The Champions League knockout playoff between Benfica and Real Madrid was delayed by 10 minutes on Tuesday night after Vinicius Junior reported an alleged racial incident. The Brazil attacker had just scored an outstanding opening goal in the 50th minute of the match in Lisbon’s Estadio da Luz when anger built among home supporters, objects raining down on the pitch as Vinicius celebrated by the corner flag. The exuberance of his celebrations earned Vinicius a yellow card from referee Francois Letexier while tensions frayed between both sets of players.
It was soon after that Vinicius sprinted over to Letexier and was seen pointing at Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni. The French referee made a gesture of crossed arms above his head, an initiative adopted by FIFA in 2024 to allow players and officials to signal that they believe racist abuse has taken place on the field. Television cameras caught Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni speaking to Vinicius with his jersey covering his mouth; the Real Madrid man appeared to subsequently make reference to that while speaking to Letexier.
Posting on his Instagram stories after the game, Vinicius said: “Racists are, above all, cowards. They need to put their shirts over their mouths to demonstrate how weak they are. But they have, on their side, the protection of others who, theoretically, have the obligation to punish. Nothing that happened today is new in my life and my family’s.
“I received a yellow card for celebrating a goal. I still don’t understand why. On the other hand, just a poorly executed protocol that served no purpose. I don’t like appearing in situations like this, even more so after a great victory and when the headlines have to be about Real Madrid, but it’s necessary.”
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FIFA president Gianna Infantino chimed in on Wednesday morning as the sport’s global governing body released a statement:
“I was shocked and saddened to see the incident of alleged racism towards Vinícius Júnior in the UEFA Champions League match between SL Benfica and Real Madrid CF. There is absolutely no room for racism in our sport and in society – we need all the relevant stakeholders to take action and hold those responsible to account. At FIFA, through the Global Stand Against Racism and the Players’ Voice Panel, we are committed to ensuring that players, officials and fans are respected and protected, and that appropriate action is taken when incidents occur. I commend referee François Letexier for activating the anti-racism protocol by using the arm gesture to stop the game and address the situation. FIFA and football shows full solidarity to victims of racism and any form of discrimination. I will always continue to reiterate: No to racism! No to any form of discrimination!”
Speaking after the game, several visiting players also alleged that Prestianni had racially abused their teammate.
“This can’t happen,” Aurelien Tchouameni told Movistar. “Vini told us that the kid called him a ‘monkey.’ [Prestianni] said he didn’t say anything, that he said … I don’t know, ‘f–gots’ or whatever.”
Federico Valverde added, “We don’t know for sure, but according to all the teammates who were nearby, he said something nasty that shouldn’t be said. We’ve been fighting for this for a long time. Vini has fought for this, and if this keeps happening, it’s a shame that a camera didn’t record it.
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“If you cover your mouth to say something, it means what you’re saying isn’t right. It’s a shame. I’m proud of the teammates who defended Vini and proud of Vini for carrying on.”
Meanwhile, a member of the Benfica coaching staff was shown a red card as tempers built across the field. Vinicius was spotted in an embrace with Jose Mourinho before sitting on the Madrid bench, the delay to proceedings running to 10 minutes before the match was resumed at the hour mark.
Speaking after the game, Mourinho, who was sent off for a separate incident, revealed that he had told Vinicius that “the last thing [Benfica] is is racist,” pointing to the fact that their greatest ever player, Eusebio, was black. The Benfica head coach said he wished to remain “independent” in regards to what may have been said by Prestianni but criticised Vinicius for his celebrations.
“Unfortunately, he was not just happy to score the goal,” Mourinho told Amazon. “When you score a goal like that, you celebrate in a respectful way.”
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When it was put to the former Real Madrid manager that Vinicius had suffered racist abuse on several other occasions during his career, Mourinho said, “Stadiums that Vinicius plays in, something happens, always.”
Though there were no further flashpoints between the players, Vinicius’ every touch was booed by the Estadio da Luz and the game was stopped momentarily in the 96th minute as items were thrown onto the pitch by supporters and once again in the 103rd minute as 12 minutes of added time were issued. Madrid would ultimately hold onto their lead with relative ease.
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“Disgraceful to the sport,” was how Trent Alexander-Arnold described the incident to CBS Sports. “It’s disappointing. It’s ruined the night. It’s a disgrace to the sport and society. There’s no place for it.
“If incidents like this do happen, we can only deal with it like we did tonight. Very proud of the team, the club and the squad, how everyone reacted and got around Vini. You can see it’s something upsetting and disappointing. We reacted the right way, we kept our heads and kept calm. We defended each other and we also played very well.”
Vinicius has been racially abused on multiple occasions during his time as a Real Madrid player, particularly in 2023, when the incidents included an effigy of him being hung on a bridge in the Spanish capital before a match against Atletico Madrid. His campaigns against such intolerance and hatred have won the 25-year-old widespread admiration in the footballing world and beyond, with the states of Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul implementing “Vinicius Junior laws” that will see sporting contests suspended over incidents of racist abuse.
The Brazilian football federation swiftly issued a statement of support for their star player.
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“The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) stands in solidarity with Vinicius Junior, victim of yet another act of racism this Tuesday, after scoring for Real Madrid against Benfica in Lisbon. Racism is a crime. It is unacceptable. It cannot exist in football or anywhere else,” the statement read.
“Vini, you are not alone. Your action in activating the protocol is an example of courage and dignity. We are proud of you. We will remain firm in the fight against all forms of discrimination. We are by your side. Always.”
Coco Gauff fights back to reach Dubai Quarterfinal
Coco Gauff produced a remarkable comeback at the Dubai Tennis Championships, defeating Elise Mertens 2-6, 7-6(9), 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals.
After dropping the opening set, Gauff saved three match points in a tense second set tiebreak before turning the momentum in her favor. She went on to control the decider.
The victory marks Gauff’s fourth career quarterfinal appearance in Dubai.
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Following the match, Gauff also shared a lighthearted moment with fans in attendance, many of whom were supporting Alex Eala earlier in the tournament.
“I know you guys are probably here for Alex so I’m sorry to make you wait,” Gauff said with a smile. “If I’m not mistaken, I think some of you guys are cheering for me, so I appreciate it a lot.”
Swiss sports commentator Stefan Renna sparked an international controversy after referencing the political statements of Israeli bobsledder Adam Edelman while commentating on the event during the Milano‑Cortina Winter Olympics.
The chair of Kick It Out, Sanjay Bhandari, says the lack of support from Benfica and the response of their manager Jose Mourinho has “set the tone” in the racism row between the Portuguese club and Real Madrid, after Vinicius Junior alleged he had been racially abused by midfielder Gianluca Prestianni.
Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) surveys the field during the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 1, 2023. Cousins stood in the pocket as Minnesota pushed through the final minutes of a road contest, directing the offense late in the NFC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports.
Reports of Kirk Cousins’s possible 2026 reunion with the Minnesota Vikings have swung back and forth through seven weeks of the offseason, and the latest clue leans heavily in favor of a partnership. Jason La Canfora spilled his version of the beans this week, insinuating that Cousins could indeed be back to work alongside J.J. McCarthy.
The latest buzz suggests Minnesota could revisit Cousins, but the real story is what job he’d hold.
Cousins worked for the Vikings from 2018 to 2023, helping the club reach the playoffs twice in six years and earn one postseason win.
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Cousins Reunion Buzz Gains Momentum
The rumor saga continues.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) goes through warmups at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Sep. 21, 2025, preparing for kickoff as cameras track his pregame routine. The veteran signal-caller loosens his arm and scans the field ahead of another regular-season road assignment. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
La Canfora: Cousins to MIN Is Real
La Canfora wasn’t shy this week about banging the drum of a Cousins reunion. He wrote, “Despite interest from other teams, a reunion with Minnesota seems likely due to Cousins’ fit and affection for the city. The NFL moves in mysterious ways, and just two years after Kirk Cousins left Minnesota for a hefty contract in Atlanta.“
“There is now a growing sentiment among NFL executives in the market for quarterbacks that Cousins could very well end up back with the Vikings.”
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Minnesota has made it crystal-clear that another quarterback to accompany McCarthy is on the way; it’s just a matter of who and what that man’s role will be.
“McCarthy has proven to be difficult to be develop, according to multiple league sources, with his erratic play playing no small role in the franchise recently moving on from its general manager,” La Canfora continued.
“Cousins finally began to play better football late last season after an Achilles injury, and a poor fit in Atlanta’s offense, led to basically two lost seasons with the Falcons. In a very weak free-agent class, he stands out as a legit stop-gap option.”
McCarthy started 10 games in 2025, the first batch of his career, and ranked dead last leaguewide in EPA+CPOE.
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Cousins’s Role?
Imagine a Cousins reunion in Minnesota gaining traction, as La Canfora suggests. The appeal extends beyond mere nostalgia. Cousins previously held the undisputed QB1 position for the Vikings. A return, however, wouldn’t automatically reinstate him.
Kevin O’Connell would face three plausible options: immediately name him the Week 1 starter in 2026, conduct a genuine training camp competition with McCarthy, or assign Cousins to a true QB2 backup role, similar to his anticipated situation in Atlanta in 2025.
Statistical context is key to evaluating Cousins’s potential. In 2023, his last full season as Minnesota’s starter, Cousins ranked fifth in the league in EPA+CPOE. In 2025, that figure plummeted to 30th out of 35 qualifying players. An Achilles tear and the passage of three years separate the potential 2026 version from the 2023 version. While his past accomplishments still hold value, realistic projections require caution. The Vikings won’t get the prime version of Kirko.
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La Canfora’s also noted on his source’s intel, “That GM was fairly adamant about a Cousins reunion with Minnesota, though there will clearly be other interested parties. Cousins and his family loved being in Minnesota, he fits the system, they are loaded with skill player talent on the roster.”
“It just may be too good a fit for the team or player to neglect. In other news, quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Malik Willis are also viewed by league insiders as potential movers this offseason.”
A Forgettable 2025 Campaign
The aforementioned stat: in 2025, 35 quarterbacks matched or exceeded Cousins’ passing volume. Of those 35, he ranked 30th in EPA per play.
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) drops back to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Oct. 8, 2023. Cousins surveys the pocket as protection forms around him in a tightly contested nonconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Should Minnesota reconsider signing him, the front office would be betting on a quarterback who, among qualifying players, ranked as the league’s fifth-worst the previous season. Expecting him to lead them to Super Bowl contention would require a significant leap of faith. Almost a comical leap.
The physical aspect further complicates the situation. McCarthy’s most effective plays in 2025 occurred when he improvised outside of structured plays, scrambling and resetting. This type of flexibility isn’t merely an option in O’Connell’s offense; it’s integral.
Cousins, on the other hand, operates almost exclusively from within the pocket. This has been his established style for years, and at 38, it’s unlikely to change. While his arm remains strong, his mobility is stinks.
Minnesota’s offense, as of late, requires an adaptable and nimble quarterback; Cousins offers inflexibility.
McCarthy v. Cousins in the Summer Somewhat Poetic
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No matter one’s opinion of Cousins, the camp battle between him and McCarthy would be one for the ages, at least per the public opinion spectacle. The Vikings would showcase a competition — a real one — of its past and future, with most probably cheering for McCarthy to win the QB1 job along the way.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) participates in pregame drills at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Dec. 7, 2025, getting in reps before kickoff. McCarthy works through throws and footwork as the Vikings finalize preparations for their home matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
The optics might be weird and awkward — crawling back to Cousins after a tumultuous early experience with McCarthy. But in the grand scope of Vikings history, the two duking it out in Eagan would be rather fascinating.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing has secured a new five-year deal with DAZN in the United States and the United Kingdom
Matchroom signed a major deal with DAZN back in 2021 for the same term, moving its entire stable from Sky Sports. In the time since, the streaming platform has continued to build its boxing output, having partnered with Golden Boy Promotions in 2018 and, more recently, signing up Queensberry as well as a link up with BOXXER, which also broadcasts on the BBC in the UK.
Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said:
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“Our new five-year deal with Matchroom Boxing builds on the success of our longstanding partnership and reaffirms DAZN as the global home of boxing. Matchroom Boxing trusts DAZN to deliver the best experiences for the biggest fights for boxing fans everywhere. Together, we’ll continue to raise the bar.”
Hearn echoed the statement.
“DAZN is the only partner that matches our ambitions for boxing. Their global platform, investment, passion and commitment to boxing make them the perfect partner for Matchroom Boxing’s fighters and events. This new, five-year deal in two of the world’s most important boxing markets reinforces our belief and trust in DAZN, and the scale of what we can achieve together.”
Dec 8, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) secures a catch while Minnesota Vikings cornerback Shaquill Griffin (1) defends during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 8, 2024. London extended through contact to complete the reception as Griffin contested the throw in tight coverage. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
February 2026 is a bittersweet month for ex-Minnesota Vikings cornerback Shaquill Griffin. He won a Super Bowl a week and a half ago — and was not retained by the 2026 Seattle Seahawks this week.
Seattle moved on from Griffin, and the veteran corner now hits free agency as teams ponder depth charts.
The veteran defender must now contemplate retirement or hope to latch onto a different squad sometime before the start of Week 1.
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Seattle Moves On From Shaquill Griffin
The Seahawks have begun post-Super Bowl roster tweaks.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin (26) greets fans prior to kickoff at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington, on Nov. 4, 2018, soaking in the pregame atmosphere before taking the field. The moment captures Griffin interacting with the crowd during his early years as a key contributor in Seattle’s secondary. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
Griffin Out in SEA
Griffin was not immediately retained by Seattle this week, and this would’ve been the time to re-up the relationship.
NFL writer Erik Anderson noted, “The NFL’s daily personnel notice shows the Seahawks had four practice-squad contracts expire, including Pro Bowl defensive backs Quandre Diggs and Shaquill Griffin, a quiet but telling move that leaves both veterans free to sign elsewhere as Seattle heads into the free-agency window. Even though this is mostly a procedural transaction, Diggs and Griffin are recognizable because they’ve been real NFL starters.”
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“Griffin is a former Seahawk starter and past Pro Bowler who also cycled back into the organization during the season. So when their practice-squad deals expire, fans see the names and assume a major “parting ways” moment. The more accurate framing is: Seattle didn’t immediately lock them into the offseason roster via futures contracts, at least not yet.”
Luckily for Griffin, his 2025 decision to join the Seahawks’ roster included Lombardi trophy smiles.
A Small Role in 2025
The Seahawks signed Griffin in 2026 primarily for practice squad duty — so, insurance. He wound up playing 77 defensive snaps and was targeted 8 times by opposing quarterbacks. Griffin didn’t play in the postseason, either, but the man still earned a Super Bowl ring as part of the 2026 roster.
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Seattle drafted Griffin in Round 3 nine years ago. He brought his career full circle by getting a ring with the team that brought him into the business — even if he rarely played. Call it bittersweet for a well-respected veteran defender.
Career with the Vikings
In his only season with Minnesota in 2024, Griffin provided steady and dependable play, even if he wasn’t a dominant force. His 75.8 passer rating allowed led the team, indicating that quarterbacks struggled to complete passes when targeting him.
Griffin appeared in all 17 games, starting three, and played 572 defensive snaps, representing approximately 50% of the team’s defensive workload.
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Minnesota Vikings cornerback Shaquill Griffin (1) celebrates an interception against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Dec. 1, 2024, energizing the home crowd after the pivotal takeaway. Teammates begin to converge as Griffin punctuates the late-game defensive stand. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
His best season came in 2019, his third year in the NFL, when he earned a Pro Bowl selection after performing as one of the league’s top cornerbacks.
Griffins’ full NFL resume:
Seattle Seahawks (2017–2020)
Jacksonville Jaguars (2021–2022)
Houston Texans (2023)
Carolina Panthers (2023)
Minnesota Vikings (2024)
Seattle Seahawks (2025)
And his Pro Football Focus grades:
2017: 65.3
2018: 50.7
2019: 78.0
2020: 64.6
2021: 72.0
2022: 61.8
2023: 67.0
2024: 63.7
2025: 52.8
Griffin said about being back in Seattle a few months ago, “It felt like old times. I think the last person that was here when I was here that is still on the team is Jarran Reed. The defense they embrace me with open arms, and that’s all I can ask for. I was going to go out there and play my heart out for them, and it worked out.”
“So funny thing, I had a couple people here, but since I found out that I was playing so late, I didn’t have to buy that many tickets. It wasn’t weird. I’ve been here before. The last time I was here was with Houston. We made sure we put the belt on them then and put the belt on them now, so it felt great. It’s no love lost from those guys. I have a lot of guys that I played with over there.”
What’s Next?
Griffin will likely encounter a 2026 offseason similar to last year — no real interest in the first few waves of free agency due to his age. He’ll probably audition for a team or two this summer, hoping to latch onto a 90-man roster and then vie for a spot when 53-man trimdowns are announced.
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Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Shaquill Griffin (26) reacts following an NFL International Series matchup against the Miami Dolphins at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, on Oct. 17, 2021. The Jaguars secured a 23-20 victory, and Griffin’s visible emotion reflects the significance of the overseas win. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
In all likelihood, assuming he doesn’t retire with his shiny finger hardware, Griffin will end up on a team’s practice squad again and battle for placement on gameday rosters — just like in 2025. It might even be the Seahawks again when the dust settles.
The teen hearing this was excited. He was learning, and epic swings inspire. But Matt Killen enjoys sharing this video. He has a few versions of it, all shot on an old Casio camera, which is what folks used before iPhones. That tells you this video itself was about as old as the kid who was about to watch it.
He soon had a question.
‘Who’s Anthony Kim?’
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Killen laughed while telling the story. Who’s Anthony Kim? How much time do you have?
Today, Kim is your latest LIV Golf winner, after a Sunday rally in Australia that saw him track down Jon Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open and 2023 Masters winner, and Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 and 2024 U.S. Open champ. There’s overwhelmingly more to it, though. Kim had been everywhere. And then nowhere. There were no wins since 2010. And no golf, nor much of anything in terms of public appearance, for a dozen years starting in 2012. What happened over that stretch is mostly unknown, though Kim has shared stories of alcohol and drug abuse.
But Killen still had those videos. He’d recorded a few of Kim around the 2008 Ryder Cup, played at Valhalla in Killen’s home state of Kentucky, where the young teaching pro was coaching a quarter of the U.S. team (Kenny Perry, Chad Campbell and J.B. Holmes) and its captain (Paul Azinger). He showed his wife the recordings. That’s the dude who won three times before the age of 25. That’s the dude who throttled Sergio Garcia in Sunday singles at the Ryder Cup. That’s the dude who once birdied 11 holes at the Masters — in one round. That’s the dude with the ‘AK’ belt.
That’s the dude Killen said he bumped into about a month before Kim returned to pro golf in February of 2024.
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“I was like, man, ‘I have asked people over the last 12 years if anybody’s seen you and you’ve completely been gone,’” Killen said.
“‘Like this is amazing to even run into you. How are you? What’s going on?’”
A few days later, Kim texted:
Could he see him swing?
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How Anthony Kim’s game came back over two years, capped by a victory
Killen and Kim had connected here and there during Kim’s time on the PGA Tour, at ranges and tournaments mostly, while Kim played practice rounds with Perry. “As a young coach,” Killen said, “it was just kind of trying to pick up a nugget here or there.” Kim’s swagger enthralled him, though. It was one thing that he was successful. But it was how he was doing it. To Killen, Kim was cinematic.
“He knew he was going to play good,” he said. “That’s an intimidating opponent.”
As are 12 years away. In most major sports, that’s an entire career. That’s graduating high school, graduating college and being well on your way in the workforce. For Kim? The hiatus showed. On one of their first sessions, Killen said Kim didn’t even have clubs. A plan developed, though. Killen treated the absence as if Kim were returning from injury. He’d had experience there. Perry had had a knee operation; Holmes a brain procedure. First, they’d work on a foundation. Then hit shots. Then figure out scoring.
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Then finally play golf.
“You always have that little bit of a question or at least I think the player does, like, will I be able to do it?” Killen said. “And as your body changes over time, you do have to adapt based on what you can physically do. So there’s ‘what I used to do.’ Well, can you still move the way you used to move after surgeries and things that have happened?
“So it’s a fine line between trying to re-create what once was and taking what once was and adapting it to where you currently are In life or physically.”
It all sounded great. But then Kim tanked.
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Season 1 with LIV, Kim finished 56th out of 58 players who received points in the season-long standings.
Season 2 with LIV, Kim was relegated from the league.
Around early January of this year, Kim and Killen talked. Kim was entering LIV’s “Promotions Event,” which awards three spots into the LIV season. Stumble there, and the future would be foggy.
Kim finished third.
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A few weeks later, on Sunday in Australia, he won.
“I don’t think either one of us was like, ‘OK, I hope you play good,’” Killen said of the Promotions Event. “We were like, ‘Hey, you’ve got to go do this. Like, how are you going to do it?’ And he said he’s going to do it. And so then backtracking, like what shots do you need, how are you going to manage that, what information do we put in that is helpful but doesn’t take away the ability for him to be an athlete.
“And what that means is letting subconscious take over. You don’t even think about positions or complex swing thoughts when you need to hole it. … You’ve got to play golf.”
Killen said there was never a Plan B. Still isn’t.
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“I mean, if you watch the shots he hit [on Sunday], you know, under the gun, he hit the most incredible shots. And again, that’s a superpower, like being able to do it when it matters the most. He wants the ball. He wants that opportunity. And you can see it. He likes the energy. He likes the crowd. The way he walked and carried himself in his prior PGA Tour life, I like that about him because confidence, that’s a major part of life, being able to believe in yourself and have that self-belief — are you going to show off or to not mess up? You want the guys going to show off.
After the win, Killen was proud. And tired. On Sunday, he watched from Florida, where the final round ended around 2 a.m. The next day, Killen FaceTimed Kim, along with Kim’s wife, Emily; and Kim’s daughter, Bella.
Shortly into the call, Killen wondered how Kim felt.
“He’s like, I don’t really know,” Killen said.
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There are, of course, layers here. He’d won before. He thought he’d win again. Easy. Or not so much. After 12 years away and two underwhelming seasons, you could be excused for thinking he wouldn’t. There’s also what Kim had been through during his absence. Killen and Kim have talked about that. Knowing what he does, Killen said what Kim has done is golf’s greatest comeback story. (Notably, Killen had also worked with Tiger Woods during Woods’ 2019 Masters win.) Kim’s family is also a part of things. Seconds after his final stroke in Australia, Kim looked for Emily and Bella. “He told me a long time ago,” Killen said, “that he wanted to show his daughter that he wasn’t a loser.”
Comebacks aren’t straightforward. Often they fizzle. Sports, while entertaining, aren’t movies.
But the thought was: Why not believe?
“I’ve been telling everybody since he came back, ‘I think he’ll win again,’” Killen said. “And I had a lot of people call me and tell me, like, ‘Wow, like I did not see this coming at any point.’ And again his resilience and determination.
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“And his ability.”
That epic swing.
The idea of that never left, Team Kim felt.
Nor did it for the student who once wondered who Anthony Kim was. As these things sometimes go, he was back on the range with Killen on Monday.
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He’s since met Kim. Seen the process. Seen him play.
“He was like … ,” Killen said, “you gave me an example.”
Editor’s note: For more from Kim and Killen, Kim’s YouTube page recently posted a video describing their work together, and you can find it here.
David Benavidez is set for his toughest test yet as he steps up to cruiserweight to challenge Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez for the unified titles at 200lbs, should he be successful, there is another champion that is keen to face him.
Benavidez became the youngest super-middleweight champion in history when he defeated Ronald Gavril for the WBC strap as a 20-year-old back in 2017.
He then headed to 175lbs and claimed the WBC interim light heavyweight title, before being upgraded to full champion and making one defence of his belt, halting Anthony Yarde after seven rounds in November.
Speaking to FightHype.com, IBF cruiserweight ruler Jai Opetaia made his intentions clear on facing the winner.
“Definitely, that [winner of Ramirez-Benavidez] is the main fight that I am chasing. I want the winner out of Zurdo and Benavidez. I want that winner, that is my goal right now.
“Until I win that WBO and that WBA, WBC, as well, that is my goal. Anyone that says anything else is f***ing lying. I want to become undisputed in the cruiserweight division.”
The Australian champion was full of praise for both men as he looked ahead to the fight.
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“It’s a good fight, they have both got high work rates, you can tell that they have both got heart, they both want to win and the Mexican way, you have got to respect that.
“Two Mexicans going out and putting it on for their countries, that’s what it’s about at the end of the day, doing it for your people.”
Opetaia fights for the inaugural Zuffa Boxing cruiserweight title when he takes on Brandon Glanton on Sunday, March 8, in his debut with Dana White’s polarising promotional outfit. However, it is unknown whether the IBF title will also be on the line or not.
AJ Styles officially retired from WWE back at The Royal Rumble when he came up short against Gunther in their retirement match.
It was announced this week on RAW that a tribute to Styles will take place in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, next week. However, it seems that the plans have now been leaked.
Thanks for the submission!
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Bryan Alvarez noted on the most recent episode of the Wrestling Observer that there are SmackDown stars who are being flown in for RAW to be part of the tribute.
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Styles has a lot of friends in WWE and a lot of stars who want to thank him for the impact he has had on their careers. It seems that many of these stars will come from SmackDown, and there could be some crossover with this being the final RAW before Elimination Chamber.
AJ Styles is expected to be in attendance for WWE RAW next week
AJ Styles is expected to be part of the show next week, since they are in his hometown, and it seems that it could be an emotional one.
The former World Champion has already confirmed that he will walk away from WWE, and that the plan was always for him to retire at The Royal Rumble, but this tribute could allow Gunther to continue his story with Styles if he shows up to not only crash the tribute but also to send a message to Dragon Lee who cost him his Elimination Chamber qualifying match.
It will be interesting to see what WWE’s official plans are for the tribute itself and which stars are included. Styles spent a decade in WWE, and in that time he worked with just about every star on the roster and left an impression on the WWE Universe whenever he stepped into the ring.
;)
;)
