Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) mishandles a punt during first-half action on Oct 9, 2022, at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, as the Buffalo Bills close in on the loose ball during a special teams sequence that shifts field position in a tightly contested matchup. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports.
All things considered, the Minnesota Vikings have operated in the shadows during free agency, making the Kyler Murray signing the only true splash. The franchise is evidently resetting its salary cap troubles, with hopes of having a clean slate in the 2027 offseason. Along the way, though, Minnesota has added a handful of newcomers; these are those men.
Minnesota’s new-look roster is coming into focus after free agency.
From the draft and undrafted free agency, the Vikings will add about 30 new rookies. Here’s a peek at the veterans, listed in alphabetical order.
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Several Fresh Vikings Faces Will Compete for Roles This Summer
The new faces you will see in Eagan when the summer rolls around.
Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker (6) celebrates with visible emotion after a successful sequence against the Arizona Cardinals, Dec 23, 2018, at State Farm Stadium, reacting to a strong special teams performance as Los Angeles controlled field position in a late-season divisional matchup. Hekker and the Rams would win a Super Bowl a few years later. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
Johnny Hekker (P)
Hekker earned Pro Bowl selections and First-Team All-Pro honors in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017, and he received Second-Team All-Pro recognition in 2014 and 2018.
Last year, however, his production dipped, placing him near the middle of the pack. He ranked 24th in net yards per punt and 17th in punts inside the 20, with seven touchbacks, a performance that hovered around average, if not slightly below. Minnesota will be counting on him to rebound.
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Although some expected the Vikings to draft a rookie punter next month, Hekker appears to be the plan for 2026, at least for now.
When Ryan Wright signed with New Orleans on a four-year, $14 million deal, most fans weren’t overly concerned about replacing him, as the punter position is often considered replaceable. However, Wright had developed a strong rapport with Will Reichard, who was coming off an elite season and All-Pro honors.
If Minnesota relies on Hekker, the holding duties should be secure. He handled those responsibilities during the Rams’ Super Bowl run and brings significant experience to the role, which should provide Matt Daniels’s special teams group with some stability.
With the regular season still about five and a half months away, Reichard and Hekker have ample time to develop timing and consistency.
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Kyler Murray (QB)
Murray is 28, and with the Vikings’ relationship, he has a chance to latch on to Minnesota’s quarterback for the next 5-10 years. In a utopia, he’d become the Vikings’ version of Drew Brees when Brees left the San Diego Chargers for the New Orleans Saints in 2006.
Across a 17-game sample — Murray usually misses about a quarter of all games to injury — he posted Pro Bowl numbers, including approximately 4,000 passing yards, 30 all-purpose touchdowns, and around 600 rushing yards. He’s basically Lamar Jackson when healthy by the volume stats.
Now, the question becomes whether he meshes with Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Some fans have concerns about that. Stay tuned.
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No matter what, Murray becoming a Viking for $1.3 million is a legendary economic deal.
James Pierre (CB)
Fans instantly approved of Pierre because of his unholy good 86.8 Pro Football Focus grade from last year. He played about 40% of the time in Mike Tomlin’s seasons, connected to Tomlin’s roster since the start of 2020. In that vein, think of him as the Steelers’ version of Josh Metellus.
He’s a temporary solution, however, at age 29. The Vikings can still draft a cornerback in April.
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Pierre took over as a starter for Darius Slay in 2025, which is quite the feat. Still Curtain‘s Thomas Jaggi wrote about the veteran corner before the start of free agency, “While Pierre will soon be free to sign with another team when free agency kicks off, the Steelers should focus on getting him back. Just as impressive was Pierre’s lack of production allowed to opposing receivers in coverage.”
“PFF credited Pierre for allowing just 16 receptions for 163 yards on the season, while allowing one touchdown to go with one interception. Quarterbacks had a 57.2 passer rating when throwing in his direction. Pierre will turn 30 years old at the start of the 2026 season, and top-end speed has never been on his side.”
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) and Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre (42) exchange jerseys following an AFC wild card matchup, Jan 11, 2025, at M&T Bank Stadium, sharing a moment of sportsmanship after a hard-fought playoff game between division rivals. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images.
Pierre will hold the job that Jeff Okudah and Fabian Moreau filled in Minnesota last season.
Jaggi added, “Though his career got off to a late start, it’s possible that he only has another year or two of his prime before his performance starts to decline. Regardless, James Pierre is coming off an excellent season, and the price is right to keep him around — perhaps on a two-year contract.”
“As long as another team doesn’t come along and drive up the pricetag in free agency, this should be an easy call for the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
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Ryan Van Demark (OT)
Van Demark is the new Justin Skule or David Quessenberry, an OT3 in case Christian Darrisaw or Brian O’Neill get hurt. He logged a remarkable season by his standards last year and is just what the doctor ordered for Minnesota.
Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Ryan Van Demark (74) lines up during postseason action against the Kansas City Chiefs, Jan 21, 2024, at Highmark Stadium, battling in the trenches as Buffalo worked through offensive possessions in a tightly contested AFC divisional round game. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
A peek at his brief PFF scorecard:
2025: 74.4 (312 snaps)
2024: 53.3 (199 snaps)
2023: 60.2 (47 snaps)
Like the Skule signing at this time last year, Van Demark, 27, profiles as a player who can start in a pinch, perhaps as a diamond in the rough.
Arsenal and Manchester City will face off at Wembley on Sunday in the Carabao Cup final, in what promises to be a defining moment in their battle this season.
This is not just another final. Both teams are chasing success on multiple fronts, and the result at Wembley could shape how the rest of the campaign unfolds.
Arsenal arrive in strong form under Mikel Arteta. They currently sit nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and have also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Confidence is high, and the Gunners will see this as a big chance to win their first trophy in several years.
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For Manchester City, the situation is different. Pep Guardiola and his team are looking to respond after their recent exit from Europe. Winning this final would offer them a chance to bounce back and regain momentum as the season enters a crucial stage.
Both sides are still involved in the FA Cup, and they are also set to meet again in the league next month. There is even a chance they could face each other once more before the season ends. That makes this final even more important, as it could give the winner a psychological advantage going into those matches.
For Arsenal, the game is also about ending a long wait for silverware. Since lifting the FA Cup in 2020, they have come close on several occasions but failed to go all the way. Reaching the final is a step forward, but they will be determined to finish the job this time.
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Manchester City, on the other hand, have enjoyed great success in recent years, winning several major trophies under Guardiola. However, they will be eager to add another title and avoid ending the season without silverware.
Kick-off is set for 5pm, and with both teams having plenty to play for, a tense and exciting contest is expected at Wembley.
The SWAG Golf Vandal isn’t just another oversized mallet trying to buy its way into the high-MOI conversation. It’s a statement from the Chicago-based outfit that they’re done being pigeonholed as the “cool headcover brand.”
With the Vandal and its beefier sibling, the Vandal X, SWAG is proving that precision milling and “save-your-round” forgiveness can actually live in the same zip code.
The new SWAG Vandal and Vandal X are milled in the Chicagoland area.
Jake Morrow / GOLF
If you’ve followed SWAG Putters, you know they don’t do subtle, but the Vandal is a different kind of loud — it’s engineered volume. Here is why this mallet is currently one of the most interesting sticks in the boutique golf market.
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The Heavy Lifting: Multi-Material Perimeter Weighting
High MOI (Momentum of Inertia) is a math problem, and SWAG solved it with a dual-material build. The main chassis is carved from lightweight 6061 Aluminum, which acts as the skeleton. The “meat” of the putter — the face and the internal weights — is precision-milled from 303 Stainless Steel. By marrying these two, they’ve managed to shove the mass exactly where you need it without making the head feel like a literal brick on a stick.
The high M.O.I. footprint of the SWAG Golf Vandal X.
Jake Morrow / GOLF
That aluminum-to-steel ratio allows for some aggressive weight redistribution. In the standard Vandal, roughly two-thirds of the head’s mass sits within a half-inch of the perimeter. This results in a head that stays remarkably square even when you start catching it off the toe.The X pushes it even further.
Vandal vs. Vandal X: Picking Your Mallet
The choice here comes down to your visual preference and how much “help” you want. The Vandal is the sleeker of the two, offering a more compact look at address.
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The Vandal is a great shape and feel for players who may be in something like the SWAG Boss, and are looking to go to a fuller, larger mallet. There’s nothing really offensive about the shape and its clean, sleek lines help frame the ball well to make a confident stroke. The Vandal X goes much deeper.
SWAG Golf’s new Vandal mallet putter.
Jake Morrow / GOLF
SWAG Golf’s new Vandal X mallet putter.
Jake Morrow / GOLF
The Vandal X model goes deep. This is the one you want if you’re fully ready to commit to a large-and-in-charge profile. Its profile is pushed further back to move the Center of Gravity (CG) seemingly into the next time zone, encouraging the ball to get into a true forward roll much faster.
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Just a heads up here, I noticed a decent amount of ball speed gain with the X over the standard Vandal shape. Enough to notice!
Signature Drip Face Milling
It wouldn’t be a SWAG Putter without the signature Drip Face milling. Beyond the “if you know, you know” aesthetic, the milling pattern serves a functional purpose. It’s designed to provide soft, crisp feedback at impact while neutralizing the side spin that usually plagues off-center strikes. I quite like the feel off the face of these putters. There’s enough audio and feedback coming into the hands without sounding tinny or thuddy. It’s a nice satisfying click off the face that makes you feel like you made a good stroke at it.
SWAG’s Drip Face face milling helps to reduce sidespin for better distance control and more on-line putts.
Jake Morrow / GOLF
Alignment that tracks
The top line features a clever bit of kit: a rear alignment ridge that is exactly the width of a golf ball. It creates a natural visual “track” that frames the ball, making it nearly impossible to set up closed or open without noticing it.
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To keep all that stability in check, the Vandal comes stock with a black chrome double-bend KBS Tour shaft. This setup produces a near-face-balanced hang, making it the weapon of choice for players who prefer a straight-back, straight-through stroke.
SWAG Golf’s Vandal mallet putter topline view.
Jake Morrow / GOLF
The “Swag” Tax: Made in Chicago, at a price
While many OEMs are outsourcing their mallet heads to massive casting houses, SWAG is keeping it local. Every Vandal is designed, milled, and hand-finished right in the Chicago area. You’re paying for 100 percent CNC-milled quality, and you can see it in every tight tolerance and sharp edges where the materials meet. It’s also nice for me that SWAG is a hometown company about 45 minutes away from me!
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SWAG Golf Vandal X Putter
The Vandal X is another take on a high MOI mallet putter, precision-milled in the Chicago area from 303 stainless steel and 6061 aluminum.
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SWAG Golf Vandal Putter
At address, the Vandal inspires confidence with a ball-width rear alignment ridge that mirrors the diameter of a golf ball for intuitive, precise setup. The shape provides a larger footprint for added stability, while maintaining a clean, uncluttered look highlighted by a single visible fastener.
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Quality like this doesn’t come cheap. Expect to shell out $777.77 for a Vandal or Vandal X. The good news is that unlike SWAG’s traditional “drop” model, the Vandal series is a regularly stocked item, so anybody can get their hands on SWAG’s tech-filled Vandal series of putters.
This was the 32-year-old Hunter Bell’s fifth major international medal – and fourth on the global stage – as she continues to establish herself at the top of the sport which she did not return to until 2022 after a five-year break.
It was the fourth-placed finish at the 2024 world indoors in Glasgow which provided Hunter Bell with the necessary evidence that she could compete with the world’s best – and should take a summer sabbatical from her full-time job to achieve her Olympic dream.
The British team captain in Torun, Hunter Bell had won both of her 1500m races this season in preparation for chasing her first global crown.
She remained patient as Haylom opened up a significant lead in the early stages, gradually reducing the gap before launching her devastating attack for gold at the bell.
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Caudery has endured two heartbreaking experiences at the past two global outdoor championships, failing to qualify for the 2024 Olympic final before sustaining an ankle injury while warming-up at the World Championships in September.
But the 26-year-old wore a beaming smile after securing her return to a global podium in style to further boost GB’s medal haul, minutes before world record holder Keely Hodgkinson’s won 800m gold.
ST. LOUIS — Fletcher Loyer scored 24 points, Trey Kaufman-Renn had 19 points and nine rebounds, and No. 2 seed Purdue beat Miami 79-69 on Sunday in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the third straight time and seventh in the last nine years.
In his first game since breaking Bobby Hurley’s NCAA career record for assists, Braden Smith had 12 points and eight assists but was also harassed by Miami’s athletic guards into eight turnovers, matching his career high.
Smith hit four free throws in the final minute after seventh-seeded Miami (26-9) had cut an 11-point deficit to 73-69, helping to secure Matt Painter’s 500th victory in his 21st season as Purdue’s coach. He is just 12 short of Gene Keady’s school record.
