Apr 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; A wide-angle view captures the official 2025 NFL Draft logo displayed prominently on the main stage at Lambeau Field, highlighting the event’s setup and atmosphere as teams prepared to make selections during the league’s annual draft event. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
If you’re an intense follower of Minnesota Vikings-themed mock drafts, you’ve probably gleaned that the frontrunners to turn purple on Thursday night are two Oregon Ducks: Dillon Thieneman (safety) and Kenyon Sadiq (tight end). But down the stretch of the mock draft cycle, don’t rule out Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods.
The mock tide shifted late. Woods entered the mix.
Woods has wiggled into a couple of last-minute mocks; he could the guy for Minnesota.
At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Feb 25, 2026, Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (DL29) addresses reporters at the Indiana Convention Center, discussing his college production, testing performance, and transition to the pro level while scouts and media evaluate his presence and communication during the pre-draft process. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Todd McShay’s Mock
McShay, formerly of ESPN, works for The Ringer now, and he revealed Woods as his Vikings’ mock draft prediction on Wednesday.
He explained, “Woods has been catching a lot of buzz in conversations I’ve been having recently—full circle from earlier in the process—and the league seems to be coming back around on his traits despite a quieter 2025 season. The Vikings run a one-gap scheme under Brian Flores, and Woods fits well there. Plus, they released Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.”
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And you know what? You really can’t fault the logic there. After all, during Flores’s first draft in Miami seven years, he made defensive tackle Christian Wilkins his first pick, a very Woods-esque selection.
PFSN, Too
McShay wasn’t alone. Pro Football Network‘s Cameron Sheath joined him with the Woods pronostication, writing, “Having been beaten to Thieneman, the Vikings pivot to another area of need. Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen both left in free agency, and Peter Woods immediately steps into one of those vacant spots as the first defensive tackle off the board.”
“Brian Flores will continue to cook up different disguises and play calls to keep quarterbacks guessing, but he’ll need a strong anchor up front, and Woods certainly provides that.”
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Interestingly, Sheath published a 3-Round mock, and this was the Vikings’ haul:
Peter Woods, Clemson | DT
A.J. Haulcy, LSU | S
Logan Jones, Iowa | C
Devin Moore, Florida | CB
The Case for Woods
If you’re new to the 2026 draft process, Woods is considered the best or second-best defensive tackle in this class, depending on one’s thoughts on Kayden McDonald, a nose tackle from Ohio State. This rookie crop isn’t necessarily known for DT majesty, but Woods and McDonald should find their way off the draft board in the first 40 picks, perhaps both on Thursday night in Round 1.
During his final two seasons at Clemson, Woods recorded 5 sacks and consistently disrupted plays before they could develop. Film analysis reveals him as a disruptive interior defender, utilizing a violent swipe move to shoot gaps and penetrate the backfield with exceptional quickness.
His testing numbers further highlight his impressive movement skills. Woods’ 4.75-second forty-yard dash is remarkably fast for a defensive tackle, aligning perfectly with the quick first step and leverage evident on film.
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Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) stands on the field during pregame warmups ahead of a marquee matchup in Atlanta, Georgia, on Aug 31, 2024, as the Tigers prepare to face the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, capturing a calm moment before kickoff in a high-profile early-season contest. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.
The burst is contained within his 6’2,” 300-pound frame, making him exceptionally agile for his size.
Bleacher Report‘s Matt Holder on Woods: “Good size with impressive movement skills and quickness for a defensive tackle. Plenty of upper body strength and pop in his hands to stand up offensive linemen and gain control of the block.”
“Also is quick to shoot his hands and keeps his hands tight to protect his chest. Very good at getting off blocks, stack-and-shedding looks easy for him and has a hump move to escape, too. Has the combination of power and movement skills to develop into a quality pass-rusher down the line.”
Holder also issued Jeffery Simmons as Woods’s NFL comp. Not bad.
First DT since Sharrif Floyd?
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It’s time for the Vikings to pick a defensive tackle early in a draft. They never do it.
The last time was 13 years ago, when Rick Spielman chose Sharrif Floyd, whose career was cut short by a nasty injury. Since then, Minnesota signed Linval Joseph for six seasons and vacillated between a hodgepodge of defensive tackles.
Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd (73) celebrates after recording a sack during the third quarter in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Dec 20, 2015, against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium, highlighting a dominant defensive moment as the Vikings controlled the game en route to a convincing 38-17 victory. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.
