Oct 24, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham (30) prior to the game against the Washington Redskins at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
As expected, Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham is walking away from the NFL after 10 seasons of service. Ham joined Minnesota as an undrafted free agent in 2016 — and never left the franchise.
Ham’s value lived in the dirty work, and the Vikings now have to replace a role that rarely shows up in stat sheets.
The future of the fullback position is unknown for the Vikings, but the next guy, if there is one, will have big shoes to fill.
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Vikings Will Feel C.J. Ham’s Exit on Offense and Special Teams
The Week 18 going-away party was for real.
Vikings fullback C.J. Ham goes through pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium ahead of a matchup with Arizona, preparing on Dec 1, 2024, as Minnesota finalized personnel and situational plans, with Ham maintaining his usual routine while the offense settled into game-day rhythm during a late-season NFC contest. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Ham Retires
It’s a done deal for Ham. Duluth News Tribune staff wrote Tuesday, “Longtime Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham formally announced his NFL retirement through his agency, Team IFA, on Tuesday.”
“The 32-year-old Duluth native recently completed his 10th season in the NFL in 2025. Ham, who played running back at Division II Augustana from 2012 to 2015, broke into the NFL as a rookie minicamp invite by the Vikings in the spring of 2016, eventually earning a spot on the practice squad.”
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Ham was universally adored by fans from cover to cover in his career.
DNT added, “After transitioning to fullback, Ham made the active roster the following year in 2017, and has gone on to earn Pro Bowl nods in 2019 and 2023.”
“The former Duluth Denfeld star finished his NFL career with 681 receiving yards, 119 rushing yards, and eight total touchdowns — including a goal-line plunge in the Vikings’ season finale against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on Jan. 4, a game in which he and the team gave several indications it would be his last.”
The Career
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Ham showed up on the scene in 2016, near the start of the Mike Zimmer era, and within a year, he had earned a roster spot, taking over for fullback Zach Line, who had been with the franchise since 2013. After that, Ham would play in 141 games, starting 42, and accumulated 681 receiving yards, 119 rushing yards, and 8 total touchdowns in 10 seasons.
The Minnesota native also played a significant role on special teams, in addition to doing a fullback’s dirty work: blocking on rushing and passing downs.
Until this week, Ham was the second-longest tenured member of the Vikings, outlasted only by safety Harrison Smith, who joined the club in 2012, and, too, could retire in the next few weeks. Brian O’Neill now takes Ham’s spot as the second-longest tenured Viking.
Ham was voted a five-time captain of various Vikings squads.
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The Tributes
Fans, naturally, poured in tributes for the fullback. Sleeper‘sJason Harmon tweeted, “Minnesota native, UDFA, rookie mini camp invite, moved from RB to FB, ten year career as a Viking, 2x Pro Bowler, community hero. Happy retirement CJ Ham.”
VikingzFanPage posted, “CJ Ham started his career as a rookie minicamp invite for the Vikings back in 2016. He ends it as a 2x Pro Bowler. The Duluth native defied all odds to have a great 10 year career in the NFL.”
Last of the Fullbacks’on Ham: “Congrats to Division II Augustana & Minnesota Vikings Fullback C.J. Ham on a great career. It’s been a pleasure watching you carry the torch. Happy retirement CJ! 🫡 #LongLiveTheFullback.”
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Writer Matt Zimmer: “Sounds like CJ Ham has made his retirement official. Pretty amazing career. From D2 Augustana to NFL Pro-Bowler and Vikings captain. And a great dude on top of it.”
Minnesota fullback C.J. Ham carries the ball during second-quarter action against Chicago at U.S. Bank Stadium, pushing through traffic on Dec 31, 2017, as the Vikings leaned on physical execution and field position to control tempo in a divisional matchup that closed out the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
And our Steve Hoikkala on Ham: “We all kind of expected CJ Ham to retire with what look to be his farewell in the final home game for the #Vikings, but definitely was one of the best fullbacks in the league for a long time. Sad to see him go. From Vikings fans, Thank you C.J. Ham. 🫶💜 #SKOL.”
A New FB or Nothing?
The next item of business at fullback? Well, nobody knows.