Purdue (29-8) advances to face 11th-seeded Texas in the West Region semifinals Thursday in San Jose, Calif. It’ll be the teams’ first meeting since Purdue eliminated Texas in the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
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Shelton Henderson led the Hurricanes with 18 points and eight rebounds while also frequently guarding Smith, and Malik Reneau had 16 points with seven turnovers. Miami matched the recognized NCAA record by increasing its win total by 19 from last season, when it went 7-24. Iowa State improved by 20 wins after the pandemic-impacted 2020-21 season, when it only played five non-conference games.
Kaufman-Renn followed Loyer’s driving layup with a three-point play as Purdue created a little breathing room with an 11-3 run in the second half. Loyer’s steal set up a fast-break layup by Smith that pushed the Boilermakers’ advantage to 68-57 with 5:32 to play.
Smith had more turnovers (four) than assists (two) in an uncharacteristic first half while making just one of his six shots. He ended up 3 for 12 from the field, but he and Loyer were a combined 14 for 14 from the foul line. Loyer, the school’s record holder for 3-pointers, also made all four of his 3s as Purdue was 57 per cent from behind the arc.
After Miami’s strong start that included an alley-oop dunk by Ernest Udeh Jr. just after the opening tip, Loyer powered Purdue into the lead with 10 points during a 13-2 surge. His second 3-pointer in that run put Purdue up 19-12 with 12:19 left in the first half.
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The Hurricanes whittled away at the deficit, limiting Smith’s efficacy, and reclaimed the lead on Richardson’s two-handed jam that made it 31-29 with 4:01 to go before halftime. Miami led 40-38 at the break after Tre Donaldson’s transition layup in the closing seconds.
Syracuse is finalizing a deal to bring back one of its own to lead the men’s basketball program. Siena’s Gerry McNamara is expected to be the Orange’s next coach, sources confirmed to CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. A deal is not done yet, but every indication is that SU will bring back one of the most beloved players in program history to lead the program in the wake of Adrian Autry’s firing earlier this month.
McNamara winning out comes after weeks of debate amongst big money players at Syracuse, per Norlander’s sources, who said there was a faction of boosters that were adamant about hiring outside the Syracuse/Jim Boeheim tree.
With a variety of potential candidates not showing serious interest due to uncertain NIL capabilities, McNamara quickly became a sentimental and practical lead candidate as the search progressed over the weekend.
While starring as a four-year standout for the Orange, McNamara hit six 3-pointers during a first-half barrage in the 2003 national title game against Kansas. McNamara scored 2,099 career points at Syracuse.
After studying the game under longtime Syracuse coach and Hall of Famer Jim Boeheim, McNamara took his first head coaching position with Siena prior to the 2024-25 season. He went 14-18 in his first campaign before leading the program to a 23-12 record this season.
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In Thursday’s first-round NCAA Tournament game, the Blue Devils — as a 27.5-point favorite — trailed by as many as 13 points during the opening minutes of the second half before storming back to survive what would’ve been one of the biggest upsets in NCAA Tournament history.
“I’ve been doing this a long time. I don’t think I’ve ever been more proud of any group of kids I’ve been around,” McNamara said after Thursday’s loss. “I think the world and college basketball saw what I’ve been so grateful and thankful to be around all season, a group of kids that love each other, that compete at the highest level and play for each other.”
Duke’s Jon Scheyer said after the game that he was out-coached by McNamara.
“I appreciate the compliment, but it’s those kids. It’s the kids that just walked away,” McNamara said. “It’s my staff. I’ve got an incredible group in that locker room. Like I said, a lot of people have game plans. Duke’s been able to pretty much wash that out in pretty much any team they’ve played.”
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McNamara’s parting words to Siena
While he wasn’t asked directly about other jobs following the loss to Duke, McNamara did address a question centered around what it has meant to him leading the Siena program. McNamara has long been rumored to be Syracuse’s top choice for its vacancy since the Orange fired Autry earlier this month after a third straight NCAA Tournament-less season.
“I’m just really proud,” McNamara said. “I said before, I thought last year we put together a group that was ready to compete right away, and we lost a lot of close games. This offseason was focused on the frontcourt, which you watched Riley Mulvey play today, Francis Folefac, Tas has been hurt, and Antonio didn’t play, we’ve got the best frontcourt, one of the best frontcourts in our league.
“Listen, your kids in a lot of ways are a reflection of you as a coach, and I couldn’t be prouder in terms of how hard they play. That gives us a chance. So when I took the job at Siena, you’ve got to understand that when I played in college, my understanding, Fran was right behind me. This program was in this tournament. The support from the alumni, from the students, from the fans, it’s real. We’ve got a real thing going in Albany.
“I wanted it to feel and look a certain way, feel a certain way in that locker room, a brotherhood, a family. I wanted it to look a certain way on the court in terms of the fight and the grit, and these kids have done all of it. They’ve done all of it.”
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If McNamara is indeed the choice for the Orange, he’ll be tasked with getting Syracuse back to the Final Four for the first time since the 2015-16 season under Boeheim. Since that campaign, Syracuse has only four total NCAA Tournament wins.
Arsenal fans on X are fuming at Mikel Arteta after he included Kepa Arrizabalaga in the starting XI over David Raya to face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final. The two sides are set to lock horns at Wembley Stadium later today (Sunday, March 22).
Kepa Arrizabalaga starts in goal for the Gunners, while Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Piero Hincapie make up the defense. The midfield comprises of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, and Kai Havertz. Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Viktor Gyokeres start up front to complete the starting XI.
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Raya has been outstanding for Arsenal this season, keeping 21 clean sheets in 40 appearances across all competitions. However, Kepa has been the go-to star in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season and has kept four clean sheets in nine appearances in all competitions.
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However, fans are unhappy with Arteta handing Kepa his sixth Carabao Cup start of the season due to the magnitude of the game, with one posting:
“Why will you start Kepa in a game of this magnitude? Such a shame”
Another fan tweeted:
“The biggest mistake here is not starting Raya. I hope the defense protects him all through.”
Other fans reacted below:
“I think it’ll be a really, really tight game” – Alan Shearer predicts winner of Arsenal vs Manchester City ahead of Carabao Cup final
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has backed Arsenal to narrowly defeat Manchester City in the upcoming Carabao Cup final, claiming he wouldn’t be surprised if the game went to penalties.
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The Gunners have a great chance of winning the quadruple this season and will be aiming to secure their first trophy of the 2025-26 campaign. While they narrowly defeated Crystal Palace 9-8 on penalties in the quarter-finals, Mikel Arteta and Co. beat Chelsea 4-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals to progress to the final. On the other hand, Manchester City defeated Newcastle 5-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals.
Days after witnessing Real Madrid eliminate the Cityzens in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Shearer told Betfair (via METRO):
“I think it’ll be a great game. I think there’ll be loads of talking points. It wouldn’t even surprise me if it went to penalties. But I think Arsenal might just nick it. I think it’ll be a really, really tight game, but I’m going to go for an Arsenal win.”
The Gunners last faced City in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium, salvaging a 1-1 draw following Gabriel Martinelli’s last-minute equalizer on September 21, 2025.
Evander Holyfield has offered his thoughts on the potential exhibition match between Floyd Mayweather and Mike Tyson, which has not yet been formally announced.
Their non-competitive tussle was originally slated for April 25, before Mayweather’s rematch with Manny Pacquiao was confirmed for the Sphere, Las Vegas, on September 19.
According to Babcock, Mayweather is still likely to face Tyson in the Congo, before putting his 50-0 (27 KOs) record on the line against Pacquiao later this year.
Tyson, however, is approaching the age of 60 and has not seen action since trudging through eight, two-minute rounds against Jake Paul in November 2024.
But despite all of this, heavyweight legend Holyfield has told clockednloaded that he sees Tyson, the naturally bigger man, getting the better of Mayweather in their possible exhibition.
“I got Tyson. He a bigger puncher, man. I just think, if they compete, [Tyson] ain’t going to let nobody get the best of him.”
Holyfield pulled off a sizable upset against Tyson in 1996, stopping him in round 11, before winning by disqualification in their immediate rematch.
SportsLine’s model simulated St. John’s Red Storm vs. Kansas Jayhawks and revealed its college basketball picks for this NCAA Tournament 2026 second-round matchup on Sunday
Tottenham suffered a potentially seismic 3-0 defeat to Premier League relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday, failing to rise to a rallying call from their massed ranks of fans. Thousands lined the streets to cheer the squad before the crunch fixture in north London and there was a crackling atmosphere in the ground as kick-off approached. Spurs bossed the first half but Forest took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Brazilian forward Igor Jesus headed home a Neco Williams corner. Forest doubled their lead just after the hour mark when Morgan Gibbs-White finished under Guglielmo Vicario and substitute Taiwo Awoniyi compounded Tottenham’s misery with a late strike.
