Man Utd play Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday and Michael Carrick explained his team selection.
Michael Carrick has reiterated Benjamin Sesko is important at Manchester United after again naming the striker on the bench. United won 3-2 against Fulham last weekend and Carrick has made no changes following that result.
Sesko scored a late matchwinner against Fulham, but he has been named on the bench to face Tottenham, with Carrick sticking by the players who performed at Old Trafford last weekend.
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Carrick has enjoyed a dream start to his interim role, winning against Manchester City, Arsenal and Fulham, and the 44-year-old is hoping to extend that sequence against Spurs.
Speaking to TNT Sports about the decision to stick with Sesko on the bench, Carrick said: “Ben’s been fantastic. He’s going to be a big player for us and everything I’ve seen from him is really encouraging. Today was just a decision I’ve made but Ben will come on and make a big difference for us again.”
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Asked about the game plan, he said: “I’ve not had to pass an awful lot on. They’ve been fantastic, there’s been little pieces about taking the ball up the pitch but it’s mainly about trusting them to express themselves.”
Carrick also discussed the partnership between Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, saying: “I haven’t really had to pass any tips onto him yet. Case and Kobbie have been fantastic. “I’ve given them little bits of advice and trusting them on finding their way and expressing themselves.”
Tottenham are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with United in all competitions (W5 D3), which is their longest ever run without defeat against the Reds. However, United are fourth in the Premier League table after three wins on the bounce.
Former New York Jets first-round draft pick Darron Lee was arrested in Tennessee and charged with murder in the death of his girlfriend earlier this week, according to police.
Lee, 31, was arrested by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Thursday and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with or fabricating evidence, according to online records. He is currently being held without bond and is due back in court Wednesday.
New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in the first move made by interim general manager Adam Gase.(Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com)
The Ohio State standout’s arrest stems from the death of his girlfriend, who has not yet been identified by law enforcement pending family notification.
ESPN reported that deputies were dispatched to residence with reports of CPR in progress Thursday afternoon. Once on the scene, first responders attempted to perform life-saving measures on a woman before she was later declared dead.
The sheriff’s department later ruled her death a homicide.
“Due to the condition of the victim and the residence, HCSO Criminal Investigative Services Detectives responded. Preliminary findings indicate the victim’s death was the result of a homicide,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
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Lee, 31, was arrested by the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Thursday and charged with first degree murder and tampering with fabricating evidence.(Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office)
Lee has had previous run-ins with the law. In 2023, he was arrested in Ohio following allegations of domestic violence against his own mother and the mother of his son. He reached a plea agreement, which included a one-day jail sentence.
A national champion with the Buckeyes, Lee was drafted by the Jets in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He played three seasons with the Jets, but was suspended four games at the end of the season due to a PED violation.
Kansas City Chiefs inside linebacker Darron Lee (50) reacts as he defends against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won 17-7 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 17, 2019.(Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports)
A total of 270 athletes selected to represent Akwa Ibom State at the 2026 Niger Delta Games in Edo State have successfully completed a screening exercise in line with approved competition rules.
According to the Information/PR Unit, Ministry of Sports, Akwa Ibom State, the screening was held on Friday, February 6, 2026, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. It was organised to ensure eligibility, transparency and fair play among athletes from the nine Niger Delta states that will take part in the Games, scheduled for February 20 to 27, 2026.
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Speaking during the exercise, Chairman of the NDG Screening Team, Sir Braveman Wordi, said the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in partnership with Dunamis Icon Ltd, organised the Games to boost grassroots sports and discover young talents who can compete at national and international levels.
He explained that the Games are part of the NDDC’s wider plan to develop human capacity beyond the oil and gas sector, with sports identified as a key tool for youth empowerment in the region.
Sir Wordi listed the eligibility requirements, stating that athletes must be 19 years and below, must be indigenes of the states they represent, and must be properly registered in a verifiable database. He urged coaches to focus on long-term athlete development rather than short-term medal targets, adding that the screening was an important step towards a successful outing at the Games.
Addressing journalists after the exercise, he praised the organisation and discipline of the athletes and coaches, describing the process as transparent and in line with standard sports administration practices.
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“I am impressed with the high level of organisation and discipline among the athletes and coaches,” he said. “I commend the organisers, Dunamis Icon Ltd, for putting together this competition. It is important in preparing young talents from the region for national and international opportunities.”
In a related development, the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, who also chairs the state’s NDG Liaison Committee, earlier met with NDG officials and stressed strict compliance with competition rules and proper documentation of athletes.
He warned that any breach of the Games’ regulations would lead to outright disqualification, but expressed confidence that with strong government support and proper preparation, Team Akwa Ibom would perform well and make the state proud.
Team Akwa Ibom is expected to begin camping on February 17 and 18, 2026, to improve fitness and readiness ahead of the Games.
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The screening delegation was received by Elder Paul Bassey, members of the NDG Liaison Committee, 46 officials, directors from the Ministry of Sports, and members of the media.
MANCHESTER, England — It’s four Premier League wins in a row for Manchester United under Michael Carrick, and a season that was unravelling just weeks ago now looks full of promise.
A 2-0 victory against Tottenham on Saturday extended Carrick’s 100 per cent start as head coach and will further strengthen his case to be given the job on a long-term basis.
It was the first time in two years that United has won four straight league games and boosted its hopes of a return to the lucrative Champions League.
Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes scored in each half at Old Trafford in a game that saw Spurs reduced to 10 men after captain Cristian Romero was sent off in the 29th minute.
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Carrick has transformed United’s fortunes since he was parachuted in to replace the fired Ruben Amorim last month. Initially given a contract until the end of the season, his impressive impact will likely put him in serious contention to keep the job as the club’s hierarchy considers its long-term plans.
United is fourth, and after moving up to 44 points, the 20-time English champion has already exceeded last season’s total of 42 points for the entire campaign.
UFC bantamweights are front and center. The four highest-ranked bantamweights all recently competed in major fights. On Saturday, Mario Bautista and Vinicius Oliveira step into the spotlight.
People are starting to wake up to the skill of Bautista (16-3). The Arizona native had won eight fights in a row since 2022 before getting a step up opportunity against top contender Umar Nurmagomedov. While he was swept on the scorecards, Bautista put up a strong effort in defeat. Bautista stunned Nurmagomedov with a knee and nearly yanked his foot off with a toehold. His strong showing, plus a dominant win over former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix, helped mend fan feelings after his contentious win over the great Jose Aldo.
“I thought I blew the [Nurmagomedov] fight. That’s the mindset I had,” Bautista told CBS Sports. “Being around people saying, ‘That was an awesome fight. You actually went out there and fought him. You didn’t hold anything back.’ I’m glad people saw that from me. I think that’s what landed me this main event.”
On Saturday, Bautista can utilize his wealth of experience against a fighter with a rapidly rising profile.
“His hand placements,” Bautista said of Oliveira’s technical gaps. “Outside of the UFC, I saw three separate videos of him getting knocked out. He lives and dies by the sword. I think there’s a higher possibility for that to happen the higher you climb up the UFC rankings.
Oliveira (23-3) is a madman. He marches forward with his hands down and strikes from odd angles. Oliveira is already calling out elite stars like Nurmagomedov, Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili only four fights into his UFC career. “Lok Dog” won’t be far from those conversations if he makes good on his first-round knockout prediction.
“No one in the top five wants to fight me. They’re all close to fighting for the belt. If UFC asked them to fight ‘Lok Dog,’ they’d say no…” Oliveira told CBS Sports. “They don’t want to fight me because they have many things to lose.
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“I’m dangerous in this division. When you see me fight, you can see I’m crazy. I move forward with my hands down. I dodge stuff and throw punches from nowhere. I’m not technical or orthodox. It’s strange to fight me. If I were someone in front of me, I’d run away. I wouldn’t want to face me.”
Saturday’s co-main event has important implications for the flyweight division. Kyoji Horiguchi, who enjoyed four title reigns between Rizin and Bellator, has the second fight of his second UFC stint. To date, Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson is the only flyweight to beat Horiguchi. The Japanese star could make a serious splash in the title conversation by beating Amir Albazi. Once considered a future title contender, significant health issues have stunted Albazi’s career. Heart and neck surgery are among the serious procedures that Albazi underwent over the last few years.
Plus, grappling expert Jailton Almeida is back in a heavyweight bout with Rizvan Kuniev in a featured slot. Almeida, 34, debuted in 2022 after earning a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. He ripped off six straight wins, including a strong decision over former title challenger Derrick Lewis in 2023. After a setback against Curtis Blaydes by knockout in 2024, Almeida bounced back with a pair of finishes against Alexander Romanov and Serghei Spivac.
Let’s take a look at the rest of the fight card with the latest odds from DraftKings before getting to a prediction and expert pick on the main event below.
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UFC Fight Night card, odds
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Mario Bautista -170
Vinicius Oliveira +142
Bantamweight
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Kyoji Horiguchi -375
Amir Albazi +295
Flyweight
Jailton Almeida -155
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Rizvan Kuniev +130
Heavyweight
Michal Oleksiejczuk -500
Marc-Andre Barriault +380
Middleweight
Farid Basharat -285
Jean Matsumoto +230
Bantamweight
Dustin Jacoby -185
Julius Walker +154
Light heavyweight
UFC Fight Night viewing information
Date: Saturday, Feb. 7 | Start time: 8 p.m. ET Location: Meta APEX — Las Vegas Stream:Paramount+ (subscribe now for as little as $8.99 per month)
Prediction
Mario Bautista vs. Vinicius Oliveira: Oliveira doesn’t seem concerned with Bautista, technique, or much else. You can chalk up his swagger to some combination of confidence and stubbornness. Oliveira was a vicious KO artist on the regional scene. Things haven’t come so easily for him in the UFC. He might not like that, but I do. Oliveira showed that his skills hold up over 15 minutes.
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Saturday’s headliners are surprisingly similar considering their contrasting personalities and game plans. They have comparable striking offense and defense stats, though Oliveira sees less artillery coming his way. They’re also difficult to ground. I’m torn here. Bautista’s performance against Nurmagomedov opened my eyes to how good he is. I don’t think he’ll finish Oliveira, and that creates concerns about a potential KO loss over 25 minutes. However, Oliveira’s inexperience against elite fighters and failure to finish his last three opponents are more concerning. I’ll side with the veteran over five rounds. Pick: Bautista via unanimous decision
Feb 4, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at a EA Sports Madden 26 display at the Super Bowl LX media center at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
A last-second 52-yard field goal lifted Drini “Drini” Gjoka to a 30-27 win over Jaylen “Astro” Morrow-Reynolds in the Madden Bowl final on Friday in Redwood City, Calif.
Drini, a McKinney, Texas, resident, joins Henry “Henry” Leverette as the only two-time winners in the 10 editions of the event featuring 1-on-1 competition. Henry was also part of a three-player team that won the Madden Bowl in 2021, when a different format was used.
The latest victory was worth $250,000 and the championship ring. Astro, from Waldorf, Md., pocketed $150,000 as the runner-up.
“This is the biggest win of my life,” Drini said. “I’ve had so many big wins in my life, but this right here tops it all, I’m not going to lie. This feels so good. Like, I’m shaking in my hands. This is insane, man.”
Drini captured his first Madden Bowl crown in 2019, a year after losing in the final. He has been competing in the Madden Championship Series for eight years.
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“It’s been seven years since I won my last Madden Bowl, since I won my last belt,” Drini said.
He added that he felt disrespected by those who were overlooking him.
“I’m just here to prove a point that I’m still that guy,” he said.
In the semifinals, Drini got past John “MrFootball88” Britt of San Diego 24-12, and Astro topped seeded David “DavidT” Tampellini of Patchogue, N.Y., 38-29.
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Madden Bowl 26 prize pool
1. $250,000 — Drini “Drini” Gjoka
2. $150,000 — Jaylen “Astro” Morrow-Reynolds
3-4. $100,000 — John “MrFootball88” Britt, David “DavidT” Tampellini
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5-8. $55,000 — Jonathan “JonBeast” Marquez, “GoatGeezy,” Peyton “Dez” Tuma, Henry “Henry” Leverette
A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits along the Lambeau Field sideline as game-day preparations unfold in Green Bay, with November 23, 2025 marked by cold conditions and heightened stakes. The quiet pregame scene reflects an organizational backdrop where league attention around Minnesota’s coaching structure continues to subtly grow during the late-season evaluation window. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images
He wasn’t a game-wrecker for the Minnesota Vikings, but running back Roger Craig indeed played 29 games for the franchise in the early 1990s and is indeed a Hall of Famer. The NFL announced the 2026 class on Thursday night, and Craig broke through.
Craig’s long wait ends, and the Vikings’ Hall conversation shifts from celebration to who could realistically follow him into Canton.
Depending on next year’s votes, Minnesota could send back-to-back Vikings tailbacks to the Hall: Craig and Adrian Peterson.
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Roger Craig’s Road to Canton
You better believe Craig finished his career in Minnesota.
Minnesota Vikings running back Roger Craig stands on the sideline at Candlestick Park before facing San Francisco, with October 3, 1993 captured as a pregame moment from his return to the Bay Area. The archival image reflects Craig’s rare position as a former 49ers star lining up against his old team late in his career. Mandatory Credit: Imagn Images
Craig Gets the HOF Nod
Craig is in. 49ers.com’s Briana Jeannel wrote Thursday, “The Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed its Class of 2026 during NFL Honors on Thursday night, with former 49ers running back Roger Craig adding his name to the list of NFL greats.”
“Craig was selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft out of the University of Nebraska and became a key figure in San Francisco’s dynasty of the 1980s. A versatile offensive weapon, Craig was a superstar on 49ers head coach Bill Walsh’s West Coast offense, contributing as both a rusher and receiver.”
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He became eligible for the Hall in 1999. The man has waited nearly three decades for this moment.
His Stop with the Vikings
In the final two seasons of his career, Craig joined a couple of Vikings RB rooms that included Terry Allen, Barry Word, Scottie Graham, and Robert Smith — basically the aftermath of the failed Herschel Walker trade era.
He logged 868 yards from scrimmage and 6 touchdowns, and primarily served as the RB3. Think Cam Akers in the last couple of seasons with the current Vikings or Zavier Scott in 2025. It was the dawn of the Dennis Green era.
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Minnesota reached the postseason in both Craig campaigns but obviously lost before the Super Bowl. It’s a familiar MIN theme since 1976.
Overall Production
Craig logged 8,189 rushing yards in 11 seasons, ranking 47th in NFL history. But he also banked 4,911 receiving yards on 566 career receptions, solidifying his case for the Hall. It had to be the receiving threat because the rushing numbers alone were not enough. For example, the aforementioned Terry Allen rushed for more yards than Craig in his career, and Allen is absolutely nowhere near Hall of Fame consideration.
Roger Craig prepares near the field ahead of a Vikings–49ers matchup at Candlestick Park, with October 3, 1993 marking one of the final chapters of his NFL career. The file photo freezes Craig in Minnesota colors at a stadium where he once defined championship football for San Francisco. Mandatory Credit: Imagn Images
The deal-sealer for Craig? Three Super Bowls with the 49ers. Those markedly increased his visibility — rightfully so — rubbing shoulders with Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, two HOF automatics.
All told, Craig won Offensive Player of the Year in 1988, was a four-time Pro Bowler, and a two-time All-Pro.
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The Other Inductees
Aside from Craig, who got the nod from voters for lifetime achievement and patience, the other inductees were no-brainers:
Drew Brees (QB)
Larry Fitzgerald (WR)
Luke Kuechly (LB)
Adam Vinatieri (K)
Not a single soul had major beef with the Hall’s choices from that list.
And the voters needed that after the Bill Belichick debacle last week. Mind-bogglingly, the voting committee did not grant Belichick entry on his first attempt.
Fitzgerald fulfilled his Hall of Fame destiny, a notable moment from a Minnesota standpoint because he was a ballboy for the Vikings in the late 1990s.
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Arizona Sports‘ Tyler Drake on Fitzgerald’s induction: “Fitzgerald amassed 17,492 receiving yards on 1,432 receptions throughout 17 NFL seasons. There’s only one pass catcher in NFL history who can truly say they did more in those departments: Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, who sits atop the leaderboard for the most receiving yards (22,895) and catches (1,549).”
“Fitzgerald, however, has a leg up on Rice in another aspect — one that Cardinals fans truly appreciate. He stayed put! In a world where athletes change teams on the regular looking for that next big pay day, Fitzgerald was among the anomalies. Seventeen seasons, 263 games played, all with the Cardinals.”
San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig carries the ball against Minnesota during the NFC Divisional Playoff at Candlestick Park, with January 6, 1990 anchoring a postseason clash between familiar rivals. The archival action shot captures Craig attacking the line as the 49ers pushed through another playoff run at home. Mandatory Credit: Photo By USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright USA TODAY Sports
Down the stretch of Fitzgerald’s illustrious career, Vikings fans hoped he’d sign in Minnesota to make the story full circle. No luck.
Drake added, “And although he trails Rice in the categories mentioned above, it’s Fitzgerald holding the top spot when it comes to getting it done with one team. Rice really made a name for himself during his 49ers tenure, but it was Fitzgerald who strung together a better statistical career in the place he was drafted.”
“Fitzgerald also did it with 17 different starting quarterbacks! Despite that many cooks in the kitchen, he still found a way to consistently impact games.”
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The aforementioned Adrian Peterson will be eligible for induction in 2027.
Peter Andersson still remembers the sound of the phone ringing.
Not the roar of an Olympic crowd, not the crunch of a blue‑line hit, not even the unmistakable glide of Borje Salming beside him.
No, the moment that still echoes loudest came in 1994, just as he stepped out the door toward what he thought would be his second Olympic Games.
“I booked the flight, and as I’m walking out of my house to get to the taxi, the phone rings,” said the 60-year-old Swede.
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“Somebody from the office in New York said, ‘Hey, you can’t go, because if you go, the Rangers have to put you on waivers, and they don’t want to.’ So I had to cancel everything, stayed home, and then I watched on TV when Sweden won the gold medal.”
He pauses, letting the sting of it breathe.
“I was close to having a gold medal, but I couldn’t go.”
32 Thoughts: The Podcast
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That’s the kind of heartbreak that never fully leaves a player. And it’s the kind of story you tell your son when he’s about to live the dream you were denied.
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“That’s funny, I didn’t know that,” chuckled his son, Rasmus Andersson, who will pull on the Tre Kronor at the Olympics later this week, carrying the family lineage into a new generation.
“He doesn’t really tell us a lot about the Olympics. He said about ’92 it was the coolest experience he had, playing with Borje, but he doesn’t go in depth. He said, ‘You’ll see when you get there.’”
For Rasmus, the mystery is part of the appeal.
“Half the Olympic experience is staying with other athletes, and seeing what they do, and how they get prepared,” said the 29-year-old Golden Knights defenceman.
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“I think that part will be cool. In our life, it’s just game, hotel, flights, come home. I bet you it will be like your first year in the NHL when you experience everything for the first time. At the end of the day, you’re there for hockey, and that’s the one thing you know what to do. Everything around you, just appreciate the two weeks you have there and take it as it comes.”
Peter certainly approached it with wide eyes as a 27‑year‑old defenceman from Malmö who got the call every Swedish kid dreams of: You’re going to the Olympics.
But the real jaw‑dropper came next.
“The coach called to say he picked me for the team, and that he had a bit of an issue: ‘I want you to play with Borje Salming, but you have to play on the right side’” said Peter of his introduction to the 1992 Olympics in Albertville, France.
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“I never played on the right side, but I said, ‘Oh, s—, that’s no problem.’ Borje Salming was my idol growing up. Everybody’s idol. He was a legend in Sweden.”
Imagine growing up with a giant poster of Salming over your bed, then sharing a blue line with the Hall of Famer.
“He was a machine,” said Peter, who played parts of three NHL seasons with the Rangers and Panthers.
“He worked so hard, did absolutely everything for his teammates. A great guy in the locker room. You can’t be better than that.”
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Rasmus, who is known for being the consummate team player, knows what it’s like to be in awe of teammates.
“At 4 Nations I caught myself just staring at Erik Karlsson and Victor Hedman doing power-play drills,” he said.
“I was the seventh d‑man and was just like, ‘Oh my god.’ Honestly, I just wanted to be a good teammate and would just stand there and watch them. When I see these guys, I totally understand why I’m not playing. You do your thing and I’ll just try to keep the room a little loose. It was a pinch‑me moment of guys I really looked up to.”
And he knows what the Olympics mean back home.
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“In Sweden it’s always The Big 3 – (Mats) Sundin, (Peter) Forsberg and (Nicklas) Lidstrom, because of the 2006 Olympics,” he said.
“If you want to build your brand after your career, especially in Sweden, it’s all about performing in the Olympics.”
The 1992 Games weren’t the NHL‑star‑studded spectacle they are today. Back then, only non‑NHL pros could participate, which gave the tournament a more intimate feel.
Peter remembers Swedish skiers showing up at their games, cheering them on. He remembers going to watch skiing events with teammates. He remembers the apartments, five guys together, cooking meals, hanging out, living like university roommates with national pride on the line.
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“I hope Rasmus and his teammates take some time to see some other stuff,” said Peter, who recently paused his coaching career in Sweden, just in time to join his daughter at the Olympics in Milan.
He knows the Games are bigger than hockey.
Years after the 1994 heartbreak, Peter was playing in Malmö when a teammate, Christian Due‑Boje, walked into practice with something shiny.
“He brought his gold medal with him,” said Peter.
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“He shows me and goes, ‘Shake my hand.’ And says thank you. I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ He said, ‘Yeah, I got picked instead of you. Here’s the gold medal. You can feel it if you want, but I can’t give it to you.’”
Although his Swedish team lost just once at the ’92 Games, Peter came home empty-handed, with a fifth-place showing.
What he kept were the memories. And now, he’s passing them on.
“A gold medal… could have been for me, but I didn’t get any medal,” he said.
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He doesn’t say it with bitterness.
He says it with pride and hope, because his son is about to write the next chapter.
Dec 14, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Fox broadcaster Tom Brady is seen prior to the game between the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
A few days after taking a diplomatic stance on the upcoming Super Bowl, Tom Brady changed his approach and sent support to his longtime team on Friday.
Brady won six Super Bowls as New England’s quarterback, but he said earlier this week regarding the Patriots’ pending matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, “I don’t have a dog in the fight in this one. May the best team win.”
Roasted publicly by ex-teammates who decried his position, Brady took to Instagram on Friday to laud Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Posting a photo of Kraft smiling alongside him, Brady wrote, “You know I got your back RKK. Get that seventh ring so we can match.”
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Following his time with the Patriots, Brady added to his record Super Bowl ring collection by guiding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a title.
Theories about why Brady initially was reluctant to back the Patriots for the Sunday game in Santa Clara, Calif., revolved around his current two roles: as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports and as a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders.