Outspoken ESPN star Stephen A. Smith took a clear position in the ongoing debate about transgender athletes’ participation in girls and women’s sports.
“Biological men should not be competing against biological girls in sports, period,” Smith said during an appearance on “Real Time with Bill Maher” after the Olympics’ policy on transgender women was mentioned.
“What about protecting the young ladies? Young ladies going up against biological men — biological men — there is no excuse for that.”
Stephen A. Smith joined Bill Maher on the March 27 episode of “Real Time,” discussing politics and who could potentially lead both parties going forward.(Real Time with Bill Maher/YouTube)
Smith then mentioned former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas.
“Lia Thomas, for example, was a male, and he was ranked over 400th in the world. … And then he became a she. … And No. 1. Well … does it really take an Einstein to realize that there’s something wrong with that picture?”
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Sadie Schreiner puts a transgender flag in her hair before heading to the awards stand after finishing third in the finals of the 200-meter race at the 2024 NCAA Division III outdoor track and field championships at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium May 25, 2024, in Myrtle Beach, S.C.(Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Smith has previously spoken about his views on transgender athletes in girls and women’s sports, including during a February 2025 Radio Row interview ahead of that year’s Super Bowl.
“So, that’s how I look at it. LGBTQ rights and all that stuff, I’m in full support of that, but when transgender athletes — men — are transitioning to women and they’re competing in female sports, that’s a different animal to me,” he said.
“That’s not just about LGBTQ rights. That’s about preying on the rights of females out there everywhere who were born female, and they’re at a decided disadvantage.”
Those comments from Smith surfaced around the same time in 2025 when President Donald Trump signed the “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order, which directed federal agencies to interpret Title IX based on biological sex at birth.
The NCAA complied with Trump’s executive order and changed its policy.
Golf analyst Brandel Chamblee opened up about Tiger Woods’ future in golf after his arrest. The American golfer turned 50 in December 2025 and is now eligible to play on the Champions Tour.
He had been away from the greens for a while. Chamblee opened up about Woods’ future this week.
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“He’s done his work in the game of golf,” Chamblee said. “Nothing he’s going to do on the Champions Tour, with all due respect, to senior golf, we all love it, but it will add nothing really to his legacy.”
“And you know, it’s clear that since 2021 when he’s come back, he can’t play at a competitive level on the PGA Tour….His body just won’t let him do what his talents have previously let him do. That seems like the only circumstance that would alleviate this problem. Beyond that, you just hope that he gets the care and the help that he needs.”
Tiger Woods has not played in any tournament on the PGA Tour since his last outing at the Open Championship 2024. That season, he played in five events and withdrew from the Genesis Invitational. He missed the cut in three majors and settled in 60th place at the Masters.
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Tiger Woods opens up about plans to play at the Masters
Tiger Woods is expected to play at the Masters 2026. He played in the TGL final game on Tuesday, and at the event’s press conference, he talked about his plans to play in the major.
“As I said, I’ve been trying,” Woods said. “Just this body is — it doesn’t recover like it did when it was 24, 25. It doesn’t mean I’m not trying. I’ve been trying for a while. I’ve had a couple bad injuries here over the past years that I’ve had to fight through and it’s taken some time.
“But I keep trying. I want to play. I love the tournament. I’ve loved being there since I was 19 years old. It’s meant a lot to me and my family over the years. I’m going to be there either way with The Loop that’s going up there, as well as the Champions Dinner,” he added.
However, before he could make a comeback, the American golfer had an unfortunate accident. Tiger Woods crashed his car on Friday near his house in Jupiter Island, Florida. He was arrested for driving under the influence and also for property damage.
He was jailed for a few hours before being released on bail. Now it would be interesting to see how things unfold for the American golfer in the future. The 2026 Masters will start with its opening round on April 9 and conclude with its final round on April 12.
Shields and Thurman have history and it doesn’t appear to be a friendly relationship. Just two days before the fight, Thurman responded to Shields calling out Rolly Romero and saying that she can beat him. He called her “a female with an erection,” and cautioned her not to venture into fighting professional male boxers.
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What’s the History Between Shields and Thurman?