Including the Vikings, about 10 NFL teams use fullbacks on any given Sunday, and it’s unclear if Ham stuck around during the Kevin O’Connell era as a matter of lifetime achievement and utility. For example, O’Connell came from the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, and Sean McVay’s teams do not use fullbacks. On the other hand, Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco, who runs a similar offense, does employ fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
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Vikings guard Will Fries, tackle Brian O’Neill, and fullback C.J. Ham celebrate together following a second-quarter touchdown against Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium on Jan 4, 2026, marking a synchronized moment along the offensive front as Minnesota’s blocking cohesion translated into scoring success during a high-energy divisional showdown. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Generally speaking, fullbacks are reserved for run-first or run-happy offenses (at least the 2025 version of the definition). The Vikings, rather emphatically, do not love running the football, so we shall see if O’Connell finds a Ham replacement.
Thus far this offseason, folks have learned that Minnesota will venture into 2026 with a new general manager and no Ham for the first time in 10 years.
That was the story of Tuesday night at Easter Road too. The Scots were dominant, created decent chances but just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net, until McGovern did deep into stoppage-time to level.
In the Hibernian striker – who had six goals in seven games before this one – it does seem the Scots have found the goalscoring forward they’ve been missing.
But in both games she missed golden opportunities too. Though she was not the only one.
Andreatta insists the clinical edge which is still missing will come as “connections grow” between players.
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Lauren Davidson was drafted in from the off after her impressive performance and assist off the bench midweek, while Freya Gregory only earned her first cap last year, along with McGovern.
There’s still a bit of a transitional feel about things, but Scotland don’t have time for bedding in.
The players know it. Many have seen this movie before where they canter through qualifying campaigns but panic at the play-offs, which are guaranteed to come.
“Frustration” was the first word Docherty said in her post-match reflection.
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She, along with Weir, have been said to have been sharing horror stories of the past in camp this week. Fresh faces, such as McGovern and Miri Taylor have spoken of their importance.
Important to recognise but not be restrained by.
Andreatta has done well in her year to release the squad of their shackles and shift their mentality to one where Scotland leave Belgium with a point and a pang of pain.
A double-header with Isreal is the next challenge, but the overriding focus is getting her side ready to right their play-off wrongs later this year.
Manchester United are a step closer to the Champions League after beating Chelsea on Saturday night but Bruno Fernandes was left unhappy with an incident late on in the match
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes reacted with fury over a potential missed red card during Saturday’s 1-0 win at Chelsea. Michael Carrick’s side have taken a huge leap towards Champions League qualification after Matheus Cunha’s first-half goal secured all three points at Stamford Bridge.
The Reds are now 10 points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, who sit just one place below the final qualification spot for Europe’s elite competition. It means Carrick’s team need a maximum of six more points from their remaining five games to qualify for the Champions League – a competition they have been absent from since 2023.
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But Fernandes was far from happy with referee Michael Oliver during United’s win in west London. The Portuguese midfielder showed his displeasure after Blues player Romeo Lavia appeared to step on him after he was fouled.
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If Oliver had deemed that Lavia did stamp on Fernandes, then the Chelsea midfielder would almost certainly have been shown a red card for violent conduct. Instead, no card was shown.
The incident is unlikely to dampen United’s mood, however. The Reds have been transformed since interim head coach Carrick succeeded Ruben Amorim in January.
Carrick’s men have lost just twice all year in the league and look almost certain to seal a spot in the Champions League after a season out of Europe. Fernandes is not getting carried away though.
Speaking to TNT Sports after Saturday’s win, he said: “It’s an amazing feeling for us, we had to bounce back, not just about Leeds, we had two games that we didn’t win.
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“We knew we had to make a great performance because Chelsea are good side. It’s important for us because our aim is to be top four, making distance is perfect for us.
“I feel three points closer [to Champions League qualification], we have another game that we have to win. We know we need points to get that place secured and we will do everything possible to be as quick as possible.”
Fernandes is also now just two assists shy of the Premier League assist record. The 31-year-old has five games left to at least equal the 20 assists set by Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne.
He added: “I say every time I want to do better than the season before. I want to improve my game overall.
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“I need to improve every week because I want to become a better player and end my career as the best as possible.”
Noble Yeats, the former Grand National winner, has died after a bout of colic aged 11.
The horse created history in 2022 by pulling off one of the greatest upsets in Grand National history to clinch victory as a 50-1 outsider.
Noble Yeats was connected with amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, with that famous ride around Aintree the last of his career.
“He gave us one of the great days of our lives and fulfilled our dreams,” said Waley-Cohen, who added that “his ability outstripped his looks,” having “grown into a great champion.”
