Dec 1, 2024; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones (10) runs with the ball against the SHouston Texans in the fourth quarter at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings have a nearly full arsenal of draft picks to trade for a quarterback this offseason — if they’re in the mood. And this week, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell made no secret about the top trade option for the purple team, suggesting Minnesota should target Mac Jones from the San Francisco 49ers.
The Vikings can explore a Mac Jones trade, but ESPN’s idea hinges on price and the team’s faith in J.J. McCarthy.
Trades can be agreed upon at any time right now on the NFL calendar. If Minnesota plans to fire off a trade, there’s no need to wait.
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ESPN’s Mac Jones Idea for Vikings Comes Down to Cost
Your Mac Jones takes have been vindicated by Barnwell.
Mac Jones loosens up on October 19, 2025, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, taking warmup reps during the fourth quarter as the 49ers host the Falcons, helmet on and arm live while staying ready along the sideline in a late-game NFC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images.
Barnwell: Jones to MIN Beneifts SF and MIN
Barnwell sized up 11 hypothetical quarterback trades on Monday, and Jones to Minnesota turned heads.
He wrote, “Vikings get: QB Mac Jones, 2027 third-round pick. 49ers get: 2026 second-round pick, 2027 fifth-round pick (conditional), 2028 third-round pick (conditional). In this deal, the 49ers get a second-rounder for a future third-rounder. There are also two conditional picks, which should help protect them if Jones blossoms in Minnesota.”
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“The 2027 conditional pick would trigger based on Jones’ playing time with the Vikings. If he starts four games in 2026, the Vikings send a fifth-round pick out west. If Jones starts 12 games, that gets upped to a third-rounder.”
Jones has recently stated that he loves the 49ers as an organization but also wants to start in the NFL, which probably won’t happen behind Brock Purdy.
“And then, if Jones re-signs with the Vikings after the 2026 season and starts at least one game for the Vikings in 2027, the 49ers would land another third-round pick. If Jones spends just 2025 backing up McCarthy, the 49ers swap only the Day 2 picks,” Barnwell continued.
“If Jones emerges as the long-term starter in Minnesota, though, the Vikings could send a second-rounder and two third-round picks to the 49ers — a price that Kevin O’Connell would surely be happy to pay for an upgrade at quarterback.”
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With a fan base buzzing for answers at quarterback this offseason, Barnwell’s theory lit a match.
Finding the Next Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield
Jones’s popularity will soar through the roof this offseason. Why? Well, Sam Darnold just helped the Seattle Seahawks win a Super Bowl, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield has shown in three consecutive seasons that he’s a consistent QB1 after being left for dead by the Carolina Panthers in 2022.
General managers and coaches will now scour the NFL for the “next Sam Darnold,” and there’s no better candidate than Jones, though Malik Willis, a free agent to be, may disagree.
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Jones started eight games for the 49ers in 2025 when Purdy battled an injury, and when extrapolating that sample to 17 games, Jones provided 4,570 passing yards, 28 passing TDs, 13 INTs, and 69.6% completion rate. Yes, those are Darnoldian numbers.
NFL decision-makers will convince themselves — if they haven’t already — that Jones needs to be rescued from his QB2 post, empowered by a new offensive staff, and unlocked as a sure-fire starter. Barnwell thinks the Vikings are the best spot for it.
Competition for J.J. McCarthy
McCarthy played great in about four games last season, all down the stretch, when the game apparently made more sense to him. But in his first starts, he battled injury and poor performance.
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Barnwell noted on McCarthy, “The Vikings can’t afford to leave J.J. McCarthy an uncontested path to their starting quarterback job again in 2026. He was a disaster for most of the season, and though he put together a better stretch to end 2025, that four-game run came against the Commanders (who were 30th in EPA per play against pass dropbacks), Cowboys (31st), Giants (17th, in a game where McCarthy threw 14 passes) and Packers (21st, McCarthy was facing second- and third-stringers for most of the game).”
