last month, he owns an .883 OPS across 78 at-bats, trailing only Andrew Fischer among Timber Rattlers hitters.

Eric Bitonti has quietly been great over the last month, with a .257/.382/.473 line over 74 at-bats. Bitonti still strikes out way too much (30 Ks in those 74 at-bats), but this stretch has still brought his strikeout rate down. He won’t be promoted until he refines his approach, but he’s been showing that the hit tool is still very much there.

Luis Peña, the Brewers’ No. 2 prospect, is the best prospect on the Timber Rattlers. As I mentioned above, Peña still hasn’t played since the medical emergency on April 22nd, and the organization hasn’t given any updates on him since they announced he was scheduled to see a neurologist last Monday. Simply put, that’s not great.

Like I also said above, I hate to speculate, but it seems logical to conclude that there may be more going on here than initially meets the eye. Peña was diagnosed with heatstroke, but has now missed almost three weeks. Furthermore, the Brewers haven’t placed him on the injured list. If he had been cleared to play, the Brewers would have obviously announced that, even if they were giving him some time to recover before throwing him back in the lineup. I’m not going to guess what’s going on, but it’s clearly something. Hopefully he’s alright and will be back in the lineup soon.

Wisconsin has four pitchers who threw more than 20 innings this month — Travis Smith, Ethan Dorchies, Braylon Owens, and Wande Torres. Other than Smith (3.42), the others had ERAs between 4.50 and 6.95.

Next week’s opponent: vs. South Bend Cubs (Chicago Cubs)

Single-A Wilson Warbirds (15-17)

Opponent: Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Houston Astros)

Record this week: 3-2

Standout performances:

Luis Lameda: 5-for-13, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 3 K

Frederi Montero: 5-for-14, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 5 BB, 2 K

Handelfry Encarnacion: 6-for-25, 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 6 K

Juan Ortuno: 5-for-14, 2 2B, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K

Jacob Morrison: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Jarrette Bonet: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Tanner Perry: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K

Tyler Renz: 4 1/3 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K

Player of the Month: Jarrette Bonet (this week: 7.2 IP, 10 H, 9 ER, 6 BB, 7 K)

Jarrett Bonet, named the Brewers’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April, went 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA over 23.1 innings pitched. He racked up 26 strikeouts while posting an opponent batting average of just .222 (18-for-81). Bonet was signed as a free agent after last year’s draft and is quickly surpassing expectations with the Warbirds.

Although the season-long hitting stats look pretty bad so far, the bats have continued to heat up as Wilson inches closer to .500. Infielder Luis Lameda is slashing .318/,439/.379 this season. Handelfry Encarnacion, who won Carolina League Player of the Week last week, has shown some serious power over the last month with five homers and ten extra-base hits. Over that same stretch, Pedro Ibarguen is hitting .327 with a .929 OPS and Brady Ebel has a .388 OBP. Ebel is still hitting south of .200 on the season, but he’s clearly improving at the plate.

Wilson doesn’t really have a workhorse starter outside of Bonet (31 IP). After Bonet, Enderson Mercado ranks second on the staff in innings pitched, though he’s struggled to a 6.58 ERA. Tyler Renz (3.38 ERA in 26 2/3 innings), Miqueas Mercedes (3.04 ERA in 23 2/3 innings), and Garrett Hodges (2.00 ERA in 18 innings) have all quietly put together strong seasons.

Next week’s opponent: vs. Hill City Howlers (Cleveland Guardians)

Player of the Week

Andrew Fischer, who hit three home runs in a week for the second time in the last month. It’s easy to forget Fischer, who’s slashing .274/.365/.623 with a .988 OPS and nine home runs in his first full professional season, was playing in the College World Series less than a year ago. At this rate, it would be surprising if he isn’t viewed as a top-50 prospect in baseball by the end of the year.

Play of the Week

I couldn’t find a defensive play that impressed me as much as this filthy strikeout from Craig Yoho:

Transfer to Borussia Dortmund in summer

Joane Gadou is leaving FC Red Bull Salzburg for the German Bundesliga in the 2026/27 season, signing a long-term contract with UEFA Champions League qualifiers Borussia Dortmund.

The 1.95-metre central defender joined Salzburg from Paris Saint-Germain's U19 team in the summer of 2024 and quickly progressed to the first team of our Red Bulls. Following five appearances for our UEFA Youth League team and one match for our co-operation club FC Liefering, he made a total of 58 competitive appearances for FC Red Bull Salzburg.

Now the 19-year-old French youth international's journey continues with the team currently second in the German Bundesliga.

Views

A move to one of the best clubs in Germany is a positive one for everyone involved – for the player, but also for us as a club. We know that Joane has the talent and quality to succeed there and become an important player. We wish him all the very the best!

Marcus Mann, Managing Director for Sport

I am very grateful for the time I spent at FC Red Bull Salzburg, where I learned a tremendous amount. Now I have the unique opportunity to move to a top club in the German Bundesliga to take the next steps in my career. I certainly didn't want to miss this chance. I will cherish my time in Salzburg and look back fondly on two instructive years!

Joane Gadou

The Denver Broncos have experienced a significant turnaround on defense the past couple of seasons. Their dominant and ferocious play upfront is a major reason for that. After signing with the Broncos as a free agent in 2023, Zach Allen has become one of the team’s best players and emerged as one of the NFL’s best interior defensive linemen.

In three seasons of play in Denver, Allen has played in 50 games with 50 starts. He has notched 158 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 20.5 sacks, and an eye-popping 111 quarterback hits. His efforts last season earned him both Pro-Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors.

Last year, he was rewarded with a four-year contract extension worth $102 million with $44.25 million guaranteed, a significant raise over his initial three-year deal worth $45.75 back in March of ’23. In order for the Broncos to achieve their aspirations of a fourth Lombardi Trophy, they will need the former Boston College standout to perform at a high level once again—especially with the departure of John Franklin-Myers to the Tennessee Titans in free agency.

Player Profile

Age: 30 | Experience: Eighth Year | College: Boston College | Height: 6’5” | Weight: 285 pounds

Arm Length: 34-3/4” | Hand Size: 10-1/8” | Broad: 9’4” | Vertical: 32” | Bench: 24 reps

40-yard dash: 5 seconds | Shuttle: 4.36 seconds | 3-Cone: 7.34 seconds

Zach Allen’s 2026 outlook with the Broncos

The Broncos’ brass at Dove Valley have made it a priority over the past few years to make significant investments in the trenches. Whether it’s the offensive or defensive lines, General George Paton and Head Coach Sean Payton haven’t been shy about throwing out the big bucks to reward the foundational players on their roster.

It’s an endeavor that certainly has paid off. Since reuniting with Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph, Allen’s play has only gotten better with more experience. He has been one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Moreover, a key reason why the defense has been the top unit in sacks the past two seasons.