Most teams take DT swings in the draft more frequently than every 13 years. Minnesota should get with the program and leave this year’s draft with an interior defensive lineman before the end of Friday, especially with Allen and Hargrave off the roster.
Woods will turn 22 next offseason. The guy has youth on his side. There’s also a small chance that the Vikings can trade down from their 18th spot on Thursday night and still draft Woods. His stock is near the end of Round 1, per draft pundits, putting a trade and Woods pick in play.
New York Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay grew up in the Bronx, so he knows all about the Bronx Bombers tradition.
Well, it seems like the Yankees are making their biggest stretch away from it, after it was revealed Wednesday that the Yankees have an official alternate jersey for the first time in its team’s 120-plus year history.
The news came amid reports Wednesday that players had discussed the possibility of a third jersey to wear on the road with team higher-ups. MLB.com reported that that the third jersey had been in the works “for a while.”
Paul Goldschmidt, Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger of the New York Yankees wait for the start of a spring training game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, on March 24, 2026.(Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Kay said he “couldn’t care less” if the Yankees deviated from their tradition, but his “problem with this” is that “it can’t be a one-way street.”
Kay said if he were owner Hal Steinbrenner, who “give[s] you guys everything,” he’d tell them to “win me a championship, and I’ll give you things like this.”
“All I’ve seen over these years, ‘Let’s make things great for the players. Let’s give the players everything they want.’ And they deserve to have great things. It’s not an easy job, but they’re well compensated for it. But you pay top dollar, you have a state-of-the-art clubhouse, you travel in style, you stay in the best hotels. OK, great, that stuff should be,” Kay continued.
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“But the extra little things, ‘Let us grow our hair longer. Can we wear beards?’ Well then, win me a championship. Because if I’m going to move away from the Yankees and what the Yankees stand for, then I’m going to need something back from you.”
“The players are probably saying, ‘We want to have fun like all the other teams. They have all these wacky uniforms.’ Win me a championship. Maybe that’s the deal. Win me a championship. I don’t think that’s a big ask.”
Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees bats against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning of a spring training game at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, on March 23, 2026.(Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Yankees’ navy blue batting practice tops, similar to their road spring training uniforms, were the ones that were approved to be worn in games.
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The Yankees have taken part in wearing different jerseys in the past, including Players’ Weekend from 2017 through 2019, a nod to the 1912 team while playing in Boston on the 100th anniversary of Fenway Park’s opening, and jerseys commemorating the Black Yankees in 1996. The Yankees also wore replicas of their 1921 road uniforms for the first Field of Dreams game in 2021. However, none of those jerseys were ever officially put into the rotation.
The Yankees also remain the only team to have no last names on the back of their jerseys, home or away. They are also only one of two teams, including the Athletics, without a City Connect jersey. The Athletics, currently in Sacramento after their lease in Oakland expired following the 2024 season, are set to begin play in Las Vegas in 2028.
Ben Rice of the New York Yankees runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning of a spring training game at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, on March 24, 2026.(Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Steinbrenner has been apt to change in recent years. The Yankees added an advertisement patch on their jerseys in 2023, and beginning last year, “well-groomed” facial hair below the lip was reintroduced after a 50-year ban by Steinbrenner’s father, George.
Plenty of other contenders will fancy their chances of stopping Zhao, including Ronnie O’Sullivan, who has found some form in recent weeks and began his quest for a record eighth world title with a 10-2 demolition Crucible debutant He Guoqiang.
O’Sullivan next has a mouthwatering last-16 clash with old rival John Higgins, who downed Ali Carter in round one, while fellow four-time winner Mark Selby opens up against former finalist Jak Jones. Meanwhile, world No 1 Judd Trump came through a tough opener against Gary Wilson, 2024 champion Kyren Wilson downed teenage wonderkid Stan Moody 10-7 and a rejuvenated Neil Robertson takes on Pang Junxu.
Here’s everything you need to know:
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How to watch the World Snooker Championship
Every session of every match at the 2026 World Snooker Championship will be live on the BBC, with BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Four, the BBC red button, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website all utilised for coverage across the 17 days. The tournament is also broadcast on TNT Sports in the UK, with every session shown across their channels and subscribers can also use streaming service HBO Max to watch TNT Sports.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones drops back and releases a pass from the pocket during the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 19, 2025, scanning the field as the Colts offense worked to establish rhythm under the venue’s expansive roof. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.