The vital win for Vitor Pereira’s men lifts them above Spurs, who are now just one point and one place above the bottom three.
Last year’s Europa League winners are staring at the nightmare prospect of relegation from the top tier of English football for the first time since 1977 unless they can arrest their steep decline.
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As if to underline the club’s current plight, a few miles across London, bitter rivals Arsenal were gunning for their first trophy of a potential quadruple in the League Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
Spurs, led by interim boss Igor Tudor, came into Sunday’s game at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without a win in the Premier League since late December.
But they were buoyed by last week’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool and a midweek win against Atletico Madrid, even though they exited the Champions League on aggregate.
Fans rally
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Fan groups set up a initiative ahead of the game called “Show Up, Sing Up, Stay Up”, calling for supporters to rally.
Fireworks were let off and a section of fans chanted the name of former boss Mauricio Pochettino before the team bus was serenaded with chants of “Come on you Spurs” as white and blue smoke filled the air.
A message on the stadium screens from captain Cristian Romero said: “We’ll fight for everything, all together.”
Forest, who started the day just outside the drop zone, looked the more dangerous team in the early minutes but Tottenham settled and started to enjoy the bulk of the possession, with Richarlison heading wide.
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However, the home side struggled to create clear-cut chances and paid the price when Jesus put Forest ahead in the 45th minute, meeting Williams’ corner with a bullet header.
Spurs came within a whisker of levelling at the other end but Forest goalkeeper Matz Selz touched Mathys Tel’s powerful shot onto the crossbar in the dying seconds of the opening period.
As the half wore on the home fans among the crowd of 61,519 became increasingly edgy.
And they were shocked into silence when Gibbs-White, a target for Spurs in last summer’s transfer window, slotted home in the 62nd minute from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s cross.
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Tudor made a number of attacking changes, bringing on Randal Kolo Muani and Xavi Simons, but to no avail.
Awoniyi’s goal in the 87th minute sent home fans scurrying for the exits.
The only chink of light for Spurs on Sunday was a 2-0 defeat for West Ham against Aston Villa, which leaves the Hammers in the bottom three.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
LIV Golf’s recent sprint across the globe featured stops in Hong Kong, Singapore and South Africa in three successive weeks. This week’s tournament at Midland’s Club at Steyn City marked the league’s first-ever event on the African continent, and the fans turned out in droves.
Those fans got their money’s worth too, with an opportunity to witness a heavyweight battle between LIV’s two biggest names, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm. On Sunday, Rahm eradicated DeChambeau’s three-shot lead by firing a bogey-free, eight-under round of 65 to reach 26 under par.
DeChambeau fired a final-round 68 to also get to 26 under par, sending the two to a playoff for the individual title. On the first playoff hole, the 651-yard par-5 18th, DeChambeau hit the green in two with a magnificent fairway wood from the wet ground left of the fairway, giving him a makeable look at eagle while Rahm found the greenside bunker.
Rahm left his bunker shot outside of DeChambeau’s mark, and when Rahm missed his birdie putt, DeChambeau had two putts to win, making his victory all but assured. DeChambeau hit his eagle putt to tap-in range, securing his birdie and the win, making him LIV’s first back-to-back winner since Talor Gooch won in Adelaide and Singapore in 2023.
DeChambeau was immediately overcome with emotion after holing his putt, tearfully embracing his caddie and later, his Crushers GC teammates, who also secured a team win, edging the home-country favorites, Southern Guards GC, by a single shot.
In his post-round interview, DeChambeau remained coy about the source of his emotion.
“I wish I could tell you,” he said. “A lot has happened in the past week. I’m just so grateful for my team, the Crushers, everybody supporting me. It’s so funny, golf is a fickle game, and you work so hard at it your whole entire life, and you realize that golf is just golf and there’s a lot more to life than just golf.
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“I had some things happen in the off time during this week, and I was just praying all day, praying to give me the perseverance to move forward and keep looking forward,” he continued. “I’ve just got to say I love everybody. Thank you for supporting. South Africa was unbelievable. I mean, got to be the best LIV event we’ve ever had.”
DeChambeau now has five LIV individual titles, and his team, Crushers GC, leads the league with nine team victories.
The South Africa event is LIV Golf’s final tune-up before the Masters. The next stop is Mexico City, which will take place at Club de Golf Chapultepec April 16-19.
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