Luke Littler’s World Matchplay title defence continued with a straightforward 16-7 quarter-final win over Josh Rock in Blackpool.
Rock initially kept pace with the world number one as the players traded breaks to reach 5-5.
But after 19-year-old Littler reeled off five legs in a row, there proved to be no way back for Rock as the defending champion, in dazzling form, cruised into the semi-finals.
After throwing 17 180s with a scoring average of 109.57, Littler said: “At the minute, everything’s going to plan.”
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The teenager added: “I feel good. I can afford to miss a few doubles because the scoring’s there.
“Once again another brilliant performance, but fair play to Josh, he put up a good fight.”
Littler will play unseeded Dirk van Duijvenbode of the Netherlands in Saturday’s semi-final.
Earlier on Thursday evening, tournament outsider Van Duijvenbode survived a late surge by Gary Anderson to reach his first Matchplay semi-final.
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Anderson, the 2018 World Matchplay champion, threatened to close an eight-leg deficit with a fine late display including a 154 checkout, but Van Duijvenbode held on for a 16-13 win.
Reflecting on his second-round tie-break win over Michael van Gerwen, Van Duijvenbode had said that shaking “like a little child crying for his mum” allowed his compatriot back into match after leading 8-4.
After leading 8-4 again on Thursday, Van Duijvenbode dropped two consecutive legs but then stormed into a 14-6 lead by winning the next six without reply.
However, it would be a further nine legs until Van Duijvenbode won the tie as a resurgent Anderson pushed him hard.
One of the greatest heavyweights of his era, Anthony Joshua returns to the ring when he faces Kristian Prenga. The main event is designed to be a tune-up for Joshua’s seemingly inevitable meeting with Tyson Fury later in the year. However, the rest of the card is strong. Jeddah in Saudi Arabia is getting a great card — at least on paper. Let’s talk boxing.
Key Facts at a Glance
Event: Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga, “The Comeback”
Date: Saturday, July 25, 2026
Location: Jeddah Superdome, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Main event: Anthony Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) vs. Kristian Prenga (20-1, 20 KOs), heavyweight
Broadcast: DAZN pay-per-view ($59.99 U.S. / £19.99 U.K.)
Main card start: 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT / 6 p.m. BST
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When and Where Is Joshua vs. Prenga, and How Can You Watch?
Joshua vs. Prenga runs Saturday, July 25 at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia, live worldwide on DAZN pay-per-view at $59.99 in the U.S. and £19.99 in the U.K., with the card also folded into the DAZN Ultimate tier. The main card starts at 1 p.m. ET, which is 10 a.m. PT and 6 p.m. BST.
Main-event ring walks are penciled in for roughly 5:45 p.m. ET, though that slides with how the undercard plays out. For the minute-by-minute rundown, my full start-time and ring-walk breakdown has the timing.
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Anthony Joshua vs. Kristian Prenga Full Card
The DAZN pay-per-view main card:
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Anthony Joshua (29-4) vs. Kristian Prenga (20-1), heavyweight
Hamzah Sheeraz (23-0) vs. Simon Zachenhuber (29-1), WBO super middleweight title
Josh Kelly (18-1) vs. Caoimhin Agyarko (18-0), IBF junior middleweight title
Reito Tsutsumi (4-0) vs. Alvino Herrera Meza (18-0-2), junior lightweight
Oleksandr Khyzhniak (1-0) vs. Lenny Patrach (8-0-1), light heavyweight
Undercard:
Mikie Tallon (14-0) vs. Orlando Pino (17-3)
Nishant Dev (6-0) vs. Cesar Diaz (10-2)
Jacob Bank (19-0) vs. Pawel August
Ziyad Al Maayouf vs. Frank Lucian Mango
What Should You Watch For Beyond the Main Event?
Joshua should walk over Prenga, but what happens with Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Germany’s Simon Zachenhuber and Josh Kelly vs. Ireland’s Caoimhin Agyarko? Japanese star Reito Tsutumi gets a real test from undefeated Mexican, Alvino Herrera Meza.
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Both title fights carry live underdogs, with Zachenhuber and Agyarko each walking in unbeaten. The Tsutsumi bout is the one for prospect watchers, pitting a fast-rising Japanese talent against a Mexican who has not lost.
A clean Joshua win keeps that money fight on schedule. A slip against a heavy-handed Prenga blows the timeline up. It happened to Deontay Wilder when he was set to face Joshua in 2024, but he lost a unanimous decision to Joseph Parker in December 2023 on the same card that AJ stopped Otto Wallin.
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AJ will need to avoid a similar pitfall.
This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Ryan Fox took all of 22 seconds to read and roll in the birdie putt that clinched the Open Championship. But his celebration lasted a good deal longer.
Fresh off a victory that transformed him into a fast-playing fan favorite, the 2026 Champion Golfer of the Year joined GOLF’s Subpar podcast to recount the revelry that followed at Royal Birkdale — a party that stretched well into Monday morning — and the notable airport encounter that came after.
Fox said the festivities began upstairs in the players’ lounge, where he and his entourage poured red wine into the Claret Jug and drank from the famous trophy, pausing only when tournament obligations called.
“I had to go downstairs to take more photos so I had to tip the wine out of the Claret Jug, which was a bit of a shame for the wine,” Fox said.
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Roughly 40 people joined the festivities, Fox said, including fellow Tour pros Thomas Detry and Min Woo Lee. The party rolled on until staff delivered an ultimatum: Leave now, or there wouldn’t be any cars left to take them home.
Back at his rental house in Birkdale, Fox faced another decision. With a 4:15 a.m. ride to the airport scheduled, he opted to skip sleep altogether.
The party finally wound down at around 3:30 a.m, having inspired several videos that, Fox said, “will not see the light of day.”
Then it was off to the airport, where matters took a surreal turn.
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Standing directly in front of Fox in the British Airways check-in line was Cameron Young, the player who had finished one shot behind him at Royal Birkdale. They were on the same flight from Manchester to London.
What could have been an awkward encounter wasn’t.
“He was great,” Fox said.
On the plane, the pattern held: Fox was seated directly behind Young. Loading the Claret Jug — and its replica — into the overhead bin took some time.
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“Some people were probably getting a little annoyed,” Fox joked. “But I wasn’t going to be the person who loses the Claret Jug and puts it in the cargo hold.”
Whether he’s playing golf quickly or boarding a plane slowly, Fox has won fans over with his down-to-earth demeanor — an Everyman champion, who still flies commercial like the rest of us. You can watch the entire episode below.
President Donald Trump hosted the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at the White House on Thursday, celebrating the team’s remarkable achievement of securing a second consecutive title. During a Rose Garden event, Trump hailed the Dodgers as “one of the great brands anywhere in the world,” acknowledging their recent triumph.
He specifically referenced their thrilling Game 7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, calling it “a hell of a series.” Trump expressed his surprise upon learning that the Dodgers had never before won consecutive championships, before playfully speculating about the prospect of a third straight title.
The president extended a warm welcome, stating, “I’m thrilled to say welcome back to the White House. And maybe I’ll see you again next year.” He also revealed his particular anticipation for meeting star player Shohei Ohtani, whom he extensively compared to baseball icon Babe Ruth, even suggesting Ohtani was arguably the best hitter and pitcher in the sport.
This celebration followed a previous occasion where the president had saluted the team in the East Room in April 2025, marking their 2024 World Series championship over the New York Yankees.
The Dodgers also gave Trump what looked like a replica of a World Series ring (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“It’s truly a great — when you talk about a brand — it’s one of the great brands anywhere in the world,” Trump said of the Dodgers. He spoke in front of a table with two World Series trophies and a Trump 47 jersey, which the team presented to him.
The Dodgers also gave Trump what looked like a replica of a World Series ring. That prompted Trump to exclaim: “Wow. Do I have to report this? I don’t want to report this” before slipping the ring into the inside pocket of his suit jacket.
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Trump says Iran war has kept him from following baseball closely
Those in the crowd wore blue Dodgers caps to guard against bright overhead sun, and the band played a jazzy instrumental version of Randy Newman’s “I Love LA” before Trump took the stage.
Trump described last year’s World Series’ epic Game 3 during which the Dodgers won 6-5 in 18 innings. Trump said he stayed up until around 3 a.m. to watch, noting that “it was a long one, but it was amazing.”
“I thought it was a game that you were going to lose about four or five times, and you ended up winning,” he said, adding, “Luck is OK, too, right?” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts agreed: “Luck is OK.”
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“But with talent you get a lot of luck,” Trump continued.
The president said he spoke briefly with Roberts before the event and learned that his team currently has the best record in baseball, noting, “I’ve been a little busy with Iran and some other things.”
That was his only reference during the event to fighting in the Middle East, which has escalated on both sides in recent days.
Roberts also spoke briefly, saying, “We’re going for a three-peat.”
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Championship baseball teams have been coming to the White House since 1869, when President Ulysses S. Grant hosted the Cincinnati Red Stockings. They were the first fully professional team to visit the White House and went undefeated that season, though the World Series wasn’t established in its modern form until 1903.
Sports teams’ visits to the Trump White House have sometimes been a source of controversy. In 2018, the president rescinded an invitation to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles after many players suggested they might skip such a trip.
Dodgers star right fielder Mookie Betts wasn’t at Thursday’s Rose Garden event, though he did make the 2025 visit. He said he prefers to spend the team’s scheduled days off with his family.
The Dodgers originally considered coming to the White House this past April during a series with the Washington Nationals, but a crowded early season schedule didn’t permit that. Instead, they’re in the nation’s capital during the off-day between a just-completed series against the Philadelphia Phillies and Friday’s opener against the New York Mets in Queens.
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The White House has changed since the Dodgers’ last visit
Over the past year, Trump has revamped the Rose Garden and added a patio area reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. At Thursday’s event for the Dodgers, he referenced the “ Walk of Fame ” installed on the colonnade, which features plaques of past presidents along with partisan insults against Joe Biden and other Democrats.
“I could put some of the great Dodgers on the wall,” Trump joked, “but I figured maybe it’s more appropriate that we put the presidents.”
Trump, a baseball fan and New York native, has for years been closely associated with the Yankees, whose late, longtime owner George Steinbrenner was a close friend. Trump referenced Steinbrenner on Thursday, saying, “He would do anything to win” before telling the Dodgers’ team owners, “But you’re doing the same thing.”
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The president isn’t always so complimentary of teams, though. During a rally in Georgia on Wednesday, he praised the ownership of the local Atlanta Braves and slammed the Mets for their sky-high payroll and losing record.
Trump was joined on stage during that event by former Braves manager Brian Snitker, and Mike Plant, president and CEO of the Braves Development Company.
”You know, the Mets have the highest salary in baseball, and they lose all the time,” Trump said then. And I’m like, maybe we can steal this guy.”
“There are teams like that, where they never go down,” Trump said. “Then you have other teams — ‘We’re rebuilding.’ They’ve been rebuilding for years. I don’t want to mention teams ’cause I know all the owners. They’re all friends of mine.”
Hull FC interim coach Andy Last told BBC Radio Humberside:
“Really disappointed, it would have been great to get two points. Unbelievable crowd came in on the back of a season where we have really struggled. The loyalty of the supporters is second to none.
“We got off to a great start. We felt the start was important for us to get that engagement with the supporters and we thought Rovers were a bit fragile after their last two performances, so it couldn’t have gone any better.
“The tries we conceded were real soft ones and that was down to fatigue.
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“Second half, Rovers just did what they do which is suffocate you of field position. I ended up with a bit of a neck ache because I was looking to my left all the time. That pressure they put you under forced us into some uncharacteristic errors.”
Hull KR head coach Willie Peters told BBC Humberside:
“I’m really proud. The first 10 minutes was a nervous start, 12 [points] down, it could have got ugly but we fought.
“I thought Tom Amone and Kyle Lawton were outstanding. They made a big difference when they came on. I say it every week but what Dean Hadley brings to our team is incredible.”
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[On Elliot Minchella and Jez Litten] “When times get a little bit tough you want your leaders to stand up and that is what I thought both of those guys did tonight and put in great performances.
“I said before the game that I thought this was the perfect game for us to show we’ve still got that fight. Being 12-0 down at your rivals to be able to kick on at the back end was what we needed.”
Not too often, folks, does the world’s best golfer offer his thoughts on the Vikings’ passer battle. Scottie Scheffler could be breaking new ground.
Recently, Mr. Scheffler played a round of golf with Vikings skipper Kevin O’Connell. The golfer then jumped in front of the media, commenting on how the round went. Part of what made Scheffler’s response notable was his admission about not wanting to hassle Coach O’Connell too much since football is soon going to take over the coach’s life. He can drive, putt, and read the room.
Scottie Scheffler Tosses in a Quick Comment on QB Battle
“Yeah, I love the NFL” Scheffler explained, “I definitely wasn’t going to just start hammering him with questions about football. He’s about to start the season, so he’s going to be thinking about football for quite a long period of time.”
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Scheffler then had a follow-up question about who is going to start: “That was one of the first things he said. I was like, ‘You guys about to start getting going?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah […] we’ve got a couple of quarterbacks and so there will be some competition.’”
At one point, Scheffler said that O’Connell is “an impressive guy to be able to talk to and spend some time with.” In fact, Scheffler even made a prophecy about O’Connell needing to fend off quarterback questions as things get going at Vikings training camp.
Jul 19, 2026; Southport, ENG; Scottie Scheffler lines up a putt on the 18th green during the final round of The Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Birkdale. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images – Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
So, Scheffler can drive, putt, read the room, and tell the future. Not too shabby.
In reality, Minnesota Vikings football goes beyond Kevin O’Connell and what’s taking place at quarterback. Sometimes, the coverage can suggest otherwise, but that’s mostly the fault of the coverage.
These past several months have involved the Vikings making some noticeable changes within the trenches, with the DT and C spots standing out as particularly notable. The secondary has received some needed reinforcements and the receiver room looks deeper due to the presence of Jauan Jennings. There’s even optimism about some of the coaching tweaks.
Dec 25, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
But while all of these stories are worth monitoring, none are nearly as consequential as the battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy. Scottie Scheffler even jumped into the debate, albeit in a miniature manner.
Sunday, July 26th is going to be an important day for sports in the Twin Cities. Rookies will arrive at TCO Performance Center to get to work in training camp.
Meanwhile, Scheffler will be looking to add another trophy to his collection. The PGA Tour website clarified that he went -6 in his opening round at the 3M Open.
The remarkable act of Joe Root (Image: AI Generated)
NEW DELHI: Joe Root finished the ODI series against India unbeaten, scoring 249 runs in three innings to guide England to a 2-1 series victory. At 36, while many of his contemporaries have retired, Root continues to redefine consistency across formats. All of Root’s scores in this series 76, 99, and 74 came when the team needed him most, and he was deservedly named Player of the Series.Across the three-match ODI series against India, Root was England’s batting backbone. He scored 76 in the first ODI to help England recover to 258 from 107/6, followed it up with a match-winning 99 in the second ODI while chasing 234, and finished with an unbeaten 74 in the third ODI, anchoring England’s record 387-run total, supporting Ben Duckett’s 141, and accelerating in the death overs.
India had no answer to Joe Root
Joe Root breathed fire against India on his home soil and denied India a fairytale comeback after their 0-4 T20I series loss. In the presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, India fought well, but they could not stop the home hero, Root, who remained a headache for the visitors.Remember the bat-drop celebration by Root against India in 2018? That was the last time England won an ODI series against India, and the hero then was also none other than Root. He had scored 113* and 100 in that series and was named the Player of the Series.
Joe Root’s bat drop celebration
For over a decade, Root has been England’s most dependable batter across Tests and ODIs, consistently delivering when the team needed him the most. Now 36, he continues to thrive despite many of his contemporaries, such as Alastair Cook, Eoin Morgan, Andrew Flintoff, Kevin Pietersen, and most recently Ben Stokes, having already retired from international cricket.The moot point is how Root continues to compete with youngsters the same way he did a decade ago. What is the secret behind his longevity? Former England spinner Monty Panesar, who once shared the dressing room with Root, revealed the secret.Speaking to TimesofIndia.com, Monty Panesar pointed out Root’s hunger for runs and how he continues to evolve with every match, making every ground feel like his own den.
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‘England’s Greatest to Ever Play’
“I think he’s simply hungry. He loves playing cricket and is still hungry to score runs. He still has that passion, and he probably wants to cement his status as one of England’s greatest cricketers. With an ODI average above 50 and a Test average over 50, he probably feels he still has a few years left. When he retires, he wants to be remembered as England’s greatest batter,” Monty Panesar told TimesofIndia.com.In the modern T20 era, where batters look to come in, smash the ball, and walk away, Root prefers to stay at the crease and plays like an old-school batter who believes in building an innings rather than throwing away his wicket to a reckless shot.“When I played with him, he had a very solid defence. He was always comfortable playing reverse sweeps, paddle sweeps, and those little scoring shots. He made them look very easy. You can see how his game has evolved, even in Test cricket, where he now plays the lap sweep over the slips for six. But on pitches like Cardiff, where there’s extra bounce, you have to play a more traditional style of cricket. That’s why his game is so effective. That’s the difference between Joe Root and many of the younger players today,” Monty Panesar added.
The many careers of Joe Root
There is another story that defines Joe Root’s career – his journey before, during, and after captaincy.Before becoming captain (2012–January 2017), he scored 8,211 runs in 152 matches at an average of 48.58.During his Test captaincy (2017–April 2022), Root accumulated 8,680 runs in 149 matches at an average of 49.31. And since stepping down as captain in 2022, Root has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence. He has amassed 5,942 runs in 89 matches at an average of 53.05, scoring 20 centuries while rediscovering his best form in both Tests and ODIs.
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JOE ROOT
‘Captaincy Changed Root, But It Didn’t Break Him’
“I think his captaincy period was extremely tough. England went through a difficult phase where they won only one of 17 Test matches, and eventually he had to step down. Those difficult moments probably made him stronger. Now he’s enjoying the freedom that comes without the burden of captaincy, and he’s making the most of it because he knows how hard things were during that period. I think those experiences have increased his hunger even further. He wants to continue playing for as long as possible because he’s genuinely enjoying scoring runs for England again,” Monty Panesar stated.
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Why Didn’t Root Conquer T20 Cricket?
Whenever Joe Root is compared with the Fab Four, one question is always asked: Why did he fail to dominate T20Is?There is Virat Kohli, who excelled in every format he played. Kane Williamson showcased his class across formats. Steve Smith did the same. But Root has always believed in elegant batting over power-hitting.“I think his game is naturally more suited to the longer formats than T20 cricket, and that’s probably why he hasn’t been as successful in the shortest format. If you compare him with today’s younger batters, their games are built around T20 cricket. Joe Root’s strengths are more suited to Test cricket and ODIs. T20 is probably the hardest format for him because it demands explosive scoring and high-risk shots. On the other hand, his technique and temperament are perfectly suited to Test cricket and ODIs,” Panesar explained.
‘Root is to England what Virat-Rohit are to India’: Kumble
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England’s Answer to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma
India have heavily relied on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for years. England, meanwhile, have relied on just one man whenever the batting has been under pressure: Joseph Edward Root. After Root’s unbeaten 99 against India in the second ODI, former India captain Anil Kumble said: “What Virat and Rohit are for India, Root is for England.”That statement perfectly justifies how far Root has come in his career.“Joe Root gives someone like Harry Brook a lot of comfort. Harry Brook can go out there and play his attacking shots because he knows Joe Root is at the other end. When Root eventually retires, Brook may have to become more responsible, but right now Root allows the younger players to express themselves. The players know that if things become difficult, Joe Root is still there. It’s similar to what Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have meant for India,” Monty Panesar said.That is probably the biggest compliment any batter can receive. When 10 other players and the coaching staff believe that, as long as you are at the crease, anything is possible, you know you have earned that respect. That is exactly what Root has built throughout his career.If Root goes on to break Sachin Tendulkar‘s all-time Test run record, he needs only 1,807 more runs, wins another ICC title, and helps England reclaim the Ashes at home, there will be very little left for him to achieve in international cricket.As Panesar rightly pointed out: “If he does that, it would be the icing on the cake for Joe Root. Winning a World Cup in South Africa would be absolutely massive for him.”For now, Root continues to do what he has done for more than a decade: score runs, frustrate bowlers, and prove that classical batting still has a place in the modern game.
Sep 29, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) is tended to by medical staff after injuring his leg against the New York Jets during the second half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images
It sounds like Tyreek Hill’s recovery isn’t going great.
In a recent YouTube video, Hill revealed that he had no power in his left leg that was severely injured in late September. Hill dislocated his knee and tore multiple ligaments, including his ACL.
“So it’s about 10 months after doing two surgeries,” Hill said. “My left leg is the one that I injured. I have no power in my left leg, so I’m trying to regain all the power back in my left leg. But it’s one day at a time.”
Hill said that after the injury, he was told he was never able to walk again. But he’s feeling good, and told his audience that “The Cheetah will be back.”
But Kalshi, a popular prediction market that allows users to buy and sell contracts of real-world outcomes, currently has a return to the Miami Dolphins or retirement as the most likely next move for Hill. After this video gained traction, Miami or retirement in Hill’s “next team” market spiked on Kalshi and currently has a 39% chance of happening.
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Kalshi gives Hill a 12% chance of signing with the Kansas City Chiefs, his former team.
Hill is 32. He just led the NFL in receiving yards with the Dolphins in 2023. But Father Time is undefeated, and it sounds like this knee injury is a lot for Hill to fully recover from.
Contracts for Hill’s next team market on Kalshi will settle on December 31, 2026. It currently has just over $308,000 in volume.
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Other listed suitors for Hill include the Chicago Bears, who could use some veteran receiving help for superstar quarterback Caleb Williams on his rookie deal. The Bears have an 8% chance of landing Hill.
The Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots share a 6% chance of signing Hill, two more teams with young quarterbacks that could use a veteran. The Washington Commanders have a 3% chance and the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers share a 2% chance of landing Hill.
But right now, the preferred outcome is a return to the Dolphins or retirement.
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The Dolphins could use receiving help after losing Hill to injury and Waddle in a trade with the Denver Broncos. But as they build a new culture around head coach Jeff Haffley, would Miami even be interested in the veteran receiver once he’s fully healthy?
As the Chiefs gear up for another Super Bowl run in a make or break year in Kansas City, they’d probably welcome back Hill a few weeks into the season, giving him a few weeks to gear up. It could be a good value option worth entertaining, especially since the hype is surrounding Hill’s retirement right now.
These receivers don’t retire easy. Remember the end of Dez Bryant’s career? Even Odell Beckham Jr. is still cashing checks from the New York Giants. If Hill can get healthy enough to be cleared, he’ll be back. He’s one of the best remaining free agents, and was a very serviceable WR No. 1 before this injury. But will he play in 2026? That’s the real question. If he does, the Chiefs are the smart play.
He claims he wants to play, and Kansas City might be the right option when he fully recovers from that devastating knee injury.
Jimmie Johnson has opened up about the unique rivalry he shared with Jeff Gordon and explained how his mindset changed from being a young fan to competing against him.
Johnson earned his opportunity in the Cup Series after making his way through off-road racing and two years in the Nationwide (O’Reilly) Series. Gordon helped bring him into the Hendrick Motorsports‘ No. 48 team for the 2002 Cup Series season.
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During a recent appearance on the Bussin’ With The Boys podcast, Johnson described how his relationship with Gordon changed over time.
“I was the biggest Jeff Gordon fan growing up. That’s the one die-cast car, like collectible thing I bought was his. And the fact that one day he knew who I was, wow, that’s awesome. And then I get handpicked by him to drive, you know, under the roof of a team that he co-owned,” he said.
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“I introduced him to my wife. He mentored me along the way. And first indirectly, and then directly, as we, as I got up to speed, I was more concerned about where he was on track, what he was doing and all for good reason.”
Gordon and Johnson finished 1-2 11 times before Gordon retired from the Cup Series in 2015, after 24 full-time Cup Seasons with Hendrick.
Meanwhile, Johnson became one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers. He won seven Cup Series championships, including five straight titles from 2006 through 2010.
“He was so kind to share” – Jimmie Johnson on rivaling Jeff Gordon with his ‘lessons’
Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, team owner Rick Hendrick, Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. during the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Media Tour on January 23, 2013. – Source: Getty
Jimmie Johnson also shared the lessons Jeff Gordon taught him during their run at Hendrick between 2002 and 2015.
“Through a large part of my journey, he was the benchmark. And I had the inside look at all of his data and he was so kind to share with me all of his lessons, not only on the track, but off the track,” Johnson said.
“He’s like, ‘You’ve been racing your whole life. That part’s going to make sense. But when you come to the cup level and drive for this company, the spotlight’s going to hit you. And here’s how we need to build your schedule. Here’s where you need to focus.’ So I’d say the longest rivalry was Jeff.”
Johnson finished his full-time Cup career with Hendrick after the 2020 season. He recorded 83 Cup Series wins. He is now the majority owner of Legacy Motor Club.
The team currently fields two cars for John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones. Johnson has also confirmed plans for Legacy Motor Club to expand to three Cup cars next season.
What’s your handicap? And do you know what it actually measures?
A lot of golfers don’t. The game’s most useful metric is also one of its most misunderstood. Misconceptions abound about everything from the calculations behind what’s officially known as a Handicap Index to what those numbers represent.
Here are seven of the most common myths, clarified. (Don’t have a handicap? You can sign up for one here.)
Myth No. 1: My Handicap Index is my average score
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Nope. Your Handicap Index isn’t based on your average round. It’s calculated using the eight best of your most recent 20 Score Differentials. It’s designed to reflect your playing potential — not what you typically shoot on a Saturday morning.
Myth No. 2: A 10-handicap golfer should expect to shoot 82
It’s nice to be optimistic, but a dose of realism is called for, too. A Handicap Index is a measure of demonstrated ability, not a prediction of your next score. According to statistics from the USGA, golfers only play to their handicap every four or five rounds, or 20-25 percent of the time.
Myth No. 4: Handicaps only matter in tournaments
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Sure, they’re essential in handicapped competitions. But they’re just as useful for a weekend Nassau, a friendly match with new playing partners or any round where golfers of different abilities want a fair game.
Myth No. 5: A lower handicap means you’re playing better right now
Maybe. Maybe not. Your Handicap Index reflects a rolling record of recent scoring, so it can lag behind a hot streak — or a slump. It’s a useful snapshot of your demonstrated ability, but it isn’t a real-time measure of how you’re swinging it this week.
Myth No. 6: You have to play a lot of golf to get a handicap
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False. You only need to play 54 holes to establish a handicap, in any combination of 9- or 18-hole rounds.
Myth No. 7: The score you post accounts for every shot you take
Not necessarily. There are caps. If you’ve already established a handicap, the maximum you can post on any hole is net double bogey, or double bogey plus any handicap strokes. If, for instance, you’re popping (getting a stroke) on a par 4, the highest score you can post is a 7. If you don’t have a handicap yet and are just beginning to post scores to establish one, the rule is different. For those initial scores, the maximum on any hole is par plus 5.
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