When Vaibhav Sooryavanshi attended the Rajasthan Royals trials back in the day, neither did he possess the pronounced back-lift nor the super-sonic bat speed that has now forced an entire bowlers’ industry to suffer from chronic nightmares. But with a gifted cricket brain and clarity to die for, Sooryavanshi often reminds Zubin Bharucha of a young Sachin Tendulkar, who had similar traits when he was 15. Bharucha, possibly one of the best modern day batting mentors in the country, who also worked with Sooryavanshi, gave a ringside view of the science in his batting and the elements that make him special.
“One of Vaibhav’s rare qualities is his ability to grow alongside the game. What people see today is not what existed when he was eight years old. This exaggerated backlift, for example, evolved progressively as the quality and pace of bowling improved around him,” Bharucha told PTI during an interaction.
In fact, Bharucha, who back then was associated with the Royals spoke about how the coaches worked on his bat speed before the start of the 2025 Indian Premier League.
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“Interestingly, at the trial he attended, he did not even possess the fastest bat speed amongst the group. This was identified and worked on diligently for a period of three months where we were able to improve it by another thirty percent,” the former Mumbai batter recalled.
So what exactly separates Sooryavanshi from other talented young batters who are coming through the ranks? “That ability to delay commitment, to almost suspend time for a fraction longer, is one of the defining traits of elite batting,” Bharucha replied.
Deconstructing Sooryavanshi’s technique
If one has watched Sooryavanshi, the footwork has been minimal where he has mostly stood and delivered with an amazing bat-speed armed with a high back-lift. But there is a slight trigger of the backfoot which allows him to use the depth of the crease.
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“A lot of that comes from his loading onto the backfoot and his back-lift. The back-lift is not merely a stylistic feature; it acts almost like a self-propagating depth-perception mechanism. As the ball travels, the body, hands, and eyes work together to create spatial awareness.
“Great batters do not just react to the ball, they seem to receive extra information from it. That is incredibly difficult to teach because it sits at the intersection of vision, timing, balance, and instinct,” said Bharucha.
While he is much younger compared to team’s senior players like Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel, his training routines haven’t been any different from them.
“Jurel. There is no radically different magic formula.” “The process is built around deconstruction and reconstruction — breaking the batting down into smaller components, identifying inefficiencies, and then rebuilding movements and decisions in a more repeatable way. The core objective is always risk reduction through fault reduction, while simultaneously enhancing scoring options.” What one has noticed in Sooryavanshi’s batting is the increase in scoring options. In 2025, his scoring chart was dominated by shots on the on-side but in this one year, he has developed shots on the off as well.
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“At the highest level, batting development is as much about adding range as it is about removing weaknesses and increasing clarity under pressure.
“What is interesting is that his practice routines between IPL seasons have not dramatically changed. He has been hitting roughly the same volume of balls for the last couple of years.
“With elite sport, people often search for some secret technical breakthrough, but more often than not the biggest shift is belief,” Bharucha said, relating from his decades of coaching young talent, who come up through the system.
So what has been the difference between Sooryavanshi of 2025 and Sooryavanshi of 2026? “The difference now is that his confidence has multiplied,” Bharucha answered.
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“Earlier, he knew he could dominate U19 bowlers. Now he believes the same methods, the same tempo, and the same instincts can work against international bowlers as well. That internal shift is enormous. Talent gives players a ceiling, but belief is often what allows them to actually reach it.” Sooryavanshi is enjoying a high but obviously there will be low phases like it happens with every player. The noise around him will increase exponentially but Bharucha feels that after Tendulkar, he hasn’t seen any teenager with such clarity.
“In that sense, he reminds me very much of a young Sachin Tendulkar. Not necessarily stylistically, but in terms of maturity and clarity. Some players arrive young in age but already old in understanding. He is one such,” said Bharucha.
“It would be unrealistic to suggest that he will somehow be immune to the struggles every cricketer experiences. Failure, scrutiny, and the weight of expectation are unavoidable parts of any sporting career, particularly in India but what stands out, though, are some of the qualities he possesses beyond pure skill.