This isn’t their first dust up. Shields said she was “a better boxer” than Thurman back in 2024. The beef traces back to the morning of the Spence-Crawford fight, when Shields called Thurman out on social media and he responded on the red carpet.
Thurman has maintained that while he respects what Shields has accomplished in women’s boxing, the comparison between men’s and women’s competition isn’t realistic. Shields has never backed down from the claim.
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What Did Shields Say After the Fundora Fight?
On Saturday night, when Thurman was being beaten by Fundora, Shields didn’t hide that she was rooting for the Mexican champion to win. After the TKO came at the end of round six, Shields took to X to twist the knife.
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Fundora’s length and combination work overwhelmed Thurman from the opening bell. The stoppage was inevitable by the sixth round with Thurman’s face battered and bloodied.
Is Shields’ Criticism Fair?
Truthfully, the two fighters are in different worlds. We don’t have intergender professional boxing. However, Thurman, even through his inactivity has faced far stiffer competition than Shields — especially of late since she moved up to heavyweight where the pickings are slim for fighters on her level.
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That said, all is fair in war. When two people aren’t fond of one another, there’s liable to be fiery darts. Along with the punches from Fundora, Thurman ate more from Shields on Saturday.
Arsenal currently lead the way in the fight for the Premier League title with the chasing Manchester City their last true competition
Arsenal have just seven league games left this season as they remain frontrunners for the Premier League title. Manchester City are still in the fight but face a tougher run of games.
Both sides will do battle once again during the Premier League run-in, but one faces an easier path to glory. The Manchester Evening News evaluates which of Arsenal and City have been handed the more difficult final few fixtures.
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If we use the Fixture Difficulty Rating (FDR) which Fantasy Premier League players utilise, it is clear which of the two title contenders has an easier end to the season. This rating ranges from 1 to 5, with the higher number indicating a more difficult game.
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League leaders Arsenal host Bournemouth next and this clash holds an FDR of 3. Then, City away (5) is on the agenda. They then welcome Newcastle United (3) to the Emirates followed by another home match against Fulham (2).
The Gunners end their campaign with a trip to West Ham (2), a home fixture against Burnley (1) and a journey to Crystal Palace (3). City on the other hand, not only have an extra game to play but have been bestowed with tougher matches.
Guardiola’s men return from the international break to visit Chelsea (4) and then host Arsenal (4). They later travel to Burnley (2) and Everton (3).
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City will go on to host Brentford (3) before an away clash with Bournemouth (3) and a home battle with Aston Villa (3) and there is still the game against Palace (3) at the Etihad to be rearranged.
With City playing an extra match, we can look at the averages of these last fixtures and determine that they have a harder run-in. Arsenal’s average FDR is 2.7, while City’s is 3.1. Despite getting the better of their title rivals in the Carabao Cup, manager Guardiola does not think that trophy success will have any impact on the league scrap.
He said after victory at Wembley: “I would like to be nine points in front of Arsenal, but I don’t know if I’d change a trophy to fight for the Premier League.
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“I don’t think it will have an impact, different competition and they will be more concerned when they come to the Etihad. That title will help us a lot for the [FA Cup] quarter-final against Liverpool at home with our people.
“Today all our side was fully Blue, I’m so happy being together and celebrating. Maybe it will help us for that game but the Premier League is in their hands, they punished us a lot.”
England’s 2026 World Cup kits
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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL
A group supporting disabled football fans has been working to make matches more inclusive and accessible.
The Coventry City Disabled Supporters Association (DSA) partnered with the club three seasons ago, and since then a range of initiatives have been introduced, including audio‑description commentary for blind and partially sighted fans.
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“Our aim is to support more and more fans to access games and just be able to support their Sky Blues with everybody else,” chair Simone Seth told BBC CWR.
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The association also helps fans with transport to and from the stadium and supports those who find match days challenging due to sensory or cognitive needs.
Dave Shephard and Simone Seth say they want to improve the experience for disabled fans [BBC]
Committee member Dave Shephard shared how the club embraced his involvement in a “sensory room”, which he originally ran alone.
He said: “Our sensory room started off four years ago. I was doing it on my own, then I lost my sight a couple of years ago and the club were very receptive to me staying on.
