Rajasthan Royals’ captain Riyan Parag (AP Photo)

Riyan Parag did not hold back after Rajasthan Royals’ five-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals in a crucial IPL 2026 clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, openly admitting that his side let the game slip from a winning position. RR were firmly in control at 160 for 2 in 14 overs, and looked set for a total in the 220–230 range, but a dramatic collapse triggered by Mitchell Starc’s four-wicket burst saw them finish at 193 for 8. Delhi Capitals then chased it down in 19.2 overs. Parag, who led from the front with a fluent 51, pointed to the middle and death overs as the turning point. “Pretty much everything, actually. We were in a pretty good space after 14 overs. After I got out, we didn’t capitalise on that. It had to be 220-230, something like that,” he said. He also defended his tactical call to bring Donovan Ferreira into the attack during the middle overs, a move that did not yield results. “Ferreira wasn’t a gamble. I know on TV it looks like a gamble, but then you’ve got two left-handers. I’d rather bowl Donovan, take a chance, than get Shanaka to bowl another over. Didn’t really work out.” Parag was equally critical of RR’s overall execution, especially in the field. “Very poor. I feel if you want to win a trophy, if you want to be contending every single year, you’ve got to be better than what we’ve done today. Extremely disappointed.” He also pointed to a worrying dip in standards over recent games. “I feel we are a way better team than what we’ve played or shown in the last 4–5 games. But today… energy-wise, skill-wise, execution-wise, it is definitely not up to the mark. And if we keep on playing like this, we shouldn’t be in contention for the top 4.” With RR still in the playoff race but under pressure, Parag made it clear there can be no reliance on other results. “That is not how I like to lead… We’ve had the opportunity, we’ve not taken it. So if we do not qualify, it’s our fault. No one else’s.” Earlier, KL Rahul (56), Abishek Porel (51), Axar Patel (34*) and Ashutosh Sharma guided DC to victory after Starc’s match-turning spell had broken RR’s strong start.

TNT import Bol Manute Bol will be on top of Meralco’s concerns. —PBA IMAGES

TNT found the perfect blend of local and import contributions in its PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal series against NLEx.

Even so, Tropang 5G veteran Jayson Castro knows the challenge only gets tougher against Meralco.

“For sure, it’ll be hard for us,” said Castro, who recently joined the PBA’s 10,000-point club.

“Hopefully, we get through, but knowing Meralco, they’re a defensive team. So let’s see how far we go.”

Fresh off adding another milestone to his decorated career in Game 1, Castro helped TNT close out NLEx with a 118-112 victory in their do-or-die quarterfinal clash at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo on Saturday night.

But if there’s one person who truly holds the team’s fate in his hand, it is import Bol Bol, who has learned to strike a balance between scoring the ball and getting his teammates involved.

“I give credit to Bol because he realized we need to play as a team and, at the same time, he has to share the ball,” Castro said.

The shifty guard finished with 14 points, eight assists and four rebounds. But he wasn’t the only one who got going for TNT.

“The locals also stepped up, which I think was big in supporting Bol,” he said.

Roger Pogoy, who returned to the starting unit for the first time in the import-laden conference in the decider, once again proved his worth with 21 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Calvin Oftana, TNT’s most consistent local throughout the eliminations, also delivered with 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

The collective effort from the locals helped lighten the load for their NBA-caliber import, who still wound up with 35 points and 13 rebounds.

For Castro, those contributions—along with that Game 1 win where Bol also got a lot of local support—prove one thing.

“I think we’re getting the team chemistry at the perfect time in these last few games,” he said. “In the eliminations, we may have lost a lot, but our game is coming together here in the playoffs.”

That kind of chemistry and local contribution will be crucial against Meralco during their semifinal duel that kicks off on Wednesday.

Bol’s ability to score is beyond question, but his ability to get his teammates involved will matter a lot against a team known for its ability to zero in on defensive targets.

“The attention is almost always on Bol, so he’s been involving us in the offense. He can score anytime, but he’s sacrificed a lot to find us and make us threats as well.”

TNT opens its semifinal duel with sister team Meralco on Wednesday, in Game 1 at the same venue. INQ

After squandering another early lead in a series finale, the momentum at the plate plateaued down the stretch for the Oregon Ducks on Saturday.

The Ducks had just three hits in extra innings, two of which came as the Ducks played small ball to rally and conquer USC for a 6-5 walk-off win. The hero? Oregon catcher Burke-Lee Mabeus, who put down a bunt after 14 innings in the squat.

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As the Oregon dugout emptied and chased Mabeus to the center field wall, there was a palpable feeling of shock and awe. What just happened?

Assistant coach Jack Marder served as head coach for the Ducks on Saturday with Mark Wasikowski out of town for his daughter’s graduation. According to Marder, the play that sealed the crucial series win for the Ducks never should’ve happened at all.

“That was definitely not the plan,” Marder said after the game with a smile. “But, Burke’s a really good bunter. He’s proven that in his work. It’s a left-on-left matchup. Matson had been dominating us, and it’s a really tough angle for him. I actually thought Burke was going to find a way to do it, no matter what.”

Freshman first baseman Brayden Jaksa reached base on an infield single to shortstop and stole second base. After moving over to third base on a groundout, the Ducks had the winning run just 90 feet away with two outs.

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Bunting with two outs is always a risky play, and the roll has to be perfect. Oregon initially wanted Mabeus to show a bunt to draw the infield in and give Mabeus a chance to swing away.

“Worst case, if he shows (bunt) and it’s a ball, it puts a little bit of stress on them on the defensive side,” Marder said. “It opens up a hole where Burke’s flat and he can hit a ball to that backside, like he showed earlier in the game. I was good with all that.”

Mabeus squared to the pitch and laid the bunt down perfectly up the third base line. Jaksa crossed the plate, and USC pitcher Sax Matson couldn’t field the ball and make the throw cleanly from an awkward angle. After the chaos dispersed, Mabeus was told one key detail that he had missed.

Leonie Harm was given less than a 1% chance of survival when she was hit by a car in 2013.

Thirteen years later and the German has won her maiden Ladies European Tour title with a one-shot victory at the German Masters.

It caps a remarkable back story for the 28-year-old.

Harm had been out jogging when she was hit by a car travelling 70km/h (44mph)., external

It was the paramedics at the scene who gave given her a very slim chance of surviving.

She was put in a coma but despite severe brain injuries and multiple bone fractures she returned to the golf course just seven weeks later.

A year later and she won the National Women’s Amateur title, going on to win several amateur titles before she moved to the US to study biochemical and biophysical Sciences at the University of Houston.

Her passion to work in that field was personal as her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and died two years later., external

In 2018, Harm was the first German to win the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship – the world’s oldest women’s golf tournament.

Her debut major appearances followed and she turned professional in 2020.

But then came the Covid pandemic and while sport was put on hold, Harm worked as a intern at a company developing a vaccine candidate against the coronavirus.

Despite runner-up finishes on Tour in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, she struggled with her game and considered quitting in 2024., external

On Sunday, she finally broke her professional title drought at her home tournament at Green Eagle Golf Courses, just south of Hamburg with a birdie on the last to beat South Africa’s Casandra Alexander.

Harm improved on her second place finish at the tournament in 2022 as she finished on 10-under-par having shot a course record eight-under-par 65 in the first round.

“I’m really happy I got it over the line this time after coming close in 2022 and just out here with all the German fans,” she said.

Harm added: “Resilience is a good thing, and I have shown this at times, but I believe right now I’m in a good spot mentally and for it to then be paired with success in golf is such a great feeling because I didn’t have to be miserable.

“I could’ve been happy this whole time and it would have worked with a lot of the times where you get impatient and to be more forgiving to yourself.

“A good takeaway there is to be your own best friend eventually and hopefully then be successful in working with yourself rather than against it which I’ve done for probably most of my life.”

Two members of the Denver Broncos‘ staff are set to participate in the NFL’s accelerator program at the Spring League Meeting in Orlando this week.

Broncos special teams coach Darren Rizzi and co-director of player personnel Cam Williams are on the list of participants, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

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Rizzi, who joined Denver’s coaching staff last year, has experience as an interim head coach from his time with the New Orleans Saints. Rizzi has interviewed with four NFL teams for head coach openings in recent years, and he could be a candidate to land a HC role down the road.

Williams, who joined the Broncos’ front office in 2025, served as a director of college scouting with the New England Patriots before getting a promotion in Denver. He could be a candidate for general manager openings in the future.

As NFL clubs seek head coach and GM candidates in the coming years, Rizzi and Williams will be names to watch.

Social: Follow Broncos Wire on Facebook and Twitter/X! Did you know: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL accelerator program: Broncos coach and executive included

Pretend you’re Jalen Brunson for a minute … Hey, it’s not all that unrealistic.

I mean, the guy claims to be 6-foot-2. Yeah, in pumped-up Shaq shoes.

He’s left-handed, which gives you an intellectual advantage.

His mom played college volleyball. Which means she’s tall and can jump, two things her son isn’t and can’t do.

And he’s been a basketball player all his life. Which means if you need a sub for your slowpitch softball team, a fourth for your golf scramble or, heck, you’re looking for a partner for beginner’s pickleball, he’s not your man.

Make no mistake, Jalen Brunson is a great basketball player. Well, half of one.

There’s a reason opponents circle the Knicks on their calendar. And it’s not to get an autograph from Spike Lee or a selfie with Kylie Jenner.

It’s because Brunson, one of the shortest and slowest guards in the NBA, has to guard somebody. And if you play poorly enough the game before facing the Knicks, maybe you win the matchup lottery and get Brunson assigned to you.

I know what your Brunson persona is thinking: Man, I’m a loser. Why can’t I be Donovan Mitchell for a minute?

Sorry, but for this exercise, we have to be realistic.

As you (as Brunson) sit down to watch tonight’s Cavaliers-Pistons game, the one that will determine the Knicks’ opponent in the Eastern finals, you have to be a bit conflicted.

On one hand, it would be nice to draw the Cavaliers, meaning you would have the home-court advantage. But here’s the problem with that: There is no worse backcourt matchup for you than the Cavs.

You’re too short to guard James Harden. He’s your speed, but he would shoot right over you.

And you’re too slow to guard Mitchell. He’s about your size, but he would dribble circles around you.

You’re going to get torched either way.

You don’t have that problem with the Pistons. In fact, of all teams in the NBA, they might provide you the best defensive matchup, being that Ausar Thompson is arguably the worst shooting guard in the league. You live to guard guys like that.

But be careful what you wish for, because Thompson is one of the best defensive guards in the NBA. He’s been doing a number on Mitchell in the Eastern semis, and he’s certainly capable of doing the same to you.

So who you rooting for …

The team that hands you the home-court advantage and a chance to put up big numbers, all while getting embarrassed defensively?

Or the team that gives you a chance to rest on the defensive end, which would allow you to put maximum energy into your favorite part of the game – offense – while being draped nonstop by the Human Bearhug?

Tough one, huh?

I’m guessing you – and Brunson himself – would opt for the Cavaliers. After all, he’s achieved elite status in the NBA by scoring a ton of points against tough defenders and, most importantly, hitting more clutch shots than anybody in recent history.

And who wouldn’t want more of that?

If Brunson scorches the Cavs for 34 points, like he did in a Christmas Day win, nobody’s going to notice that Mitchell also scored 34, like he also did on Christmas.

Brunson aside, neither potential matchup in the NBA Final Four is a good one for the Knicks. They were, after all, designed to beat the Celtics, and neither the Cavaliers nor Pistons resemble the traditional Eastern power.

When the Knicks imported OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges, it was with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in mind. The Cavaliers and Pistons don’t have anything close, rendering the defensive aces somewhat useless.

Unlike the Celtics, each has a quality big man. Which means foul trouble and a lot of unwise 3-point shooting for Karl-Anthony Towns.

And only the Pistons have a Jrue Holiday, a limited offensive player who Brunson could adequately defend.

Bottom line: You might think those dreadlocks would look good on you. And being left-handed could be kinda cool.

But, trust me, you don’t want to be Jalen Brunson right now.

Enjoy Sunday’s big game. He won’t.