“His leadership instincts and his cricket intelligence are unusually advanced for someone so young. He processes situations quickly and has a natural awareness of the game around him.” While there are people skeptical about how he will fare in red ball cricket, Bharucha won’t mind if selectors throw him towards the deep end of the pool.
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“So if the belief is that he has the capability, then there is also an argument that throwing him into the deep end may actually accelerate his learning. Great players often adapt quicker against the highest standard because their learning curve sharpens under pressure.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) reaches for a pass against New York Giants cornerback Cordale Flott (28), Dec. 21, 2025, during the first half at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Addison battled through tight coverage along the sideline as Minnesota’s offense attacked the Giants secondary in a late-season NFC matchup on the road. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings’ roster feels pretty well set as of late May, but that may not stop the organization from trading wide receiver Jordan Addison, says Pro Football Network.
That website sized one player per team last week who could be traded before too long, and Addison got the nod up north.
Vikings WR Room Would Make an Addison Trade … Complicated
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison secures a reception against Chicago Bears cornerback Terell Smith during first-quarter action on Dec. 16, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Addison remained heavily involved in Minnesota’s passing attack as the Vikings battled a division rival during a late-season matchup with playoff implications inside the NFC North race. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
PFSN: Vikings Main Trade Bait = Addison
Addison got the tap on the shoulder from PFSN’s Jacob Infante, who explained, “Rather than continue to improve in Year 3, Jordan Addison saw his production drop in 2025, finishing with a career-low 71.0 PFSN WR Impact Score and posting career-low numbers in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns.”
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“He missed three games due to suspension last year, and he was arrested for trespassing in January. His drop in production and off-field concerns could make him a trade candidate for the Minnesota Vikings.”
Addison briefly frequented the trade rumor mill earlier in the offseason, but when the Vikings exercised his fifth-year option and drafted no rookie wideouts, the theories died off. Infante is trying to resurrect them.
How Much Could Vikings Get?
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If the Vikings decide to trade Addison, starting with a 2nd-Round pick seems reasonable. He’s young, productive, and assuredly has the potential to be a WR1 when he gets the ball. However, there’s a catch: his off-the-field issues have prevented him from reaching superstar status, and he has yet to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season after three years.
Minnesota has also structured its wide receiver lineup with this in mind. Jauan Jennings recently joined as the 2026 WR3, providing Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy with another solid target behind Justin Jefferson and Addison. Additionally, Jennings serves as a reliable backup if either Jefferson or Addison gets injured.
Trading Addison now would ravage that strategy. The Vikings brought in Jennings to enhance their offense, not to create another gap.
The timing also suggests that Addison is likely staying put. If Minnesota truly wanted to move him, the April draft would have been the optimal time, not late May or early summer. As it stands, Addison looks set to remain a Viking through 2026 and likely beyond.
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Soon, he’ll also be able to discuss a contract extension with the team. That could even begin this summer.
Why … Trade Addison?
Addison’s trade value starts with his talent. He has already demonstrated his ability to produce at a high level, is still young, and has three NFL seasons under his belt as he approaches his prime.
However, his situation is messy. Really messy, in fact. In 2023, Addison was pulled over in Minneapolis for speeding at 140 mph in a 55 mph zone. He claimed it was due to a dog emergency, and the incident didn’t create much controversy with the league. Most considered it a one-off.
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Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison celebrates with quarterback Sam Darnold after a touchdown during third-quarter action against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 29, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Addison helped fuel Minnesota’s offense in a high-stakes NFC North showdown as the Vikings continued pushing toward the postseason late in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
The following incident was more serious. In 2024, he was found passed out and intoxicated in his car on a Los Angeles freeway, leading to a three-game suspension.
Then, during the 2025 season, he faced more boneheaded antics. Addison skipped a team walkthrough in London, which led coach Kevin O’Connell to bench him for a quarter in the next game. Three months later, he was arrested for trespassing at a Florida casino. Although the charges were eventually dropped, they added to a growing list of troubles.
That is the crux of the debate surrounding a potential Addison trade. While the player is valuable, his off-field baggage may make teams hesitant about how much they are willing to offer.
Unlikely to Ruin a Good Thing
The grand takeaway? The Vikings are unlikely to trade Addison. Why? They would’ve done so by now this offseason. They’ve had four months to formulate a plan, including players to sign in free agency and rookies to pluck from the draft. If offloading Addison were on the menu, that seems like a matter for February, March, or April — not whimsically after the draft.
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Plus, the Vikings love Addison. They’ve had every reason to reevaluate their stance after his transgressions, and every time, they stood steadfastly behind him.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison makes a fourth-quarter reception against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 9, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Addison continued serving as a major contributor in Minnesota’s passing offense while the Vikings battled one of the AFC’s toughest opponents during an important midseason matchup in front of the home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
A more logical trade candidate may be safety Theo Jackson, who will fight for a roster spot among Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, and rookie Jakobe Thomas. Harrison Smith may even return one more time; he has not expressly retired.
Pro Football Focusrecently identified linebacker Blake Cashman as a trade candidate, too, but like Addison, it doesn’t make much sense to get rid of a productive player.
Addison will turn 25 next January.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Dan Dakich took a jab at Cari Champion on Thursday after the CNN broadcast journalist’s comments on Caitlin Clark‘s favoritism among the WNBA referees. The NFL insider retweeted an X post featuring an article covering Champion’s remarks.
He called out the CNN broadcast journalist for frequently going after Clark.
“Always worried about the lil white girl,” Dakich wrote.
Always worried about the lil white girl
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Champion voiced her concerns about Clark and the officials on Wednesday’s episode of the “Flagrant and Funny” podcast. The CNN broadcast journalist recalled an incident from last season where Clark told a referee to open their eye. She then compared the incident to a technical foul Paige Bueckers received for clapping in an 86-69 loss to the Atlanta Dream on Friday.
“That type of blatant favoritism annoys the hell out of me,” she said (Timestamp: 26:00). “I don’t know if this is her fault, because I think it might be unfair for me to say that this is her fault. But at the same time, it’s like, why is she getting this special treatment? And it just is, yet again, another example of the league and its fans… being so precious with her.”
“I don’t like you”: Cari Champion calls out Caitlin Clark for not taking ‘responsibility’
Later, on the podcast, Cari Champion criticized Caitlin Clark for her behaviour towards the referees. She recalled Napheesa Collier calling out the referees during the offseason following the Lynx’s loss in the 2024 WNBA Finals.
She praised the Lynx star for criticizing the referees in an appropriate setting, which, according to her, is off the court. Champion then took shots at the Fever star and the league’s treatment of her.
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“The more we get to catch these glimpses of Caitlin Clark, I am like, ‘I don’t like you. I don’t like how you behave on the court.’ The league is positioning you to be its superstar because you are, and with leadership comes certain responsibilities,” she said. (Timestamp: 27:10)
“If you don’t want that responsibility, I understand, but the way that you behave, this entitlement that you behave, the way that you were talking to your coaches, you and Sophie (Cunningham), you enjoy that right?”
Later, Champion said that if Clark wanted to play the villain, then she would be coming at her. The CNN broadcast journalist urged CC stans to recognize the Fever star’s desire to play the villain.
Caitlin Clark has had a great start to her season. She is averaging 23.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 9.0 assists in five games on 43.2% shooting.
France’s Moise Kouame reacts as he wins the second set playing against Paraguay’s Adolfo Daniel Vallejo during their men’s singles match on day 5 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Suzanne-Lenglen at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on May 28, 2026. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP via Getty Images)
French teenager Moïse Kouamé produced one of the most unbelievable wins of the French Open after defeating Adolfo Daniel Vallejo in a five-hour thriller.
The 17-year-old won 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 after a brutal battle that pushed both players to their limits.
Kouamé looked set for a comfortable victory after leading by two sets, but suddenly found himself just two points away from defeat before somehow surviving the deciding-set tiebreak.
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Ranked No. 318 in the world, the French youngster becomes the youngest man to reach the third round at Roland Garros since 1989.
The incredible run also makes him the fifth-youngest man in the Open Era to reach the third round at Roland Garros.
An unforgettable moment for one of tennis’ brightest young talents.
Barcelona weigh up move for Piero Hincapie, Ruben Dias instructs agents to explore move away from Manchester City and Liverpool pushing for quick agreement with Yan Diomande.
Barcelona are weighing up an approach for 24-year-old Arsenal and Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie. (Mail) , external
Manchester City and Portugal defender Ruben Dias, 29, has instructed his agent to explore options for a move away, with Paris St-Germain,Bayern Munich and RealMadrid all monitoring his situation. (Caught Offside), external
Liverpool are pushing for a quick agreement with RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande, while Paris St-Germain and Manchester City are closely monitoring the situation and have already held talks with the 19-year-old Ivory Coast international. (Florian Plettenberg), external
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Crystal Palace want to convince England midfielder Adam Wharton, 22, and Japan midfielder Daichi Kamada, 29, to stay following their Conference League final win. (Sky Sports) , external
Bournemouth are determined to resist any summer offers for French forward Eli Junior Kroupi, 19, Brazil winger Rayan, 19, and England midfielder Alex Scott, 22, with mounting interest in the trio. (Guardian), external
West Ham and Germany striker Niclas Fullkrug wants to leave after their relegation with Bundesliga side Werder Bremen among those interested in the 33-year-old. (Sky, in German), external
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Portuguese side Sporting want to re-sign 30-year-old Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha when his season-long loan at Tottenham from Bayern Munich ends. (A Bola, in Portuguese), external
Leeds United are lining up a move for 24-year-old Lyon and United States midfielder Tanner Tessmann as part of a busy summer of transfer business. (Football Insider) , external
Cup-holders Nigeria are not looking to take anything for granted in Saturday’s Unity Cup Tournament final duel against the Reggae Boyz of Jamaica at the Charlton Athletic Stadium in London.
Head Coach Eric Chelle has been singing the praises of the squad that hammered Zimbabwe 2-0 in Tuesday’s semi final, and he made it clear on Thursday that he might tweak his playing personnel, tactics, pattern and strategy for Saturday’s encounter against the familiar foes.
The Super Eagles and the Reggae Boyz battled to a 2-2 draw in the final of the same mini-tournament on Saturday, 31st May, 2025, before the Eagles swept to victory 5-4 after penalty shootout to retain the trophy they had won in 2002 and 2004 – the only two times the competition had been held previously.
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In its first edition in 2002, the Unity Cup was played by only two teams, with Nigeria defeating Jamaica by a lone goal scored by a former Nigeria U17 team captain James Obiorah. Two years later, the Republic of Ireland joined the two teams, but Nigeria still emerged champions, with Bartholomew Ogbeche emerging the top scorer with three goals.
It was at the 2004 edition that Obafemi Martins made his mark, scoring on his debut for Nigeria.
On Saturday, Coach Chelle is permitted further experimentation with the largely fresh group he has brought to London, with Wrexham FC of England goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo likely to be given the nod to start having kept a clean sheet against the nifty Warriors on Tuesday.
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A reassuring rearguard of Chibueze Oputa, Chibuike Nwaiwu, Igoh Ogbu and Obinna Igboke could also be wholly retained, following a commendable outing against the Zimbabweans. It may be recalled that it was at the Unity Cup last year that Igoh Ogbu, who plays for Slavia Prague in the Czech Republic, got his break into the Eagles’ big league.
Tochukwu Nnadi, who played some part in the Super Eagles’ campaign at the last Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, may again team up with US-based no-nonsense tackler Alhassan Yusuf and former U17 team captain Samson Tijani in the middle, as Terem Moffi, Philip Otele and two-goal hero Femi Azeez run things at the fore.
Cyprus-based goalkeeper Francis Uzoho is also available, as are midfielder Tosin Oyedokun and forwards Owen Oseni and Rafiu Durosinmi who also did not disappoint as substitutes on Tuesday.
Azeez’s self-assured output against Zimbabwe, with two goals to boot in his debut, gladdened the hearts of the technical crew and much is expected of him against a Jamaican side that nearly torpedoed the books last summer. In the event, he became the first debutant to score two goals for the Nigeria senior team since Mathias Obianika did the same in the Eagles’ 4-0 defeat of Burkina Faso 55 years ago.
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On Thursday, the Super Eagles trained at the Cray Valley, ahead of Friday’s official training that will hold at The Valley.
NEW DELHI: The cricket world is still struggling to come to terms with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s astonishing IPL 2026 Eliminator knock, and now former Pakistan batting great Mohammad Yousuf has joined the growing list of admirers with a comparison that instantly grabbed attention.Less than 24 hours after the 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals sensation demolished Sunrisers Hyderabad with a breathtaking 97 off just 29 balls, Yousuf declared that the teenager reminded him of a young Shahid Afridi.“15-year-old cricket sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reminds me of @SAfridiofficial — young, fearless, explosive, full of energy. The future is here!” Yousuf posted on X.The comparison with Afridi — one of cricket’s most destructive hitters during his peak years — only added to the growing hype surrounding the teenage prodigy, whose fearless batting has become the biggest talking point of IPL 2026.
Sooryavanshi’s brutal assault leaves SRH stunned
Sooryavanshi produced one of the greatest playoff innings in IPL history during Rajasthan Royals’ 47-run victory over Hyderabad in the Eliminator at Mullanpur.The teenage opener smashed 12 sixes and five fours at an extraordinary strike rate of 334.48, tearing apart even Australia captain Pat Cummins with three consecutive sixes in one over.His stunning knock powered Rajasthan Royals to 243/8 before SRH were bowled out for 196.Also Read:How the Sooryavanshi storm ended Sunrisers’ title dream after dramatic revivalThe youngster narrowly missed out on becoming the fastest centurion in IPL history, falling for 97 while attempting another six. However, he still shattered multiple records during the innings.Sooryavanshi now holds the record for the most runs by an uncapped batter in an IPL season with 680 runs, surpassing Yashasvi Jaiswal’s tally of 625 in 2023.He has also smashed 65 sixes this season, breaking Chris Gayle’s long-standing IPL record for most sixes in a single edition.Cricket world in awe of teenage sensationDespite missing his century by just three runs, Sooryavanshi revealed that personal milestones were never on his mind during the innings.“I got to know after the game,” he said when asked about narrowly missing the fastest IPL hundred record. “My focus was on hitting a six. I will score centuries in future but the focus was on getting maximum runs for the team.”Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag admitted the team deliberately avoids overloading the youngster with advice.“We don’t have any conversations; just leave him alone. We give him a lot of batting practice and he does his thing,” Parag said.England pacer Jofra Archer, who played a crucial role with the ball in the Eliminator, summed up the growing fear among bowlers perfectly.“The more runs he scores, the more runs we have to defend. He can get 150,” Archer said.With Rajasthan Royals now set to face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, the cricketing world waits to see whether the fearless teenager can produce another extraordinary performance on the biggest stage.
Do you agree with comparison of Sooryavanshi to Shahid Afridi?
Major League Baseball owners have formally presented a salary cap proposal to the players’ association, a system the union has consistently vowed to reject.
This move sets the stage for a significant confrontation that could jeopardize the 2027 season and potentially beyond.
The last time baseball owners put forward a firm cap was in 1994, an initiative that triggered a 7 1/2-month strike and led to the cancellation of the World Series for the first time in 90 years.
The proposal would cap spending in 2027 at $245.3 million, with a salary floor of $171.2 million.
MLB spokesman Glen Caplin stated: “Our salary cap and floor proposal levels the playing field while sharing baseball revenue with the players 50/50 as we grow the game together. Further, by sharing media revenue equally as part of our proposal, we can address another top fan concern of local TV blackouts.”
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Juan Soto has a lucrative contract with the Mets (Getty)
Management argues that a cap is essential to enhance competitive balance and prevent affluent teams, such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, from assembling rosters significantly more star-studded than their smaller-market counterparts.
However, players are advocating for expanded free agency and salary arbitration rights, a near-doubling of the major league minimum wage, increased revenue sharing among high-earning and less wealthy clubs, and penalties for teams that fall below payroll floors.
They contend that a cap would primarily benefit owners at their expense, and they remain steadfast in their refusal to accept one. Without a cap, MLB stars have secured lucrative, guaranteed contracts that often surpass those of top athletes in other US sports.
Juan Soto’s $765 million, 15-year contract with the Mets is believed to be the biggest ever in team sports and is far greater than the largest deals in the NFL (Patrick Mahomes at $450 million over 10 years) and NBA (Jayson Tatum at $314 million over five years).
The Dodgers, for instance, shattered MLB’s spending record with a combined $515 million in payroll and luxury tax last year en route to their second straight World Series title.
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Los Angeles’ total was seven times the $68.7 million payroll of the Miami Marlins, the lowest-spending team, and more than the payrolls of the bottom six clubs combined.
Other major US sports leagues operate under a salary cap. The NBA introduced a modern version in 1984-85, NFL players and owners adopted one for the 1994 season, and the NHL followed suit in 2005-06 after a lockout cancelled an entire season.
Baseball’s current five-year agreement, finalized in March 2022 after a 99-day lockout, is set to expire on 2 December. While a lockout next winter is widely anticipated, intensive negotiations are not expected until late February or early March 2027, when the prospect of losing regular-season games and revenue becomes imminent.
Should regular-season games be forfeited, the dispute could devolve into a test of endurance, with each side gauging its tolerance for economic loss.
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The 1994 MLB salary cap proposal also offered a 50-50 revenue split, requiring teams to maintain payrolls between 84-110% of the average. It aimed to eliminate salary arbitration and reduce the free agency threshold from six years of major league service to four, with a provision allowing a player’s former club to match any offer until they reached six years.
That offer was made on 14 June, leading to the players’ strike on 12 August. MLB eventually withdrew the proposal on 6 February the following year under pressure from the National Labour Relations Board.
The strike concluded on 31 March after US District Judge Sonia Sotomayor – now a Supreme Court Justice – issued an injunction reinstating the expired labour contract’s work rules. Owners accepted the union’s offer to return to work without an agreement two days later, with a deal not being reached until 1997.
Aspirant Detdet Pepito during the PVL Draft Combine Day 1. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Detdet Pepito is ready to step out of her comfort zone in the Premier Volleyball League after spending the past 11 years with the University of Santo Tomas.
Pepito, who had been with UST since high school, began the road to the pros as one of the 42 aspirants in the 2026 class for the PVL Draft Night on June 3 at Novotel.
“Honestly, I’m nervous because everything feels so different, even the faces I’m seeing now are new to me. But at the same time, I’m also really excited, especially since we’ve been able to train with different PVL teams,” Pepito told reporters after undergoing biometrics and drills on the first day of the Draft Combine at GameVille Ball Park.
“We’re getting exposed to different systems, different players, and veteran athletes. Even now, we’re already learning so much from them, so it’s been a really fun experience.”
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The UST captain admitted it hasn’t been easy adjusting to life outside España Boulevard and training with professional teams.
“Honestly, it’s been really hard. Even just the training schedule is a huge adjustment because most PVL teams train in the morning. In UST, we usually finished training late at night, so my body clock was really used to that,” said Pepito.
PVL Rookie Draft Aspirants during day 1 of the Draft Combine. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
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“Now I’m trying my best to adjust to morning training and to the overall PVL system. It’s difficult, but exciting too because after almost 11 years of training at night, now I’m training in the morning. Actually, I’ve noticed I become more productive after morning training because I still have the whole afternoon to do other things.”
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Still, Pepito said it’s an adjustment she is willing to embrace as she prepares for the next chapter of her career.
“That’s really how I show my leadership and personality. I move more freely and comfortably when I can just be myself and stay playful,” she said.
“I can offer leadership. And of course, I always try to give 101 percent, whether it’s during training or in actual games.”
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The two-time UAAP Best Libero is also eager to compete against and learn from some of the league’s top floor defenders, including Kath Arado of PLDT High Speed Hitters, Alyssa Eroa of ZUS Coffee, Justine Jazareno of Akari, Kyla Atienza of Creamline, and the duo of Thang Ponce and Dawn Macandili-Catindig.
“I’m super excited because before, I only watched them from afar. Now, I might actually get to compete against them. I think it’s even better because I’ll get to see firsthand how they move and play,” Pepito said. “I really want to learn from how they adjust, how they handle pressure, and bring those lessons with me so I can continue improving.”
A popular AEW star recently shared his thoughts on a recent alliance with Jon Moxley. The Death Riders leader is the current Continental Champion in the company.
Will Ospreay recently started training with Moxley and The Death Riders. Samo Joe wanted to recruit Ospreay for The Opps. However, the star’s refusal pushed Joe and his stable mates to attack Will. The Death Riders then showed up to make the save and Jon Moxley even suggested he would help Will become a better version of himself. The results were evident as the Aerial Assassin faced former AEW World Champion Samoa Joe in the quarterfinals of the Own Hart Cup. Ospreay defeated Joe in the hard fought battle.
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This week, Ospreay took to Twitter to posted some photos from a recent AEW Collision TV taping, showing his interactions and teamup with Jon Moxley. The two stars teamed up with PAC in a Trios match against The Rascalz Zachary Wentz, Dezmond Xavier and Myron Reed. The group won the encounter and even posed together in the ring. The Aerial Assassin added the caption “Starting to understand” signalling that he was finally understand the motto and work ethic of the Death Riders. Interestingly, the Death Riders had put Ospreay out of action last year, forcing the star to get neck surgery.
Kenny Omega warned Will Ospreay about Jon Moxley and the Death Riders
In the aftermath of his victory over Samoa Joe in the Owen Hart Cup, Will Ospreay spoke with Renee Paquette backstage. The 33-year-old star said that he was feeling great despite the physical battle. Ospreay noted that his body felt good before heading to the trainer’s room.
Kenny Omega was also in the trainer’s room, recovering after the chaotic Stadium Stampede match and offered Ospreay some ice. Omega congratulated him on advancing to the next round before shifting the conversation toward the Death Riders. The former AEW World Champion expressed concern about Ospreay trusting the group, reminding him that they had previously carried out every threat they made.
Omega pointed out that the faction had injured both of them in the past, including Ospreay’s neck injury. He questioned why the former International Champion never reached out to him for help, insisting he would have gladly stood by his side.
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The 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge continues on Friday with the second round at Colonial Country Club in Texas. You can find full Charles Schwab Challenge tee times for Friday’s second round at the bottom of this post.
Featured tee time for Round 2
J.J. Spaun struggled mightily to start the 2026 PGA Tour season. Through March, Spaun had played seven tournaments and missed the cut in four of them. His best finish was a T24.
It was a far cry from the form Spaun showed in 2025, which led to his first major victory at the U.S. Open and a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
But as the calendar turned to April, Spaun flipped the script, winning the 2026 Valero Texas Open for his third career PGA Tour victory. The win helped Spaun remain in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking (No. 9), which makes him the top-ranked player in the Charles Schwab Challenge field.
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After teeing off late on Thursday, Spaun will switch to a morning tee time and a 10th-tee start for Round 2. He tees off at 8:44 a.m. ET on Friday alongside Gary Woodland and Ludvig Aberg.
You can watch Friday’s second round of the 2026 Charles Schwab Challenge from 4-7 p.m. ET on Golf Channel. PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ will provide exclusive early streaming coverage starting at 8 a.m. ET Friday, in addition to featured group and featured hole coverage.
Check out the complete Round 2 tee times and groupings for the Charles Schwab Challenge below.
With an ESPN+ subscription, you gain access to PGA Tour Live, where you can stream the best PGA Tour events live from wherever you want.
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2026 Charles Schwab Challenge tee times for Friday: Round 2 (ET)
Tee No. 1
8:00 a.m. – Matthieu Pavon, Austin Smotherman, Takumi Kanaya 8:11 a.m. – Camilo Villegas, Charley Hoffman, Eric Cole 8:22 a.m. – Erik van Rooyen, Tom Kim, Seamus Power 8:33 a.m. – Karl Vilips, Stephan Jaeger, Webb Simpson 8:44 a.m. – Billy Horschel, Lucas Glover, Matt Kuchar 8:55 a.m. – Michael Brennan, Matt McCarty, Davis Thompson 9:06 a.m. – Kevin Streelman, Mark Hubbard, Max Greyserman 9:17 a.m. – Lee Hodges, Bud Cauley, Sam Stevens 9:28 a.m. – Zecheng Dou, Adrien Saddier, Pontus Nyholm 9:39 a.m. – Kris Ventura, Kensei Hirata, Christo Lamprecht 9:50 a.m. – Jeffrey Kang, Marcelo Rozo, Mason Howell (a) 12:40 p.m. – Nick Dunlap, Kevin Kisner, Christiaan Bezuidenhout 12:51 p.m. – Max Homa, Lanto Griffin, Rasmus Højgaard 1:02 p.m. – Patton Kizzire, Mackenzie Hughes, Thorbjørn Olesen 1:13 p.m. – Ricky Castillo, Nico Echavarria, Harry Hall 1:24 p.m. – Ryan Gerard, Keegan Bradley, Brian Harman 1:35 p.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Robert MacIntyre, Alex Smalley 1:46 p.m. – Justin Thomas, Russell Henley, Sungjae Im 1:57 p.m. – Andrew Putnam, David Lipsky, Hank Lebioda 2:08 p.m. – Brice Garnett, Dylan Wu, Jordan Smith 2:19 p.m. – Paul Peterson, Neal Shipley, John VanDerLaan 2:30 p.m. – Adrien Dumont de Chassart, Trace Crowe, Davis Chatfield
Tee No. 10
8:00 a.m. – Ryo Hisatsune, Chandler Phillips, Kevin Roy 8:11 a.m. – Joel Dahmen, Ryan Palmer, Beau Hossler 8:22 a.m. – Doug Ghim, Rico Hoey, Ben Kohles 8:33 a.m. – Ben Griffin, Rickie Fowler, Tom Hoge 8:44 a.m. – J.J. Spaun, Gary Woodland, Ludvig Åberg 8:55 a.m. – Brandt Snedeker, Akshay Bhatia, Tony Finau 9:06 a.m. – Sahith Theegala, Taylor Moore, Michael Kim 9:17 a.m. – Keith Mitchell, Patrick Rodgers, Johnny Keefer 9:28 a.m. – Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, Zach Bauchou, Chandler Blanchet 9:39 a.m. – Haotong Li, Hayden Springer, Jimmy Stanger 9:50 a.m. – Dan Brown, A.J. Ewart, Albert Hansson (a) 12:40 p.m. – Nick Hardy, Zac Blair, Michael Thorbjornsen 12:51 p.m. – Vince Whaley, Max McGreevy, Danny Walker 1:02 p.m. – Chad Ramey, Ben Martin, Sudarshan Yellamaraju 1:13 p.m. – Andrew Novak, Joe Highsmith, Davis Riley 1:24 p.m. – Steven Fisk, Cam Davis, Chris Kirk 1:35 p.m. – Adam Schenk, Garrick Higgo, Kevin Yu 1:46 p.m. – William Mouw, Brian Campbell, J.T. Poston 1:57 p.m. – Emiliano Grillo, Adam Svensson, Sam Ryder 2:08 p.m. – Austin Eckroat, Pierceson Coody, Mac Meissner 2:19 p.m. – David Skinns, Jackson Suber, Keita Nakajima 2:30 p.m. – Alejandro Tosti, John Parry, Luke Clanton
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