Everton midfielder James Garner knew this season was make-or-break for his international aspirations.

The uncapped Garner suddenly has the World Cup in his sights after being called up to Thomas Tuchel’s squad for this month’s friendlies against Uruguay and Japan.

The 25-year-old has not played for his national team since featuring for the under-21s in their successful 2023 European Championship side.

But Garner made a vow at the start of the season to give himself the best chance of earning a senior call-up and has delivered, producing a fine string of displays for Everton.

“I think since I signed at Everton I’ve had quite unlucky spells with two serious back injuries, so that obviously put me out for a long time,” he said.

“And then obviously, the past three years, we’ve been fighting with the relegation zone.

“So it’s been quite tough for me to really showcase what I can do. And then I just thought to myself, this season was a fresh season, new manager, new stadium, and with a year left for my contract as well, I knew that I had to show everybody what I’m really about, and showcase all my talents, and I’m glad this season is going as well as it is.”

Garner revealed he was able to have a more enjoyable phone call with his dad when he told him news of his call-up.

Garner’s father, who lives in Thailand, is a staunch Liverpool fan, which made some conversations with the former Manchester United and current Everton player a bit awkward.

“My dad’s just very proud as he is. Phoning him this time about England rather than a club that he doesn’t support is very nice,” Garner added.

“It was a very nice call as well.

“From since I was a young boy, my mum, my dad, my granddad, they’ve all helped me get to the position that I’m in now.

“So I’m very grateful to them, and I owe a lot to them, and I’m hoping that they’re all there on Friday.

“My dad will have to travel all the way over from Thailand, I’m hoping that they can make it for Friday.”

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have decided to retire jersey number 12 as a tribute to the legendary all-rounder Andre Russell, the West Indian star they have lovingly designated as the Eternal Knight, for his yeoman service to the Indian Premier League (IPL) side. The three-time champions made the special announcement at their preseason event – Knights Unplugged 3.0 – on Tuesday evening. Andre Russell, who has returned to the KKR setup as a ‘power coach’ ahead of the new season, had a distinguished 12-year tenure with the Kolkata Knight Riders, representing the franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2014 to 2025.

With his iconic hairstyle and incredible prowess on the cricket field, the West Indian went on to become one of KKR’s most prominent players, playing a significant role in helping them secure two IPL titles (2014, 2024).

Russell featured in 140 IPL matches for KKR, scoring 2,651 runs at a strike rate of 174.17 and picking 123 wickets. He is only the second all-rounder in the IPL to register more than 2000 runs and 100 wickets. His power-packed performances also earned him the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament in 2019, where he amassed 510 runs at a staggering strike rate of 204.81 and an average of 56.66.

Jersey no. 12 in Purple & Gold will always be yours DRE RUSS pic.twitter.com/LuK0aIJ5zl

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) March 24, 2026

The two-time ICC Men’s T20 World Cup winner (2012 and 2016) also holds the best bowling figures for a KKR bowler in IPL history, registering 5 for 15 against the Mumbai Indians in the 2021 edition. His 122 wickets for the franchise make him the second-most successful bowler in their history, only second to Sunil Narine (192 wickets).

Speaking on the occasion, Venky Mysore, Chief Executive Officer, Kolkata Knight Riders, said, “We’ve had a long association with Andre Russell, not just with KKR but also on a personal level. On the field, he has given us so many reasons to celebrate his performances over the years. He always wore the number 12 proudly, and the number is so unique to Dre Russ that we wanted to share a fitting tribute. So, in the Knight Riders tradition of starting a new legacy, we’d like to retire this number for KKR in his honour.”

Sharing his thoughts, an emotional Kolkata Knight Riders Power Coach Andre Russell, said, “It has been over a decade of amazing achievements with this franchise, and I got a bit emotional watching the video. To be a part of two championship-winning teams with KKR, and to see what it means to everyone, that’s an amazing feeling. When you win a World Cup, that feels special, but when you win the IPL, it’s something different. I just want to say thanks to this franchise for making this journey so special for me.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

When Carson Wentz re-signed with the Minnesota Vikings last week, some onlookers just couldn’t stomach that he may be on deck for a QB3 job. A few days later, it seems precisely that assignment awaits.

Minnesota appears to have a larger contingency plan in mind for Wentz this season.

A couple of different sources hinted this week that Wentz, indeed, will be the backup to the backup, and it’s not hard to comprehend.

Wentz Will Factor into Minnesota’s QB3 Insurance Strategy

A tweaked role for Wentz is ahead.

Schefter: Wentz as a QB3 in Minnesota Isn’t Weird

Schefter stopped by The Pat McAfee Show on Monday and dropped the Wentz tidbit: “Maybe there’s something to the Wentz signing that would dictate or influence J.J. McCarthy’s future, but I don’t view it that way. You can never have enough quarterbacks, that’s how I view it.”

The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis added in a separate article, “Wentz, 33, had multiple opportunities with perhaps clearer paths to playing time. Why, then, would he choose Minnesota? It was not because he got any impression that the Vikings would be moving on from McCarthy, one league source said. Instead, Wentz came back because of his faith in O’Connell, quarterbacks coach Josh McCown and the team’s core players.”

Both men essentially stated that the Vikings did not re-sign Wentz as part of a McCarthy replacement plan, as many on social media suggested last week.

Burned by Meager QB Depth Last Year

At this time last year, the Vikings had two quarterbacks on their roster: McCarthy — and Brett Rypien, who is mostly showcased as a practice squader.

Then, the NFL draft arrived, and former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah swung a trade for Sam Howell, a young quarterback from the Seattle Seahawks, who had a year’s worth of starting experience with the Washington Commanders. Howell arrived at training camp and in the preseason, struggling mightily, and was later traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Minnesota then signed Wentz as a late-summer fix, and he started five games in 2025.

Because the plan to formulate depth behind McCarthy was so paltry last offseason, Minnesota has swung for the fences this go-round. It’s not weird to have Wentz as the QB3; the Vikings learned their lesson.

The Stats from Wentz in 2025

While Wentz’s stats — a 65.1% completion rate for 1,216 yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions — don’t scream dominance, he undeniably brought a cleaner and more consistent presence to the 2025 offense. He kept Minnesota on schedule more effectively than McCarthy, drive after drive, and that steadiness proved valuable.

The team’s scoring output reflects this improvement. With Wentz at quarterback, the Vikings surpassed 20 points in four of his five starts, including a 38-point rout of the Bengals. McCarthy, in contrast, only reached that mark four times in ten starts, with far more erratic performances.

Advanced metrics further support this assessment. Among 40 quarterbacks with at least 200 dropbacks, Wentz ranked 25th in EPA per play, while McCarthy lagged behind at 37th. This difference often manifests on extended drives, where patience, timing, and Wentz’s consistent completions are crucial for maintaining momentum.

Wentz prioritized quicker decisions and shorter throws, enabling the offense to function even when the offensive line struggled. McCarthy, with his greater potential for big plays and penchant for downfield throws, offered flashier highlights. However, his ball placement and consistency weren’t on par with Wentz, who provided the Vikings with a more dependable presence under center.

Perhaps a Summer Competition with McCarthy for QB2

Some even speculated that Wentz could be back in Minnesota to compete with Murray, as former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber led that charge on social media last week. While that take is rather outlandish, Wentz may do battle with McCarthy for the QB2 job. McCarthy faced virtually no training camp competition last year, and usually in sports, that’s a healthy practice.

The aforementioned Lewis also noted, “This spring, the Vikings were determined to prevent a repeat — at all costs. This is why they were linked to as many quarterbacks as they were before free agency, and why they brought in Wentz after already signing Murray.”

“Wentz’s addition is not a referendum on 23-year-old J.J. McCarthy’s future, according to team sources, but it is an exclamation point on the team’s plan.”

Minnesota may rectify its ways in the summer of 2026, forcing McCarthy to earn the QB2 job if he can’t oust Murray from the QB1 hold.

But remember: Wentz as the QB3, on a $3 million deal, isn’t some big conspiracy or coup against McCarthy. It’s just how the Vikings have responded this offseason to the scarce QB depth chart last year, which ruined their season when the dust settled.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has taken a backseat in favor of Austin Reaves being the team’s second option. It has worked out well for the Lakers, as he’s thrived in his role as the third go-to guy. On Tuesday’s episode of his show with former NBA star Steve Nash, “Mind the Game,” James recalled what it was like seeing Reaves play for the first time.

Reaves signed with the Lakers ahead of the 2021-22 season after going undrafted. According to James, he watched some of the basketball highlights from when the NBA star was in college. The four-time champion said that the former Wichita State guard moved differently.

“After we signed him, I went back and watched a lot of his Wichita State highlights and games and then a lot of his Oklahoma highlights and games as well,” James said.

“The first thing I noticed, it’s kind of funny. We always talk about this. He didn’t play like a white boy. It was very different. His wiggle was very different.”

While James was just sharing his thoughts about his teammate at that time, fans had a wild reaction to it. Here are some of what the fans said about what the Lakers star said.

“Lebron being racist again. Jokic plays like a ‘White boy’ and he’s been kicking your ass for damn near a decade now,” a fan said.

“Jeez. Just imagine this was reversed and it was a white dude being interviewed. ‘He didn’t play like a black dude’, annnnnd cancelled. Great job on the racism,” another fan commented.

“LeBron James is a racist and hates white people….” one fan said.

Other fans came to defend James, however.

“This kinda talk is acceptable in sports but not music, just interesting seeing the difference lol,” someone commented.

“Glad he brought his wiggle to LA,” a comment read.

“I swear! I said this off jump street on Austin reaves! That boy was nice! I was glad he fell to us out of the draft,” one fan commented.

LeBron James Could Return to the Lakers in One Condition

After the 2025-26 season, LeBron James will be a free agent. He has the freedom to join any team and play his 24th NBA season. However, his age is a significant factor in determining the type of deal he will receive over the summer. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said that there’s a chance for the Lakers to re-sign him if he takes a pay cut.

Shelburne said that it also applies to other teams that are interested in signing him.

“The sense I have is that this idea of playing for $50M anywhere is probably gone, but if (LeBron) is willing to play for less, and if that fits with what (the Lakers) are trying to do, I think that door is open,” Shelburne said on ESPN’s “NBA Today.”

LeBron James’ injuries this season could have played a part. Additionally, he’ll turn 42 next season, and no one knows how long he’ll continue to play well.