In his first two years with the Broncos, Allen played in 81-percent and 89-percent of the Broncos’ defensive snaps. Last year, he played 71-percent of his snaps but was still incredibly productive. With a six deep rotation, I’d assume the Broncos would like to continue to keep his snap count at around the same amount to keep him fresh. He is poised to be a key starter for them and should once again play at a top-tier level we’ve seen the past three seasons.

Final Thoughts

Turn back the clocks three years ago to the ‘23 free agency period. A lot of Broncos Country was upset the front office let Dre’Mont Jones walk in free agency. Fast forward to the present day, and it’s safe to say their pivot to Allen and reuniting him with Joseph as their free agent of choice was the right call.

Allen has been a two-time All-Pro and one of the league’s most underrated defenders. One could easily argue he is one of the top five most important players on the team. Meanwhile, Jones is now with his fourth team since signing with the Seahawks back in ‘23. I’m looking forward to seeing Allen dominate in the trenches again for the Broncos in 2026.

Back-to-back wins have confirmed Dundee will be playing Premiership football again next season.

It is mission accomplished for Steven Pressley and Dundee after a staggering turnaround.

We began the campaign behind schedule amid a complete rebuild of the football department, and everyone at the club deserves credit for playing their part in preserving our top-flight status.

Virtually every pundit, influencer and podcaster on the outside predicted relegation - and many expected it comfortably.

Now there are foundations in place for this side to progress next season. Dundee possess a promising young core and, realistically, many supporters have already resigned themselves to the likelihood of Luke Graham being sold this summer.

If that proves to be the case, the hope will be that some of the profit is reinvested into the first team.

Ryan Astley and Billy Koumetio could well be the ready-made partnership at the heart of defence next season. Both have been consistently impressive and appear to carry the trust of Pressley and the support.

Kilmarnock and Aberdeen come next and, for once, Dees can watch on without the usual stress and anxiety.

This comfortable feeling is almost alien given how often our ambitions tend to go right down to the wire. The change of pace is a very welcome one.

Broadcaster and former world darts champion Mark Webster has posted a positive update following the recent revelation he had been diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer.

The 42-year-old, from St Asaph in north Wales, was diagnosed with hairy cell leukaemia in January and has been undergoing chemotherapy.

The 2008 BDO world champion has been absent from television coverage since February, but told social media followers he was "delighted" to say "things have improved" and he will be back on screen at PDC Premier League Night 15 in Birmingham this week.

"Although I'm still undergoing treatment, I have been cleared to return to Premier League duty on Thursday," Webster wrote.

"Looking forward to being back amongst it. Thanks again for all of the love and support."

Hairy cell leukaemia is a rare type of chronic blood cancer that mostly affects middle-aged adults, but most people have normal life expectancy with treatment.

Before his diagnosis the Welsh left-hander said he felt "really fatigued" and "was getting very tired".

A popular figure in the sport, he works as a commentator and analyst on events for both Sky Sports and ITV but had not been seen on screen since Premier League night one in February.

Price clarifies World Cup withdrawal

Meanwhile Welsh darts star Gerwyn Price has told his social media followers his absence from the upcoming World Cup, which is being held in Frankfurt from 11-14 June, is not down to health reasons.

Price has previously teamed up with Jonny Clayton to win the event on two occasions.

On Thursday, 7 May, Price told Sky Sports: "Just health wise I'm not in a great place at the moment. I'm just battling on at the moment and searching for results and hopefully in the next few weeks that will come and put me at ease and I'll be able to enjoy darts again."

He has since posted on social media to say: "Just to clarify I have NOT withdrawn from the World Cup because of health reasons."

Nick Kenny will make his debut when he joins Clayton to represent Wales in Germany.

But it could be way more significant than that. It could be the last shot LeBron James takes in his legendary NBA career.

There are a lot of retirement questions in the air surrounding James, some of which he addressed after the end of his season on Monday. While the uncertainty will likely last a while as we wait for him to figure out his future, we can look at this play and wonder.

It's a play that ended up focused on James in the middle of a game in which the Lakers were down just one, so it wasn't symbolic. It left him in isolation against his former Lakers teammate Alex Caruso, and the drive to the hoop bounced off the rim before Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was fouled.

LeBron’s last shot of his career 🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/AERvG1p1F4

— Smiley (@30GotNext) May 12, 2026

LeBron walks off the podium for potentially his last time 👀 pic.twitter.com/TWsO68yxke

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) May 12, 2026

Will James want to go out on a miss? We'll see. It's a long offseason ahead, but the retirement talk has fully begun.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: LeBron James final shot attempt for Lakers in Thunder loss: Is this it?

According to an update shared by Sacha Tavolieri, Real Madrid have now reached a full agreement with Jose Mourinho regarding a sensational return to the Santiago Bernabeu.

The journalist claims the current Benfica coach is now set to become the next Real Madrid manager, with an official announcement expected to arrive next week.

For several weeks, Mourinho has increasingly emerged as the leading candidate to replace Alvaro Arbeloa following another deeply disappointing season for the Spanish giants.

Within the club, there is a growing belief that Real Madrid need a manager capable of immediately restoring authority, competitiveness and discipline within a dressing room that has looked fractured throughout the campaign.

That search has naturally pushed Mourinho to the front of the queue.

What’s the story?

The Portuguese coach remains hugely respected in Madrid for the mentality and intensity he brought during his previous spell at the club. 

With supporters frustrated by the current lack of leadership inside the squad, many now view Mourinho as the ideal figure to rebuild the team’s mentality heading into a crucial new era.

Until recently, reports suggested discussions between both parties remained at an early stage, with initial contact taking place between Mourinho’s agent, Jorge Mendes and Real Madrid representatives.

Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Mourinho. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

However, the latest update from Tavolieri indicates the situation has now progressed significantly.

According to the journalist, an agreement has already been reached between Mourinho and Real Madrid, paving the way for one of the most dramatic managerial returns in recent football history.

Notably, from next weekend onwards, Real Madrid are expected to have a limited window of around 10 days to complete the operation without facing a major compensation cost. 

This is because Mourinho’s current deal with Benfica includes a clause allowing him to leave for just €3 million during the ten days following Benfica’s final match of the season.

That clause could significantly simplify negotiations and accelerate the process behind the scenes.

Real Madrid’s urgency is understandable given the atmosphere currently surrounding the club. 

After a campaign filled with inconsistency, dressing room tensions and growing supporter frustration, there is a strong feeling that immediate change is required before the situation worsens further.

Frustration Around Liverpool Continues to Build

Liverpool’s turbulent campaign has taken another uncomfortable turn, with criticism of Arne Slot intensifying after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea. The mood around the club has shifted noticeably in recent weeks and the Anfield crowd, once renowned for patience and fierce loyalty, appears increasingly uneasy with the direction of the team.

Former Premier League winger David Bentley delivered one of the strongest verdicts yet on Liverpool’s current situation while speaking on Sky Sports News. Asked whether the problems at Liverpool stemmed from recruitment, the players or the manager, Bentley’s response was immediate and emphatic.

“I think it’s Slot.

“I think with Liverpool fans they’re unique, very similar to the way Celtic are as well, and they seem to have lost that sort of relationship and that’s really hard to get back.