Daniel Jones stopped by the Minnesota Vikings for a few months of the 2024 season, eventually landing with the Indianapolis Colts, where he forged a wonderful season in 2025 before tearing his Achilles. Now, thankfully for his sake, the man is due back under center sooner rather than later.
The comeback timeline may be moving faster.
NFL.com provided an update this week on Jones, and Colts fans should be pumped.
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Indianapolis Gets an Encouraging Early Signal at Quarterback
Jones has unfinished business.
On Oct 26, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana, Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) stands on the sideline before kickoff against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium, surveying the field during warmups as the team prepares for a divisional matchup in front of a home crowd anticipating another strong outing. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images.
NFL.com: Jones Is Back at It
NFL.com did an “around the horn” of non-draft news to know this week about each team, and for the Colts, that was an advantageous development on Jones.
The staff wrote, “QB Daniel Jones (Achilles) has begun throwing the football and is performing well on his dropbacks, head coach Shane Steichen told reporters Tuesday. Jones underwent surgery in early December after suffering the season-ending injury.”
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Jones tore his Achilles tendon in November, and sometimes that injury can take a full year to heal. It seems he’s beating the odds, at least from the perspective of an April update.
ESPN’s Stephen Holder on Jones’s recovery: “The Colts have said throughout the offseason that they and their doctors believe a return for the start of the 2026 season is well within reason. To ensure that happens, the approach to Jones’ rehab has been an all-hands-on-deck approach for the organization.”
“To that end, Shane Steichen said he has consulted with Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens on how the team oversaw the Achilles recovery of Boston star Jayson Tatum, who sustained a torn Achilles in the 2025 postseason but has returned to the lineup and become a force for the Celtics. Both Tatum and Jones also shared the same surgeon for their Achilles repair.”
Tatum is doing just fine in Boston, as the Celtics are the frontrunners from the NBA’s Eastern Conference to reach the NBA Finals.
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“Still, the Colts will be cautious with Jones. They have not decided how much, if at all, he’ll participate in offseason workouts,” Holder added.
A Fat Contract, Too
When the offseason began, Jones’s status in Indianapolis wasn’t necessarily mysterious; most Colts fans knew the club loved him and would re-sign him. The questions were when and for how much?
Then, in March, just a couple of days into free agency, the Colts put their money where their mouth was, inking Jones to an extension worth $88 million over two seasons. The deal made him the NFL’s 13th-highest-paid quarterback per average annual value, which is fair because Jones played well before the Achilles tragedy.
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On Sep 28, 2025, in Inglewood, California, Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) delivers a pass during the first half against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium, stepping into the throw with defenders closing in as Indianapolis looks to move the ball through the air in a road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.
The contract includes $60 million guaranteed and is expandable to $100 million with incentivized bonuses.
The 2025 Performance
Jones’s season was quietly trending down before his December Achilles tear, a decline that largely went unnoticed by the NFL world. While things initially looked good on the surface, his underlying efficiency numbers told a different story.
For a significant stretch, Jones appeared to be a breakout quarterback — even an MVP candidate. He led Indianapolis to an impressive 8-2 start during September and October, earning the nickname “Indiana Jones” from fans and fueling the MVP conversations. Before his injury, he was on pace for outstanding full-season statistics:
4,055 passing yards
31 total touchdowns
10 interceptions
68.0% completion
7th in EPA+CPOE
However, the second half of the season saw his efficiency plummet. Here’s how Daniel Jones’ ranking in the NFL by EPA+CPOE changed in 2025:
Before Week 9: 4th
After Week 9: 28th
The Achilles injury proved to be the final, devastating blow. The Colts unraveled, their offense lost all footing, and Indianapolis grew desperate enough to coax Philip Rivers out of retirement. That gamble, however, failed to revive their playoff hopes.
2026 Expectations
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The Colts traded two 1st-Rounders last November to obtain superstar cornerback Sauce Gardner from the New York Jets. That was when the season was straight cooking, Jones hadn’t begun his dip, and the Colts had Super Bowl dreams.
On Sep 7, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana, former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning taps Daniel Jones (17) on the back before a game at Lucas Oil Stadium, a brief pregame moment connecting past and present as the franchise legend offers encouragement ahead of the season-opening contest. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars-Imagn Images.