“It’s reasonable to say that McCarthy deserves more time, having started just 10 games during two seasons as a pro. Even if you’re making that argument, though, the Vikings need real competition for him in camp. They also need a backup who can step in to play, given that McCarthy has missed 24 games over his first two years because of knee, concussion, hand and ankle injuries.”
Mac Jones goes through pregame routines on November 2, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, throwing and stretching before the 49ers face the Giants, working methodically as teammates filter onto the field ahead of the afternoon kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.
O’Connell may need an extra quarterback next to McCarthy in 2026 to ensure his team doesn’t succumb to irrelevance if McCarthy gets hurt or plays poorly. Jones would arrive in Minnesota this spring or summer and immediately battle for the QB1 job.
In that scenario, it would be a “may the best man win” situation.
A Rather Expensive Trade
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Under the hood, Barnwell’s trade is quite spendy. If Jones met all the conditions, the Vikings would be on the hook for a 2nd-Rounder, 3rd-Rounder, and another 3rd-Rounder.
And it would make sense for Jones to be that expensive. San Francisco’s general manager, John Lynch, and head coach, Kyle Shanahan, have stated this offseason that they have no plans to trade Jones unless the offer blows them away.
Kevin O’Connell addresses reporters on October 13, 2025, at Vikings headquarters in Eagan, outlining injury updates and post-bye plans while detailing recovery timelines and the preparation focus for Minnesota’s upcoming stretch of games. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
A 2nd-Round pick and two 3rd-Rounders would most defintely blow anyone away, especially for a quarterback who has never sustained long-term success.
AMES, Iowa — Nate Heise hit a go-ahead 3-pointer and Tamin Lipsey came up with an offensive rebound in the final seconds to cap No. 6 Iowa State’s rally in a 70-67 victory over Big 12 leader and second-ranked Houston on Monday night.
Heise was 3 for 3 from 3-point range hours after sister Taylor Heise scored to help the U.S. Women’s Olympic hockey team beat Sweden 5-0 to reach the gold-medal game in Milan.
The Cyclones (23-3, 10-3) closed with a 17-4 run to take down a second top-10 team in three days. Iowa State topped No. 8 Kansas 74-56 on Saturday.
The Cougars (23-3, 11-2) had their six-game winning streak snapped and their conference lead was cut to a half-game over No. 4 Arizona heading into their matchup Saturday in Houston. Iowa State is third, a game behind Houston.
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Heise hit the 3-pointer from the left corner with 1:17 to play to give the Cyclones a 69-67 lead. Houston had two chances to tie or take the lead, but was called for a shot-clock violation with 43 seconds to play, then Chris Cenac Jr., missed a shot with four seconds left.
Blake Buchanan was fouled after rebounding Cenac’s miss, but missed the front end of a one-and-one. Lipsey, though, got the offensive rebound, tapping the ball back to Joshua Jefferson, who was fouled with asecond left. Jefferson made his first free throw for the final margin.
Jefferson led Iowa State with 12 points. Heise had 11 and Buchanan had 10.
Kingston Flemings led Houston with 22 points. Emanuel Sharp had 16 points, all in the first half. Milos Uzan had 11 points.
Playing with other golfers can be a lot of fun — but it can also be a little intimidating at times. Any time you tee it up with golfers you don’t know, you might be the best player in the group … or you might be the worst.
Being the best is certainly more comfortable, but how do you handle it when you’re actually the worst?
This happened to me recently. My son was scheduling a practice round for a tournament and asked if I’d like to join. Any opportunity to play with him, I’ll take.
As it turned out, the “regular” golfers we were scheduled to play with didn’t show. So I found myself playing with three of the top juniors in the country. It was a bit intimidating, but still a lot of fun.
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Here are a few suggestions if you ever find yourself in a similar situations
1. Don’t play slow
This is rule number one. If you can do this, you’ll be just fine.
You may be hitting more shots than they are, so efficiency is key. Move quickly to your ball. Choose your club promptly. Keep your setup and routine simple and consistent.
You can also anticipate what club (or clubs) you might need and grab them as you return to the cart. You won’t always know exactly what you’ll need, but when you do, this small habit can save valuable time.
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2. Know when to pick up
If you’re not in a tournament, keep pace with the group. That might mean occasionally picking up your ball and moving forward to stay in position. There’s no need to hit several extra shots while others are waiting.
The same goes for putting. After your first putt, you might choose to pick up to keep things moving. You may not post a “true” score, but you can still enjoy the experience of playing alongside better golfers.
3. Choose the right times to socialize
One of the best parts of golf is the people you meet. A fun round often comes down to good conversation. Just be mindful of timing. Waiting on the group ahead or walking off the green toward the next tee are great opportunities to connect without slowing play.
4. Keep trying
Throughout the round, simply do the best you can with your own game. Ideally, you have a basic understanding of your tendencies and how to make small adjustments. Use the on-course experience as a chance to improve and self-correct. With the right mindset, you might even finish the round playing better than you started.
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5. Use it as motivation
Playing with great golfers can be incredibly inspiring. They often make the difficult look simple.
In my years of teaching, I’ve noticed that the best players are usually the ones who work the hardest. It looks effortless because they’ve earned it.
Man Utd consider swoop for Liverpool‘sAlexis Mac Allister, Man City not keen on James Trafford sale, Nicolas Jackson to return to Chelsea from Bayern Munich.
Manchester Unitedare considering a move to sign Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, 27, from Liverpool with the World Cup winner potentially set to leave Anfield this summer. (Star), external
Nicolas Jackson, 24, is expected to return toChelsea this summer because his lack of game time at Bayern Munich means the Bundesliga club are unlikely to trigger an obligation-to-buy clause in the Senegal forward’s loan agreement. (Times – subscription required), external
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Arsenal have been told by intermediaries that Spain winger Nico Williams, 23, is ready to consider a summer exit from Athletic Bilbao. (Teamtalk), external
Brightonhave made Said El Mala, 19, a dream summer target and have submitted a written offer to Cologne for the Germany Under-21 winger. (Sky Germany), external
Napoli have made it their top priority to keep Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 29, out of the clutches of several Premier League clubs this summer by offering him a lucrative new deal. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Manchester Unitedhave denied making contact with Jurgen Klopp’s agent after he said the club made an enquiry about the 58-year-old former Liverpool manager taking over at Old Trafford. (Sky Sports), external
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Real Madrid are thought to be in pole position to sign Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck, 26, from Borussia Dortmund this summer with Barcelona also vying for his signature in a 50m euros (£43.4m) deal. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick wants to reinforce his defence with the signing of Borussia Dortmund and Norway full-back Julian Ryerson, 28. (Fichajes – in Spanish), external
It’s safe to assume that the LA Lakers fanbase, or at least some parts of it, hasn’t fully embraced LeBron James. Carmelo Anthony called out the Lakers fans who continue to disrespect James, who has played eight seasons for the purple and gold franchise.
On the latest episode of the “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Anthony and guest DeMarcus Cousins discussed plenty of topics around the NBA, including James’ future. The Hall of Famer described what “The King” is experiencing in what could be his final year with the Lakers.
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“He’s living long enough to be a villain,” Anthony said. “You get what I’m saying? That’s what he’s doing. He’s doing everything at the top, still holding this league down. This league don’t move without ‘Bron. I don’t give a f**k what nobody say. That’s a fact.”
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Carmelo Anthony then called out the Lakers fanbase for not fully accepting LeBron James despite bringing a championship in 2020. Anthony added that Lakers fans have no right to be angry at James if he signs with the Cleveland Cavaliers next season.
“If you going to be mad at him leaving LA, f**k is you mad about?” Anthony said. “You see it written on the wall, right? Because of the influence that’s out there. Y’all pushing him out in a sense. Y’all never accepted him in LA anyway from the beginning.”
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The LA Lakers are reportedly ready to move on from LeBron James after the season. Luka Doncic signed his extension, and the franchise is one of the teams getting ready to create cap space for the summer of 2027, when some of the best players could become free agents.
LeBron James comments on the possibility of retiring
Speaking to reporters before the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, LeBron James addressed the speculation about his future. James remains undecided if this will be his final season or if he moves forward this summer and joins a new team in free agency.
“When I know, you guys will know,” James said. “I don’t know. I have no idea.”
At 41 years old, James is still among the best players in the NBA. There are signs of slowing down, but it’s mainly due to dealing with sciatica at the start of the season.
Nevertheless, it’s going to be an interesting second half of the season for the LA Lakers. They did fix the shooting problem by adding Luke Kennard, but the defense and staying healthy are persistent issues.
Jamaica’s Mica Moore, from Newport in south Wales, finished four places ahead of Nicoll in 14th and was delighted with the outcome following her switch in 2022 from representing GB after claiming she had witnessed “damaging and offensive behaviour”.
Moore told BBC Sport: “I’m so happy. It has been a real tough journey to get here, it hasn’t been easy at all. I guess to me it is just a story of not giving up.
“I had a really difficult time with Great Britain and that is not secret at all and I’m just so proud I didn’t give up on myself and I’m so grateful for my family and friends for digging myself out of the trenches when it was really tough and just keep going. Moments like this make it really worth it.”
Moore began her sporting career as an athlete – representing Wales at the 2014 Commonwealth Games – before switching to bobsleigh.
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Her grandfather, Venson Byfield, came to the UK in the Windrush generation and settled in Wales.
“It is a really proud moment,” she added.
“I’ve spoken a lot about my grandfather and how we came over with the Windrush generation and I never got the pleasure of meeting him, but my mum has told me so many stories about him and I just had that in my heart the whole time. I just wanted to make my family proud.
“They’ve supported me for so long. I’m 33 now so I’m quite old and they’ve never wavered in their support.
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“I’ve just had the most lovely career because of them.”
James Trafford is right to be unhappy and frustrated, but has to do something about his Manchester City nightmare the first chance he gets.
Walking out on Pep Guardiola is a big gamble. But when it comes to the curious case of James Trafford, he doesn’t have much of a choice.
Trafford has revealed he had no idea Manchester City were planning to sign another goalkeeper when he agreed to make a return to the Etihad from Burnley last summer. But he should have done. Or at least those people at CAA Stellar, who look after him, should. Trafford could have gone to Newcastle United.
But City had first option on re-signing Trafford and took advantage of their situation to take him back. Just over a month after returning to the Etihad, Guardiola went and spent £26million on luring Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain.
And Trafford’s fate was sealed. The end result is a professional nightmare for Trafford. He is second fiddle to a great ‘keeper, restricted to run-outs in cup games and nothing more.
When it comes to the Premier League and Champions League, Trafford will be stuck on the bench unless Donnarumma gets injured.
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
And this will cost Trafford a realistic chance of going to the World Cup with England this summer. World Cups don’t come around too often in a player’s career.
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Trafford still has time on his side because he’s still only 23. But if he wants to become the long-term successor to Jordan Pickford, and he’s good enough to do so, he has to leave City come the end of the season.
Trafford is too talented to be a part-time goalkeeper. He’s proved this on the rare occasions he’s been given matches by Guardiola this season.
“I’ve obviously got a contract, but I don’t know what happens next season,” said Trafford, “I just know that I’ll just take it a day at a time and try and improve.”
He does know. He knows unless Donnarumma leaves the Etihad, which isn’t going to happen, his situation will remain the same.
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Nothing will change. Trafford has to be selfish and do what is best for himself. And if that means turning your back on arguably the greatest manager of all time, then so be it.
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Hamburger SV center-back Luka Vušković might not be too inclined to go back to Tottenham Hotspur and his parent club might be sweating it a bit.
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With at least a little uncertainty about the young Croatian, Spurs could be keeping an eye on Bayern Munich center-back Kim Min-jae:
Tottenham Hotspur have an absolute gem on their hands in Luka Vuskovic, who is so good he could join Bayern Munich this summer without playing a competitive match for the Premier League side. There is genuine interest from Bayern Munich, who are always looking to sign the best players from their domestic rivals, and Tottenham supporters fear they will lose their Croatian gem
With Vuskovic, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero all linked with moves away from Spurs, they are weighing up their options for the summer transfer window.
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Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger has been linked, but another player on Spurs’ radar is Bayern’s Kim Min-jae, whose departure could pave the way for Vuskovic to join the German champions.
Chelsea could make a move for Min-jae after missing out on new Liverpool signing Jeremy Jacquet, though the 29-year-old is older than their usual transfer targets.
Min-jae is not a regular starter under Vincent Kompany and would be a wise sale for Bayern and a smart signing for Spurs.
As of now, the latest news indicates that Kim is content to stay at Bayern Munich even in an lesser role. However, if Tottenham can match or beat his current salary, the South Korean could reconsider that stance…maybe.
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Last week, some very loose reports broke regarding Bayern Munich still having interest in Newcastle United attacker Nick Woltemade after missing on the big German last summer. However, Sport Bild’s Christian Falk says that a move in the future is not out of the question, but this summer would be too early:
That said, he had a very good start to life at Newcastle, so things can change quickly if he’s getting the play time and scoring. At the moment, however, a deal isn’t guaranteed. But the door could open this summer, and Woltemade, if things don’t change, could be open for a transfer. I’m not sure if Bayern Munich will be at the table this time, but it’s always a question of price.
✅ It is TRUE: Bayern retain their admiration of Nick Woltemade. Just like any club, when you have a clear admiration for a player, it’s normal to wonder about the future. That’s the point with Woltemade and Bayern Munich. Both sides know that perhaps they’ll meet again in the future. This summer is too early. Bayern Munich won’t pay the transfer fee. I heard Newcastle, perhaps, would lower their price tag. Indeed, they’re not so happy at the moment; Woltemade isn’t playing a great deal. The manager, Eddie Howe, isn’t giving him many chances to play at the moment.
Harry Kane’s next contract could determine exactly when Bayern Munich formally renews interest in Woltemade.
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Hoffenheim’s Grischa Promel has had a very good season and is firmly on the radar of VfB Stuttgart:
🚨EXCL | VfB Stuttgart have submitted a concrete, lucrative offer to Grischa Prömel as they want to bring him in on a free transfer in the summer.
Hoffenheim, meanwhile, are keen to extend his contract long term. #VfB see him as a top leader but will not improve their offer beyond their set financial limits. Leverkusen, Frankfurt and Wolfsburg are also interested.
Prömel is keeping his options open, with a final decision expected in March. @SkySportDE
Kicker named Leon Goretzka and Harry Kane to its Bundesliga Team of the Week:
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Meanwhile, Kane and Luis Díaz are on WhoScored.com’s Team of the Season (so far):
AC Milan is not against the idea of selling Christian Pulisic, but it will take €70 to €80 million to get a deal done:
AC Milan is preparing for a major squad overhaul at the end of the season, and one of the biggest talking points is the possible departure of Christian Pulisic.
The club is open to listening to offers in the €70–80 million range for the 27‑year‑old American winger, a figure that could provide Milan with both financial flexibility and balance as they reshape the team.
Liverpool attacker Florian Wirtz famously (or infamously) chose to move to Merseyside over Bayern Munich last summer and got off to a pretty bad start in England. Wirtz now has six goals and eight assists in 35 games across all competitions.
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In addition, Wirtz has created more chances in the Premier League this season than any other summer signing. While that might blow your socks off…it is something (we guess):
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
Eileen Gu, the controversial big air skiing star who competes for China despite being American-born, was unable to defend her gold medal on Monday night at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
Gu came away with the silver medal in the women’s freeski big air competition, while Canada’s Megan Oldham won gold.
Gu notched a 90.00 on her first run, which was tied on the list of competitors for third place, as Oldham and Austria’s Lara Wolf had better scores.
Gold medalist Megan Oldham of Team Canada, Silver medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of Team People’s Republic of China and Bronze medalist Flora Tabanelli of Team Italy pose for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Freeski Big Air on day ten of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Livigno Snow Park on Feb. 16, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
But Gu’s mistake was on the second run, where she wasn’t able to grab the tail of her ski cleanly and her landing was shaky, leading to a 61.25 score.
At that point, Gu was out of a medal spot with one run remaining. In this competition, the top two scores are combined for each skier.
On the final run, Gu managed to score an 89.00, which gave her a 179.00 final tally. That was enough for second place, but Oldham had a slight, 1.75-point advantage over Gu in the end.
Italy’s Flora Tabanelli finished with bronze in the event.
Gu wasn’t upset at the result, though, pointing out that she’s won five Olympic medals in her two appearances at the Games. Her first was in Beijing in 2022, where she took home gold in big air and halfpipe, while winning silver in Slopestyle.
In this year’s Games, Gu secured a silver medal in Slopestyle, with halfpipe the remaining event for her later this week.
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“‘Five-time Olympic medalist’ kind of has a nice ring to it,” Gu told reporters after the event.
Before this medal event, Gu called out the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) over how tight the Olympic schedule has been for her, saying it prevents her from getting proper training sessions she needs for a freeski event.
Gold medalist Megan Oldham of Team Canada, Silver medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of Team People’s Republic of China and Bronze medalist Flora Tabanelli of Team Italy pose for a victory selfie during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Freeski Big Air on day ten of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Livigno Snow Park on Feb. 16, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.(Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Gu is the sport’s only three-event athlete, and she says competing on Monday night makes it impossible for her to properly prepare for the qualifying round of the halfpipe final, which begins on Thursday.
“I’m disappointed in FIS,” she said. “I think the Olympics should epitomize aspiration, and I think being able to do something that’s beyond the ordinary should be celebrated instead of punished.
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“I think it’s really unfair. I think it’s punishing excellence, to be completely honest with you. Because I dare to do three events, and this is making it completely impossible to train fairly for the third event.”
Gu became a controversial figure in action sports in 2019 when she made the decision to ski for China instead of the United States in the upcoming 2022 Olympics. She grew up in California and went to Stanford, though her mother is a first-generation Chinese immigrant in the U.S.
Gu said at the time that it was an “incredibly tough” decision, and Americans weren’t too fond of her decision given the geopolitical tension between the U.S. and China.
Silver medalist Ailing Eileen Gu of Team People’s Republic of China looks on during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Freeski Big Air on day ten of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Livigno Snow Park on Feb. 16, 2026 in Livigno, Italy.(Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Gu was celebrated in China for her choice, but a giant question still looms as she continues to be one of the best in the sport.
With China not allowing dual citizenship for its athletes, requiring Chinese nationality for those competing, has Gu renounced her American citizenship? She has not answered the question.
As Gu looks ahead to the halfpipe qualifiers on Thursday, the final for the event is this Saturday.
Naoya Inoue is arguably boxing’s pound-for-pound number one, but the United States has a contender on the up in Jesse Rodriguez, who could potentially collide with Inoue down the line. Now, two-time welterweight champion Shawn Porter has offered his thoughts on that potential super fight.
Inoue is one of three fighters to have reigned as an undisputed champion in multiple weight divisions during the four-belt era, maintaining a 32-fight undefeated record whilst dominating at both bantamweight and super-bantamweight.
In May, the four-division conqueror is anticipated to take on his toughest test to date, linked to a historic Japanese showdown with fellow pound-for-pound star, Junto Nakatani, in a difficult defence of the undisputed crown at 122lbs.
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There is suddenly another potential threat to ‘The Monster’, with ‘Bam’ Rodriguez seeking to become the first undisputed champion in the history of the super-flyweight division before potentially accelerating through the divisions in a similar fashion.
Currently, Rodriguez holds three of the four belts at 115lbs, whilst Mexico’s Willibaldo Garcia Perez is in possession of the remaining IBF super-flyweight strap that ‘Bam’ will target before a move to bantamweight, which will move him closer to the Japanese phenomenon.
Speaking on The PorterWay Podcast, Shawn Porter admitted that he favours Inoue against his fellow American, believing both the age and size gap to be too wide for the 26-year-old Rodriguez to hand 32-year-old Inoue a first career defeat.
“I am inclined to favour Inoue in this fight, event though I haven’t seen as much of Inoue as I have seen from Bam, but the reason why I favour him is because of the age gap and the size gap.
“That [gap] is big for the little guys and Inoue is a monster. I think that Inoue would be the favourite in the betting odds and it’s a hell of a fight but I feel like there is a gap there. There is a gap there that I don’t like [for Rodriguez].”
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Many in the sport have agreed, although others are keen to see the fight happen. Trainer Robert Garcia has responded positively, saying that his charge Rodriguez will be ready for the fight in the future.
Hardik Pandya, right, celebrates with teammate Ishan Kishan the wicket of Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan. (AP Photo)
COLOMBO: All those who don’t mind a sense of competition in an India-Pakistan game were left scratching their heads by late Sunday at the Premadasa.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Pakistan have been in Sri Lanka since the start of this World Cup, and have the spinners to make use of the slow pitch conditions here. There is an X-factor bowler in Usman Tariq, who may not be Varun Chakravarthy but has taken wickets in 24 consecutive T20 games and bowls at an economy rate of 5.93 in T20Is.
Mike Hesson press conference: ‘Ishan took the game away from us’ after India beat Pakistan
Still, when it came to the high-pressure India game, it was a meek surrender. It seemed that the Pakistan team had learnt nothing from their hat-trick of Asia Cup defeats and went down even before the game could take the shape of a contest.Before going into any analysis, let’s accept one thing. India are a superior side than Pakistan and for the neighbours to turn the tables, it will need an upset. But the passionate Pakistan fans are well within their rights to demand that upset once in a blue moon. Like the Indian teams from the mid-80s to the early 2000s — they won the World Cup games, the Independence Cup in Bangladesh and one Sahara Cup in Toronto even as Pakistan dominated the subcontinental rivalry.
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What was the main reason for Pakistan’s loss against India?
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On Sunday, for Pakistan it was a case of being timid to start with. The pitch gets slower and it would have been much easier for Pakistan to set a target and pressurize India with their spinners.But they got it wrong by choosing to field first and bringing all the pressure on their batting line-up, which is average at best. They should have understood that if it took them a humongous struggle to chase 147 against the Netherlands, they are not good enough to cross the line chasing against India, a side that would not give you a sub-160 target even on their worst batting day.“I was surprised to see Pakistan choose to field after winning the toss. That’s where they lost half the game,” spin legend R Ashwin said on his youtube show. Pakistan coach Mike Hesson, though, defended his skipper Salman Agha’s decision and felt it was Ishan Kishan’s brilliance that took the game away from them. “The pitch didn’t slow down and it spun less in the second innings. So you have to look at the facts rather than be emotional. It was the quality of the bowling in the first six overs and the way Ishan played that took the game away from us,” Hesson said.Also, hurting Pakistan cricket is the poor form of paceman Shaheen Afridi. He has been below-par with each successive game, but there’s some reason better known to the team management that he can’t be dropped. On Sunday, he bowled two crucial overs and gave away 31 which, in a low-scoring game, was huge. For India, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, the two pacers, bowled five overs conceding 33 and took four wickets. “Afridi cannot bowl the hard length consistently on a pitch like this. And if he was bowling to Ishan, he should have tried something different,” Ashwin said.The third aspect, is of course the Pakistan batting approach. It’s true that 175 on a slow pitch was akin to a 225 on any Indian track. Still keeping wickets towards the end would have given Pakistan a fighting chance at the back end.Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja, on his show said that he finds it hard to fathom the approach of the Pakistani team. “They learnt nothing from their Asia Cup losses. They keep trying the slam bang approach, which cannot work for them against a team as skilled as this India. But no player is ready to take the game deep,” Rameez pointed out.But for the negatives, Pakistan can still qualify for the Super-8s with a win against Namibia on Wednesday. They will continue to play in Colombo if they go that far and the fans will hope against hope that the opposition teams will not be as lethal as India.