“Young Rio, when he took him off the other day, they weren’t happy the fans with the decisions that he’s making.

“You look at times throughout the season, he’s made similar decisions.

“I think the fans have just disconnected from the manager and that’s so hard specifically at Liverpool.”

Those comments reflect a growing concern around the club. The issue is no longer simply about dropped points or tactical debates. It is becoming emotional. At Liverpool, that matters more than almost anywhere else.

IMAGO.

Slot Decisions Under Increasing Scrutiny

The substitution of Rio Ngumoha during the Chelsea match became a defining flashpoint. The teenager had shown flashes of confidence and energy before being withdrawn, prompting audible frustration from the Anfield crowd.

Slot later explained the youngster had been struggling physically, but by that stage the damage had already been done. Supporters reacted instinctively, and the reaction revealed something deeper than dissatisfaction with one substitution.

Liverpool supporters can accept difficult periods when they feel connected to the vision on the pitch. What has unsettled many this season is the absence of identity and emotional intensity that traditionally defines the club.

Bentley’s comments echoed wider criticism emerging from former players and pundits. Questions are now being asked about whether Liverpool’s football under Slot has become too passive and too cautious. The atmosphere inside the stadium has mirrored that uncertainty.

For years, Anfield thrived on collective belief. Even during difficult moments, there was usually a sense of direction. Now there is confusion over what this Liverpool side is trying to become.

Anfield Crowd Sending Clear Message

Few stadiums in world football can influence momentum like Anfield. When the crowd senses vulnerability or hesitation, the noise changes quickly. That has been evident throughout recent home matches.

Supporters have voiced frustration at substitutions, tactical decisions and performances lacking urgency. The concern for Liverpool is that the disconnect Bentley described is becoming increasingly visible.

Anfield has always demanded intensity. Fans can tolerate setbacks but they struggle to embrace caution or emotional detachment. The chemistry between manager and supporters is a vital component of success at Liverpool and recent weeks suggest that relationship is under pressure.

Slot remains respected for his achievements before arriving in England, but the Premier League presents a different challenge. Managing Liverpool requires more than tactical structure. It demands emotional authority and the ability to carry the crowd through difficult moments.

That balance currently looks fragile.

Villa Park Clash Carries Huge Importance

Liverpool now head into a crucial fixture against Aston Villa with pressure mounting around Slot. A convincing performance would ease tensions and restore confidence, at least temporarily. Another flat display, however, would intensify concerns before the summer rebuild begins.

The scrutiny surrounding Slot is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Results matter, but so does the feeling around the club. Right now, the atmosphere surrounding Liverpool feels uncertain and increasingly restless.

Bentley’s remarks may sound harsh, yet they capture a wider mood developing among sections of the fanbase. The Anfield crowd is searching for signs of energy, belief and connection again.

Liverpool supporters have always responded to passion and bravery. If Slot can rediscover that bond, the mood could shift quickly. If not, the noise around the club will only grow louder.

Original source material emerged via comments made by David Bentley during an appearance on Sky Sports News following Liverpool’s draw with Chelsea.

Maple Leafs' Nicolas Roy stat paints Craig Berube in negative light originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans who can stomach watching the NHL playoffs are probably wondering where this Colorado Avalanche version of Nicolas Roy was when he was in Toronto.

The answer is that he was probably in the defensive zone.

It's a social media discussion ongoing among Leafs fans at the moment, and the stats are pretty jarring.

Roy got, by far, the fewest amount of offensive zone shift starts of his career this season.

Clearly, Roy has offensive talent, but Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube used him elsewhere:

Roy had the lowest Offensive Zone Start % of his career with the Leafs. Berube has no idea how to properly deploy any player.#BerubeOUThttps://t.co/tsu3Crw8ZIpic.twitter.com/ZuITNPqQYa

— Liam (@Willy4Hart) May 12, 2026

MORE: The Mitch Marner irony of Auston Matthews' future with the Maple Leafs

It's worth acknowledging that yes, to some extent, the zone a player starts in depends a lot on how a whole team's lineup shakes out. If he's a gifted offensive player but also a better defender than a couple of the other centers, than maybe that would explain things.

But it's still pretty drastic to see that chart and see how Roy's Toronto usage has no alignment with the rest of his career.

Maybe there was a part of Berube that felt he was onto something, but in the end, it didn't work out, and Roy was quickly shipped back out of town.

Now, as if Maple Leafs fans aren't annoyed enough about missing the playoffs, they've got to watch Roy do a bunch of good things for the powerful Avalanche. That's probably not a particularly enjoyable experience.

More NHL news:

• Maple Leafs winning lottery doesn't mean what you think for Auston Matthews
• How good is Gavin McKenna?
• Canucks may have gotten 2004-level historically unlucky
• Flames' trade offer for Nathan MacKinnon is informative for Maple Leafs
• How Zach Benson is Buffalo's perfect 'rat'

Dillon Brooks pulled up to Game 4 of the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder series on Monday to see his nemesis, LeBron, get swept in what could be his last playoff run. Dressed in all black, Brooks sat underneath the basket and could be seen maniacally laughing while watching the Lakers' demise. It was truly a super villain moment for the Phoenix Suns star, best captured by this slow zoom out from the broadcast.

It's been a years' long beef between Brooks and James. Brooks famously taunted James during the 2023 playoffs, saying, "I poke bears" after a Memphis Grizzlies Game 2 win, then striking James in the groin during Game 3. The Lakers wound up beating the Grizzlies in six, prompting LeBron to clap back on Instagram.

"If you ever see me fighting in the forest with a Grizzly bear," James wrote, "HELP THE BEAR."

A lot has changed for both Brooks and James since then, but the animosity between the two has remained constant. It's all led to what became an instant meme Monday night, and potentially for years to come. Here are some of the best reactions to it.

Dillon Brooks could be anywhere in the world right now and he’s got front row seats to watch LeBron James and the Lakers get swept. This is Kendrick levels of wake up and hate with every petty bone in his body. 10/10, no notes, give him the extension now pic.twitter.com/hjTsFGk1fM

— Suns After Dark (@SunsAfterDark) May 12, 2026

Dillon Brooks after a successful LeBron James hatewatch https://t.co/ZjKo7waEHJpic.twitter.com/rJGNyipBPA

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) May 12, 2026

Dillon Brooks is a pure, unfiltered hater for the love of the game.

That man wakes up looking for someone to beef with.😭 pic.twitter.com/gQxU08IM7F

— SleeperLakers (@SleeperLakers) May 12, 2026

Seats on the wood for the sweep is a crazy level of hating 😂

The NBA needs more guys like Dillon Brooks. They’re more fun https://t.co/gpjAYwLYMI

— Frank Michael Smith (@frankmikesmith) May 12, 2026

Dillon Brooks sitting on the front row of Game 4 just to hatewatch LeBron James https://t.co/ZjKo7waEHJpic.twitter.com/XHHkY0MSZ3

— Hater Report (@HaterReport) May 12, 2026

Never change, Dillon.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Dillon Brooks hate watching LeBron in Lakers' elimination game becomes instant meme

The recent successes of Swansea City goalkeepers suggests Martyn Margetson's successor may have a hard act to follow.