Noble Yeats, without Waley-Cohen now, made two further appearances at the National, finishing fourth behind Corach Rambler in 2023 and then out of contention behind I Am Maximus in 2024.
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Harry Cobden riding Noble Yeats at Cheltenham (Getty)
“He was brilliant for us and was one of those special horses,” Waley-Cohen said, with the horse winning seven of his 24 races and earning more than £750,000 in prize-money.
Noble Yeats, trained by Emmet Mullins, also won the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2024 under Harry Cobden, and made his last appearance in 2024 in the Savills Hurdle at Leopardstown, pulling up before the decision was made to retire due to arthritis.
Owner Robert Waley-Cohen, who had purchased Noble Yeats just two months before victory in the greatest race of them all, described the “grim moment” after Noble Yeats’ health took a turn for the worse.
He said: “He looked very uncomfortable on Wednesday, so the vet came out and everybody was up all night treating him and hoping he would pull through, but unfortunately he went the other way.
(PA)
“He was living the life of a retired horse in the field with [2011 Gold Cup winner] Long Run and [2011 Grand National runner-up] Oscar Time.”
He added: “He was enormous fun at the National and afterwards. The memories of the National are unbelievable – you could not have a better day. It’s the dream of a lifetime to win the National, and to win it with your son made it even more special.”
Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta heaped praise on star batter Prabhsimran Singh while commenting on a social media post on Saturday. A user shared the inspiring journey of the PBKS opener, and co-owner Preity could not stop herself from reacting to it. She lauded Prabhsimran’s behaviour while also revealing that his mother cooks and brings food to the hotel for the entire team every Indian Premier League season. The player has been a part of the PBKS squad since IPL 2019. He was initially bought for Rs 4.80 crore. The wicketkeeper-batter currently earns Rs 4 crore per season from the franchise.
“He is also soft spoken, well behaved and extremely sweet. His mom makes food and brings it to the hotel ( Best Kadi Chawal & Bhartha among other things ) for the entire team every IPL. I never heard him complain or come late when he sat on the bench. Watching him shine fills me up with so much joy cuz nothing is more rewarding than to see a good guy win. Sorry I couldn’t help commenting on ur write up as it popped up in my timeline (sic),” wrote Preity Zinta, reacting to the post on Prabhsimran.
He is also soft spoken, well behaved and extremely sweet. His mom makes food and brings it to the hotel ( Best Kadi Chawal & Bhartha among other things ) for the entire team every IPL I never heard him complain or come late when he sat on the bench. Watching him shine fills me…
Table-toppers Punjab Kings will bank on their strong batting to continue their winning run against a struggling Lucknow Super Giants, who are sweating over skipper Rishabh Pant‘s injury, in their IPL 2026 match in Mullanpur on Sunday.
PBKS, the only unbeaten side so far, have looked ominous this season with four wins from five matches, with one game against Kolkata Knight Riders washed out. The Shreyas Iyer-led side boasts a healthy net run rate of +1.067, thanks to their strong batting displays that have powered clinical chases.
The Kings have won nine of their last 11 matches while chasing since the 2025 season, underlining their dominance, and it was also seen in their recent win over Mumbai Indians. It will take something special from LSG to halt the home team’s momentum.
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Lucknow, currently seventh in the points table, are reeling from back-to-back losses, and Pant’s elbow injury in the previous match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru has further dented their campaign.
(With PTI Inputs)
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“It was about the three points but lessons need to be learned,” former Wales striker Gwennan Harries told Match of the Day Wales.
Wilkinson’s side had overwhelmed Albania in a 4-0 win in Wrexham four days earlier, when the hosts’ only frustration was that they did not score more goals.
But the return fixture had a very different look, with Wales struggling for fluency in possession as Albania sat deep but carried a threat on the counter-attack.
“At the minute, we’re probably not seeing Wales at their best and we’ve struggled at times to break down teams who sit back,” said another ex-Wales striker Helen Ward on BBC Radio Wales.
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“That’s where a Jess Fishlock can do something magic.
“We don’t have her anymore, so someone else is going to have to take that responsibility.”
The one goal Wales did manage was as scrappy as their performance, Roberts bundling home from a Lily Woodham cross with Albania claiming the ball had gone in off the veteran defender’s arm.
There were other opportunities for Wales, Mared Griffiths coming close on a couple of occasions and Ingle shooting straight at Albania keeper Rajmonda Spahiu having seen an earlier effort ruled out for offside.
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Had one or two of those chances been converted, the evening would have had a different feel.
As it was, there was tension in the air right up until the final whistle, with Safia Middleton-Patel making a late save from Fortesa Berisha having earlier seen Ilarja Zarka’s drive rattle the bar.
“I thought Albania were really good,” said Ingle. “They blocked up, made it hard for us.
“They defended really well and they nearly punished us on a few transition attacks, so we were quite lucky at times.”
Tony Bellew has considered whether Oleksandr Usyk, who dealt him an eighth-round stoppage defeat in 2018, can be beaten by heavyweight prodigy Moses Itauma.
Having become a three-time, two-division undisputed champion, there is little more the Ukrainian can achieve to further cement his greatness in the sport.
He has, after all, beaten Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Daniel Dubois on two occasions, respectively, and therefore solidified himself as the greatest heavyweight of this era.
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The only way he can go one step further, it seems, is by making his mark on the next generation, which many predict will be dominated by Itauma.
But while the dynamic southpaw has expressed an interest in facing the heavyweight king, Usyk is understandably less eager to present him with this opportunity.
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Instead, the 39-year-old is gearing up to face Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23, defending his WBC world title at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza.
Even if his next opponent happened to be Itauma, though, former world champion Bellew has told Seconds Out that he doubts Usyk would be defeated.
“He’s beaten everybody in front of him – there’s nothing more he can do.
“He’s entitled to what he’s doing in this next fight [against Verhoeven] and he’s earned the right to call the shots. He’s the boss.
Charley Hull caught the people’s attention with her picture on social media. She shared a snap with Welsh professional golfer Mark Mouland on her Instagram story.
She shared the throwback picture on her social media story on Saturday and tagged the golfer in the caption. They posed at the Nailcote Hall Cromwell Course. Hull wore a pink top and black shorts for the outing.
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Charley Hull shares throwback snap with Welsh golf veteran
Away from the field, Charley Hull is enjoying a good time. Her last outing was at the Aramco Championship, where she carded four rounds of 70, 78, 75, and 70. She settled with a score of 5 over in a tie for 15th position.
On April 6, she shared a slew of a few pictures of her outing from the Aramco Championship. She posted the snaps with a sweet caption. She wrote:
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“What happens in Vegas… 😏 Fun week at Aramco Championship, nice T15 finish and memories made at Cirque du Soleil 🤸🎪 Next stop, Augusta”
In the post, she added snaps of her playing golf, and also of the outing she enjoyed in Las Vegas.
Charley Hull offers a glimpse of her practice session
Although Charley Hull is not playing in any official tournament this week, she made sure to practice her game. She offered a glimpse of her practice session on her Instagram account on Friday. She shared the post along with a sweet caption.
“It’s always great to be back playing & practising where I grew up as a little girl playing. I love this grass driving range. I really do have the best memories on it as a kid with my Dad & Kevin growing up. Very wholesome. ⛳️ Very impressed with the condition of Kettering golf club for this time of year,” she wrote.
For her outing, Hull wore a black T-shirt and matching pants.
She started her campaign this season on the LPGA Tour at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. She carded three rounds of 70, 71, and 74 to settle in T17 place.
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She then played at the HSBC Women’s World Championship, which wrapped up with its finale on February 26. She carded four rounds of 72, 67, 74, and 69 to settle with a score of 6 under. She was tied for 10th place in the event.
This season on the LPGA Tour, Hull also played at the Ford Championship, where she played two rounds of 71 and 70. She, however, struggled with her game and missed the cut.
Meanwhile, in the last season, she played in 16 tournaments and made the cut in 14 of them. She recorded four finishes in the top 10 and won the Kroger Queen City Championship.
Steve Nicol has named who he thinks is likely to be the next Liverpool manager if FSG were to sack Arne Slot, along with citing an alternative candidate he’d welcome in the job.
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The Dutchman has come under ever-intensifying scrutiny during a wretched season at Anfield, with Danny Murphy calling for a change in the dugout, and several names have already been mentioned as potential successors.
Nicol was asked on ESPN FC whether he’d persevere with Slot or hire either of the aforementioned Spaniards at Liverpool for next season.
He answered: “I like Iraola. I like the way his Bournemouth play the game. Under normal circumstances I would’ve said Alonso, but he absolutely bombed at Real Madrid and you have to take that into consideration.