Now, in the 2026 offseason, Indianapolis has renewed those hopes. A team can’t trade two 1st-Rounders and not shoot for the stars the following season. Therefore, the Colts are in it to win it, and a healthy Jones may put them in the thick of the AFC hunt.
Jones will operate with these offensive weapons from a pre-draft standpoint:
Jonathan Taylor (RB)
Alec Pierce (WR)
Tyler Warren (TE)
Josh Downs (WR)
The Colts may need to sign a free-agent wide receiver after the draft, as intriguing options like Stefon Diggs, Deebo Samuel, and Tyreek Hill remain unsigned. Indianapolis could also explore the trade sweepstakes of Brandon Aiyuk with the San Francisco 49ers.
Chicago White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami and shortstop Colson Montgomery homered their way into Major League Baseball history on Wednesday night.
Murakami and Montgomery both homered in the White Sox’s 11-7 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, becoming the first set of teammates to each homer in four consecutive games for in MLB history.
Murakami made additional history, as it was the fifth straight game he had homered in, tying Major League Baseball’s rookie record. He also tied the White Sox’s team record for most consecutive games to homer in.
Chicago White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami celebrates his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 22, 2026.(Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo)
Montgomery was the first of the two White Sox sluggers to go yard, as he blasted Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez’s 88 mph cutter 423 feet into the left-field seats to cut the Diamondbacks’ lead to 6-4.
The Japanese rookie followed Montgomery’s lead when he demolished Diamondbacks relief pitcher Ryan Thompson’s 91 mph fastball 451 feet over the center-field wall to cut the lead to 10-7 in the top of the seventh inning.
The rookie, in just 24 games, has already managed to make his manager speechless.
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“I’ve run out of things to say,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “Obviously, he continues to put himself in a really good spot to take good swings on good pitches. He’s making great swing decisions, making a ton of contact and when he hits it, he hits it really hard.”
“Even the singles he’s hitting are hard. The damage is incredible and it’s impressive to watch.”
Colson Montgomery of the Chicago White Sox hits an RBI fielder’s choice against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 22, 2026.(Rick Scuteri/Imagn Images)
Murakami joined A.J. Pierzynski (2012), Paul Konerko (2011), Carlos Lee (2003), Frank Thomas (twice in 1994), Ron Kittle (1983) and Greg Luzinski (1983) as White Sox hitters who have homered five straight games. He also became the 13th rookie in big-league history to go deep in five straight, according to MLB.com.
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Murakami has done most of his damage on the road, hitting eight of his 10 overall homers on the year in opposing ballparks. His 10 home runs are the most in MLB history by a Japanese-born player in his first 24 games.
Murakami is second to only Houston Astros’ Yordan Alvarez (11 home runs) in MLB in home runs.
The White Sox signed Murakami to a two-year, $34 million contract after his successful run in Nippon Professional Baseball, and the early returns have been promising.
Chicago White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami celebrates his two-run home run with third base coach José Leger during the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 22, 2026.(Ross D. Franklin/AP Photo)
In 24 games, Murakami has a .256 batting average with 10 home runs, 19 RBI, and an astounding 1.026 OPS.
Murakami and Montgomery have been a force atop the White Sox lineup, as in 24 games, Montgomery has just a .218 batting average but has provided some power with seven home runs and 18 RBI.
The dynamic duo will look to keep their home run streaks rolling when the White Sox (9-15) face the Diamondbacks (14-10) in the final game of a three-game set on Thursday at 3:40 p.m. ET.
Millwall have received an apology from Westminster City Council for the “insensitive” use of the club’s official logo to “illustrate the historic problem of racism within football” in a children’s education booklet which was distributed in schools.
Images shared widely on social media from the booklet show the badge of the Championship club printed on the clothing of a member of a white supremacist hate group.
On Thursday afternoon, Westminster City Council issued a statement confirming the booklet had been removed from circulation, with internal processes being reviewed.
A Westminster City Council spokesperson said: “We accept the use of this image was an insensitive way to illustrate the historic problem of racism within football.
“We have apologised to Millwall Football Club for the improper use of their logo and for any offence caused.
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“The booklet has been removed from circulation, and we are reviewing processes to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
According to the club’s official supporters’ group, Millwall are still considering their legal position on the matter.
The Lions are currently third in the Championship table as Alex Neil’s side chase automatic promotion to the Premier League.
