NLEX Road Warriors huddle during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals against TNT.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Kiefer Ravena may be playing in the Japan B.League, but he still keeps tabs on the PBA from time to time.

Of course, that meant he remains up to date, especially when it comes to his former team, NLEX.

The Road Warriors had quite the misfortune in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup, wasting their twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals at the hands of TNT.

READ: Kiefer Ravena to stay in B.League but with new team

And who else would know that pain better than Ravena?

“Hopefully we didn’t pass that curse,” said the former Yokohama guard at SM Megamall on Saturday.

“It still stings for me because it could’ve been another semifinals opportunity for me in my first year right after my suspension.”

Led by Robert Bolick, NLEX found success in the elimination round as the top seed with a 10-2 card.

But despite being armed with a twice-to-beat incentive, the Road Warriors still faltered to the Tropang 5G led by import Bol Bol.

That’s a familiar sight for Ravena. Almost way too familiar.

Back in 2019 when Ravena still played for NLEX, he fueled the Road Warriors to the No. 1 spot with an 8-3 record in the Governors’ Cup.

Much like this year’s NLEX squad, Ravena’s crew also lost to the eighth-seed in the quarters.

He did, however, acknowledge that the Road Warriors will only get better with their young core of LJay Gonzales, Xyrus Torres, JB Bahio and Schonny Winston.

“The future’s bright for them. If ever a time comes if I return with those guys around, it’ll make things a lot easier knowing those guys can perform. I’d just be on the sidelines monitoring and mentoring those guys.”

Team LSG in action© BCCI

AIFF held a Special General Meeting of its General Body members in Kolkata on May 23. (AIFF)

New Delhi: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) General Body passed the responsibility on finalising the commercial rights deal back to the Executive Committee at the SGM held in Kolkata on May 23.During the SGM, the General Body gave the “power to discuss and deliberate” on the two bidders to the Executive Council. Given the legal and constitutional requirements, that was the maximum possible today.The AIFF had received two bids for the commercial rights, from FanCode and Genius Sports. Of the two, the AIFF is vehemently in favour of UK-based Genius Sports which is offering Rs 64.4 crore per year, which will grow by 5% each year, totalling Rs 2129 crore over the 15+5-year cycle.“The Federation further discussed the Master Rights Agreement (MRA), for which, it has received bids from two entities. To that extent, the General Body unanimously approved that the Executive Committee be given the power to discuss and deliberate upon the MRA negotiations,” said a statement from the AIFF after the SGM which was attended by 19 Executive Committee members, 32 representatives from Member State Associations, along with representatives from FIFA and AFC. Curiously, the SGM was also attended by former AIFF president Praful, who is now a FIFA Council member.On Friday, representatives from the ISL clubs met senior AIFF officials to discuss the commercial rights deal. The clubs have expressed concerns about the model where their financial interests are unclear. As a result, majority of the clubs said in a statement they “are now compelled to review the extent of our commitment to the league beyond the current season.”Later, in an email, they asked AIFF General Body against taking a decision on the long-term commercial rights model. The clubs requested that “no binding decision be taken at the Special General Meeting scheduled for tomorrow [May 23]. The Clubs remain willing and available to continue engaging constructively with the AIFF and Genius Sports to arrive at a collaborative and financially sustainable framework that protects the interests of all stakeholders and, most importantly, secures the future of Indian football.”

The Democratic Republic of Congo’s national team have been instructed to remain in isolation for 21 days before they can travel to the United States for the World Cup due to the Ebola outbreak in the country.

The Congolese team are currently training in Belgium after their planned training camp in Kinshasa was cancelled over health concerns.

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the World Cup, said the players must stay inside a controlled environment in Belgium to avoid any risk.

“They must remain in that bubble or they may not be allowed to enter the United States,” Giuliani said.

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced restrictions on non-American travellers who have visited DR Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within the last 21 days.

However, all the DR Congo players are based outside the country, meaning they are not expected to be directly affected after the cancellation of the camp in Kinshasa.

Giuliani also warned that anyone joining the squad must stay separate from the players to avoid health complications.

“If anyone joins the team and later shows symptoms, it could affect the entire squad’s participation at the World Cup,” he explained.

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Friday raised the public health risk level of the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo from “high” to “very high”.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the danger across the African region remains high, although the global risk is still considered low.

DR Congo are expected to play friendly matches against Denmark on June 3 in Belgium and Chile on June 9 in Spain as part of their preparations for the tournament.

The World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, with DR Congo set to face Portugal in their opening match on June 17.

Landing the most promising undrafted talent often comes down to aggressive spending and a reasonable path toward on-field opportunity. Monkell Goodwine, an undrafted defensive lineman, appears to have ticked off both boxes.

The Vikings had to commit some meaty guaranteed cash within Goodwine’s deal, which is an important detail for anyone who doesn’t get picked. His overall cap charge comes in at $888,333 (OTC). As for guarantees, that number is sitting at $257,500. Compared to most players, that’s a modest total, but it’s quite a good haul for an undrafted free agent, suggesting he was a coveted player after the 2026 NFL Draft concluded.

The Vikings Guaranteed Much to Sign Monkell Goodwine

If, per chance, you’re not super familiar with Goodwine, then fear not.

The recent addition is 23. A South Carolina alumnus, Goodwine stands at 6’4″ and 290 pounds. As a result, his job is likely to involve being a 3T/5T, someone who lines up across from the guard and/or offensive tackle rather than the center. Generally speaking, players who are asked to soak up double teams inside are a decent bit larger, suggesting the UDFA is going to get tasked with playing closer to the end of the line than the middle.

Last season, Goodwine’s main job was to be a 3 technique (PFF), somebody who lines up across from the guard. He was in that spot for 428 snaps. He had 49 snaps in more of a 1 technique area and 27 in more of a 5 technique role. He even had a trio of snaps out wide as an edge rusher.

Looking at Goodwine’s snap breakdown illuminates much. His 2025 season involved a hearty helping of work, playing 508 snaps. That’s an amount that jumps off the page since he only had 153 snaps in 2024 alongside single-digit snaps in each season from 2021 to 2023.

The Vikings may have therefore landed someone who is still raw, a diamond in the rough who will sparkle after there has been an effort to shine him up.

Similarly notable is that his first three seasons in college took place at Alabama, a juggernaut program where he never broke through to play consistently. Moving to South Carolina for 2024 and 2025 involved being able to play.

The rookie’s stats in 2025 show 31 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 pass defended, and 2 forced fumbles. At no point did he pickup a sack in his college career. He nevertheless made an impact in the passing game in 2025, hurrying the quarterback 10 times while hitting the quarterback 3 times.

Right now, the Vikings are working through a defensive line overhaul.

No longer is Jalen Redmond just a nice story. Instead, the Vikings are leaning on the former UDFA to be the top defensive tackle, somebody who continues to create issues at the line of scrimmage as the unquestioned top option. The ability is there; so is his resilience and work ethic. Expect Redmond to keep being fantastic.

The Vikings are then leaning on Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. The 1st-Round selection and 3rd-Round selection are carrying beefy expectations. Most have at least some degree of hesitance for Banks given the injury problems, but his upside is massive. Orange, meanwhile, appears ready to be a good ball player in time for Week 1.

But then the Vikings are going to give Monkell Goodwine a chance to prove he can help. He’ll be looking to mirror Elijah Williams, Taki Taimani, and Jalen Redmond as recent examples of Vikings defensive linemen who arrived as unheralded UDFA pickups who eventually proved capable of making the final roster.

The Minnesota Vikings will be beginning OTAs next week. Goodwine’s task involves impressing at each and every step.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Football’s biggest tournament is back on North American soil this summer, 32 years after Italy’s Roberto Baggio sent the ball flying over the crossbar in the final, tragic act of one of the most iconic World Cups to date. 

Before the US hosted the world of “soccer” in 1994, neighbouring Mexico had become the first country in the world to organise two World Cups, first in 1970 and again in 1986, when it stepped in for Colombia.

As the two countries team up with Canada for an unprecedented three-host World Cup, running from June 11 to July 19, we look back at some of the highlights of the first three tournaments held on the continent. 

1970: Pelé strikes back 

The first tournament held in North America is still regarded by many as the finest yet, won by a legendary Brazil team boasting the likes of Gerson, Rivelino, Tostao, Jairzinho and, of course, Pelé. The latter – already a two-time champion – was making his comeback to the Selecao, after injury had forced him out of the 1966 World Cup.

Brazil faced their toughest test in the group stage when they took on defending champions England in a clash of titans that saw Gordon Banks famously deny Pelé with one of the greatest saves in history, before Jairzinho sealed a hard-fought 1-0 win in the searing heat of Guadalajara.  

Many had put their money on the two sides meeting again in the final. But Franz Beckenbauer’s West Germany, who faced the Three Lions in the quarterfinals, had other plans.  

England looked to be in command when coach Alf Ramsey decided to rest Bobby Charlton with his side 2-0 up and only 20 minutes left in the game. But the Mannschaft came roaring back against the ageing English squad, prevailing 3-2 in overtime to set up a semi-final showdown with Italy – who had earlier ended home favourites Mexico’s dream run to the knockout stages.  

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Dubbed the “Game of the Century”, the Italy-West Germany clash had it all: goals galore, refereeing blunders and Beckenbauer fighting on with his dislocated arm in a sling before 100,000 delirious fans at the Estadio Azteca. Despite the German captain’s sacrifice, it was the Azzurri who prevailed this time in a thrilling five-goal overtime, with Gigi Riva’s 111th-minute strike sealing a 4-3 win for Italy. 

Days later, in the final, the Azzurri held their ground in a tight first half before the mighty Brazilians romped to a 4-1 victory. The sublime passing game that led to Carlos Alberto’s final goal summed up the virtuosity of the 1970 Selecao. And Pelé became the first player to lift the World Cup for the third time after 1958 and 1962 – a feat unmatched to this day.

1986: The ‘Hand of God’ 

“Thank you God for football and for Maradona!” It’s a cry of joy many have heard before, watching replays of Argentina’s quarterfinal victory over England at the 1986 World Cup, with the legendary live commentary of Uruguayan journalist Victor Hugo Morales. 

The stage is once again the Estadio Azteca, and El pibe de oro (the golden boy) has just scored his second, memorable goal. “Cosmic kite, what planet are you from that you can leave so many Englishmen in your wake?” the commentator rambles on, sobbing with joy at a feat celebrated across Argentina – and much of Latin America – as revenge for the Falklands War in 1982.  

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Maradona’s glorious run past England’s hapless defenders is the stuff of legend, second only in fame to the goal he scored minutes earlier with his hand, the “hand of God”, as he coined it. It has come to define both the tournament and its star player – the brilliance and the trickery, the prodigy and the myth.  

The second World Cup on Mexican soil produced plenty of other memorable moments, starting with Morocco’s famous run to the knockout stages – the first for an African team. It saw the Lions of the Atlas top their group, ahead of England, before losing out to West Germany in a narrow 1-0 defeat. 

Maradona aside, it was Michel Platini’s France who delivered the match of the tournament, edging out the likes of Socrates, Zico and Careca on penalties in a legendary quarterfinal. Both sides sported an unusual number of players in their 30s, and the Guadalajara heat took its toll on the French, who went on to lose 2-0 against West Germany in the semis – four years after their traumatic defeat at the same stage and against the very same opponents in Seville. 

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Maradona did not score in the final, which saw the Germans once again claw their way back from a 2-0 deficit in the second half. But he did provide the through pass that set up Burruchaga’s 3-2 winner in the 84th minute, carrying the Albiceleste to their second World Cup title.  

1994: Baggio’s agonising miss 

World Cups are not always best remembered for their winners. For all but fans of Italy, the defining image of the 2006 final is likely to be Zidane headbutting Materazzi – rather than Cannavaro lifting the trophy. The same could be said of the 1994 final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, which many neutrals remember as the scene of the most famous penalty miss in World Cup history. 

The choice of venue that year was a strategic bet for FIFA, which hoped to establish soccer as a permanent fixture in the home of American football. Although heavyweights like England, France and Uruguay were absent, there was still an abundance of stars to sell the game to American audiences, including the likes of Romario, Dennis Bergkamp, Thomas Brolin, Gheorghe Hagi, Jürgen Klinsmann and Hristo Stoichkov. 

Maradona also joined the party, though his fairytale comeback for Argentina was cut short in the group stage after he tested positive for a banned drug – just days after scoring a wondergoal against Greece – and was promptly banished from the tournament. A more sinister tragedy struck days later when Colombian captain Andrés Escobar was gunned down on his return to Medellin, after scoring an own goal while playing the US hosts. 

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On the pitches, however, there were plenty of compelling sights, including the five goals Russia’s Oleg Salenko scored in a single game against Cameroon – a record that still stands. The home side also earned their stripes, narrowly losing 1-0 to the future champions in what Brazil captain Carlos Dunga later called “probably the hardest game” the Selecao played in the entire tournament. 

In truth, the Brazilians had a lot of hard games, relying on a sturdy defence and the attacking flair of Romario and Bebeto to overcome Bergkamp’s flying Dutch (3-2) and surprise package Sweden (1-0) enroute to the final, where Italy lay in wait.  

The Azzurri had also laboured their way to Pasadena, with Baggio scoring five of their six goals in the knockout round as they battled past Nigeria, Spain and then Bulgaria – each time winning by a single goal, just like Brazil. Neither side was able to score in the final, with the tournament’s two best defences pushing the contest to the first penalty shootout in the history of World Cup finals. 

Romario duly scored his penalty and would go on to be named player of the tournament. But Baggio’s miss is the one everyone remembers. 

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Italy were already in a tight spot when the “Divin Codino” (Divine Ponytail) walked up to take his fateful penalty, having carried the Azzurri to the final with his guile and genius. Both Baresi and Massaro had missed, meaning Brazil could still have won with their last kick even if Baggio scored. But his shot into the sky has come to embody Italy’s defeat – and with it the sheer injustice of the game.