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“However, if Arne Slot is not going to be there at the start of the season, I don’t see how FSG don’t go with Alonso. I’m going to go Alonso I think, ultimately.
“If something happened with Alonso and he didn’t want it, or they weren’t keen with what happened at Real Madrid, I’d have absolutely no problem with Andoni Iraola next season.”
Do Liverpool stick with Slot, or make a move for Alonso or Iraola?
If Liverpool are on the lookout for a new manager over the summer, Alonso would appear to be the outstanding candidate, given his existing connection with the Reds from his playing days and his exceptional work in winning an unbeaten German double with Bayer Leverkusen two years ago.
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Nicol mentioned the 44-year-old’s brief and unhappy stint at Real Madrid earlier this season, but that owes more to the hideously demanding circumstances of working at the Bernabeu than any major failings on the Spaniard’s part.
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Iraola is also marking himself out as a legitimate candidate for a job at an ‘elite’ club with his work at Bournemouth, who as of Sunday morning sit just four points off the Champions League positions in the Premier League, a remarkable feat given how their budget compares to other top-flight outfits.
Furthermore, as football data writer Thom Harris outlined for The Athletic, the Cherries boss is renowned for an aggressive, high-pressing tactical approach which is reminiscent of what Jurgen Klopp implemented with huge success at Liverpool.
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For the time being, the debate as to who takes over in the dugout would appear to be moot, with David Ornstein reporting in recent days that FSG intend to keep faith in Slot even if the Reds fail to qualify for the Champions League.
Should that stance change and they decide to dismiss the 47-year-old, though, either Alonso or Iraola would appear to be solid options (unless they’re hired by other clubs in the meantime).
LeBron James is battling time in more ways than one. His 23-year defiance of Father Time is well-chronicled, and the undefeated conqueror of all athletes seemingly struck a blow at the four-time NBA MVP this week with rumors of a possible retirement growing louder.
But there’s a more immediate battle playing out concurrently. James and his Los Angeles Lakers almost certainly cannot advance deep in the postseason in their current state. With Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves recovering from injuries, James is the lone star left standing in Los Angeles, and just asking him to beat the Houston Rockets four times singlehandedly is a bridge too far — even with Kevin Durant dealing with a knee injury.
James, right now, is fighting for time. He’s doing everything in his power to keep the Lakers alive long enough for reinforcements to arrive. Whether or not they can do so remains to be seen. The Grade 2 hamstring strain keeping Dončić out typically requires more than a month of recovery. Reaves, sidelined with a Grade 2 oblique strain, is on a 4-to-6 week timetable. Eventually, without the two of them by his side, James, 41, will lose this micro battle to Father Time. He is not his 2018 self. He cannot reasonably be expected to will his teams through entire postseasons in his 40s.
But every game he wins, starting with Saturday’s Game 1 107-98 upset, is another few days he’s bought for Dončić and Reaves and another few percentage points of likelihood that they might be able to make it back onto the court in time to offer some support. A championship run — as James has made so clear he’s wanted all year — just isn’t in the cards. But a respectable showing, a chance to sneer at Father Time one more time, is a possibility James is still very much fighting for.
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We figured he’d do so in the way that he used to, that his path to staving off the metaphorical reaper here meant turning back the clock. In his last three regular-season games before the throwaway season finale, James averaged 28 points on just shy of 13 assists and eight rebounds per game. He took 18.3 shots per game, just shy of his playoff averages in both his eight-year Lakers stint and four-year Miami Heat run. Though no longer the unstoppable force of nature he was at his peak, James appeared ready to uncork a vintage postseason performance. When asked what the Lakers needed out of him with Dončić and Reaves sidelined, he responded, simply, “everything.“
His Game 1 performance against Houston was marvelous. It wasn’t “everything.” He finished the night with 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds, two steals and a block, and led the Lakers with an on-court point-differential of plus-11. He was spectacular, but he was measured. He took only 15 shots. Since joining the Lakers, he has taken 15 or fewer shots in just two other playoff games decided by single digits. His defensive lift was relatively light.
The Lakers hid him on Jabari Smith Jr., knowing that he rarely attempts to create his own shots, and Houston’s laughably bland offense did the rest to keep James relatively fresh. He switched and made plays when he needed to, but the key here is that he didn’t need to do all that much.
