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Takeaways: Isabella Wrana leads Sweden to Olympic mixed doubles gold

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10 February 2026

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Rasmus Wrana will forever be thankful for his younger sister’s performance in the mixed doubles gold-medal match.

Sweden’s Rasmus and Isabella Wrana beat the U.S. 6-5 in a thriller to capture gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics. It’s the first time the Swedes have won Olympic gold in mixed doubles — their previous best was a bronze medal at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing in the second Winter Games appearance for the event..

It’s Sweden’s fifth overall gold medal in Olympic curling, trailing just Canada (six) for the most all time.

Despite the heartbreak of not winning the gold medal, it was a historic run for Team USA’s Cory Thiesse and Korey Dropkin.

They earned the Americans’ first-ever medal in mixed doubles and Thiesse became the first woman to collect an Olympic curling medal for the United States.

As for Dropkin, his passionate celebration with crowds all week did something larger for the sport. New eyeballs now are familiar with curling.

Curling fan and San Francisco 49ers superstar tight end George Kittle posted to his Instagram story prior to the gold-medal match, showing his support for the American duo. The U.S. also had Snoop Dogg cheering them on in their game against Canada in round-robin play.

In the bronze-medal match, Italy’s Stefania Constantini and Amos Mosaner secured the win over Great Britain’s Jennifer Dodds and Bruce Mouat. The Italians weren’t able to defend their gold medal from 2022, but still found the podium on home soil.

Draw 15 (bronze-medal game)

Draw 16 (gold-medal game)

Isabella has the game of her life

The pressure of playing for an Olympic gold medal can get to a curler

But Isabella rose to the occasion, shooting an absurd 97 per cent.

From her opening shot in the first end, you could tell Isabella was focused and determined to come away with the gold medal.

For the first six ends, it was all about Isabella’s draw weight. She came up with clutch shots to put Sweden in a great position to force without hammer, or score with last rock.

It started with her draw in the second. With only the side of the button open to get second shot, Wrana made a great draw for two.

Tied 2-2 in the fourth end, Isabella was staring at four American rocks in the house as she went to throw her last stone. Once again, she delivered, making another great draw for one.

In the sixth end, Sweden had a chance to score big. But Rasmus had a poor throw, forcing Isabella to great again. She got Sweden a point to go up 4-3.

The final two ends were different, though. Isabella needed to come through with two hits, and considering she had thrown none in the first six ends, it could have been a tough adjustment.

But for Isabella, it’s her bread and butter.

In the seventh, Rasmus jammed on a double attempt, opening the door for the U.S. to possibly score three. Isabella didn’t let that happen, however, as she made a double to let the U.S. score only two.

Down 5-4 in the eighth, and the gold medal on the line, Isabella came through with one more clutch shot to score two and win the game.

Without Isabella playing the way she did, Sweden doesn’t win.

It’s heartbreak again for the Brits

For everyone but the Olympic champions, the next four years can be tough. Curlers can sit and think about what they could have done differently to win the gold, and if they’re lucky, they get another chance

Great Britain’s Dodds and Mouat did get a second Olympic shot, but history repeated itself.

At the 2022 Olympics, Dodds and Mouat went 6-3 in round-robin play, finishing as the No. 3 seed. They lost their semifinal match and the bronze-medal game that year.

Well, in 2026 it was a different path, but the same result. They went 8-1 in round-robin play, finishing as the No. 1 seed. But the playoffs once again got the best of them as they finished the event in fourth place.

The key moments were the difference in the bronze-medal match. Dodds had a shot for three in the first but missed and gave up a steal of one. In the fourth end, the Brits had the hammer and gave up a steal again to trail 3-1.

Those two steals came back to bite them in the eighth as they were without the hammer trailing 4-3, and couldn’t produce a steal.

Now, Mouat and Dodds will have another four years to think about how they can reach the podium in 2030, if they can get back.

This was only the first of three curling events at the Olympics. The men’s discipline gets underway on Wednesday, while the women’s starts on Thursday.

Canada will look for their first gold in either event since 2014.

