Sports
Eight best storylines for NBA stretch run: Is Jayson Tatum coming back? Can Spurs jump OKC? MVP up for grabs?
The NBA All-Star break is over. Action returns Thursday night with a 10-game slate. Every team has between 26 and 29 games remaining. So let’s to lock back in and refocus on the second “half” of the NBA season. Some teams have already sent out messages like bat signals to show how they’re going to approach the last two months of the regular season.
The Sacramento Kings announced that both Domantas Sabonis and Zach LaVine will have season-ending surgery. It’s a move that very clearly states the Kings will be tanking the rest of the season to prioritize draft positioning. The Dallas Mavericks did a similar move, announcing Kyrie Irving will not play this season as he continues to rehab from a torn ACL he suffered in March 2025.
While that’s happening at the bottom of the standings, we could be in store for some compelling finishes at the top of the standings with several teams within a few games of each other in both the East and West. As we resume the regular season, let’s take a look at the biggest storylines post-All-Star break.
1. Jayson Tatum’s potential return to the Celtics
When Tatum tore his Achilles in May 2025, it appeared the Celtics would take a gap year with their superstar sidelined. It seemed highly possible that Tatum would be out the entirety of the 2025-26 season, and that Boston would refocus its efforts around the 2026-27 campaign.
But here we are nine months from Tatum’s Achilles surgery, and there’s hints that he could make a return in the coming weeks. The All-Star forward practiced with Boston’s G League squad before the All-Star break, and took part in 5-on-5 scrimmages with Celtics teammates and coaches. Everything is lining up toward a potential return ahead of the playoffs.
Boston owns a 35-19 record, and sits second in the East. There’s a world in which the Celtics could make a deep run in the postseason without Tatum. Having Tatum healthy should only strengthen Boston’s postseason hopes, and shake things up considerably in the East.
The race for the East couldn’t be more wide open at the All-Star break. The Cavs are considered the favorites with +350 odds on FanDuel. The Celtics, Pistons and Knicks all have +370 odds.
The version we get of Tatum will greatly impact Boston’s outlook for the rest of the season. If he comes back close to his All-NBA self, then every other team in the East should be worried about matching up with the Celtics in the postseason. — Jasmyn Wimbish
2. How seriously do we take the Knicks?
I don’t think anyone knows exactly what to make of the Knicks, who entered the All-Star break having won 10 of their previous 12 but remain a defensively deficient team that will likely have to play the rest of the regular season without Miles McBride (who has been the lone Knick with a 100% approval rating this year).
Two big additions to watch: Jose Alvarado, obviously, and also Jeremy Sochan, who fell out of the rotation in San Antonio but could bring real defense and energy to a Knicks team that could use both if given any kind of opportunity.
We’re all waiting for Karl-Anthony Towns to find his range in what has been the worst shooting season of his career, but aside from McBride, Towns’ plus-7.6 net rating is still the best mark on the team, per Cleaning the Glass. The defense is actually worse off with Jalen Brunson on the court sans Towns than vice versa.
Brunson, meanwhile, has been up and down of late himself. He’s got two 40-pieces this month but his 43/31 shooting splits since Feb. 1 leave a lot to be desired. He went 4 for 20 and 0 for 8 from 3 in a 38-point loss to Detroit a couple weeks ago.
Nobody is questioning Brunson’s offensive greatness, but it is a real question whether that’s enough to make up for his own, and largely by extension New York’s collective defensive ails, particularly if Towns doesn’t get the shot going. All of these questions are happening in the context of what feels like the Knicks’ best chance to make the Finals with this team. Can they seize it? These next six weeks won’t tell us everything (anything can happen in the playoffs), but they will tell us a lot. — Brad Botkin
3. Can the Lakers secure a top-six seed?
The Lakers sit 1 ½ games back of the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 spot in the West. But they also sit just 1 ½ games ahead of the seventh-placed Phoenix Suns as the season resumes. Things are far from settled in the West. The Lakers are one of many West teams who could either host a first-round playoff series or have to earn their playoff spot through the Play-In Tournament.