Margetson has said farewell to Swansea for a second time, ending a three-year spell as the Championship club's head of goalkeeping after a previous two-season stint in a similar role between 2019 and 2021.

Across Margetson's five campaigns at Swansea, their various frontline keepers have thrived.

During Margetson's first spell with the Swans, Freddie Woodman was first-choice keeper across his two season-long loans from Newcastle United.

Steve Cooper's Swansea reached the play-offs in each of those campaigns, with Woodman winning the Championship's golden glove award in 2020-21 thanks to 20 league clean sheets.

After Margetson departed alongside Cooper in 2021, first-team goalkeeping duties were shared between Steven Benda, Ben Hamer and Andy Fisher in 2021-22.

In the following campaign, Fisher played 27 games and Benda 23, before the return of Margetson as part of Michael Duff's new-look management team in 2023 coincided with the return of more stability in the Swansea goal.

Carl Rushworth arrived on a year-long loan from Brighton and cleaned up at Swansea's end-of-season awards the following spring.

When Rushworth departed in 2024, Swansea turned to Lawrence Vigouroux – who then boss Luke Williams had worked with at Leyton Orient – and he has been one of their most consistent performers over the last two seasons.

In a farewell message posted on social media, Margetson said the decision to "step down" from his role was right for him and his family.

"There have been some special moments along the way," Margetson wrote.

"Seeing Freddie Woodman win the Championship golden glove was a huge achievement for him, his family and the club.

"Carl Rushworth's development into the club's player of the season was another proud moment for him, his family and the club.

"Lawrence Vigouroux has been excellent for the two seasons he's had so far at Swansea City and is now an established Chile international, something everybody at the club should be proud of."

Swansea are yet to announce who will succeed Margetson as their first-team goalkeeping coach.

Pep Guardiola says Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov are both “better” and that he will decide after training this afternoon whether either are ready to return to action.

The Blues host Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening (20:00 kick off , UK), looking to again reduce the gap to leaders Arsenal to two points.

Rodri has been absent since picking up a muscle injury in the 2-1 win over Arsenal last month.

Meanwhile, Khusanov picked up a knock in the 3-3 draw with Everton and missed last weekend’s 3-0 win over Brentford.

Asked first how Rodri was, the boss said: “Better. We will see in training this afternoon.”

And on Khusanov’s progress, he added: “Better as well. [He took a) tough knock against Beto when he played Everton. He’s better.”

More to follow…

Be at City v Crystal Palace!

City’s postponed clash with Crystal Palace will take place at 20:00 on Wednesday 13 May.

And you can be there to see Pep Guardiola’s side chasing down the Premier League title!

Tickets for this game are now available, starting from £43 for adults and £18 for Under-18s.

There are also plenty of hospitality options to suit all range of budgets!

Get your tickets here!

Leeds United will hold another round of talks with the representatives of Ethan Ampadu before the end of this week, according to The Athletic. Leeds have secured Premier League safety and Whites manager Daniel Farke is preparing for a big summer at the Elland Road club. The west Yorkshire club will look to make quality additions to their squad ahead of next season and also hand some of their key players new deals. Ampadu current contract expires at the end of next season but Leeds have the option to extend it by another year to June 2028.

Talks have been going on between the 25-year-old’s camp and the Whites, and they are now expected to advance in the coming days. Leeds want to hand their captain a new deal after the key role he played in ensuring they stay up this term. Ampadu played 33 league games and made five FA Cup appearances and has established himself as one of their most important players. He has played more minutes than any other Leeds player in the Premier League this term, and it only makes sense to reward him with a new and improve contract.

The Wales international has proven himself in the English top-flight and some of the bigwigs will be monitoring his situation.

Suitors would have been drafting up summer plans when Leeds found themselves in a relegation battle, but the Whites will be holding on to their skipper for now.

Manchester United Join Race for Sporting CP Defender Maxi Araujo

United Explore Deal for Sporting Standout

Manchester United have made exploratory contact over a potential move for Sporting CP defender Maxi Araujo, according to reporting from A Bola, as INEOS continue shaping plans for another significant summer rebuild at Old Trafford.

The Uruguay international has emerged as one of Sporting’s most consistent performers and is attracting growing attention across Europe. Atletico Madrid are described as being “committed” to signing the 26-year-old, while Tottenham, Chelsea and Juventus are also monitoring developments closely.

Photo IMAGO

United’s interest appears genuine. Recruitment staff are actively assessing options at left-back and Araujo fits several criteria the club are prioritising, athleticism, attacking output and tactical flexibility.

Sporting are expected to demand the player’s €80million (£69million) release clause initially, although reports elsewhere in Portugal suggest a compromise fee closer to €50million (£43million) could eventually become realistic.

Left Back Situation Needs Addressing

Manchester United’s need for reinforcements in that position has become increasingly obvious. Luke Shaw’s persistent injury concerns continue to leave the squad short of balance, while Tyrell Malacia’s time at Old Trafford has not developed as anticipated.

Photo IMAGO

The report describes Malacia as Erik ten Hag’s “failed first signing” at United, a harsh but difficult assessment to dispute given his limited impact. Injuries disrupted his progress heavily and with his contract expiring in June, the expectation is that he will leave on a free transfer.

Patrick Dorgu is viewed internally as a player capable of operating higher up the pitch, meaning United are searching for a specialist option who can both compete with and support Shaw.

Araujo’s profile makes sense in that context. This season he has recorded seven goals and four assists across 44 appearances, strong numbers for a player operating predominantly from defensive areas.

Amorim Connection Could Influence Move

An interesting element within the report concerns Ruben Amorim’s role in identifying the player previously. Before departing Sporting, Amorim reportedly recommended Araujo to Manchester United decision makers.

Photo: IMAGO

That existing knowledge could strengthen United’s position in negotiations. Sporting have consistently developed players capable of adapting quickly to elite football, with Bruno Fernandes remaining perhaps the clearest example from a United perspective.

Supporters will naturally hope Araujo follows a similar trajectory rather than repeating Manuel Ugarte’s inconsistent adaptation since leaving Portugal.

Competition, however, is fierce. Atletico Madrid’s admiration is longstanding and Diego Simeone is said to view the defender as a “personal target”. Chelsea and Tottenham are also pushing to assess whether a pre-World Cup agreement can be reached before his value potentially rises further on the international stage.

Recruitment Focus Expanding Across Europe

United have explored multiple left-back profiles in recent months, including Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde and Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall. Those deals, though, would appear difficult both financially and strategically.

Araujo therefore represents a more attainable solution. He combines experience, attacking threat and European pedigree while still retaining room for development.