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Michael Carrick makes honest admission about picking Manchester United XI vs West Ham

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15 minutes ago

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10 February 2026

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Man Utd play West Ham in the Premier League on Tuesday and Michael Carrick explained his team selection before the game.

Michael Carrick has admitted it’s “not easy” to pick his Manchester United team after four wins on the bounce in the Premier League. Carrick has picked an unchanged team for a third game in a row to face West Ham.

The 44-year-old has not tinkered with the starting XI since the 3-2 win against Fulham at Old Trafford. Benjamin Sesko scored a late winner from the bench against Fulham, but has not been given a chance to start.

Speaking ahead of kick-off against West Ham on Tuesday night, Carrick told MUTV: “Listen, we have a really good squad, so it’s not easy to pick the team. I think the boys are in a good rhythm, they’re feeling good without getting carried away. I’m looking forward to the game.

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“The whole squad has contributed and will continue to do that off the bench tonight with finishing the game, however that looks, has been important for us, so we need to carry that on as well.”

Carrick has made a flawless start to his interim role. “You need to bring the confidence that it brings,” he said about United’s recent results. “You have to take those emotions and balance them off with getting ready for the next game. Every match is a different challenge.

“It’s a bit of a reset, but we go into the game in a good place, which makes us feel good.”

Speaking about West Ham, he said: “They’re a dangerous team, they have really good players, really good attacking players as well. They have proved in recent weeks what they are capable of doing.”

West Ham are three points adrift of safety, but they have turned a corner in recent weeks, winning three of their last four games. The Irons’ defeat in that run came against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

United could move to third in the Premier League if they beat West Ham tonight. Aston Villa are currently in third position, but they play against Brighton on Wednesday night.

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Ukraine’s Olympic skater has dad and country front of mind

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29 minutes ago

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10 February 2026

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Kyrylo Marsak may have escaped the war in his homeland but it inevitably follows him, even as far as the Milano Ice Skating Arena. The figure skate, one of 46 Ukrainian athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics, told DW it is “difficult mentally” to cope with the devastation wrought on his home city of Kherson since the Russian invasion began in 2022.

“What had meaning in my life, especially in Kherson, has been destroyed. The school where I went from first to eighth grade is destroyed to pieces and the skating rink is destroyed to pieces and my apartment is too — that bomb hit one floor below.”

That skating rink is where Marsak first discovered and developed the talent that would take him to the Olympics, where he is to compete in the men’s single event this week. But as well as places, it’s people that make elite athletes and the music for Marsak’s short program opener on Tuesday will be a reminder of his father’s role in his life.

“Fall on Me” by Italian father and son duo Andrea and Matteo Bocelli has become the way Marsak connects across thousands of kilometers to his father, Andriy, who is fighting on the front lines of the war.

Family separated but still close

The pair are only able to see each other in person once a year, at the Ukrainian national championships, but their bond endures.

“We have a really strong connection, me and my father. We are always thinking about each other and texting every night and every day. Just good morning. Good night. To make sure that we are both okay. And I can even feel this connection when I’m skating and when I’m on the ice,” he said.

“It’s exactly what I wanted to portray as well in my program, our connection. Even though we are not together, I can close my eyes and I see him everywhere.”

With Kherson under heavy fire in the early stages of the war, Kyrylo and his sister were separated from Andriy and their mother, Zoya, as the parents stayed at home and the children went north to Poland. From there, Kyrylo, then 17, and his sister went to Latvia where she stayed while Kyrylo took up a short-term offer at the Peurunka Skating Academy in Finland that turned in to a three-and-a-half year stay.
While in the Scandinavian country, fellow figure skater, Valtter Virtanen, has taken on a prominent role.
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“In Finland he became like a mentor to me. He’s always giving me some tips and ways to improve just from his experience because he had so much more experience than I did. He always supports me and has done everything possible to help me achieve my goals.”
Kyrylo is, however, somewhat tight-lipped on exactly what those goals are in Milan.
“I want to just enjoy this atmosphere, get the maximum out of what I can, to show what I practice. I will not set any specific goals and scores or places. This would only making me anxious and nervous. So my goal is to enjoy this Olympic Games, enjoy the atmosphere and gain as much experience as I can.”
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Russian competitor a problem for Marsak

One man who may stand in his way is Russian rival Petr Gummenik, who will skate under the Individual Neutral Athletes banner as one of 13 Russians and seven Belarussians who will compete over the course of the Games. With their countries banned, any potential individual competitors from those nations were declared ineligible if they were found to have actively supported the war in any way.
However a BBC investigation found that Gummenik has “recently worked with and been coached by Ilya Averbukh, who has been sanctioned by Ukraine. Averbukh has held the role of “Crimea’s ambassador for sport,” taken part in events in numerous occupied territories and staged performances for families of Russian soldiers.

Like most Ukrainians, Marsak does not believe Russians should be allowed to compete at the Olympics in any case.
“I think even under a neutral status, they should not be allowed because they are indirectly responsible for this war and most of them are supporting this war secretly,” he said, with particular reference to Gummenik.
Marsak believes the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has “not been paying attention” to such cases and is disappointed by comments by the new IOC President Kirsty Coventry on their re-admission ahead of the next Summer Games, in Los Angeles 2028.
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Is IOC opening door for Russia?

While not directly referring to Russia, Coventry said earlier this month that “We understand politics and we know we don’t operate in a vacuum. But our game is sport. That means keeping sport a neutral ground. A place where every athlete can compete freely, without being held back by the politics or divisions of their governments.”
Marsak feels It would be particuarly offensive if they were allowed to compete under their national flag and their anthem.
“How can then say that the sport is out of the politics? They are representing their country. They are representing their flag. Well, this is directly the politics of it. Their country is currently the clear representative of terrorism.”
But, for now, Marsak wants to concentrate on his own country and his own performance.
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“I feel really proud that I am going to represent my country. Our main goal is just to show our best and not pay attention to others,” he said.
The one exception, who will surely have at least a slither of his attention on the ice, is his dad.

Concerns about shady deals ahead of 2026 Winter Olympics

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Augusta National helped remake this muni — with green fees starting at $20

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44 minutes ago

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10 February 2026

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As the golf world turns its eyes toward Augusta National this spring, local golfers will find a newly renovated course in town, just a few miles from where the Masters is held. It will officially reopen to the public the Wednesday following the Masters and the weekday resident rate will be hard to beat: $25 for 18 holes, and even less for seniors.

We speak of the reimagined Augusta Municipal Golf Course, which has long been known as “The Patch.” Augusta National stepped in three years ago to refashion the course and its offerings — on the back of a new 50-year lease with the city — with a goal of providing jobs while increasing the public golf offerings in the area. To make it all happen, the club partnered with Tiger Woods, Beau Welling and Tom Fazio, who were charged with building something new while maintaining some of the course’s original design.

Its affordability has made The Patch a longtime home to Augusta’s public golfers, particularly Black golfers who for many years couldn’t find access to the most famous private club in town unless they were donning a caddie bib. At any point in the last 40 years you could show up at The Patch and spot either Jim Dent — one of the game’s best-ever Black golfers, who called Augusta home — or his son, Jim Dent. Jr., who served as the head professional. (In 2020, the entrance road to The Patch was named Jim Dent Way.)

The Patch will reopen to the public on April 15, but will offer limited play in a soft launch beginning next month. The 16-month renovation has completely shifted the routing of the original course, moving the clubhouse to the corner of the property, adding a Woods-designed short course called “The Loop” and equipping the driving range with Trackman Range. A 12-hole putting course also is coming to The Patch, and will be free of charge.

From renderings of the new routing, it would appear the new course will maintain the design of five of the original holes, use parts of another six and add seven new holes. (The original layout is below, left, and the new routing is on the right.) While the course has not released an official scorecard yet, it would appear to be a par 73, with five par-5s, four par-3s and nine par-4s. The old driving range is now part of the 15th hole. The new driving range sits near where the First Tee of Augusta had practice holes for juniors.

Augusta Patch golf renovation — Before and after.
Google Maps (left); Courtesy of The Patch

Pricing for The Patch will be as follows:

Local resident 18 holes: $25 M-Th, $35 weekend
Senior/Junior resident (60 and older, 18 and under) 18 holes: $20 M-Th, $30 weekend
Non-resident 18 holes: $85, $95 weekend

In other community collaborations, Augusta National has partnered with Augusta Tech’s golf-course management program and the First Tee of Augusta to handle operations of the course. One more fun fact: According to the course’s website, the property’s two courses now resemble the shape of an elephant, which we’ve mapped out below.

Augusta muni elephant — Getty Images / Google Maps

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CHL unveils top 50 players for 50th anniversary, including Gretzky, Crosby, Bedard

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53 minutes ago

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10 February 2026

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The Canadian Hockey League has unveiled its top 50 players to commemorate its 50th anniversary.

The list spans multiple eras, featuring Wayne Gretzky and Patrick Roy alongside Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Connor Bedard.

Thirty-one of the 50 players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame, while 34 of them have won at least one Stanley Cup. Twelve of the players were named CHL player of the year during their junior careers.

There are 11 players who are active in the NHL: Crosby, McDavid, John Tavares, Nathan MacKinnon, Corey Perry, Patrick Kane, Bedard, Drew Doughty, Steven Stamkos, Leon Draisaitl and Taylor Hall.

Fans are being asked to submit their Top 10 from the Top 50 list, which will help inform the league’s final ranking, set to be revealed later this spring.

Top 50 CHL Players of the Last 50 Years
(listed alphabetically)
Bedard, Connor / Forward (WHL, Regina Pats – 2020-23) / (Chicago Blackhawks – 2023-Present)
Bergeron, Patrice / Forward (QMJHL, Acadie-Bathurst Titan – 2001-03) / (Boston Bruins – 2003-2023)
Bossy, Mike / Forward (QMJHL, Laval National – 1972-1977) / (New York Islanders – 1977-1987)
Bourque, Ray / Defenceman (QMJHL, Trois-Rivières Draveurs & Sorel/Verdun Blackhawks – 1976-79) / (Boston Bruins & Colorado Avalanche – 1979-2001)
Brodeur, Martin / Goaltender (QMJHL, St. Hyacinthe Laser – 1989-92) / (New Jersey Devils & St. Louis Blues – 1991-2015)
Carbonneau, Guy / Forward (QMJHL, Chicoutimi Saguenéens – 1976-80) / (Montréal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues & Dallas Stars – 1980-2000)
Coffey, Paul / Defenceman (OHL, Kingston Canadians, Soo Greyhounds & Kitchener Rangers) / (Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes & Boston Bruins – 1980-2001)
Crosby, Sidney / Forward (QMJHL, Rimouski Océanic – 2003-05) / (Pittsburgh Penguins – 2005-Present)
Doughty, Drew / Defenceman (OHL, Guelph Storm – 2005-08) / (Los Angeles Kings – 2008-Present)
Draisaitl, Leon / Forward (WHL, Prince Albert Raiders & Kelowna Rockets – 2012-15) / (Edmonton Oilers – 2015-Present)
Ferraro, Ray / Forward (WHL, Portland Winterhawks & Brandon Wheat Kings – 1982-84) / (Hartford Whalers, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, St. Louis Blues – 1984-2002)
Fleury, Marc-André / Goaltender (QMJHL, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles – 2000-04) / (Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks & Minnesota Wild – 2003-25)
Francis, Ron / Forward (OHL, Soo Greyhounds – 1980-82) / (Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes & Toronto Maple Leafs – 1981-2004)
Fuhr, Grant / Goaltender (WHL, Victoria Cougars – 1979-81) / (Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues & Calgary Flames – 1981-2000)
Gilmour, Doug / Forward (OHL & QMJHL, Cornwall Royals – 1980-83) / (St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres & Montreal Canadiens – 1983-2003)
Gretzky, Wayne / Forward (OHL, Peterborough Petes & Soo Greyhounds – 1977-78) / (Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues & New York Rangers – 1979-99)
Hall, Taylor / Forward (OHL, Windsor Spitfires – 2007-10) / (Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks & Carolina Hurricanes – 2010-Present)
Hawerchuk, Dale / Forward (QMJHL – 1979-80, Cornwall Royals) / (Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues & Philadelphia Flyers – 1981-97)
Iginla, Jarome / Forward (WHL, Kamloops Blazers – 1993-96) / (Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche & Los Angeles Kings – 1995-2017)
Kane, Patrick / Forward (OHL, London Knights – 2006-07) / (Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers & Detroit Red Wings – 2007-Present)
Lafontaine, Pat / Forward (QMJHL, Verdun Juniors – 1982-83) / (New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres & New York Rangers – 1983-98)
Lecavalier, Vincent / Forward (QMJHL, Rimouski Océanic – 1996-98) / (Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers & Los Angeles Kings – 1998-2016)
Lemieux, Mario / Forward (QMJHL, Laval Voisins – 1981-84) / (Pittsburgh Penguins – 1984-97 & 2000-06)
Lindros, Eric / Forward (OHL, Oshawa Generals – 1989-92) / (Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs & Dallas Stars – 1992-2007)
Luongo, Roberto / Goaltender (QMJHL, Val-d’Or Foreurs & Acadie-Bathurst Titan – 1995-99) / (New York Islanders, Florida Panthers & Vancouver Canucks – 1999-2019)
MacInnis, Al / Defenceman (OHL, Kitchener Rangers – 1980-83) / (Calgary Flames & St. Louis Blues – 1981-2004)
MacKinnon, Nathan / Forward (QMJHL, Halifax Mooseheads – 2011-13) / (Colorado Avalanche – 2013-Present)
McDavid, Connor / Forward (OHL, Erie Otters – 2012-15) / (Edmonton Oilers – 2015-Present)
Modano, Mike / Forward (WHL, Prince Albert Raiders – 1986-89) / (Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars & Detroit Red Wings – 1988-2011)
Murphy, Larry / Defenceman (OHL, Peterborough Petes – 1978-80) / (Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs & Detroit Red Wings – 1980-2001)
Neely, Cam / Forward (WHL, Portland Winterhawks – 1982-84) / (Vancouver Canucks & Boston Bruins – 1983-96)
Niedermayer, Scott / Defenceman (WHL, Kamloops Blazers – 1989-92) / (New Jersey Devils & Anaheim Ducks – 1991-2010)
Perry, Corey / Forward (OHL, London Knights – 2001-05) / (Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers & Los Angeles Kings – 2006-Present)
Price, Carey / Goaltender (WHL, Tri-City Americans – 2002-07) / (Montreal Canadiens – 2007-22)
Pronger, Chris – Defenceman (OHL, Peterborough Petes – 1991-93) / (Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, & Philadelphia Flyers – 1993-2012)
Propp, Brian / Forward (WHL, Brandon Wheat Kings – 1976-79) / (Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars & Hartford Whalers – 1979-94)
Recchi, Mark / Forward (WHL, New Westminster Bruins & Kamloops Blazers – 1984-88) / (Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Tampa Bay Lightning & Boston Bruins – 1989-2011)
Richards, Brad / Forward (QMJHL, Rimouski Océanic – 1997-2000) / (Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks & Detroit Red Wings – 2000-16)
Robitaille, Luc / Forward (QMJHL, Hull Olympiques – 1983-86) / (Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers & Detroit Red Wings – 1986-2006)
Roy, Patrick / Goaltender (QMJHL, Granby Bisons – 1982-85) / (Montreal Canadiens & Colorado Avalanche – 1984-2003)
Sakic, Joe / Forward (WHL, Lethbridge/Swift Current Broncos – 1985-88) / (Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche – 1988-2009)
Savard, Denis / Forward (QMJHL, Montreal Juniors – 1977-80) / (Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens & Tampa Bay Lightning – 1980-97)
Shanahan, Brendan / Forward (OHL, London Knights – 1985-87) / (New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, Detroit Red Wings & New York Rangers – 1987-2009)
Smith, Bobby / Forward (OHL, Ottawa 67’s – 1975-78) / (Minnesota North Stars & Montreal Canadiens – 1978-93)
Stamkos, Steven / Forward (OHL, Sarnia Sting – 2006-08) / (Tampa Bay Lightning & Nashville Predators – 2008-Present)
Stevens, Scott / Defenceman (OHL, Kitchener Rangers – 1980-82) / (Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues & New Jersey Devils – 1982-2004)
Tavares, John / Forward (OHL, Oshawa Generals & London Knights – 2005-09) / (New York Islanders & Toronto Maple Leafs – 2009-Present)
Thornton, Joe / Forward (OHL, Soo Greyhounds – 1995-97) / (Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers – 1997-2022)
Weber, Shea / Defenceman (WHL, Kelowna Rockets – 2001-05) / (Nashville Predators & Montreal Canadiens – 2005-21)
Yzerman, Steve / Forward (OHL, Peterborough Petes – 1981-83) / (Detroit Red Wings – 1983-2006)

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Snoop Dogg to attend Swansea City’s Championship game v Preston North End

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10 February 2026

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Swansea City co-owner Snoop Dogg will attend one of the Championship club’s games for the first time when they face Preston North End on Tuesday, 24 February (19:45 GMT).

The American rapper became an investor at Swansea last July and said last month that he wants to help the Welsh side become a “global name”.

Snoop Dogg will now make his long-awaited first appearance at a Swansea fixture when Vitor Matos’ team host Preston.

“From the moment we talked about me becoming an owner, I have been looking forward to the chance to be with you all at the Swansea.com Stadium,” Snoop Dogg told the club’s website.

“I have heard so many great things about the atmosphere, especially when we play under the lights.

“When I watched the Wrexham game [on television in December], where we showed we are the capital of Welsh football, the noise in the stadium sounded incredible even from over 5,000 miles away. I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

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Sergio Garcia sees OWGR’s ‘unwritten rule’ harming LIV in long run

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10 February 2026

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Last week’s season opener in Riyadh was a historic one for LIV Golf, but Sergio Garcia sees a potential for problems down the road.

Eleven players, including winner Elvis Smylie, were the first to collect Official World Golf Rankings points at a LIV event after the OWGR announced it would give points to players who finish inside the top 10 at LIV events.

“This has been an incredibly complex and challenging process and one which we have devoted a huge amount of time and energy to resolving in the seven months since LIV Golf submitted their application,” OWGR chairman Trevor Immelman said in a statement. “We fully recognized the need to rank the top men’s players in the world but at the same time had to find a way of doing so that was equitable to the thousands of other players competing on other tours that operate with established meritocratic pathways.”

The OWGR’s decision loomed over the first week in Riyadh, with most players happy the league was finally being recognized but upset about the top-10 cutoff. LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil called the OWGR’s decision “unprecedented.” Jon Rahm claimed it wasn’t fair.

Garcia is happy LIV has finally been recognized by the OWGR after four seasons. The decision should benefit young players like Smylie and Josele Ballester by giving them a pathway to major championships as they begin their professional careers. But Garcia thinks the top-10 cutoff will end up being an anchor. One or two weeks outside the top 10 at a LIV event and all of your OWGR gains will disappear.

“It’s definitely a step forward,” Garcia said ahead of LIV Adelaide in Australia. “Is it fair? I mean, I guess time will tell us. It doesn’t feel like it’s totally fair. With time, obviously. Now, the first few weeks obviously, when one of us is winning, that guy is going to make a jump in the rankings, which is great. But then every time you finish 11th or worst you’re getting a zero and you’re getting an extra event on your divisor. So that in the near, a little farther future, it can hurt a lot. But like I said, it’s a step forward, so it is positive.”

LIV Golf altered its format this offseason by moving from 54 holes to 72. That move has been polarizing, with Rahm endorsing the move while Bryson DeChambeau and others remain skeptical.

On Tuesday, Garcia was asked if he thought that LIV should institute a small cut for the 57-man field each week. Garcia took the opportunity to jab at the OWGR’s decision to only award points to players who finish in the top 10.

“I mean, you could make like a little cut, but I don’t think it makes that much of a difference,” Garcia said. “I think when it comes down to world ranking points, they’ve already made a cut for us in the top 10. It’s kind of like an unwritten rule, you may say.”

That “unwritten rule” has ruffled many feathers on LIV, but Smylie, the 23-year-old Australian who jumped to No. 77 in the world after last week’s win in Riyadh, is taking a positive view of this development. With points now up for grabs on LIV, the young Australian sees this as a golden opportunity to play good golf and punch his ticket to all four majors. All he has to do is keep the pedal down and secure the points that are available.

“Definitely top 50 in the world means that you get in all four majors, which I’m very close to achieving, so it’s great that we do get recognition,” Smylie said. “At the end of the day, good golf takes care of itself, and yeah, try and win a few more times. Ultimately, the Masters is something that’s on my mind now. That’s a conversation that I can start to have and that is fuel to the fire for me.”

So while LIV didn’t get “the whole pie,” as Talor Gooch put it, the league now has more points than it ever has before. It helped Smylie skyrocket 56 spots in the rankings and will allow other players to climb as long as they play good golf. With only top 10 and ties being awarded points, a smaller number of players will have a chance to make sizable gains if they string tournaments together.

In the end, the “unwritten rule” might wind up being the wind in the sails of the few players who dominate the breakaway league while leaving those who struggle to continue their OWGR free-fall.

“>

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Michael Kay says he’d fire Tony Dungy for refusing to disclose Hall of Fame vote

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10 February 2026

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Tony Dungy’s refusal to discuss his Pro Football Hall of Fame vote has gotten people talking.

First, his own NBC colleague Rodney Harrison appeared to take a swipe at Dungy during the Super Bowl pregame show, saying “you guys got it wrong” about not voting in Bill Belichick.

Dungy has not said whether he voted for Belichick, citing an “oath” he took to avoid discussing any actions behind the scenes. Dungy, of course, is allowed to reveal his own vote but not others.

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Bill Belichick and Tony Dungy shake hands

Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy embrace after the Patriots’ 24-14 victory over the Colts in the AFC championship game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Sporting News via Getty Images)

But Dungy’s silence on his own ballot led to New York Yankees play-by-play announcer and New York radio host Michael Kay ripping him.

“Tony Dungy, again, who’s getting paid by NBC, was asked on the never-ending pregame show whether or not he voted for Bill Belichick. He said he’s not going to discuss it. First of all, if I’m NBC, I’d fire him on the spot,” Kay said on his own show Monday. “We’re paying you whatever amount of money we’re paying you. You are discussing it. What’s your value to us if you’re making news and you’re not discussing it with us? I mean, for him not discussing it, you know that he’s one of the 11 people that didn’t vote in Bill Belichick. …

“You do something that is a big part of history. You keep the greatest coach of all time from being a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and you don’t have the guts to discuss it? You have the temerity to say, ‘Nah, I’m not going to discuss it.’ Why not? Why won’t you discuss it? It just doesn’t make sense to me. I think this makes him look really bad. And for a guy who has pretty much a pristine reputation, [he] does not come out looking good with this.”

Former NFL coach Tony Dungy looks on from the sideline during the NFL 2025 game between Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on Oct. 19, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

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Out of the category that Belichick was in – with Robert Kraft, Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood – he didn’t receive enough votes. Craig was the only one voted into the Hall of Fame from that group.

Despite Dungy not revealing his own vote, he did discuss the process, somewhat.

“People think we voted against Bill Belichick,” Dungy said. “We did not. In fact, the same exact vote. As a matter of fact, if the same exact vote had taken place, same totals as two years ago, Bill Belichick would have been in and so would another deserving Hall of Famer and that is why I’m upset. That is not right.”

Tony Dungy goes up against the Chicago Bears

Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts reacts after giving up a first quarter touchdown to the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI on Feb. 4, 2007 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

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Belichick won eight Super Bowls in his time in the NFL — six with the New England Patriots and two as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.

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