The Philadelphia Flyers took a pretty handy 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Wednesday night’s Game 3 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead, but there was plenty to talk about, including the first embellishment penalty of Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby’s career.
…No, you read that correctly.
Coming into the game, Crosby had played 21 NHL seasons and had never gotten the game for embellishment, until a bizarre sequence between whistles.
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Penguins captain Sidney Crosby lies on the ice after catching a high stick from Flyers forward Garnet Hathaway. He was also assessed a minor penalty for embellishment.(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Flyers forward (and top-tier agitator, it must be said) Garnet Hathaway skated between Crosby and the linesman ahead of a faceoff in the Flyers’ defensive zone and was, let’s just say, “Careless” with his lumber.
There was no doubt it caught the Pens’ captain in the face, but there was also no doubt that it wasn’t hard enough to send Crosby sprawling to the ice as a sniper had fired from the rafters.
Both were sent to the box, and the game continued at 4-on-4.
After the game, Crosby offered his reaction to that incident and to another scrum involving teammate Bryan Rust a bit later that resulted in a Flyers power play and a power play goal.
“I don’t know how Rusty ends up with the extra [penalty] out of all of that, I don’t know how I end up with the embellishment,” he said. “It’s hard to understand, but you gotta play through that.”
I mean… you did sell it a bit, Sid.
Now on the Rust situation? The Flyers did luck out.
Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the New York Rangers in Game Seven of the First Round of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 15, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
But back to the most talked about dive since the days of Greg Louganis. During the broadcast, it was revealed that this was Crosby’s first-ever penalty for embellishment. Fortunatley, I wasn’t drinking anything when I heard this because I would’ve choked on it.
For 21 of my 30 years on this glorious space marble we call Earth, I’ve been tormented by Sidney Crosby, and a big part of that was his penchant for diving and whining.
Now, he has kind of grown out of that, but it was such a known thing that f
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Former Flyers goalie Brian Boucher alluded to his old habits during TNT’s broadcast of Game 3.
Hell, I remember reading in former NHL referee Kerry Fraser’s book about this habit.
While the Penguins were not happy about the officiating — and I do think they had a pretty legitimate case on that Rust incident — they can’t be hung up on these things down 3-0.
The Flyers have been the more solid team all series long, and that’s why they have their cross-state rivals on the ropes going into Saturday night’s Game 4 in Philadelphia.
Mar 19, 2026; Portland, OR, USA; BYU Cougars forward AJ Dybantsa (3) shoots against Texas Longhorns forward Dailyn Swain (3) in the first half during a first round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Strobeck-Imagn Images
As expected, BYU forward AJ Dybantsa declared Thursday for the 2026 NBA Draft.
He made the announcement in his hometown of Brockton, Mass., at the Davis School, which he attended as a child.
The 6-foot-9 Dybantsa likely will be one of the top three picks in the draft. Fellow freshmen Darryn Peterson of Kansas and Cameron Boozer of Duke join Dybantsa as potential No. 1 picks.
The top-ranked player in the high school Class of 2025, Dybantsa won numerous national postseason awards as he broke 19 BYU freshman season and single-game records.
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A consensus first team All-American, he also was named to the All-Big 12 first team and was the conference’s Freshman of the Year.
He started 35 games for the Cougars and led the nation with 25.5 points per game. His 894 points were the third-most by a freshman in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history.
He added 6.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 51.0% shooting from the field and 33.1% from 3-point territory.
Dybantsa became one of two players in Big 12 history with a 30/10/10 triple-double when he had 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists against Eastern Washington on Dec. 22, 2025. David Harrison also had a 30/10/10 triple-double for Colorado in 2002.
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The top draft candidates will watch the NBA Draft Lottery with interest as the selection order is determined. That is scheduled for May 10 at 3 p.m. ET in Chicago, with the draft to be held June 23 and 24.
Delhi Capitals have signed England’s bowling all-rounder Rehan Ahmed as a replacement for compatriot Ben Duckett for the remainder of the Indian Premier League this season, the organisers said on Thursday. Duckett withdrew from the IPL 2026 primarily to focus on his international career with England and manage his physical and mental workload. “Delhi Capitals have picked Rehan Ahmed as a replacement for Ben Duckett for the remainder of IPL,” the IPL said in a statement.
“Rehan, a right-arm leg-spinner, has played 5 Tests, 9 ODIs and 13 T20Is for England and has scalped 49 international wickets.