INEOS are attempting to build a younger, more adaptable squad and this pursuit aligns with that wider strategy. Whether United can outmanoeuvre rivals remains uncertain, but their involvement in the race appears serious.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Manchester United supporters will probably see this link as another sign the club are finally addressing obvious weaknesses rather than simply chasing glamorous names. Left-back has been a recurring issue for years because Shaw’s fitness record remains unreliable and Malacia never established himself consistently.

Araujo’s numbers would immediately catch attention among fans. Seven goals and four assists from defensive positions suggest he offers far more attacking output than United currently receive from that flank. Supporters have watched too many stagnant performances where width and energy disappeared entirely.

There would still be concerns over the reported £69million valuation. Many fans would argue United cannot afford another expensive gamble, particularly after mixed recruitment over recent seasons. If Sporting eventually negotiate closer to the reported £43million figure, that would feel significantly more reasonable.

The Amorim connection may also reassure supporters. United fans increasingly want recruitment shaped by football intelligence and familiarity, not commercial appeal. If Amorim genuinely pushed the club towards Araujo previously, many would trust that recommendation carries weight.

Pistons have a Jalen Duren problem in playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Jalen Duren looked like one of the NBA's rising stars during the regular season.

In the playoffs, he's been on the verge of being unplayable for the Detroit Pistons.

This is how analyst Carson Breber summed it up on X, and it's really rough:

"Jalen Duren averaged 19.5 PPG this regular season. He's scored more than 12 points ONCE in 11 playoff games, when he dropped 15. Duren led the NBA this regular season with 68.8% TS. That has dropped to 54.4% in the playoffs. This is one of the biggest playoff drops we've seen."

MORE: LeBron's retirement update involves the media in a repetitive way

Yes, some players struggle to replicate their level of regular season play in the postseason, but by this much? And in the first and second rounds, not deeper into the playoffs?

Duren had to match up mostly with Wendell Carter Jr. in the first round as the Pistons took on the Orlando Magic. Detroit was off its game for most of that series as a whole, so maybe Duren was only a part of that.

Against the Cleveland Cavaliers, though, many Pistons seem to have found their strides. Just not Duren.

MORE: Donovan Mitchell never wanted the Knicks, only moments like this

It's not the easiest matchup in the world. The Cavs have great frontcourt length with both Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley -- both of whom can guard Duren, or who can be strong help-side defenders when they share the floor with one another.

Duren is stronger and more muscular than both, so there should be moments when that wins out, but so far those have been few and far between.

The Pistons have mostly stopped running actions that look for Duren and have just relied on their perimeter guys to do the damage, but at some point in this postseason, their chances of winning a game are going to come down to their center who was so good during the regular season. And in that moment, Duren will have to translate that level into the playoffs, or the Pistons will be in trouble.

More NBA news:

• Bronny James' future with Lakers has 3 possible outcomes
• Clippers are set up to trade Darius Garland again
• Warriors' Steve Kerr news means it's time to talk about LeBron and Steph
• Anthony Davis is the magic touch for the No. 1 pick
• Luka Doncic's season had the most ironic ending

Cornish Pirates have signed Exeter Chiefs centre Harry Ascherl on a permanent deal for the 2026-27 season.

The 24-year-old signed on a loan deal with the Champ side for the rest of the season in April and played in their final three matches of the campaign.

Ascherl joined the Chiefs in October after a trial period but his game time has been restricted to four outings in the Prem Rugby Cup and one Challenge Cup group match in December.

"I've loved my time down in Penzance already, so I'm looking forward to continuing to develop my game down here with Pirates," Ascherl said.

"I'm sad to be leaving Chiefs but I'm very grateful for the last year."

Ashcerl joins forwards Jack Forsythe and Matt Cannon in moving to the Penzance-based side next season.

• Pirates sign Forsythe and Cannon on permanent deals
• Cornish Pirates miss out on Champ play-off place

Related internet links

• Cornish Pirates

Hansi Flick has given his verdict on Lamine Yamal’s decision to wave a Palestine flag during Barcelona’s La Liga title celebrations on Monday.

Yamal was seen waving the flag during the five-hour long parade and also uploaded a few pictures of Instagram afterwards of him holding the flag and a Barcelona shirt with the message: “Thank God I’m not Madridista.”

Flick was asked about Yamal in his pre-match press conference ahead of Barcelona’s next game against Alaves and shared his thoughts.

“These are things that I don’t normally like. I have talked about it with him and I have told him that if he wants to do it is his decision, he’s 18 years old. We are dedicated to playing football and we have to take into account what people expect from us,” he told reporters.

Flick went on to speak about the parade and what is was like to share the victory with so many of the the club’s supporters.

“When I see people on the street crying with emotion you realize why we are here, and this for me is the most important thing, the first thing,” he added.

“I feel proud because it’s about the players, they’re playing a fantastic season that hasn’t been easy, there have been a lot of injuries.

“We’ve improved a lot over the last two months, it’s fantastic and it was the key to our win against Madrid. We are the team with the fewest goals conceded, nobody would have imagined it.”

Barcelona still have three games left to play, with Flick confirming he’s eager to finish on a high: “The goal now is to reach 100 points, and to do that we have to win the three remaining matches and play well.”

The location of the contest has yet to be determined, however.

It hasn’t been that long since both teams squared off. The Chiefs and Broncos last played in Week 17 last season, with Denver pulling off the 10-6 victory.

That contest occurred without Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was limited to just 14 games last season due to a torn ACL. Mahomes’ rehab has apparently gone well, leaving open the door for the quarterback’s return early in the 2026 NFL season. Will he be ready to play in time for Week 1? That’s unclear, but the NFL did give him one extra day to recover from the injury.

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix finds himself in a similar spot heading into the game. While Nix was healthy during the team’s Week 17 win, he sustained a fractured ankle during the playoffs. Nix is working his way back from that issue, though is likely to put in work during the team’s minicamp in June, a good sign he’ll be ready to go in Week 1.

This story will be updated.

LeBron James has spent two decades making basketball look familiar, but his newest sporting obsession has made him look like a beginner again.

Golf has become part of James’ public life, turning quiet rounds into viral moments and giving fans a different view of the Lakers’ star.

That bond has made headlines, including the strange moment when an alligator appeared near a ball he had sent into water and when his swing has drawn criticism online.

And his increasing interest in golf became a talking point inside the Lakers locker room.

The Lakers found a running joke in LeBron James’ golf obsession

The Athletic reported that a running joke inside the Lakers locker room this season was to ask James where and when his next tee time was booked.

The reason was simple. James had become so invested in golf that he often had 18 holes arranged before noon.

It became easy locker-room material because teammates could see golf had moved from casual interest into a daily part of his routine.

That was clear last April, when James was spotted playing alongside Bronny James in a Dallas club two days before the Lakers faced the Mavericks.

For the 41-year-old, golf offers something basketball cannot: competition without the physical demands, public burden or championship pressure that have defined his NBA life.

That could matter whenever retirement arrives, as stepping away from elite competition will not be simple for a four-time NBA champion.

Golf can soften that transition. It gives James a scoring system, a personal challenge and a reason to keep chasing improvement without needing an arena.