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Most recently, the DSA launched sensory packs at the 21 March home game, designed to support neurodivergent children who may struggle with the intensity of match days. The kits include ear defenders, fidget toys, a stress ball and lanyards featuring emotional thermometers for non‑verbal children.
“I love it — I don’t get paid for it. I wanted to get involved with the DSA to try and make that experience better because we get a varied spectrum of kids and adults with disabilities coming in, and I want to give our families a much better experience,” Shephard aid.
The group started working with the club three seasons ago [Coventry City Disabled Supporters Association]
One family of four — all committed Sky Blues fans — turned to the DSA after feeling unable to attend matches because their daughter had special educational needs.
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Seth explained: “Through working with us, the family were able to access the sensory room. We were really pleased to hear that this season, because of the confidence and support they gained, they bought a season ticket — so all four of them are now able to come as a family and enjoy the football together.”
The association has also collaborated with the club to install a new wheelchair platform for away supporters, further strengthening accessibility across the stadium.
Floyd Mayweather has made a surprise claim regarding his planned rematch against Manny Pacquiao.
Mayweather and Pacquiao first met back in May 2015 after years of anticipation, and while it may have been a massive event commercially, the action failed to live up to the hype, as Mayweather claimed a unanimous decision win in an underwhelming battle.
Over a decade on, it was announced last month that they would collide for the second time in a professional contest at The Sphere in Las Vegas on September 19, with Mayweather set to end his retirement after hanging up his gloves back in 2017.
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The American has now cast doubt over those plans, after he revealed to Vegas Sports Today that the bout with Pacquiao will be an exhibition, and that the venue is yet to be confirmed.
“The Sphere is one of the places that they talked about, so we don’t know if it’s 100% going to be there. It’s not actually a fight, it’s an exhibition. We’re going to do it again and hopefully entertain the people.
“I got an exhibition with Mike Tyson also, another exhibition in Greece. If I’m just sitting at home and working out everyday and spending time with my grandson and children, I said why not go out, have a little fun, entertain and have some exhibitions.”
A bout against Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis in June was then set to be next for Mayweather, before the planned fight with Pacquiao, though the claim from the American that it won’t be a professional contest is certain to disappoint boxing fans.
NEW DELHI: Star batter Virat Kohli proved he’s still at the top of his game with a brilliant unbeaten 69 in IPL 2026, helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru chase down 202 against Sunrisers Hyderabad with ease. His performance impressed many, especially Ambati Rayudu, who believes Kohli is far from retiring and still has plenty of cricket left in him.Kohli looked in complete control during the chase, playing stylish shots including a lofted straight drive and his trademark flick for six. His innings led to strong reactions from former India batter Rayudu.
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Greenstone Lobo predicts IPL 2026 winner
“I don’t think he is anywhere close to the end of his career. I think he still has five or six quality years left in him and, as Sanjay (Bangar) and I were discussing earlier, he should make a comeback in Test cricket as well – hopefully as a captain,” Rayudu told ESPNCricinfo.“We are serious. He is the best red-ball captain I have seen in Indian cricket, and the way he is batting now, it is a loss for Indian cricket,” he added.Kohli retired from Test cricket in 2025.In the match, Hyderabad recovered from a poor start, thanks to Ishan Kishan’s quick 80 and support from Ankiet Verma, reaching 201/9.In reply, Kohli led the charge, supported by Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar. Bengaluru chased the target in just 15.4 overs, the fastest 200+ chase in IPL history.Kohli also achieved a major milestone, becoming the first player to score over 4000 IPL runs in chases and moving past Shoaib Malik in T20 run charts, capping off a memorable night.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) goes through pregame warmups, loosening his arm and scanning the field ahead of kickoff, preparing for action against the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 28, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images.
NFL free agency has ground to a halt, and the Minnesota Vikings were quiet before and after signing quarterback Kyler Murray. Next up is the draft in less than four weeks, so we take a look at the current state of affairs in the rumor mill.
Three Vikings rumors are floating again as April gets closer.
Sportsbooks expect the Vikings to win eight or nine games in 2026, a forecast that follows Minnesota pretty much every year.