“He will join DC for Rs 75 lakh.” Rehan became the youngest man to play a Test England when he made his debut at 18 years and 126 days old in Karachi in December 2022.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season
Liverpool might just have a future version of Erling Haaland on their hands and if he keeps going he will be in the first-team very soon.
The football world first took notice of Manchester City’s prolific striker when he scored nine goals in a single game at the U20 World Cup.
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From that moment, it was clear a generational talent had arrived. Since then, the Norwegian has developed into one of the most feared forwards in world football.
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Haaland is a phenomenon. At times, he barely seems human, more like a goal-scoring machine built with a single purpose. The way he overwhelms defenders with sheer intensity is astonishing.
But his game isn’t just about physical dominance. Beyond his strength and speed lies a clinical edge that sets him apart. His finishing is on another level entirely.
Left foot, right foot, headers, long-range efforts, he scores with calm precision in every situation. His movement inside the box is equally elite, always finding the right space to convert even the smallest chance.
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Put simply, he’s the most complete striker in the modern game.
According to Anfield Watch, Liverpool once had the opportunity to sign him during his early days in Norway, when he was offered to several clubs before Molde gave him his breakthrough.
Now, however, the Reds’ academy could be nurturing a player in a similar mould, and if his development continues at this pace, a first-team breakthrough may not be far away.
Harrison O’Brien is attracting a lot of attention lately for Liverpool’s academy. He scored a hat-trick in the U15 Merseyside Cup against Ferencvaros earlier this season and he just scored another hat-trick in the final of the U15 Premier League Cup to help Liverpool’s U15 side win the tournament.
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If that wasn’t enough, he’s also scored a double hat-trick this season.
He netted six goals in Liverpool’s U15 side’s 7-1 victory over Stoke City.
So, the kid is talented and he loves to score goals – just like Haaland. What’s impressive that O’Brien’s goals are not all the same. He’s got a nice range, capable of scoring from long distance and from short distances. He’s quick, powerful and deadly in front of goal in and around the box.
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On top of that he is an industrious forward who can also play on the wing and works really hard.
The inner circles of the club are starting to get excited by O’Brien’s potential.
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That is according to the Daily Mail which claims that one expert source connected to Liverpool’s academy said the following about the young forward:
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‘He is scary good, like a young Erling Haaland’
With the long-hair and the ability to score goals for fun, it’s easy to see where those comparisons come from.
He’s only 15-years-old but he’s been playing a few age-groups above his own and he has netted a whopping 50-goals already this season at academy level.
In total as per The Talent Hunter on Instagram, O’Brien has 74 goal contributions this season, including 51 goals and 23 assists.
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But that was a few months ago now, he’s already scored a few more since then.
The dynamic forward has already been spending a lot of time with the club’s U16 team and he could follow in the path of Luca Eden by making his U18 debut very soon – maybe even before the season ends but definitely next season.
From the U18s, it’s only a short path to the first-team and if he scores this many goals there too, it won’t be long until O’Brien is working alongside Arne Slot’s team – especially considering the lack of depth in those attacking positions at the club.
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Liverpool haven’t had much luck with producing academy strikers in recent years. Many have come but so far many have failed to make their mark.
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The likes of Adam Morgan, Rhian Brewster, Jerome Sinclair and Krisztian Nemeth were all prolific at youth level but then never quite broke onto the scene in the first-team.
Jayden Danns will be hoping to break that trend and O’Brien is definitely a name worth keeping a close eye on, too.
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He’s another big talent coming through the ranks at the academy, which is now looking very strong.
Liverpool’s future is definitely in safe hands. And soon they may have the next Haaland joining the first-team – if he keeps his performances up.
MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 23: Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece watches the ball as he plays a shot against Patrick Kypson of the United States during the Men’s Singles Second Round match at Stadium 3 on day four of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on April 23, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Images)
Stefanos Tsitsipas came from a set down to beat Patrick Kypson 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 in Madrid.
Tsitsipas lost the opening set 6-3 and was pushed all the way in the next two, needing back-to-back tiebreaks to get over the line.
The result ends a three-match losing streak for the Greek, who had been struggling coming into the tournament. He had lost six of his previous eight matches.
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Madrid could be an important turning point. Tsitsipas has a good record on clay and has reached semi-finals and finals on clay before.
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