Having to go through the play-in isn’t the end of the world, but when this team once sat second in the conference at the start of December, falling to seventh and having to potentially face Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs in the first round would not be ideal.
The positive? Austin Reaves is back from a calf strain, and in the five games he’s played since returning, the Lakers have gone 4-1. Having Reaves back is a night and day difference for the Lakers, who were relying far too much on Luka Dončić’s offensive heroics and prime performances from a 41-year-old LeBron James. Reaves takes some of the offensive pressure of Doncic, gives the Lakers another guy who can create offensively and give you 20+ points a night. In just his second game back he had 35 points, showing that had it not been for the calf injury Reaves would’ve probably been a first-time All Star this season.
The have the eighth most difficult schedule over the rest of the season, but the Nuggets and the Timberwolves both have harder schedules, which could provide a nice path towards a top-four spot for L.A. — Jasmyn Wimbish
4. Can the Spurs jump the Thunder?
Let’s keep things in the Western Conference standings. San Antonio is my No. 1 team to watch down the stretch. They resume play on Thursday night against the Suns having won six straight and 11 of their last 14 and three games back of the Thunder for the West’s No. 1 seed.
They have every right to believe they can catch and pass OKC. For starters, the Thunder, who have lost six of their last 11 and will be without Jalen Williams for the foreseeable future, have the second-toughest remaining schedule, per Tankathon. Besides that, the Spurs own the tiebreaker with a 4-1 head-to-head record.
If this happens, how are we not going to classify the Spurs as the title favorite? What other No. 1 seed who has defeated the defending champs four out of five times and won potentially north of 60 games would be considered anything less?
The Spurs are starting to feel a little like the 2015 Warriors to me. The ascent is happening before everyone is ready to fully accept it. They were supposed to be a few years away from contention. This year was supposed to about maybe getting into the playoffs and getting some experience under their belt.
But Victor Wembanyama, like Stephen Curry when he burst onto the scene, has rearranged the geometry of a basketball court to such a degree that no typical timeline can be applied. He’s a force beyond anything we’ve ever seen, honestly, and the Spurs are stacked behind him with every marker of a top-tier contender. Perhaps the top contender. That still feels premature to say, but if they jump OKC for the top seed, I’m not sure how you could call them anything other than the title favorites. — Brad Botkin
5. Tanking wars at the bottom of the standings
The talk of the NBA over the last two weeks has been about the league’s tanking “problem.” The league fined the Utah Jazz $500,000 and the Indiana Pacers $100,000 for “conduct detrimental to the league.” The Jazz were fined for pulling players in the fourth quarter on two occasions despite being in closely-contested games. The Pacers held players out despite them being healthy. Both were obvious efforts by Utah and Indiana to tank, something that the league is seemingly trying to come down hard on.
“Overt behavior like this that prioritizes draft position over winning undermines the foundation of NBA competition and we will respond accordingly to any further actions that compromise the integrity of our games,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in the league’s statement.
Since the league’s punishment, there has been a lot of chatter about how to solve the league’s tanking problem. Calls for eliminating the draft, setting lottery odds earlier in the season and holding a lottery tournament to determine who gets what pick have all been bandied about. But while everyone thinks they have the idea that’s going to solve this issue for the league, teams will continue to tank.
The Wizards, Pacers, Nets, Kings, Jazz, Mavericks and Grizzlies have all essentially been eliminated from the postseason races already and want the best chance possible at the No. 1 pick. The Pacers and Jazz both could potentially lose their picks if they fall below certain slots.
One look at the collegiate basketball landscape this season and most front office executives are probably salivating over the prospect of landing Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer or a handful of other high-profile draft prospects. This is being billed as one of the best drafts in recent memory. Of course these teams want to do everything possible to try and land one of these guys. People might say tanking is bad for the league, but, for now, it’s a necessary evil for teams to try and find generational talent. — Jasmyn Wimbish
6. Cavs, Harden primed for a run
Three games with James Harden, three wins with James Harden, who had four assists down the stretch and hit the game-tying 3 with under a minute to play in Cleveland’s victory over Denver last week.