Read more:

Jonathan Asp Jensen has established himself as a key player for Grasshopper Club Zurich since joining the Swiss side on loan from Bayern Munich last summer, scoring nine goals and providing five assists in 37 appearances.

Despite this, Asp Jensen has no future at Bayern, who are looking to sell the 20-year-old Danish midfielder once he returns from loan, according to Kicker.

The competition for places in Bayern’s midfield is considered too strong for him at the moment, but a buy-back clause could be included in any potential sale.

Asp Jensen joined Bayern from FC Midtjylland in 2022 and is under contract with the German champions until 2028.

He made his senior debut for Bayern under Thomas Tuchel in May 2025, coming on as a late substitute.

Here is how each USC Trojan and their team are faring in the second round of the NBA playoffs:

Bronny James

The Los Angeles Lakers stumbled in the second round of the playoffs. Without Luka, the Lakers clearly did not have enough to match the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were without their second-best player, Jalen Williams. Bronny James did not see much time this series, only about two minutes of garbage time in the blowout losses. It would be a challenging environment for a developing young player such as Bronny, but the Lakers had few options.

Jordan McLaughlin

Jordan McLaughlin also has not seen much time in his series, but he is a part of the best series in this round. This Western Conference series is now tied at 2-2 following an epic Game 4. It has been a dog fight and a battle between the San Antonio Spurs and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both teams are fighting for their shot to dethrone the Oklahoma City Thunder. If Mclaughlin and the Spurs are able to escape the Timberwolves, he will still have a great shot at stepping on the court in an NBA Finals match, plus an NBA Finals title.

Evan Mobley

Evan Mobley and the Cleveland Cavaliers were down 2-1 to the Detroit Pistons, in a series where it felt like the Pistons had the upper hand. It took a 35-point Game 3 performance from Donovan Mitchell to win a game at home for the Cavaliers. Evan Mobley had been one of the big disappointments in this series, but he stepped up in Game 4 with 17 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks, and 3 steals. That's the version of Mobley the Cavs need every game.

Most impactful player in Round 2

Evan Mobley remains a deciding factor in Cavs-Pistons. In Game 4, he turned the tide. If he can continue to thrive in Games 5-7, Cleveland will have its first shot since the LeBron James years to get back to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Best chance at a title

Out of the three USC Trojans remaining, Jordan McLaughlin has the best shot at winning a ring this postseason. The Timberwolves have been battling in this series, and winning Game 4 came down to Victor Wembanyama getting ejected. The Spurs look like the better team in this series, and they are the only team that has had the Oklahoma City Thunder's number. McLaughlin might not be the most necessary piece to his squad, but he could end up being the one with a championship when it is all said and done.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Evan Mobley leads former USC Trojans remaining in 2026 NBA playoffs

NFL.com pointed that out the Bills have one of the better ones in football heading into the 2026 season.

Following this year's draft, NFL.com ranked the 10 "most-complete" rosters in the league currently. Overall, Buffalo's landed in the fifth spot.

Discussing the Bills' roster, the obvious highlight part was starting with quarterback Josh Allen. The QB is the centerpiece on offense which is a very good thing in a roster ranking.

Defensive, the Bills were praised for their potential going forward under new coordinator Jim Leonhard. Specifically, the pass rush was highlighted.

On the list, the four teams ahead of Buffalo include just one AFC team: The Baltimore Ravens at No. 4 overall. Rounding out the top three are the Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams on top.

NFL.com's full breakdown on the Bills can be found below:

Last season showed that the Bills remain dangerous and talented, even if they're still a flawed operation. Less balanced and concern-free than others on the list, Buffalo counters with Josh Allen, James Cook, Gregory Rousseau and a potent group of top-end players who offset any holes the roster might have.

Allen might not have been at his very best last season, but he was still the biggest reason the Bills were able to overcome some of their warts and compete. He is surrounded by a strong offensive group, led by Cook and a well-built offensive line, but it’s not one without worry. Wide receiver is the biggest question mark, even after the acquisition of DJ Moore and the drafting of Skyler Bell. If tight end Dalton Kincaid can stay healthy and wideout Keon Coleman can develop, the Bills will be more dangerous.

The defense is undergoing a scheme change under Jim Leonhard, who’ll run the unit more like the attacking 3-4 approach we've seen from the Broncos in recent years. There’s a question as to whether the Bills have the personnel to make the switch currently. Linebacker appears to be the thinnest spot right now.

Rousseau, Ed Oliver, Deone Walker and Bradley Chubb, along with the addition of second-rounder T.J. Parker, likely make the front the strongest part of the defense. The secondary could be a defensive strength if Cole Bishop and Maxwell Hairston take big steps this season. Adding Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Geno Stone, Dee Alford and some draft prospects also gave the back end a boost.

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Buffalo Bills named on list of 10 'most complete' NFL rosters

Sadiq played college football in the Pacific Northwest from 2023-25. He would have watched Smith playing for his local Seattle Seahawks as a result. At rookie minicamp this past weekend, Sadiq explained how he grew to love Smith's game.

"I'm a Seahawks fan, well, not anymore," Sadiq joked with reporters. "Being a West Coast guy, I was a Seahawks fan. So of course I watched him [Geno Smith]. He's a great quarterback who did great things in Seattle. He's a veteran. It'll be great to get around him and pick his brain a little bit. He's been around the game for a long time."

Sadiq would have been joining the Oregon program when Smith won NFL Comeback Player of the Year with the Seahawks.

Now, Sadiq is tasked with developing on-field chemistry with a quarterback he once admired from afar. The former Ducks standout will add a layer of playmaking ability to Frank Reich's offense. Sadiq's ability to thrive as a pass catcher and play as an in-line blocker should make Smith's life easier at quarterback.

Kenyon Sadiq says he watched Geno Smith a lot as a Seahawks fan:

"It'll be great to get around him, pick his brain a little bit and kind of see how he processes things. He's been in the game a long time." pic.twitter.com/Xm7ABPUOzW

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) May 9, 2026

This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Jets rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq grew up admiring QB Geno Smith

But with every good thing, there is always a negative effect creeping in. The dominant pace has resurrected the ghosts of Brackley’s past, leaving team boss Toto Wolff managing a ticking time bomb. The team isn’t just fighting Ferrari and McLaren; they are actively fighting the psychological threat of a full-blown intra-team civil war.

The “Green Light” with a Catch

Speaking with RacingNews365 following his commanding victory at the Miami Grand Prix, Antonelli, who currently leads the Drivers’ Championship by 20 points after taking three consecutive wins (China, Japan, and Miami), shed light on the strict marching orders the team handed down before the season even started. “The team has been very clear with us since the first race in Australia,” Antonelli revealed. “They said, ‘You can race each other, but obviously with respect, not trying to do any stupid things between each other.’ The team has given us the green light… but just be clean.”

To any casual fan out there, the green light on “play nice” might just sound like a normal, boring corporate mandate, but you gotta dig deeper than that. Toto Wolff knows exactly what happens when two hyper-competitive teammates realize that the only person standing between them and a World Championship is driving the same car.

Diving Deep Into Wolff’s Nuclear Threat

He lived through the infamous “Silver War” between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg from 2013 to 2016. Something that completely changed the “childhood friend” dynamic to a ruthless rivalry that forced then-strategy director James Vowles to physically draft a “rules of engagement” document just to keep the team from tearing itself apart.

See, if you were in Wolff’s shoes, even you wouldn’t take any chance with this. So naturally, the Mercedes Principal outlined his internal “rules of racing” to the press, and the Austrian made it violently clear that the Mercedes brand will always supersede driver ego. “The opportunity to race… for Mercedes also comes with a responsibility,” Wolff stated bluntly. “And the moment a driver feels like this is all about him, that’s not the mindset that we would ever allow… I would rather have only one car driving.”

Adding to that problem is the fact that the dynamic is barely holding. For now, at least. Russell is focused on gunning it down for the 2026 title, and Kimi is currently proving he has the raw speed to deny him. On top of that, there have been some whispers in the paddock regarding Russell’s contract situation amid Kimi’s rise.

It won’t be surprising if Wolff pushes for strict orders to keep things “clean.” Because you never really know. History proves that when a title is on the line, “rules of engagement” are usually the first things thrown out the window.

The hard-hitting defender out of Michigan signed a four-year, $11.426 million deal that includes 100% fully-guaranteed money with a $4.038 million signing bonus. According to Spotrac, Moore's 2026 salary cap hit is $2,077,624.

#Lions sign second-round pick Derrrick Moore to a four-year, $11.426 million deal that includes 100 percent fully guaranteed money with a $4.038 million signing bonus, per a league source

— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 11, 2026

Moore is expected to pair alongside fellow former Wolverine star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson to deliver a much more aggressive pass rush and help the Lions limit the impact of the quarterback play both within the NFC North and throughout their 17-game regular-season slate.

The Lions traded up with the New York Jets to go grab Moore at pick No. 44.

Moore, a 6-foot-3, 255-pound EDGE had 10 sacks at Michigan last season. The Baltimore, Md., native had 10.5 tackles for loss, 30 total tackles, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery last season.

For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews

This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions ink 2nd-round NFL draft pick Derrick Moore

Although many of the stakeholders remain publicly in denial, it's clear Formula 1's latest technical regulations have displeased a broad section of the fanbase as well as attracting loud criticism from the drivers themselves.

The recent implementation of tweaks to the electrical deployment and harvesting regime, followed by confirmation of more extensive changes to come next season, represent a tacit admission that the basic philosophy of a near-50:50 mix of internal combustion engine power to electrical input is flawed.

Although F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali recently claimed "overtaking is overtaking", many fans and drivers aren't swayed by the quantity-equals-quality argument. Traditionalists particularly dislike the kind of unearned passing moves, which are dictated by differing levels of electrical charge rather than driver skill or bravery.

Among the drivers there is a widespread sense of resentment, fuelled by their warnings going unheeded. The 50:50 principle was agreed during high-level meetings involving F1's automobile manufacturers in the summer of 2022, but the drivers didn't have the opportunity to evaluate the effects in simulation until much later.

"Because of the bigger picture, because you have manufacturers and partners and teams and it's a business involved, then some things are not so simple." Lando Norris

Speaking ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton said it was high time drivers had "a seat at the table" when it came to setting the rules. Six drivers, including Hamilton's team-mate Charles Leclerc, were consulted over the pre-Miami rule tweaks – but this was essentially a case of being enlisted to help close the stable door long after its equine inhabitant had vacated the premises.

Defending world champion Lando Norris agreed with the principle of drivers having a voice over the longer term.

"We just have to give our input, honestly," he told select media, including Motorsport.com.

"We want the fans to have a great time, we want ourselves to have a good time. We also want F1 to be what we've always grown up seeing – just flat-out racing, which is not what we've had so far.

"And having good racing is not necessarily having someone at 100% battery and having someone on zero. You know, that's not how proper racing should be done. It should be done by trying to allow cars to follow closer by having less weight, better tyres, more resilient to kind of following issues and temperatures and things like that – not by implementing batteries and wings that do all of this stuff we're doing now."

New rules have led to start-line dramas, and a style of 'yo-yo' racing which has polarised fans.

It has been acknowledged, albeit diplomatically, by the likes of Domenicali and FIA single-seater boss Nikolas Tombazis, that the current ruleset is a factor of the automobile manufacturers demanding greater electrification in F1 because that was the direction of travel for their industry in 2022. That picture has shifted in the intervening four years.

In the interim, the flawed 50:50 principle has been made to work through various sticking-plaster solutions including active aerodynamics, and arcane regulations dictating how much electrical power can be harvested or deployed in specific areas of the circuits.

"It can just be done in a slightly different way, and that's something that us drivers we're all wishing for in the future," continued Norris.

"But because of the bigger picture, because you have manufacturers and partners and teams and it's a business involved, then some things are not so simple.

"Hopefully over the next five years or so things can go a little bit more back to normality, and I think we can still create even better racing."

Next year, the balance of internal combustion power to electrical deployment will shift closer to 60:40, but essentially this is another sticking plaster to cover the limitations of what will be a modified version of the current hardware. Over the longer term, there are those including FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem who are pushing for a return to naturally aspirated V8 engines with a much smaller electrical component.

This is understood to be an object of contention for some of the manufacturers, chiefly Honda and Audi, whereas rivals with a bigger footprint in the US market – Ford and Cadillac – are more positive about the V8 concept.

The current formula is due to end at the end of 2030. And while the basic philosophy of the next one should be agreed this year, in order to give enough runway for development, Norris advocates taking a more considered view of the process this time around – to avoid another scenario in which the rules enter service in beta.

"What we want as drivers is also what will be better for the fans to see," he said.

"It's a business at the end of the day, so you have to balance the business side, which is obviously where we don't have a lot of say. But we're making progress with the FIA. I think they've done a good job in trying to improve things.

"The bigger things and the things we want more in the future are the things I want to take more time on."

How F1's planned 60-40 power split for 2027 will affect each manufacturer

Behind the debate over F1's future engines is a battle for control

Carlos Sainz isn’t “going to criticise it anymore” – but still says 2026 F1 rules are “not good enough"

To read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has admitted that he spoke to star player Lamine Yamal before he chose to hoist a Palestine flag from their open-top bus parade on Monday. The Blaugrana were celebrating their La Liga and Spanish Supercup triumphs this season, but the teenage star giving visibility to Palestine was one of the most talked about images.

There was plenty of flag-waving in general, with Robert Lewandowski also waving an Estelada from the front of the Barcelona bus, a flag that shows support for Catalan independence from Spain. Meanwhile Lamine Yamal and Fermin Lopez also flashed t-shirts that declared ‘Thank God I’m not a Madridista’. Yet none made more headlines that Lamine Yamal holding a giant Palestinian flag.

Hansi Flick: ‘This I normally don’t like’

Asked about Lamine Yamal’s decision, Flick admitted that he was not best pleased with it, saying that he would prefer the focus not to be political statements, and instead on their football achievements.

“This I normally don’t like, I spoke with him, and I said if he wants this, he is old enough, he is 18 years old, and its his decision. We are playing football, and you can see, what the people expect from us. When I see the crowd, they were very emotional, tears in their eyes. They were really happy that we won again, this fantastic title, the second in a row, and this is why we are playing football.”

Flick went on to praise their performance across the campaign.

“This is for me the first thing we have to do, to make the people happy. I’m really proud of the players. I told them today, that they played a fantastic season, it was not easy, because we had a lot of injuries, Lamine, Raphinha, Pedri, Frenkie, so it’s amazing what a season we played. I said to them that we improved a lot the last two months. This is why we won this title, because we improved a lot with the defence, and I think we are the team with the best goals against record, and nobody expected this in the middle of the season.”

Lamine Yamal not the first to raise Palestine flag

Lamine Yamal is not the first player in La Liga to wave the Palestine flag this season either. At Rayo Vallecano, the crowd at Vallecas have often shown support for Palestine, and following their semi-final win over RC Strasbourg in the Conference League, Villarreal loanee Ilias Akhomach fished a Palestine flag out of the crowd. He laid it in front of the Rayo players as they celebrated their triumph.

Leaks, rumors and updates

• Week 1: The Chiefs will play the Broncos on Monday Night Football to open the season, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. The site of the game is yet to be determined.

Kansas City Chiefs 2026 opponents

Home: Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers

Away: Broncos, Chargers, Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks

9 games will be against a playoff team from last season, including both participants in Super Bowl LX: the Patriots and the Seahawks. That was also the case in 2022, when Kansas City took on both the Bengals and the Rams after those two teams faced off in Super Bowl LVI.

Outside of division matchups, the Chiefs will have just two rematches:

• The Bills in Buffalo, although this time, it will be at New Highmark Stadium. Last year, Kansas City lost 28-21 in a Week 9 bout in Orchard Park.
• The Colts at Arrowhead Stadium is the same situation as last year’s matchup that ended in a 23-20 overtime victory for the Chiefs in Week 12.

Before knowing the order and times of Kansas City’s 2026 matchups with these opponents, FanDuel Sportsbook has the Chiefs’ over/under line for regular-season victories at 10.5 wins. The only AFC team with a higher line currently is the Baltimore Ravens, who have the over/under set at 11.5 wins, tied with the Rams for the highest line set by FanDuel.

Kansas City is tied for the second-highest line among all NFL teams, along with the Bills, 49ers, Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions.

NFL official schedule release

• Release time: 7 p.m. Arrowhead Time on Thursday, May 14
• How to watch: NFL Network | ESPN2 | ESPN App (Streaming)

Serie A side Milan are still very much considering the possibility of parting ways with Max Allegri. The Rossoneri are in the battle for Champions League qualification and chaos ensuing in every possible way.

Daniele Longo has reported that the ex-Juventus manager can end up leaving the Rossoneri even if they qualify for the top four. CEO Giorgio Furlani has expressed his confidence to Allegri but internally, Milan may have other ideas.

The next few weeks will define if this is just a facade or not. As Vincenzo Italiano is currently the leading candidate to become the next manager. Tony D’Amico is in line to become the next sporting director but the Bologna boss’ arrival may not depend on that.

Francesco Farioli has also been floated as an option but a move remains quite difficult. Porto are already working towards a future with him and the Italian has a release clause which appears hefty.

Allegri last of the problems

It feels like everyone at Milan finds their future uncertain. But problems at the club are bigger than the manager, even if Allegri’s system has somewhat held a lot of players back this season.

But he is someone who has a very specific approach to coaching, recruitment and games in general. If he is hired, the club has to completely trust his ideas instead of making changes, making signings on their own accord and then possibly letting him leave in a season.

If anything, the idea of him leaving is very much in line with the narrative around Milan that it is probably a club where no manager can survive for long.

Kaustubh Pandey I GIFN

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City duo Rodri and Abdukodir Khusanov are close to returning from injury.

Rodri has missed the last four games for City while Khusanov was absent from the win over Brentford after suffering an injury in the previous game against Everton.

Guardiola did not confirm that they would be back for City’s game against Crystal Palace on Wednesday but says they are close, with an FA Cup final against Chelsea also on the horizon.

“Better. We’ll see. He’s training this afternoon,” Guardiola said on Rodri.

On Khusanov, he said: “Better as well. He had a tough, tough knock against Everton. He’s better.

“We arrive good in terms of the squad.”

Stay up to date with all the latest Manchester City news by joining our Man City WhatsApp channel. 

City will play three games in the space of seven days starting with Palace on Wednesday and Guardiola admits rotation is something he has to consider.

“It’s not a problem for that game, we have four-and-a-half days (until the FA Cup final), but of course then we travel back from London and then Bournemouth, so of course I have to think about it,” he said.

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Does LSU have any shot to make the NCAA Tournament? It's unlikely.

LSU's RPI is far from where it needs to be for an at-large bid. LSU would need its RPI to be approaching 40 or be inside the top-40 to even be in the discussion. LSU doesn't have enough quadrant one wins, and the Tigers have too many quadrant four losses. LSU had a chance to bolster its resume at Georgia, but the Tigers were uncompetitive vs. a quality SEC team. LSU hasn't been up to the task vs. good SEC teams all year.

There's a path for LSU to play postseason baseball, but it's narrow. LSU would have to sweep Florida this weekend. The Gators rank No. 11 in RPI, and if LSU were to pull off the sweep, the Tigers' RPI would skyrocket. But the reality for anyone who has watched LSU play in recent weeks is that a sweep is unrealistic.

LSU does not have a win over an SEC team with a winning record in conference play all year. The odds that LSU finally figured out how to compete with good SEC teams now are low. And even if LSU did go 3-0 vs. Florida, LSU would likely need to win a game in the SEC Tournament, too. Never say never, but LSU is likely going home after its done in Hoover.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Can LSU baseball make the NCAA Tournament? Here's the narrow path

Andoni Iraola's side could qualify for European football for the first time in the club's history this season, right before he is due to hand over the baton to newly-appointed head coach Marco Rose.

"Aston Villa's argument [since their initial success] is that they've been held back by the mean PSR rules," Smith said. "They believe that stopped them from making the journey from Championship to Champions League in less than five years, which is apparently too slow.

"Bournemouth have been able to ride it out though. However, they have been very close to their PSR headroom, but that is obviously no longer relevant now it has been abolished.

"They have done really well in realising that the game is there to be played - and that game involves clubs like them selling a player every now and again.

"Every so often you do have to cash-in on a big player, which I would argue - and I know their fans don't like this - Aston Villa maybe realised too late.

"What is going on at Bournemouth is an extraordinary achievement. They haven't lost since they sold Antoine Semenyo in January, which is astonishing. They've had a real triumph in terms of squad-building and talent-spotting."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds