Gujarat Giants finally ended their losing streak against Mumbai Indians with a thrilling 11-run win to book their place in the Women’s Premier League Eliminator, thanks to a brilliant all-round effort from skipper Ashleigh Gardner and Georgia Wareham.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Electing to bat first, Gujarat looked in trouble early, losing Anushka Sharma (33) and Sophie Devine (25) in quick succession for just two additional runs as disciplined bowling from Amelia Kerr (2/26) and Shabnim Ismail (1/29) slowed the scoring. But Gardner and Wareham rescued the innings with a vital 71-run partnership. Gardner’s aggressive 46 off 28 balls, featuring seven fours and a six, and Wareham’s 44 from 26 helped Gujarat post a competitive 167 for 4, with 61 of those runs coming in the last five overs. Chasing 168 on a tricky wicket proved tough for Mumbai. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur fought valiantly, scoring an unbeaten 82 off 48 balls, including eight fours and four sixes, but the required run rate proved too steep. Gujarat bowlers held their nerve, with Gardner picking up 1/26 and Wareham returning 2/26, dismissing key batters Amelia Kerr (20) and Sanskriti Gupta (0). Mumbai managed 156/7, falling short despite a late onslaught from Harmanpreet. The win marks Gujarat’s first-ever victory over the defending champions after eight successive defeats and secures their spot in Tuesday’s Eliminator. Mumbai’s fate now hinges on Sunday’s final league match between Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already sealed a direct final berth.
Casemiro has already shown that money isn’t the most important thing to him
Casemiro’s previous willingness to take a pay cut shows the focus of the Manchester United midfielder isn’t purely centred on money.
The 34-year-old is one of the most accomplished midfielders of his generation and with 19 career club trophies to his name, he’s left a lasting legacy of what he’s achieved in his 16 years as a professional footballer.
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With the club deciding to shift Casemiro’s hefty pay packet off their wage bill, despite his impressive performances, some have questioned whether the midfielder could continue his stay in Manchester on a reduced deal.
Should a deal be made on those terms, it won’t be the first time the five-time Champions League winner has sacrificed his pay for the greater good. During his tenure with Real Madrid, the club’s board reportedly attempted to get the squad to agree to a wage reduction during the Covid-19 lockdown.
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According to popular Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, host Eduardo Inda claimed Real had requested a 10% cut of their wages with Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Marcelo and Raphael Varane breaking the news to the rest of the team.
Inda added that every member of the squad, bar one, rejected the wage decrease, citing the salary having been lowered the year before. The sole player willing to accept the pay cut was in fact Casemiro, says the pundit.
With seven goals for the season, including two in United’s last three games, his absence will be sorely felt by the club who Casemiro said he will “carry” with him for the rest of his life. Speaking in a video that confirmed his impending exit, Casemiro explained: “It means so much, not just for me, but for all my family.
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“It is so special and I will always carry this club with me for all my life. I will always be a Manchester United fan, my whole family too. In England, I am red, I am Manchester United until death. So all I want to say is: thank you for everything.”
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL
Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane (DB06) speakers to members of the media at the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings are probably — or at least they should be — in the market for a rookie cornerback. And the best one available, according to draft heads, next month is LSU’s Mansoor Delane. The problem? Delane ran a 4.35 forty at his Pro Day on Monday, all but disqualifying him from the Vikings’ draft spot at No. 18.
Delane’s stock is climbing, and Minnesota will need a new plan at No. 18.
Thanks to his remarkable speed, in addition to a dazzling draft profile, Delane almost certainly won’t tumble that far down the board on April 23rd.
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Delane’s Combine Surge Will Affect Minnesota’s Draft Board
On to the next for the Vikings’ 1st-Round scouting.
Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin chats with LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane (4) along the sideline during second-quarter action, with both teams trading early momentum at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Sep 27, 2025, in Oxford, Mississippi, USA. Delane’s presence near the boundary drew attention throughout the matchup as LSU’s secondary adjusted to Ole Miss tempo. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images.
Delane Runs 4.35 at Pro Day
Don’t look now, but Delane has the speed for a Top 10 pick; he proved that and then some Monday.
SBNation‘s Dale Altman wrote, ‘Mansoor Delane ran a blazing 4.35 40-yard dash today at the LSU Pro Day. The LSU cornerback was already considered to be the top prospect at the position for the 2026 NFL Draft. All he did by running that time was solidify himself as the top guy, and potentially another step closer to going in the top 10.”
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“Delane was tremendous in 2025 with a 90.7 coverage grade. He allowed just a 40.0% completion rate against him this past season. He was a shutdown corner for the Tigers. He isn’t just a cover corner either, Delane is a more than willing participant against the run.”
CB-needy teams salivated, basically guaranteeing Delane’s status as the first cornerback off the board.
The Full Delane Scouting Report
Delane possesses the traits teams pursue: the speed to handle isolation coverage, the size to battle through contact, and the versatility to play multiple positions. This skill set makes him a strong fit for a Vikings defense seeking stability at cornerback.
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His LSU film reveals even more, as he plays with palpable energy, displays confidence on the boundary, and exhibits the range to transition seamlessly between roles.
Looking toward 2026, the Vikings need a young cornerback who can develop into a long-term solution, a need they haven’t addressed through the draft in over a decade. Trae Waynes, their last successful pick, plateaued as a reliable player rather than developing into a star. Since Waynes, the pattern has been consistent — Mike Hughes, Jeff Gladney, Andrew Booth Jr. — short tenures, limited production, and ultimately, no staying power. Eleven years later, the need remains.
Before Monday, Delane was listed with 4.44 speed, which is wonderful, but then he blew the doors off his own scouting report at 4.35.
The Draft Buzzon the 6-foot, 190-pounder: “Mansoor Delane is one of the most instinctive cornerbacks to come out of college football in recent years. Delane does not just cover receivers; he anticipates them. This is a complete cornerback prospect outside of one question mark. His instincts are elite. His ball skills are elite.”
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“His coverage grades in both man and zone are elite. His competitive temperament is exactly what coaches want in their secondary. The only genuine concern is whether his long speed can hold up against the burners he will face every Sunday.”
The next corner expected to be picked after Delane is Clemson’s Avieon Terrell.
LSU defensive back Mansoor Delane addresses reporters during a media session at the NFL Combine, offering insight into his development and versatility as scouts evaluated defensive prospects, Feb 26, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Delane fielded questions on coverage schemes and athletic testing while teams gathered data ahead of the draft cycle. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images.
TBD added, “That is a fair question, and it will determine whether Delane becomes a true lockdown corner or a very good starter who occasionally needs help over the top. Either outcome represents tremendous value. The year-over-year improvement tells a compelling story about his trajectory.”
“He went from allowing seven touchdowns in 2024 to zero in 2025 while facing significantly better competition in the SEC. That is not coincidence; that is a player who refined his technique, mastered his craft, and arrived at LSU ready to prove he belongs among the best in the country. He has the makeup of a long-term starter and the instincts to become something even more special.”
Who Can Vikings Draft Other Than Delane?
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With Delane catapulting his stock to new heights, Vikings fans must focus on other prospects at No. 18. Here’s a look at the usual suspects to land in Minnesota:
Avieon Terrell (CB) — Clemson
Akheem Mesidor (EDGE) — Miami (FL)
Caleb Banks (DT) — Florida
C.J. Allen (LB) — Georgia
Dillon Thieneman (S) — Oregon
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren — Toledo
Jermod McCoy (CB) — Tennessee
Jordyn Tyson (WR) — Arizona State
Kayden McDonald (DT) — Ohio State
Keldric Faulk (EDGE) — Auburn
Kenyon Sadiq (TE) — Oregon
Makai Lemon (WR) — USC
Peter Woods (DT) — Clemson
Mesidor and Faulk, the EDGEs, are only listed in the off chance the Vikings fulfill the Jonathan Greenard trade rumors. If so, Minnesota may need an immediate OLB replacement.
Top Delane Landing Spots
So, if Mansoor is not destined to become a Viking, well, where will he land? The safest projection is one of these franchises:
Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9)
Cincinnati Bengals (No. 10)
Miami Dolphins (No. 11)
Dallas Cowboys (No. 12)
LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane (4) closes in defensively as Louisiana Tech tight end Eli Finley (84) is wrapped up on a first-half play, with LSU controlling the pace early at Tiger Stadium, Sep 6, 2025, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. Delane’s physical presence helped limit yards after contact during the nonconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images.
The New Orleans Saints, too, at No. 8, could be in the mix, but most believe Kellen Moore’s team needs EDGE help more than cornerback.
Delane will turn 23 in December. If the Vikings snag a cornerback in Round 1, it will likely be Terrell from Clemson or McCoy of Tennessee.
Ipswich Town FC is facing a backlash after Reform Party leader Nigel Farage staged a photo opportunity at its Portman Road stadium.
But the club is understood to have been unaware of the full extent of the event until social media posts emerged.
No official invitation was extended by Ipswich to Mr Farage for the Monday event, it is understood.
Portman Road Events, which manages private tours of the stadium, is understood to have taken a booking on behalf of Reform for Monday afternoon. However, the Championship club only became aware of what was involved later that day when posts appeared on the party’s official account.
Reform posted “Portman Road Awaits” on X on Monday evening, and Mr Farage followed up with a post on Tuesday morning.
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He shared photos of him ‘signing’ for Ipswich and one of him holding up a number 10 Ipswich shirt.
“I’ve never been too bad on the right wing,” he wrote on his official X account.
The party subsequently made a photo of Mr Farage holding the shirt the banner on their official X account.
It came after Reform held a party rally at nearby Trinity Park.
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The club has declined to comment.
However, some supporters have criticised them on X, with one describing it as “PR suicide for a family club”.
Nigel Farage posed with a ’10’ shirt at Portman Road (Nigel Farage/X)
Reform UK has been contacted for comment.
The Ipswich appearance came just days after Mr Farage halted his use of the website Cameo, following an investigation alleging he had filmed content supporting an alleged neo-Nazi event, repeated extremist slogans and made sexist remarks on the platform.
England cricket team batter Ben Duckett has informed Delhi Capitals that he will be withdrawing from IPL 2026. Duckett was bought for Rs 2 crore by Delhi Capitals in the auction and was being considered to be one of the options to open the batting along with KL Rahul. However, he will not be playing this season and as a result, the IPL authorities can hand him a two-year ban. “I have made the extremely difficult decision to withdraw from the IPL. I have given this a lot of thought and it has not been an easy choice. Representing England is something I have dreamed of since I was a child, and I want to give everything I can to English cricket. To do that, I need to ensure I am in the best possible place physically and mentally ahead of the summer,” Duckett wrote on his instagram account.
“I would like to sincerely apologise to everyone at Delhi. I was genuinely very excited about the opportunity to represent the franchise, and I fully appreciate the time and planning that goes into building a squad. I am sorry for any disruption my decision may cause. I would also like to apologise to all the fans as I know how much it means to everyone in Delhi.”
Duckett said that the decision to not play in the IPL was a result of his poor run of form in the winter. The left-handed batter scored 221 runs at an average of 20.2 in the Ashes series. He was part of the T20 World Cup 2026 squad but did not play a single game in the competition.
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“Everything I had done for four years was building to that moment,” he said.
“And this could have been the best 12 months of my life. I got married in October, then hoped to win the Ashes down under, play a World Cup and win that. That was my vision at the start of the winter. The getting married bit is there, and I’m so happy about that! But after that? It couldn’t really have gone much worse,” he said in an interview with Telegraph Sport.
Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has been named on the 2025 Football Black List for his outstanding contributions off the pitch.
The list, announced on the Football Black List X account on Tuesday, recognises Black footballers who make a difference through social initiatives, philanthropy, and community work. Iwobi was honoured in the “Players – Off the Pitch” category alongside Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze and England/Lionesses defender Jess Carter.
The 29-year-old Fulham player was recognised for founding Project 17 in 2021, a programme that empowers underserved Black youth through football clinics, educational workshops, mentorship schemes, and annual tournaments such as the P17 Cup. His efforts also earned him the Baobab Award in Sport, celebrating his leadership and positive influence on young people in Nigeria and abroad.
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Other notable inclusions in the 2025 list include Naomi Bedeau (Oxford United Women/Grenada) and Shakira Waithe (Enfield Town/Barbados).
Reacting to the news, the Super Eagles shared on X: “We are proud of you, Alex @alexiwobi.”
Founded in 2008 by Leon Mann and others, the Football Black List highlights Black talent and activism in football, celebrating players who lead both on and off the pitch.
Injuries are unfortunately commonplace in the NBA. Moses Moody was returning from one to his wrist as the Golden State Warriors took on the Dallas Mavericks Monday. They’re a pestering nuisance in the best of times, something that is always nagging teams and players, but that the league knows how to deal with through experience. Every now and then, though, a player suffers an injury that goes beyond the normal wear and tear of a basketball season and becomes upsetting on a purely human level.
That appeared to happen to Moody late in overtime of Golden State’s win Monday. After getting a steal on Cooper Flagg and trying to break away from a transition dunk, Moody’s knee buckled seemingly out of nowhere. He collapsed. Play continued until the Warriors were able to stop the game with a timeout following a missed Max Christie 3-pointer. At that point, the game paused for several minutes as teammates signaled for help. Moody needed to be taken off the court on a stretcher as Warriors and Mavericks alike looked on in dread.
Editor’s note: The following video contains a serious on-court injury that some viewers may find difficult to watch.
“I saw the looks on the Mavericks’ faces,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “Everybody on the floor was just horrified. Players care about players. They know how fragile this business is and how short their careers are, and how injuries can happen and can be catastrophic. We don’t know what it is yet. We’re just hoping for the best.”
The extent of the injury is not known at this point, though Kerr noted “it sure looked serious.” As Brandin Podziemski pointed out, it wasn’t even the first time this season the Warriors have experienced a significant knee injury. “Same as what happened with Jimmy [Butler],” Podziemski said after the game. “Not really words. You just hate to see it. Especially to the good people in life.” The Warriors were also without Stephen Curry, Seth Curry, Al Horford and Quinten Post on Monday.
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But Moody’s injury was different. Not an ongoing malady, something players can easily rehab and deal with, but something sudden and violent, a reminder of just how tenuous life in the NBA can be.
The 34-38 Warriors were hanging on by a thread this season, virtually locked into no worse than the No. 10 seed, but too battered by injuries to make any real postseason noise. The concern now is longer-term, whether this injury will prove serious enough to affect Moody’s outlook for next season and beyond. For now, all Moody and the Warriors can hope is that the injury isn’t as bad as it looked.
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has put on hold the bidding process for the 2031 and 2035 Asian Cup, signalling a wider rethink of its competition calendar amid possible structural changes to global football scheduling.
The decision shifts focus away from host selection to long-term planning, as the continental body weighs the implications of aligning its marquee tournament with a revised international calendar under discussion with FIFA.
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Why has AFC paused the bidding process?
The AFC said the move follows consultations with FIFA over a potential reshaping of the international match calendar, including a proposal to stage the Asian Cup in even-numbered years.
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Such a shift would mark a significant departure from the current cycle and could affect scheduling, commercial planning and coordination with other global tournaments.
In a statement, the AFC said the implications of the proposed changes were “far-reaching” and warranted a broader review of its competitions structure. It added that pausing the bidding cycle would allow for “greater clarity” before finalising future host selections.
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What happens to existing bids?
The halt impacts a competitive field of bidders for both editions.
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For the 2031 Asian Cup, six bids had been submitted — Australia, India, Indonesia, Kuwait and South Korea, along with a joint bid from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
The 2035 race had also drawn interest from Australia, Kuwait, South Korea and Japan.
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With the process now paused, these bids remain in limbo until the AFC completes its calendar review and provides further direction.
How could the calendar change affect the tournament?
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The Asian Cup has undergone multiple scheduling shifts over the decades. Initially held in even-numbered years after its inception in 1956, the tournament moved to odd-numbered years starting in 2007.
However, there have been exceptions. The most recent edition took place in January 2024 in Qatar, after China withdrew from hosting the 2023 tournament due to Covid-19-related restrictions.
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A return to even-numbered years would require realignment with other international competitions and domestic leagues, making the decision a complex logistical exercise.
What lies ahead for the Asian Cup?
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The next confirmed edition of the tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia in January 2027, with Qatar entering as defending champions.
The AFC’s review is expected to determine not only the timing of future tournaments but also how Asia’s premier national team competition fits into the evolving global football ecosystem.
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Until then, the race to host the 2031 and 2035 editions remains on hold, with clarity likely to emerge only after FIFA finalises its broader calendar reforms.
Paul Scholes believes Max Dowman could save Arsenal‘s season after their EFL Cup defeat against Manchester City. He slammed the north London side’s performance and said that they are too dependent on set pieces.
The Gunners lost 2-0 against Manchester City in the EFL Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, March 22. Nico O’Reilly capitalized on an error from Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 60th minute to open the scoring. He then doubled City’s lead four minutes later, as they held on to their lead comfortably.
“There’s no flair about the team whatsoever, you have to say they missed [Eberechi] Eze and [Martin] Odegaard who possibly could give them something, but even when they’re available they’ve not played free-flowing football. I do think they’ve become obsessed with the set-pieces and taken their eye off the rest of the game. You don’t have to entertain to win the league but as fans you want to see more.”
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“As I said, the two No. 10s were missing who are very good players but they didn’t bring Max Dowman on. He could be the person, as a 16-year-old kid, who might save their season a little bit because he can bring a bit of flair to them,” he added.
Dowman, 16, became the youngest-ever player to score a Premier League goal in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton on March 14. He has impressed in his seven first-team appearances, recording one goal and one assist.
Paul Scholes claims he’s happy Arsenal lost in EFL Cup final
The former Manchester United midfielder claimed that he is happy that Manchester City beat the Gunners in the EFL Cup final. He labeled it a ‘victory for football’ due to the contrasting playing styles between the two teams. He said:
“I was actually quite happy Man City won because it’s a victory for football. If you think about the two teams and the way they play, you want the team who try to play the best football to win the game, I don’t care who it is.”
“The only way Arsenal were going to win that game was if they scored one of those early chances and then shut up shop which would have been boring, it would have been the worst game ever. They haven’t got a team to do it, they haven’t got players with flair, it sounds harsh but they’re workmanlike,” he added.
Arsenal had 37% possession in the EFL Cup final. They attempted seven shots, with three being on target, as compared to Manchester City‘s 2/10 on-target attempts.
The Gunners will next face Southampton away in the FA Cup quarter-finals after the international break on April 4.
TORONTO — With the benefit of a little perspective, one thing that stands out about last October is how fast it all happened.
One moment, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was yelling ‘Daaaaaaa Yankees lose’ and the next it was time to pack up and gameplan for the Mariners. By the following week, Brendon Little was tearing up in the visiting clubhouse in Seattle as the Toronto Blue Jays fell behind 3-2 in the ALCS. But a George Springer home run in Game 7 assured the Blue Jays of a berth in the World Series, where the emotional swings ratcheted up to yet another level.
From the Game 1 win at home and the 18-inning thriller that teetered on the edge of resolution for six hours and 39 minutes to Trey Yesavage’s epic Game 5, the hope that surged through the crowd at Rogers Centre ahead of Game 6 and the devastation that followed later that night, the World Series tested the emotional resolve of all involved day after day. By Game 7, the teams had grown more and more frustrated with one another after 10 days spent lobbying umpires and MLB officials for even the tiniest edge. And after all that, in the 11th inning of Game 7, the ending came swiftly and painfully.
To say it happened in a blur wouldn’t be quite right because there are distinct moments that characterized every single one of those games, but it all went by so fast. All of four weeks passed between Game 1 against the Yankees to Game 7 against the Dodgers.
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A few months later, it’s already clear many all-time Blue Jays moments occurred during that brief span: beating the Yankees in their first ever post-season matchup, Max Scherzer’s clutch performance and emphatic shouting in Seattle, Springer’s homer, Addison Barger’s pinch-hit grand slam, Yesavage’s dominant start and Bo Bichette’s Game 7 homer against Shohei Ohtani, to name a few. And that’s before you get to the month-long hot streaks from Guerrero Jr. and Ernie Clement. All told, that four-week period led to so many of the best-ever moments in the franchise’s now 50-season history.
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As the Blue Jays return home to Toronto, it’s a good time to reflect on the success of 2025. While millions of Blue Jays fans live in and around Toronto all year, this will be the first time back at Rogers Centre for most players, who make their off-season homes elsewhere. That alone will prompt those in uniform to reflect. And with pre-game celebrations planned and an American League Championship banner set to fall from the rafters, everyone in the building will have occasion to look back a little.
It should be pretty special. And then, as soon as Kevin Gausman throws the first pitch of the 2026 season, it’ll be time to look ahead again.
In the years to come, there should be further chances to celebrate the 2025 team but this coming season offers the only chance to build on it, and as well-positioned as the Blue Jays are to gain further momentum, it’s unclear how long that opportunity will last, adding to the importance of each game.
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Some of the uncertainty connects to the possibility of a lockout, which many players expect once the current collective bargaining agreement ends on Dec. 1. For a rebuilding team like the Nationals or the White Sox, a work stoppage isn’t ideal but it’s perhaps less devastating than it would be for win-now teams like the Blue Jays.
Ultimately, that’s not something any one individual can determine so there’s little point in dwelling on it now, but those within the industry don’t expect the 2027 season to start on time — and many are readying themselves for an extended work stoppage.
Labour relations aside, there’s also the fact that Gausman, Springer and Daulton Varsho are on the brink of free agency. Based on recent history, we can expect the Blue Jays to keep spending aggressively as needed, but if the group that celebrated, cried and vacationed together in 2025 wants more, well, their best and possibly final chance begins now.
The players realize this, of course. As special as last year was, they know it doesn’t entitle them to further success. They have to earn every win, and many of them started working toward that goal soon after the World Series ended, even though the off-season felt — and was — considerably shorter than usual.
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As Barger said recently: “The thing about baseball is it’s just never-ending.”
Ahead of the 2026 season, the Blue Jays are in a great place. A year ago, immense pressure surrounded everyone from Ross Atkins to John Schneider to Springer. Now, all have answered significant questions by winning, leading to newly earned extensions for the team’s GM and manager, and a lasting legacy for Springer and other players. Not only that, the entire roster, coaching staff and front office has gained valuable experience from the 2025 World Series run — and while it’s tough to quantify, there’s no question that experience will help. Most importantly, this is a strong roster.
Where that leads, who knows. Internally, the Blue Jays loved their off-season. They didn’t expect to be able to add Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, Kazuma Okamoto, Jesus Sanchez and Scherzer — but they still managed it. Cease, Ponce, Rogers and Okamoto all genuinely wanted to come here, a testament to the organization’s on-field success and off-field resources. Now, granted, the 2026 Blue Jays are still winless right now, just like every other MLB team. There’s no telling where the season will go. As always, health will go a long way toward determining what happens next.
In some ways, the pressure’s off now. The Blue Jays proved something significant last year. Yet sandwiched between the incredible 2025 season and the uncertainty over 2027, there’s another opportunity for the Blue Jays to do something special. Starting Friday, it’s time to take advantage of it.
A coalition of seven Olympians across multiple countries, including three gold medalists, have come forward to condemn the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for its response to the execution of Iranian wrestler Saleh Mohammadi.
After Mohammadi was reportedly hanged in public last week, the IOC released a statement that said, “It is very difficult to comment on situations of individuals during a conflict or unrest in a country without the IOC being able to verify the often contradicting information…
“The IOC, as a civil, non-governmental organization, has neither the remit nor the ability to change the laws or political system of a sovereign country.”
The IOC told Fox News Digital it stood by its original statement.
Nancy Hogshead, three-time US Olympic gold medal swimmer
Women’s Sports Foundation Senior Director of Advocacy Nancy Hogshead attends 40 For 40 Event, 40 Years of Title IX, 40 Women Who Have Made an Impact, at JW Marriott Hotel on June 21, 2012 in Washington, DC.(Larry Busacca/Getty Images for WICT)
“I’m flabbergasted that the IOC could not denounce the murder of a teenage wrestler in Iran. The governing organizations of the Olympics are non-political, but denouncing the murder of an athlete for political purposes is not political… it is just doing the right thing,” Hogshead told Fox News Digital.
“Olympians deserve better. The IOC can and should stand against the execution of athletes by violent regimes for political purposes.”
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Tyler Clary, US gold medal swimmer at London 2012
US swimmer Tyler Clary celebrates winning gold in the men’s 200m backstroke final swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 2, 2012 in London. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP)
“The IOC’s statement reads like corporate damage control, not moral leadership,” Clary told Fox News Digital.
“Hiding behind neutrality and bureaucracy isn’t leadership, it’s avoidance. The IOC says it doesn’t have the authority to influence sovereign nations, but it has never hesitated to take strong positions when it suits its interests. To suddenly claim impartiality when an athlete is killed shows a lack of backbone and a failure to stand up for the very people who make the Olympic movement possible.”
Maciej Czyzowicz, Poland Olympic gold medal pentathlete at Barcelona 1992
Poland Pentathalon gold medalist Maciej Czyzowicz(Courtesy of Maciej Czyzowicz)
“The International Olympic Committee’s lack of action and resolve is outrageous. Iran should be banned from the Olympic Games for its behavior, unless the regime is overthrown and a new leadership comes to power,” Czyzowicz told Fox News Digital.
“If the IOC is unable to stand up for the life of an innocent teenage athlete, it has completely lost all moral credibility. With this statement they showed that they don’t care if any of Olympic movement countries break human and civil rights”
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Keith Sanderson, US Olympic shooter, four-time Olympian
Keith Sanderson on Day 7 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at The Royal Artillery Barracks on August 3, 2012 in London, England.(Lars Baron/Getty Images)
“This is sort of par for the course with the IOC. They enrich themselves at the expense of athletes and cannot even stand up and say that any regime, including Iran, murdering a teenage athlete is categorically wrong,” Sanderson told Fox News Digital.
“The IOC has been known to be corrupt for years, but this is beyond the pale. If the IOC wants to show any shred of morality or credibility, they should denounce this murder and impose sanctions on Iran until their leadership changes or they apologize for this brutal execution.”
Ruben Gonzalez, Argentina Olympic luge athlete, four-time Olympian
Ruben Gonzalez of Argentina after finishing the final run of the men’s luge singles final on day 3 of the 2010 Winter Olympics at Whistler Sliding Centre on February 14, 2010 in Whistler, Canada.(Clive Mason/Getty Images)
“The IOC’s refusal to speak out against Iran for killing the teenage wrestler is shameful. But that’s how they’ve always been. All they care is about themselves,” Gonzalez told Fox News Digital. “As far as the IOC’s concerned, the athletes are simply pawns that allow them to profit. Time and again, it has put its own interests ahead of the athletes it claims to represent. If the IOC has any integrity left, it should publicly condemn the act and take decisive action against Iran.”
Katie Uhlaender, US skeleton athlete, five-time Olympian
Team USA skeleton hopeful Katie Uhlaender poses for a photo during the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team media summit at the Grand Summit Hotel on Sept. 25, 2017.(Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports)
“The IOC’s claim that they are just a ‘civil organization’ is a convenient excuse for inaction. They used it to dodge accountability for the Russian state-sponsored doping crisis, and they are using it now regarding the safety of Iranian athletes. Whether it’s doping in China, competition manipulation in Canada, or the stolen moments of U.S. skaters in 2022, the pattern is the same: the IOC cannot or will not protect the people who make the Games possible,” Uhlaender told Fox News Digital.
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“If the IOC insists that athlete protection is a state responsibility, then the United States has an opportunity to lead by example as it heads into LA 2028. It’s time to stop waiting and start setting the standard for athlete safety and integrity ourselves.”
Eli Bremer, US modern pentathlete at Beijing 2008
Eli Bremer of the United States celebrates in the Men’s Modern Pentathlon Fencing Epee One Touch held at the Fencing Hall during Day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 21, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Nick Laham/Getty Images)
“I’ve believed IOC has been morally bankrupt for years and thus not had particularly high expectations for them. That said, I assumed the murder of a teenage athlete by his own country would be something even the IOC could figure out and denounce,” Bremer told Fox News Digital.
“The fact that they cannot come out and say that Iran’s murder of this teenager who had become a national icon is wrong simply confirms how completely out of touch this organization is. I believe sports organizations generally should stay out of politics. But they can and should stand on basic humanity and say that murdering athletes is wrong. The fact that the IOC cannot do this speaks volumes about them.”
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Afsoon Roshanzamir Johnston, Iranian-born Team USA Olympic women’s wrestling coach at Rio 2016
“As an Iranian born world-class athlete, coach, and trailblazer for women in wrestling, I am profoundly disappointed by the International Olympic Committee’s recent statement regarding the execution of 19 year-old young wrestler, Saleh Mohammadi,” Johnston told Fox News Digital.
“By framing its role as a ‘non-governmental organization’ without the remit to influence national affairs, the IOC is stepping away from the very principles of the Olympic charter. The charter aims to promote a ‘peaceful society, concerned with the preservation of human dignity,’ yet when a young champion is barbarically and publicly hanged by a state sanctioned execution, ‘quiet diplomacy’ feels painfully inadequate.
“Political neutrality should not result in passivity when athletes face terrorist state sanctioned brutality. Such a “safe” response, sends a troubling message to athletes in Iran and elsewhere; that the life and safety of the athlete is secondary to organizational protocol.
“We don’t need the IOC to change a country‘s laws, we need them to stand up and use their immense platform to support and help protect athletes.”
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What happened to Saleh Mohammadi?
Mohammadi was reportedly killed in a public hanging Thursday, according to Iranian American human rights activists and dissidents.
Iran International reported that Iran’s regime hanged Mohammadi and two additional Iranian men, Mehdi Ghasemi and Saeed Davoudi, “after being accused of killing two police officers during nationwide protests earlier this year,” the judiciary-linked Mizan news agency reported.
Mohammadi previously told Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting that his dream was to be an Olympic champion.
Mohammadi won a bronze medal in September 2024 for Iran’s national freestyle wrestling at the Saytiyev International Cup in Krasnoyarsk, Russia.
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Fox News Digital’s Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.
Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
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