Cleveland started to find its sea legs after Christmas. They Cavs had won 13 of their previous 18 when the Harden deal went down. Everyone has been waiting for the team that won 64 games last season to emerge, and it feels safe to say that it has. But the question is: How much better can the Cavs be with Harden?
“I understand that this team is going to be something special [with Harden],” Donovan Mitchell wrote in his latest diary installment for Andscape. “We’re 3-0 so far, so we’re not doing too bad. But I’m excited to see what we do when we get some practices under our belt, and we’ll see what that looks like going forward.”
We’ve already seen some of the best of what Harden will bring. He’s carded 26 assists in his three games so far, which speaks to the playmaking burden he’ll lift from the shoulders of Mitchell, the league’s fifth-leading scorer who should be as free as he’s been all season to, well, score.
It’s largely the same tag-team dynamic that existed with Darius Garland, but Harden is a better creator than Garland and, importantly, he’s healthy. The combined gravitational force of these two has already been on display.
Watch here as Harden has the ball on the wing with Mitchell in the short corner, and how the whole defense shifts their way as Jarrett Allen (with whom Harden has already looked very comfortable in two-man actions) cuts straight down the lane.
Possessions like this one below should become more of the norm, with Harden collapsing defenses and making life easier on Mitchell, who is making 40% of his catch-and-shoot 3s this season, per Synergy.
With the threat of Mitchell keeping defenses honest on one side and Allen rolling down the lane, the opposite side shooters should get a lot of looks like this as Harden is a master at waiting for defenses to commit before delivering.
Of course, this is the best of Harden. Time will tell if the worst of him — his defense, namely, and some of his postseason disappearing acts — will bite the Cavs when it counts most. But for now, Cleveland continuing to rise up the Eastern Conference standings (with the league’s fifth-easiest remaining schedule, per Tankathon) looks like a pretty good bet. — Brad Botkin
7. Rookie of the Year race between Flagg and Knueppel
This is one of the most intriguing Rookie of the Year races in recent memory, even if the oddsmakers view Cooper Flagg as a heavy favorite with two months to go (-750 odds at FanDuel). Both Flagg and Kon Knueppel have valid cases to walk away with the award, and on any given night you could argue that one deserves it more. Flagg is shouldering the entirety of Dallas’ offense and has been among the most efficient rookies given the types of shots he’s taking. His defense is also years ahead of where rookies typically are, and he’s already shown he can be the go-to guy in the clutch.
For Knueppel, he’s the best shooting prospect we’ve seen since Stephen Curry, and he’s completely elevated Charlotte’s offense. He’s benefiting from the brilliance of LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, but he’s much more than just a catch-and-shoot player. Knueppel’s off-ball movement creates so many opportunities directly and indirectly, and he’s about as automatic as it comes from 3-point land.
The first time these former teammates faced each other it was an absolute classic. Flagg had 49 points, while Knueppel had 34 points in the win. We’ll get one more matchup between these two on March 3, and given how close this race is, perhaps it can help in figuring out who should come out on top for Rookie of the Year. — Jasmyn Wimbish
8. The MVP race just got interesting again
When Nikola Jokić went down with a hyperextended knee right before New Year’s, it looked like it would bring an end to his MVP bid on account of not being able to meet the 65-game threshold. But the Nuggets superstar made it back just in time to be able to miss exactly one more game the rest of the way and maintain award eligibility.
As long as Jokić remains eligible, this is a tight race between him and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who has been out with an injury of his own as the Thunder have lost six of their last 11. Also lurking is Victor Wembanyama, who has missed 14 games so far and thus can miss three more while remaining eligible. SGA remains the betting favorite (Gilgeous-Alexander has -190 odds to Jokić’s +300, while Wembanyama is currently a +3300 longshot).
As mentioned above, San Antonio is a real threat to catch OKC for the No. 1 seed; they’re three games back and own the tiebreaker via a 4-1 head-to-head advantage. Wembanyama’s numbers considering he’s only playing 29 minutes a game are crazy. Factoring in both ends of the court, he’s probably the most impactful per-minute player in the NBA, and if the Spurs do claim the No. 1 seed it will be tough to not consider him seriously for MVP.
Now add in Cade Cunningham, Luka Doncic and Jaylen Brown, and this race that once looked to be all but sewn up for SGA when Jokić went down suddenly looks like it could be in for a photo finish. — Brad Botkin
Having claimed the Pierro Plate, Ciaron’s Star was retrieved from the paddock and now eyes a last-minute Golden Slipper attempt contingent on success in the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.
Her most recent run saw her finish sixth behind yardmate Spicy Miss in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), after which plans shifted to wrapping up her campaign for a spell.
Yet the filly flourished in her brief downtime, encouraging trainer Ciaron Maher to reinstate her and target a place in a particularly unpredictable edition of the Golden Slipper.
Failing that, the Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) during The Championships remains a solid backup plan.
“The original plan was to give her a break after last start, but she had a couple of days in the paddock, and she was feeling very well,” Maher’s assistant Johann Gerard-Dubord said.
“We thought, it’s (Golden Slipper) very open this year, so she will run this week.
“If she happened to win, we could consider the Slipper, but she is second favourite for the Percy Sykes Stakes, so it’s hard to bypass that, especially because she is so well.”
Spicy Miss is already confirmed for Ciaron Maher in the Golden Slipper (1200m), while Tornado Valley’s Magic Millions placing makes him a doubtful starter, with preferences leaning towards extending his trip.
“Tornado Valley, he probably goes to a Sires’ Produce Stakes,” Gerard-Dubord said.
“He showed us the other day that 1200 metres is a bit sharp.”
Debutant Hellenic Belle, owned by Annabel and Rob Archibald, will tackle the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) after bypassing a softer option at Warwick Farm midweek.
With a strong barrier trial under her belt, the filly by Hellbent shows promise warranting an immediate black-type test.
“We were in (Wednesday), but we have opted to wait and have a throw of the dice at black type first-up,” Rob Archibald said.
“We think she has got ability, whether she’s ready to do it first-up, I’m not sure. But we can’t fault her, and it’s a nice lead in to a race like the Percy Sykes Stakes if she shows she is up to that level.
“We like her, she looks talented, and we will learn a bit more about her on Saturday.”
The winner of the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) and Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill both earn ballot exemptions for the Golden Slipper (1200m) seven days later.
For the best racing odds on the Magic Night Stakes, check out these betting sites.
Head Coach Andy Farrell’s Ireland side play Scotland this afternoon in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations at a sold-out Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 2.10pm).
The game is live on Virgin Media One television, with live radio commentary on RTÉ Radio One.
Captain Caelan Doris leads Ireland into their final game of this season’s Guinness Six Nations Championship.
Jamie Osborne, Rob Baloucoune and Tommy O’Brien are the Ireland back three.
Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose are again named in midfield, with Jamison Gibson-Park and Jack Crowley linking up in the half-backs.
In the front row, Tom O’Toole, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are chosen. Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne will start in the engine room.
Jack Conan is the choice for the role of blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier will start at openside, while Caelan Doris completes Ireland’s starting team at number eight.
Ireland Bench
Andy Farrell has strong options on the bench.
Rónan Kelleher, Michael Milne, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray – who is in line for his Six Nations debut – and Nick Timoney make up the forward replacements.
The backline replacements are Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley and Bundee Aki.
Trophy up for grabs
Speaking during the week as he looked forward to this afternoon’s game, Andy Farrell stated:
“It is an incredible privilege for the squad to play at home in front of a packed Aviva Stadium with a trophy up for grabs. We know about the challenge facing us on Saturday and Scotland will travel with confidence. You’ll see two teams who like to attack and we’ll look to implement our game plan to get the performance that we want. When you factor in a loud home support, and with the game taking place on St Patrick’s weekend, it really has all the ingredients for a cracking contest.”
Ireland Team
15. Jamie Osborne, 14. Rob Baloucoune, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Tommy O’Brien, 10. Jack Crowley, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park.
1. Tom O’Toole, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Jack Conan, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris (captain).
Ireland Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher, 17. Michael Milne, 18. Finlay Bealham, 19. Darragh Murray, 20. Nick Timoney, 21. Craig Casey, 22. Ciaran Frawley, 23. Bundee Aki.
When he first stepped into a boxing gym, Colm Murphy was immediately teased for having a ‘Posh Boy’ accent.
Since then, he has taken ownership of the label – originally intended to be an insult – and used it to his advantage, often fighting with a degree of ferocity that contradicts his intriguing moniker.
It is perhaps because of this that the 26-year-old has always fought with a chip on his shoulder, hoping to show the world exactly what he is made of, which equally explains why he is taking on a sizable challenge against former world title challenger Jono Carroll tonight.
Ahead of his assignment in Dublin, Murphy recalls being underestimated by those who, in the nicest sense, could not even dream of lacing his boots.
“Growing up, I went to a grammar school where the boys played rugby, so it was unheard of for someone to box.
“But I went to my local boxing club [aged 14] in West Belfast – I’m originally from South Belfast – and I stood out with my voice and stuff like that, so they kind of took the piss out of me and called me the ‘Posh Boy’.
“None of those people box anymore, so with me turning professional and reaching a level they couldn’t reach, I now own that [‘Posh Boy’] label.”
While those at Murphy’s gym overlooked his true potential, the kids at his school seemingly gave him no chance of even entering a competitive bout, let alone having considerable amateur success and crafting a 16-0 (6 KOs) professional record.
“People at my school laughed at me for trying out boxing – they all said I’d quit after a few months. Now they get to watch me on TV.
“It’s funny, but I’m also grateful for it. I went to a school that was a wee bit stuck-up, but everyone was really challenging.
“As a kid with learning difficulties, it ended up actually bringing out the best of me, because I was so competitive [with them].”
Having only just claimed the Commonwealth super-featherweight title – scoring a sixth-round finish over Saleh Kassim at the end of January – Murphy will now face Carroll, who fell short on points against then-IBF champion Tevin Farmer in 2019.
But while acknowledging that the 33-year-old is his toughest opponent thus far, by some distance, Murphy equally believes that he is ready for an opportunity of this magnitude.
“When opportunities like this come up, you have to roll the dice a wee bit and take them. I know it’s a huge step-up, and it’s going to be a big challenge, but I believe I rise to these moments.
“I’ve been in with really good operators my whole life, even as an amateur, and me and Jono don’t fall far from the same tree.
“He entered the same competitions as me as an amateur boxer himself, so I think a warrior like him is going to bring out the best out of me.”
The pair will square off for the vacant IBO title, featuring on the undercard of Jazza Dickens vs Anthony Cacace tonight, with Murphy looking to continue proving his detractors wrong.
Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav is set to begin a new chapter in his life as he marries his longtime partner Vanshika Chadha on March 14, 2026, in the scenic hill town of Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The wedding comes just days after Kuldeep was part of India’s historic triumph in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Preparations for the grand ceremony are already underway at the historic Savoy Hotel in Mussoorie, where pre-wedding festivities have begun with traditional ceremonies including haldi, mehendi and sangeet. After the wedding, a grand reception will be hosted in Lucknow on March 17, where several prominent personalities from cricket, politics and business are expected to attend.
Star-studded Guest List
Several current and former members of the India national cricket team are expected to attend the wedding celebrations.According to reports, the guest list includes:Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Sunil Gavaskar, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif and Piyush Chawla
Chahal and Tilak Varma share excitement
Meanwhile, fellow Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal arrived in Dehradun on Friday and expressed his excitement about attending the wedding of his close friend.“I am very excited for my brother’s marriage. I will dance a lot and enjoy,” Chahal said.Meanwhile, Tilak Varma said he plans to enjoy the wedding celebrations before shifting his focus to the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season with Mumbai Indians.“We’re going to Kuldeep’s wedding to have fun. After that, we’ll prepare for IPL,” Tilak said.
A special moment after World Cup glory
Kuldeep’s wedding celebrations come at a particularly memorable time in his career. The spinner was part of the Indian team that recently won the T20 World Cup 2026, defeating New Zealand in the final to claim India’s third title in the tournament’s history.
Mar 7, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Real Salt Lake forward Sergi Solans (22) and forward Aiden Hezarkhani (39) celebrate a goal against the Atlanta United during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images Real Salt Lake looks to win three straight games in MLS play for the first time since last July on Saturday when it hosts an Austin FC side that has struggled in its previous trips to Utah.
Salt Lake (2-1-0, 6 points) has made a strong start on the shoulders of a youthful attack, with all four of its goal scorers so far age 23 or younger — and two of them teenagers Zavier Gozo and Aiden Hezarkhani.
That has allowed the Claret-and-Cobalt to weather the early season absence of American World Cup hopeful Diego Luna, who led RSL with nine goals in 2025 but has been hampered by a knee injury.
And after a 1-0 loss at defending Western Conference champions Vancouver in the season opener, RSL answered with a 2-1 home win against Seattle and then a 3-2 victory at Atlanta.
As encouraging as those early results have been, manager Pablo Mastroeni is even more heartened by the interpersonal dynamic he sees within his squad.
“My thing is that, when you see these guys interact away from the field, It’s like a brotherhood,” he said following the win at Atlanta. “It’s a bunch of guys that enjoy spending time together. There’s no guy that’s bigger than the team.”
Meanwhile, Austin (1-1-1, 4 points) heads to Utah looking for a second win at RSL in its sixth trip since joining the league in 2021.
The Verde suffered multi-goal defeats there in both 2024 and ’25, and against all opponents have lost four straight MLS regular-season away matches since a 2-1 win over Sporting Kansas City on Sept. 7 of last year. “We know that in general it’s hard to go play there,” Austin center back Brandon Hines-Ike said this week. “It’s not a notoriously good place for us where we go. And so I think we’re very aware of that.”
Austin went down to 10 men after 25 minutes in its previous away trip, a 3-1 defeat at Charlotte FC last Saturday. Defender Guilherme Biro will serve a one-match suspension against RSL following his red card in Charlotte.
Up front, Christian Ramirez will look for his second goal in three games after he was signed off waivers for striker depth behind Brandon Vazquez, who is still rehabbing from ACL surgery performed last July.
–Field Level Media
PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.
The P/PTSD Perspective: March 14th, 2026
1) Presumably, Kevin O’Connell Isn’t Pleased with the Latest News: Coaches have feelings, folks. Is Minnesota’s skipper sad to see Johnny Mundt opt for the Eagles? Coach O’Connell has been quite outspoken about how he feels about the veteran TE3.
2) Vikings Suddenly Hold Major Leverage: Good chance that Mr. Greenard sticks around. Capable pass rushers are hard to acquire. Even harder is getting capable pass rushers who are operating on strong contracts and who provide excellent leadership. Kicking over some added compensation to keep him happy makes sense.
3) Well, At Least the Vikings Now Have Firm QB News: For a little while, the QB conversation was pretty quiet. Passers with connections to Minnesota were getting deals but nothing was getting done in the Twin Cities. In the end, the Vikings landed Mr. Murray.
4) Vikings See a Young, Ascending Talent Stolen Away: The price tag is large. But, to be sure, Ryan Wright has improved a ton over his career (and may still have more development in front of him). Wish him well in New Orleans. Meanwhile, the Vikings are on the hunt for a new punter.
5) Kyler Murray Sweepstakes Looking Like a Two-Horse Race: The final race may have simply been the Vikings competing against themselves. Going to Pittsburgh made sense insofar as there’s a QB need alongside a roster that’s looking to compete. The Vikings, though, make a lot more sense.
Enjoy the extra reading, Vikings fans.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
Carl Froch believes Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2 is “more exciting” than their first encounter, with the American hoping to avoid a “stain on his legacy”.
Their welterweight showdown in 2015 resulted in a clear unanimous decision victory for Mayweather, who largely controlled proceedings with his sharper movement and defensive nous.
It was later revealed, however, that Pacquiao had suffered a shoulder injury during his training camp, which only added to the frustration that their clash had arrived far too late.
Although it is statistically the most lucrative boxing event of all time, most believe the contest failed to live up to its billing as the ‘Fight of the Century’.
As for their rematch, which takes place at the Sphere, Las Vegas, on September 19, it is difficult to know exactly what to expect from the two Hall of Famers.
This is largely because Mayweather has not fought professionally since 2017, back when he secured a 10th-round stoppage victory over Conor McGregor.
Pacquiao, on the other hand, boxed to a draw against Mario Barrios, the then-WBC world welterweight champion, in July, proving that he is still capable of maintaining a considerable pace.
For that reason, Froch has said on his YouTube channel that Mayweather must be careful not to lose his unbeaten record – which currently stands at 50-0 (27 KOs) – or else he risks diluting his legacy.
“This fight’s probably a little bit more exciting than their first fight, because Mayweather’s still unbeaten – he still keeps himself active [in the gym] – but Manny Pacquiao has just gone 12 rounds and got a draw with Barrios.
“So Manny Pacquiao can obviously still fight a little bit. Mayweather has got to be careful because, if he gets beat, he’s lost that unbeaten record, and that would be a little stain on his legacy. He’s one of the all-time greats.”
While Mayweather is risking his legacy, to some extent, by putting his unbeaten record on the line, many believe he ultimately has enough left in the tank to defeat Pacquiao once again.
In the span of three days, Mexico has lost two players for the World Cup.
Midfielder Marcel Ruiz tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, his club Toluca announced on Friday.
The 25-year-old Ruiz injured the joint on Wednesday in a CONCACAF Champions Cup match against San Diego of the MLS.
Toluca said in a statement that in addition to the ligament rupture, Ruiz also suffered a meniscus tear in the same joint and will undergo surgery.
“Everyone at this club regrets what happened and we stand in solidarity with him, wishing him a speedy recovery,” the team said.
Mexico plays the World Cup opener on June 11 against South Africa.
Ruiz was key in helping Toluca win their second consecutive championship last December.
Ruiz received his first call-up to the senior national team in 2023, and has been one of the most consistent players since Javier Aguirre took over as manager in August 2024. The midfielder has 17 matches with the national team and was expected to go to his first World Cup.
His absence adds to Club America goalkeeper Luis Malagon, who was diagnosed on Wednesday with a ruptured Achilles tendon in his left leg.
Mexico has another half-dozen players sidelined, although the most serious case is that of right back Rodrigo Huescas, who tore a knee ligament last November.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Published: Mar 14 2026 | 3:05 PM IST
Next week, another wave of NFL free agency will hit, but let’s take a moment to examine who went where for the Minnesota Vikings, a team with a tranquil philosophy, other than Kyer Murray, regarding adding newcomers.
A handful of ex-Vikings quickly came off the board as free agency moved into its next phase.
It’s the quietest Vikings free agency since 2020; here’s a look at who left for other ventures.
Minnesota’s Departures Are Starting to Fill Out around the League
No real surprises, aside from the punter, on the list.
Jonathan Allen, DT
Cincinnati Bengals
Allen inked a two-year, $26 million contract in Cincinnati, an advantageous development for Minnesota because Allen’s dead cap charge will become a financial wash for the Vikings next offseason.
After five days of free agency, the Bengals’ defensive tackle roster includes:
- B.J. Hill
- Jonathan Allen
- Kris Jenkins Jr.
- T.J. Slaton Jr.
- McKinnely Jackson
- Jordan Jefferson
- Howard Cross III
Despite this depth, the Bengals may still select another defensive tackle early in April’s draft, given the DT talent available.
Javon Hargrave, DT
Green Bay Packers
This man pulled the turncoat maneuver, signing in Green Bay and adding a veteran presence to Jonathan Gannon’s defense, hoping his experience and pass-rushing skills can offset the loss of Kenny Clark, who was traded to Dallas in the Micah Parsons deal.
According to Pro Football Focus — and the eye test — Hargrave is a slightly above-average interior defender. In 2025, he earned a 70.0 pass-rushing grade and a 57.3 run-defense grade, resulting in an overall score of 68.0, ranking him 35th among interior linemen. While his pass rush remains a strength, his run defense has been less consistent.
His raw statistics bear it out. In 16 games and 537 defensive snaps (53% of the time), Hargrave recorded 52 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, 4 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and 31 pressures. That pressure total ranked him 34th among all defensive tackles.
Hargrave is expected to provide stability for Green Bay’s iDL, though his recent performance metrics suggest he is a middle-of-the-road NFL defensive tackle. And — there’s the inevitability that Minnesota will face him twice annually.
Jalen Nailor, WR
Las Vegas Raiders
Nailor secured $35 million over the next three years from Las Vegas, the city that raised him. He’s instantly the WR1 on the Raiders’ depth chart — believe it or not — which was probably an alluring factor. Nailor has never accrued more than 500 yards in a single season. That might change in Sin City.
Nailor will also catch passes from Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who is expected to go off the draftboard first in April. Meanwhile, there’s a decent chance that Nailor gets an old friend at quarterback if the Raiders sign Kirk Cousins for bridge passer duty.
Regardless, Nailor got his bag.
Silver and Black Pride‘s Marcus Johnson on Nailor: “The former Michigan State receiver didn’t have a major role with the Vikings in Minnesota and has a chance to showcase his skill set with the Silver and Black. The Vikings lined him up inside and outside, which displays what his role will be with the Raiders.”
“This past season, he was in the slot 60% of the time, making a play that could move around all over the line of scrimmage. Nailor becomes a replacement for Jakobi Meyers, who was traded midseason in 2025. Nailor has upside that goes along with all the free agent signings this offseason. If he could reach his potential, he could add a hidden gem to Klint Kubiak’s offense.”
Ben Sims, TE
Miami Dolphins
Following the first three days of free agency and the acquisition of Ben Sims, the Dolphins’ tight end roster includes:
- Greg Dulcich
- Ben Sims
- Jalin Conyers
- Cole Turner
- Zack Kuntz
Darren Waller, the team’s primary tight end last season, is still a free agent. However, due to Miami’s offseason coaching and front office changes, his return appears improbable.
David Njoku is another free agent to monitor. While he has had a productive career, he hasn’t attracted much free-agent attention so far. A team seeking a tight end, like Miami, could be a possible destination.
Sims played in eight games for the 2025 Vikings, catching 3 passes for 30 yards when given the chance.
Ryan Wright, P
New Orleans Saints
Most fans thought Wright would return as the Vikings’ punter in 2026, and that’d be that.
But then he swerved, signing with the New Orleans Saints for $14 million over the next four years. Wright’s career has resembled an odyssey — fantastic in 2022 as a rookie, snakebitten by struggles in 2023 and 2024, and back to majestic form in 2025.
As a result, Minnesota will need a new punter, and all signs point to a rookie, either in the last round of the draft or shortly after, from undrafted free agency.
The Vikings also lost valuable continuity in the field goal process, as Wright was Will Reichard’s holder in 2024 and 2025. Just Minnesota has a good thing going — Reichard was the best kicker in the NFL last season — a bit of disruption arose.
The Americans are making an adjustment ahead of their World Baseball Classic semifinal showdown against the Dominican Republic.
Toronto Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman will replace Clayton Kershaw for Team USA, joining the team ahead of Sunday’s game, the club announced on Saturday.
The U.S. advanced to the semis after a 5-3 win over Canada in Friday’s quarterfinal.
Hoffman, 33, has pitched two innings this spring with three strikeouts.
During the 2025 regular season, his first with the Blue Jays, he pitched 68 innings and owned a 4.37 ERA with 84 strikeouts, 27 walks and 33 saves recorded.
He recovered his form during the post-season, though, with a 1.46 ERA across 12.1 innings, with 18 strikeouts, four walks and two saves.
He allowed the game-tying homer to Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas in Game 7 of the World Series, in which the Blue Jays would go on to lose in extra innings.
If called upon, this will be Hoffman’s first appearance in a World Baseball Classic.
Kershaw, a three-time NL Cy Young award winner, retired at the end of last year after playing 18 MLB seasons. The left-hander came out of retirement to suit up for Team USA, but did not pitch in any of the team’s five games in the WBC.
Kershaw will remain with the team through the tournament despite being removed from the roster.
— With files from Associated Press
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