His teammates and coaches did their parts, of course, but more than anything, it’s a testament to the degree of control James is still able to exert over games mentally. He knew exactly how to ration his energy, when to push and when to react. Of those 13 assists, just three came with James as a pick-and-roll ball handler. His only true layup came as a transition trailer in the final minute. Otherwise, he was backing down smaller players in the post and making jumpers. There weren’t many hard drives to the basket. He didn’t even make a free throw. He spent the bulk of the game operating with his back to the basket, reading the floor and making the right play.
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Can he still scale into “everything” LeBron? The regular season data is inconclusive. Those three great games in April came against terrible teams. He’d happily settled into a quieter role when the Lakers were healthy and thriving in March. We’re probably going to find out how far he can take this as the series progresses. The Rockets didn’t have Durant in this game. None of their remaining players had especially good games. There will be adjustments. There will presumably eventually be Durant. Realistically, the Lakers are probably going to need at least one “everything” game from James to win this series, or at least last long enough to potentially get Dončić or Reaves back.
Realistically, the odds of either returning are slim, making this particular round of his bout with Father Time a likely loss (the Lakers are still +185 underdogs at DraftKings even after winning Game 1). The “everything” games are, at best, meant to be a rare treat at this stage. If blemishing that undefeated record means consistently playing like a 25-year-old into his 40s, well, James is probably going to lose on that front as well. We’re talking about someone who once averaged a 33-point triple-double in the NBA Finals. That was never going to remain eternally sustainable.
But Game 1 against Houston is a reminder that James has come as close as feasibly possible to at least forcing a draw against a previously unbeaten foe. He will eventually age out of playing in the NBA. Though based on what we’re seeing now and the rumors of the past week, that will likely happen several years after he actually retires. As long as he does decide to keep playing, though, he has achieved a level of mastery over the mental component of the sport that makes him, in a sense, immune to the ravages of time.
James is not physically the same player he once was. Yet there doesn’t seem to be a realistic degree of physical decline capable of rendering James anything less than, at the very least, a winning basketball player. He’ll be able to make the passes he made on Saturday until he’s 50. He doesn’t need a burst to bully smaller defenders in the post. His understanding of how to manipulate and ultimately undo opposing defensive principles, not just as a passer but as a conductor of possessions, is eternal.
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James may not be a superstar forever. He may not have access to those “everything” types of games much longer. But what he did against the Rockets was timeless.
PITTSBURGH — The hostilities were renewed before the teams even took the ice.
An hour before the puck dropped on Game 1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers’ first-round rivalry revival Saturday night, the fans started streaming into PPG Paints Arena, packing the stands with black-and-gold sweaters of every vintage. A few minutes in, a minor commotion broke out. A lone orange Flyers jersey punctured the golden throng in the lower bowl.
The dissenter was serenaded with boos, the jeers crescendoing into a chorus, a wave of ill will that rippled from the fans in the immediate vicinity out to the rest of the section, the rest of the bowl, the rest of the rink. A reminder that there remains no love lost between these two franchises. The Flyers admirer stood with his arms raised, unfazed, absorbing it all.
Then his club took the ice, came out of the gates flying, and did the same — battering and pummelling their way to a 3-2 series-opening victory as the hometown fans rained down their discontent.
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“They make it hard,” Penguins head coach Dan Muse said as the dust settled on his club’s Game 1 loss.
It wasn’t just the early physicality that got his squad off their game — the Flyers laid the body 17 times in the opening frame — it was the speed, too. The visitors’ ability to pounce on any moment of disconnection and funnel play the other way.
“That’s part of their game — they’ve been doing that for a while,” he continued. “I think we got away from things that worked. Part of that is intensity — everything’s ramped up here in the playoffs. But they’ve been playing that way now for a while, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Give them credit — they came in, they executed their game plan. We need to be better in terms of executing ours.
“We’ve just got to be better in general.”
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Much was made in the lead-up to this series opener of the hefty disparity in experience. On one side: a few vets in orange, and a crew of bright-eyed first-timers. On the other, a pack of future Hall of Famers. Ten minutes into this one, it became clear that imbalance would matter little, the Flyers’ few seasoned veterans making their presence known from the jump.
“The Penguins had two or three really good hits, the crowd was going, and (Sean Couturier) went out on that shift and he got somebody,” Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet said of his captain’s first time over the boards. “I think it helps settle our bench down, and the young guys, when your captain does that. He answered the bell.”
