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.
Last year, Zhao came through four rounds of qualifying and then defeated 2024 runner-up Jak Jones, compatriot Lei Peifan and England’s Chris Wakelin before thrashing seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 17-7 to reach the final.
Zhao’s 18-12 success over Mark Williams was a pivotal moment in the sport, instantly making the winner a national hero, and inspiring youngsters to take up snooker.
According to World Snooker Tour figures, more than 24.5 million unique viewers watched the third session of the final alone in China and during the whole 2025 tournament, it had a cumulative audience of 180 million on national broadcaster CCTV5.
The event also had 1.5 billion social media impressions in China over its 17 days.
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“When I go to China I’m famous now and when I’m walking around the street lots of people want to take pictures of me,” said 29-year-old Zhao. “It’s amazing and a big difference to before but I’m really happy to do it and I’m trying to becoming a great player.
“Before, older people would want to take pictures of me because they are snooker fans, but now it is their son or daughter that takes pictures – and I’m really happy for it.”
If Zhao is to retain his title, he has to do something none of the previous 20 first-time winners at the Crucible have done, by winning it again the following year.
But Zhao showed no signs of falling to the so-called ‘Crucible Curse’ in his first-round match, as he saw off English qualifier Liam Highfield 10-7.
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Before the tournament started, seven-time winner Stephen Hendry, speaking on BBC Television, said Zhao was his favourite to lift the trophy on Monday, 4 May.
“I think Xintong can retain his title,” said Hendry. “He is the future of the game for the next 10-15 years – he is going to dominate, no-one scores like him.
“He is not paying any attention to this stupid ‘curse’. Other Chinese players have got a huge lift from seeing their countryman lift the trophy.”
Former Arsenal star Perry Groves has urged Mikel Arteta to keep Viktor Gyokeres on the bench. He believes that Kai Havertz should remain as the club’s starting striker in the remaining matches.
Speaking to Metro, Groves claimed that Gyokeres’ goals should not make him an automatic starter, as Havertz links up better with his teammates on the pitch. He added the Manchester City game was a perfect example of the difference between the two forwards and said:
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“I’m a fan of Gyokeres. I’ve stuck up for Gyokeres all season because I like his attitude and the way that he plays. He’s still got his 18 goals. He’s getting used to us, we’re getting used to him, but I think what I liked about the game against Man City, not only did we press, which was aggressive, but we went long quicker.”
“David Raya went long, quick into Havertz on the touchline, on the diagonal, where Havertz could hold it up, or he flicks it on. And he probably just gives you that little bit more of control, where he’s better at holding it up, so Gyokeres might have to wait his turn.”
Havertz scored in the game against Manchester City after pressing Gigi Donnarumma and forcing an error from the goalkeeper.
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Arsenal warned about Newcastle United clash
Perry Groves has warned Arsenal that they need to be careful about the Newcastle United clash. He believes that the Magpies will sit back and try to lure the Gunners forward and attack them on the counter. He told the Metro:
“Newcastle will come and try and sit deep. They’re in really bad form at the minute, I think they’ve lost eight out of 11 in the Premier League, but historically, there’s always a needle in Arsenal against Newcastle. So they will come, they will up their game a little bit.”
“Guimaraes will probably come back in, so he’s a big plus for them, but this is all about Arsenal themselves. They can only control themselves and the way they approach the game and their attitude. They can’t control what Newcastle do, you know, whether they press, whether they sit deep.”
The Gunners have slipped to second in the Premier League table after their loss to Manchester City last week. The Cityzens jumped ahead on Wednesday, April 22, after they beat Burnley 1-0 in their game in hand.
The two sides are level on points and goal difference, but the Manchester side are ahead on goals scored.
New Zealand all-rounder Suzie Bates will retire from international cricket after this year’s Women’s T20 World Cup, ending an illustrious 20-year career on the world stage.
The 38-year-old will be part of the White Ferns’ 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup taking place from 12 June to 5 July in England, where they will also play three ODIs and T20Is against the hosts next month.
A right-handed opening batter, Bates is the all-time leading run-scorer in women’s Twenty20 internationals with 4,717 runs and fourth on the ODI charts, while she has also claimed 145 wickets and a record number of catches.
“When I look back on the past 20-plus years, I can’t quite believe how quickly the time has gone,” said Bates, who also won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
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“I’m immensely proud to have worn the fern so many times, and I’ve been filled with enormous purpose and joy in striving each day to be a better person, team-mate, cricketer, and athlete for this team.
“I have one final mission: to head to the UK – a place that holds so many special memories for me – and win another World Cup.”
Shardul Thakur came out to bat for Mumbai Indians during his team’s match vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2026 match on Thursday.Interestingly, Shardul Thakur was not part of the Mumbai’s starting XI and even not the impact player. Mumbai had already used opener Danish Malewar as its impact player in place of Allah Ghazanfar.Shardul Thakur came out to bat in the thirteenth over of the second innings, when Noor Ahmad dismissed Hardik Pandya and Sherfane Rutherford on consecutive balls.
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Why Shardul came to bat?Shardul Thakur came to bat as the concussion substitue for Mitchell Santner, who got injured in the first innings while trying to take a catch.Santner took one wicket and conceded 44 runs in his four overs before getting injured.Mumbai Indians were 95 for 7 at the time of writing the story.Earlier in the match, Sanju Samson scored his fifth IPL century. He reached the milestone on the final ball of the innings with a boundary off Krish Bhagat. It was his second hundred of the season, his second for Chennai Super Kings and fifth overall in the IPL.Samson remained not out on 101 from 54 balls and helped Chennai Super Kings post 207 for 6. He stayed till the end while wickets fell at the other end.He hit 10 fours and six sixes in his innings.For Mumbai Indians, AM Ghazanfar and Ashwani Kumar took two wickets each, while Jasprit Bumrah returned figures of 1 for 31.
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Should Shardul Thakur have been used as an impact player instead?
Sanju Samson carried his bat with a splendid 101 not out, while Akeal Hosein‘s stunning 4/17 powered Chennai Super Kings to a crushing 103-run victory over a listless Mumbai Indians in their Indian Premier League clash in Mumbai on Thursday. It’s CSK’s biggest win over MI. Samson stood tall with a 54-ball 101 (10x4s, 8x6s) in the first half, which took a faltering CSK to a challenging 207/6. In reply, Mumbai Indians endured a horror start, slumping to 11 for three inside the first three overs, and never recovered as they were bowled out for 104 in 19 overs.
Backed by a partisan crowd that made it feel more like Chepauk than the Wankhede Stadium, CSK produced a clinical all-round performance despite the absence of MS Dhoni.
In a season marred by poor returns in the powerplay, Mumbai Indians endured their worst start yet, crawling to 29 for three after six overs following an early burst of wickets.
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Danish Malewar (0) fell first in classical fashion, edging a Hosein delivery that gripped and spun away to be caught behind by Samson in the first over.
Mukesh Choudhary (1/31) then struck to dismiss Quinton de Kock (7), who chopped one back onto his stumps, before Hosein returned in the third over to clean up Naman Dhir (0) with a delivery that straightened and rattled the top of middle stump.
Despite the horror start, MI still had plenty of batting left in the form of last game’s centurion Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, but none could spark a fightback.
Tilak and Suryakumar looked more intent on rebuilding than counter-attacking, stitching a 56-ball 73-run stand for the fourth wicket, but the effort only allowed the asking rate to spiral further out of reach.
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Suryakumar’s 30-ball 35, laced with five fours, was scratchy by his standards, with the India T20I skipper even missing his trademark flick off the pads twice.
On one occasion, he was left writhing in pain after being struck by an Anshul Kamboj delivery, and on the other, he thumped the ground in frustration as his bat slipped out of his hands while attempting the shot.
The floodgates reopened once again when Tilak, who scored 37 off 29 with five fours, played one back onto his stumps to become Hosein’s third victim in the 12th over. Hosein then completed a fine spell by dismissing Suryakumar, whose top-edged sweep was safely pouched at deep backward square leg.
Noor Ahmed then delivered a decisive double-wicket over, removing the out-of-sorts Hardik Pandya (1) and Sherfane Rutherford (0) to virtually seal the contest, leaving Mumbai Indians reeling at 87 for seven.
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Earlier, Samson anchored a faltering Chennai Super Kings with his second century of the season, steering the visitors to a competitive 207 for six.
With wickets falling around him due to poor shot selection and lack of application, the India wicketkeeper-batter held firm, pacing his innings to perfection and playing each delivery on merit to script another memorable knock.
Jasprit Bumrah (1/31) began with a tight opening over, though Samson still managed to pierce the field with a crisp drive through cover-point before flicking Hardik Pandya (0/38) off his pads for a six.
CSK had earlier made a bright start, with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (22) and Samson taking 19 runs each off Pandya’s first two overs in the powerplay, and despite a couple of early wickets, the visitors were well placed at 73 for two.
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Gaikwad looked to be easing back into form, beginning with a heave on the on-side off Pandya before pulling the pacer for a six to take 19 runs from the second over.
However, his promising start was cut short when he went inside-out against AM Ghazanfar (2/25) in the third over, only to be smartly caught by Tilak running in from long-off.
There was also no happy homecoming for Mumbai players in the CSK camp, with Sarfaraz Khan (14) and Shivam Dube (5) failing to make an impact. Dewald Brevis struck a few powerful blows in his 11-ball 21 before falling to a well-directed short ball from Ashwani Kumar (2/37).
Samson blended caution with aggression to keep the scoreboard ticking, and in the final over, he capped his effort in style by smashing Krish Bhagat for a towering six over cover before pulling the last ball for a four to bring up his fifth IPL hundred.
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Meanwhile, CSK players took the field wearing black armbands in tribute to Choudhary’s mother, who passed away
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Delhi vs Mumbai IPL 2026: Fans Flood Arun Jaitley Stadium for High-Voltage Clash
NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings registered their biggest win over Mumbai Indians in IPL history, beating them by 103 runs in their IPL 2026 clash at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.The defeat was also the biggest margin for MI in IPL by runs.Playing his first IPL ‘El Clasico’, CSK’s Sanju Samson scored an unbeaten 101 in the first innings, while Akeal Hosein returned figures of 4 for 17 in the second innings to demolish the Mumbai Indians batting.Mumbai Indians won the toss and chose to bowl. Chennai Super Kings posted 207 for 6, with Samson anchoring the innings. He hit 10 fours and six sixes in his 54-ball knock and stayed till the end, even as wickets fell regularly at the other end. The next highest score in the innings was 22.
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In reply, Mumbai Indians were bowled out for just 104 in 19 overs, their biggest defeat by runs in the IPL. Eight of their batters were dismissed for single-digit scores as they struggled against spin.Biggest win margin for CSK in IPL (by runs)
103 vs MI, Wankhede, 2026*
97 vs KXIP, Chennai, 2015
93 vs DD, Abu Dhabi, 2014
92 vs RCB, Gqeberha, 2009
91 vs DC, DY Patil, 2022
Biggest defeat margin for MI in IPL (by runs)
103 vs CSK, Wankhede, 2026*
87 vs RR, Jaipur, 2013
85 vs SRH, Vizag, 2016
76 vs KXIP, Mohali, 2011
66 vs KXIP, Mohali, 2008
Akeal Hosein led the bowling effort, while Noor Ahmad supported him with 2 for 23. The result helped Chennai Super Kings return to winning ways after their loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad.For Mumbai Indians, Tilak Varma (37) and Suryakumar Yadav (35) were the only batters to cross 30, but there was little support from the rest.Earlier in the match, there were signs of pressure from the start despite both teams coming in as seventh- and eighth-placed sides. On the first ball, Sherfane Rutherford missed a routine throw to the wicketkeeper, and the backing fielder at short fine leg also failed to collect cleanly.Bowler Jasprit Bumrah was seen asking his fielders to settle down before overstepping on the next delivery.During the chase, Tilak Varma and Jamie Overton were involved in a brief exchange on the field.For Mumbai Indians, AM Ghazanfar and Ashwani Kumar picked up two wickets each, while Bumrah finished with 1 for 31.
Oct 24, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive back Anthony Harris and helmet (41) is congratulated by cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) after Harris intercepted a ball thrown by Washington Redskins quarterback Dwayne Haskins (7) (not pictured) in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Berding-Imagn Images.
The Pittsburgh Steelers draft class of 1974 is likely the greatest of all time. Four Steelers from the 1974 draft are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including wide receiver Lynn Swann (first round), linebacker Jack Lambert (second round), wide receiver John Stallworth (fourth round), and center Mike Webster (fifth round). A fifth Hall of Famer — safety Donnie Shell — was an undrafted player signed by the Steelers that year.
Add to that group five other Hall of Famers who Pittsburgh drafted between 1969 and 1972 in the first through third rounds — QB Terry Bradshaw, DT Mean Joe Greene, RB Franco Harris, LB Jack Ham, and CB Mel Blount.
What an amazing stretch of drafting success that created the core players for the Steelers’ dynasty, which won four Super Bowls in six years from 1994 to 1999.
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Day 2 and Day 3 Could Shape the Vikings’ Next Core
It’s what every NFL team is shooting for in team building, as the draft remains the best way to build a team with young, developing talent at a much more affordable cost than relying too heavily on free agents.
That’s been the problem for the Vikings in recent years and led to the firing of GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah this year.
It’s well documented that, entering the 2026 draft, the Vikings have only two projected starters who were drafted since Adofo-Mensah’s first year as GM in 2022, and both were first-round picks — WR Jordan Addison and LG Donovan Jackson.
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This assumes Kyler Murray starts over 2024 first-rounder J.J. McCarthy and OLB Dallas Turner (the other first-rounder in 2024) continues to be the third edge/OLB behind starters Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard (which would change if Greenard is traded and Turner still will play a lot after leading the team with eight sacks last season).
The bottom line is there are no Vikings draftees past the first round from the last four drafts who are expected to start, with the caveat that kicker Will Reichard — a sixth-round pick in 2024 and a First-Team All-Pro last season — certainly was an excellent draft pick by Adofo-Mensah.
Aug 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings place kicker Will Reichard (16) kicks a field goal against the Houston Texans in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
In fact, after the departures in free agency this year of former 2022 draftees Jalen Nailor and Ty Chandler, all 10 players the Vikings picked in the 2022 draft are gone (including, of course, the ill-fated picks of Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth as the first two Vikings picks that year).
This recent pattern must change and improve dramatically in this draft and future drafts.
Back to those Steelers in their dominant run in the 1970s — yes, they certainly hit on so many first-round stars in Bradshaw, Greene, Harris, and Swann. But there were Lambert, Ham, Blount, Stallworth, and Webster picked in the second through fifth rounds.
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Think about the Seahawks with their two Super Bowl teams in 2013 and 2014. Key players included third-round QB Russell Wilson, fifth-round corner Richard Sherman, and fifth-round safety Kam Chancellor, all multiple-time All-Pros and Pro Bowlers.
Our great 15-1 Vikings team in 1998, which fell in the NFC title game, had 14 players we drafted who started, many after the first round.
In my years as Vikings GM and Titans president, we never wanted to miss on a pick in the first three rounds and certainly felt the pressure to make those picks count, with future starters and, hopefully, Pro Bowl-caliber players. I also had a standard speech I would make to our player personnel/scouting staff and coaches as we entered Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
I would tell them the draft is an inexact science and emphasize that there are Hall-of-Fame-caliber players in every round, and that we needed to identify and select such players in rounds 4-7. It will be proven in upcoming seasons that there are so many future starters, depth players, and special teams contributors who will make a big impact on their teams.
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Oct 29, 2000; Tampa, FL, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter (80) runs a route during game action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium, showcasing his precise route-running and reliable hands in a matchup that highlighted his Hall of Fame-caliber consistency. Mandatory Credit: Paul Chapman-USA TODAY Sports
There will be Hall of Famers coming out of the late rounds who will join the list of the best late-round draft steals of all time. It’s a list that includes Stallworth and Webster from those Steeler teams along with these other Hall of Famers among many others — Cris Carter (fourth round), Steve Largent (fourth round), Jared Allen (fourth round), Charles Haley (fourth round), Kevin Greene (fifth round), Terrell Davis (sixth round), Shannon Sharpe (seventh round) and Richard Dent (eighth round).
Add to this late-round list of stars the likes of these All-Pros who are non-Hall of Famers but have a good shot to make it someday: Rich Gannon (fourth round), Amon-Ra St. Brown (fourth round), Richard Sherman (fifth round), Stefon Diggs (fifth round), George Kittle (fifth round), Tyreek Hill (fifth round), Jason Kelce (sixth round), Antonio Brown (sixth round) and Brock Purdy (Mr. Irrelevant as the last pick in the 2023 seventh round).
Of course, any discussion of late-round draft steals starts with the GOAT, who will soon be a first-ballot Hall of Famer — Tom Brady (sixth round in 2000 out of Michigan who is a seven-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Super Bowl MVP, and 15-time Pro Bowler, all NFL records, along with owning virtually every career passing record.
Minnesota Vikings Executive Vice President of Football Operations Rob Brzezinski joins a discussion with KFAN host Paul Allen and analyst Pete Bercich at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, Feb 25, 2026, in Indianapolis. The front-office leader outlined roster-building philosophy and offseason strategy during the on-site interview. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
So after paying close attention to the Vikings picks on Days 1 and 2 at No. 18 overall in the first round (don’t trade down Vikings unless it’s just a couple spots and you have several players rated equally), No. 49 in the second round and No. 82 and 97 in the third round, don’t discount the importance of the next five picks (a fifth-rounder, a sixth-rounder and three picks in the seventh round).
The Vikings need to hit on the vast majority of these later-round picks, along with their four picks in the first three rounds. It’s time for the Purple to get back to building through great drafting in the early and later rounds and by augmenting the roster with some key free-agent signings, without needing to sign so many expensive outside free agents, as they’ve had to because of insufficiently high-quality drafting.
Free agency always will be a critical piece of the puzzle as they’ve done in recent years with excellent players such as Greenard, Van Ginkel, Blake Cashman, Byron Murphy Jr., Aaron Jones, Eric Wilson, and that quarterback who won 14 games for the Vikings in 2024 and just won a Super Bowl in Seattle — Sam Darnold.
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But the draft must be center stage in roster building with a much higher percentage of hits on picks after the first round, so more draftees become stars and sign second contracts with the Vikings, as was the case with Justin Jefferson and Darrisaw in the past two years.
Jeff Diamond is a former Vikings GM, former Tennessee Titans President and was selected NFL Executive of the Year … More about Jeff Diamond
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.
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