So too did defender Travis Sanheim, who did a little bit of everything Saturday night — throwing the body, leading the stymying of Pittsburgh’s prolific offence, and scoring a filthy third-period go-ahead goal that saw him dance around Elmer Soderblom, carry the puck into the slot, and whip it past Stuart Skinner’s glove.
“I think Sanny set the tone,” Tocchet said post-game. “In these playoff games, you have to play uncomfortable. You’ve got to do some stuff that you normally do not do. … I don’t know how many minutes he played tonight, like a ton of minutes. And to play physical, that’s hard. And then try to supply offence, kill penalties — it’s a tough night, and he really led the physicality for us.
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“And, obviously, hell of a goal.”
The problem for the home side was that Philly’s young guns were no less impactful. Defender Jamie Drysdale opened the scoring midway through the second period, finishing off a sequence spurred by Trevor Zegras.
And the eventual game winner, wired home in the dying minutes of the game, came off the stick of 19-year-old Porter Martone — who’s potted five big-league goals already after joining the squad only three weeks ago.
“It was pretty cool,” the teenager said of his first taste of playoff hockey. “You know, skating out for warmups — I’ve never seen an arena fully sold out. We really built off the energy there. … I think we were all pretty excited going into this game. Being able to play in the playoffs. For me, it’s my 10th NHL game. It’s pretty special.”
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The 2025 sixth-overall pick took some time to find his legs in Game 1, before ripping a wrister from the right circle to clinch a 1-0 series lead for his club. For his coach, it’s that ability to rise to the moment even when it all seems to be going off the rails that makes Martone’s potential clear.
“That’s maturity,” Tocchet said. “I explained to the players — there’s going to be some games you don’t have it. For 30, 40 minutes. You know, he was trying to figure out the pace, he had a couple turnovers. He knew it. And then he just gets a goal like that.
“I mean, it’s hard to find guys like that. In the playoffs, you’ve just got to stick with it, and you could have that big moment.”
Tocchet’s former club finds itself still waiting for its moment. Entering Game 1 as the presumptive favourite — one of the most dangerous offensive squads in the league, led by some of the most lethal scorers the game has ever seen — the Penguins found themselves largely unable to break through Saturday night, lacking the flowing, seamless sequences that have defined their offensive success this season.
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“We’ve just got to be better. We’ve just got to be better in all areas, to be honest with you,” captain Sidney Crosby said from the Penguins locker room post-game. “Execution, just being a little bit more connected. We just have to be better.”
Continually getting caught up in chippy, physical battles egged on by the visitors didn’t help Pittsburgh’s cause, either.
“We need to play our game,” said Evgeni Malkin, who scored Pittsburgh’s first of the night, beating Dan Vladar five-hole in the middle frame to tie the game. “I think we lost control a little bit in the second period. We started fighting — this is what they want. … We know it’s Philly, we know it’s playoffs, we know it’s coming. I like to play physical, I like hard games. But after whistle, we need to just go away, and play smart.
“It’s the only way. Because they love a greasy game. You know, after whistle, they come and cross-check. But we know it’s coming. We just, everybody, should be a little smarter.”
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“That’s going to be part of a series,” added Crosby. “I think we’ve got to stay out of it a little bit more, and trust that when they do it, and they try to stir it up, that they’re going to get penalized for it. That’s more something I think they’re looking to do. We’ve got to stay out of it and trust that they’ll be undisciplined.”
The night could’ve gone much worse for the home side if not for the play of netminder Stuart Skinner, who stymied the Flyers on four breakaways or partial breakaways over the course of the tilt. Still, the two-time Cup finalist’s heroics weren’t enough to salvage this one, the Penguins managing only 17 shots of their own against Skinner’s counterpart. So, the focus shifts to Monday’s Game 2, and a chance to even the series before the battle shifts to Philadelphia.
“You don’t win the series in Game 1,” said veteran Erik Karlsson. “We know that we’ve got a lot better in here. We’ve got to focus on ourselves and find a way to get back to what made us successful throughout the year. It’s the same game out there — a little bit more intensity maybe, but still the same game. And we know how it’s played. We’ve just got to get back to that.”
On the other side of the aisle, the Flyers eye Game 2 looking for more of the same. More of what they brought to Game 1, more of what they’ve been bringing for a while now.
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“We’ve been playing some big games for the last month, month and a half,” said Flyers captain Couturier after Saturday’s victory. “Meaningful games. Must-win games. You know, I think we’re up to the test.”
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