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Sorting through Minnesota’s Newest Rumor Speculation
A glance at the Vikings’ current rumor mill, some 3.5 weeks before the draft.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) scans the field from the sideline during the fourth quarter, Dec. 11, 2025, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, against the Atlanta Falcons as the game winds down and tension builds in a tightly contested NFC South matchup late in the season. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.
Rumor: The Vikings could target Baker Mayfield in free agency next offseason.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic laid it out clearly, mapping why Baker Mayfield is positioned to push for an extension now while keeping his options open for 2027, when the market could expand. Minnesota showed up as a logical future landing spot in that framework.
He wrote, “Mayfield has a chance to be the first QB to exceed $50 million in free agency. Considering the likely competition for his services, it’s not farfetched to believe he could corral the biggest contract in NFL history. And if quarterback Matthew Stafford retires after the 2026 season, the Los Angeles Rams and Mayfield might feel compelled to reunite. The Minnesota Vikings would be another obvious fit, but there would be a handful of teams ready to pursue the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner.”
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“Mayfield should be very much aware of his potential market if the Bucs balk at the going rate. If he can’t reach a long-term deal this offseason, don’t be surprised if he adjusts his strategy to negotiate a clause that prevents the Bucs from using the franchise tag on him in 2027. It wouldn’t come with the desired raise, but it would get him to free agency next offseason.”
It all points to Mayfield holding the cards entering the final year of his deal. Tampa Bay has to account for that reality as extension talks heat up.
Of course, generally speaking, Mayfield landing in Minnesota is a long shot. The Vikings have Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy to choose from for the future.
Rumor: Fabian Moreau would be a free-agent fit for the Cowboys.
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Moreau landed on Pro Football Network‘s Tom Kennedy’s list of the NFL’s top remaining free agents — a level of recognition he rarely commands.
Kennedy noted, “Projected Contract: 2 years, $9.4 million AAV. In his last two years as a Viking, Fabian Moreau hasn’t started a game, serving in a heavily rotational role for Minnesota’s secondary. That said, he’s provided quality depth as an outside cornerback for their defense, allowing a passer rating of just 57.6 in 2025.”
“Moreau’s ball production doesn’t jump off the page because of his smaller sample size compared to other cornerbacks on this list. But he’s been quite efficient on the field, adding a No. 33-ranked 79.5 CBi score in 2025. He’s a high-level depth piece who could slide into a stopgap starting role if need be. Potential Landing Spots: Vikings, Cowboys.”
As of now, there’s been no real momentum or credible buzz connecting Moreau back to Minnesota after his 2024 and 2025 run under Kevin O’Connell.
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Minnesota Vikings defenders Fabian Moreau (23) and Kamu Grugier-Hill (54) celebrate a key fourth-quarter play, Dec. 16, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, against the Chicago Bears as the home crowd reacts and the defense delivers a momentum-shifting moment late in the divisional contest. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
In 2025, Moreau excelled as a CB3, earning a 70.9 PFF grade and holding opposing quarterbacks to a 47.4 passer rating on 19 targets. He solidified a position that had been uncertain in August, consistently executing his assignments with reliable play. Though his playing time was limited, he consistently performed well when on the field.
The performance adds value heading into 2026. At 31 years old, Moreau remains a dependable CB3 or CB4, whether in Minnesota or with another team. Kennedy says Dallas for Moreau.
Rumor: The Vikings should draft Ty Simpson, per former NFLer Chase Daniel.
Simpson to the Vikings should be in play, according to Daniel, a former Chicago Bears passer.
He said in a video on Twitter (X) late last week, “The second that Kyler signed with KOC, in my opinion, J.J.’s done there. They’re not giving J.J. a chance to win the QB1 job. It would surprise me, very much so. You don’t sign there to be a backup to J.J. McCarthy. I think J.J. McCarthy’s days with the Vikings are done.”
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“I do, and so that’s why I think you have to entertain drafting Ty Simpson. You’re not sure what Kyler’s going to do. It’s a one-year deal, $1.3 million. I just think if Ty can go to KOC, and there’s a lot of things that can happen, but with that offense, come on, man.”
Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) celebrates on the field following a College Football Playoff win, Dec. 19, 2025, at Gaylord Family–Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma, after defeating the Oklahoma Sooners as teammates gather and emotions rise during a defining postseason moment for the Crimson Tide. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Phipps-Imagn Images.
Most Vikings fans dismissed Daniels’s video — Minnesota has a full house at quarteback.
Daniel also doubled down, bizarrely linking Carson Wentz’s $3 million contract to McCarthy’s potential departure, a connection that seemed tenuous at best. Daniels has cultivated a social media reputation for making outlandish claims, and this latest assertion was no exception.
The error occurred during the network’s studio show ahead of its third-round coverage of the Texas Children’s Houston Open, which included mention of the Friday night incident in which Woods was arrested for DUI. Instead of visuals from that recent crash, NBC showed imagery from Woods’ high-profile Southern California accident in 2021.
Late in the broadcast, as the day’s final group was finishing the 14th hole, lead play-by-play announcer Dan Hicks stepped in to set the record straight.
“We want to take this time to make a correction,” Hicks said. “Before we came on the air today, our studio inadvertently showed the incorrect picture of the car crash Tiger Woods was in. It was another previous car crash. It was not the correct one — the latest one that was yesterday. We apologize for that and just want to straighten that out before we go any further.”
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The broadcast team had not addressed Woods’ latest incident at the top of Saturday’s coverage, but it did come up when lead analyst Kevin Kisner — who plays alongside Woods on his TGL team — offered a somber reaction to the news.
NBC booth addresses Tiger DUI arrest (though that was not specifically mentioned) at top of their broadcast.
Kevin Kisner: “Very disturbing. He was really working hard on his game, trying to practice and get back in shape. He signed up for the U.S. Senior Open yesterday. He was… pic.twitter.com/Gt3UZIZ5FR
“Very disturbing,” Kisner said. “He was really working hard on his game, trying to practice and get back in shape. He signed up for the U.S. Senior Open yesterday. He was trying to do anything he could to come back — try and help our TGL team, get ready, hopefully try to play the Masters. Just a really unfortunate incident.”
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The “one positive,” Kisner said, was that “nobody was injured in the incident and we can all move forward and hopefully help him get better.”
Woods was arrested just before 2 p.m. Friday on Jupiter Island after attempting to pass a work truck on a two-lane road near his home. His Range Rover clipped the back of the truck’s trailer and rolled onto its side. No one was injured in the incident. But Woods, who was able to escape the vehicle from the passenger side, was subsequently charged with DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test.
A week after Costello Van Steenis put on an impressive performance by dominating and then submitting Fabian Edwards in round three at PFL Madrid for his first title defense of his PFL Middleweight championship, Johnny Eblen and Impa Kasanganay put the champ on notice with impressive finishes of their own.
First up was Kasanganay, who found himself in a fire-fight against Pittsburgh’s own, Dalton Rosta, who was out to impress the hometown crowd with a show in the co-main event. And that’s just what he and Kasanganay gave them as the two engaged in an all-out brawl in round one which saw them stand in the center of the cage and swing for the fences. In the end, it was Kasanganay who connected the shot that sent Rosta crashing to the canvas only to eat a few more follow up shots.
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In the headlining bout, Eblen came out and simply suffocated and domianted Bryan Battle, who probably should not have been in there with “Pressure” in his PFL debut. Nevertheless, Eblen did what he had to do and bullied “The Butcher” for as long as the fight lasted, slamming him to the canvas repeatedly before securing an air-tight rear-naked choke that gave him the first-round win.
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Check out finishes below:
It seems logical now to book a rematch between Eblen and Kasanganay after their first fight back in 2024 resulted in a split-decision win for Kasanganay. Should that come to pass, a win for Eblen would give him the opportunity to possible rematch van Steenis, who defeated him in 2025 to win the inaugural PFL Middleweight strap. A win for Kasanganay would give him the opportunity to fight for his first ever official PFL world title.
Queensland Country Bank Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 4 NRL game between North Queensland Cowboys and
Melbourne Storm. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Melbourne Storm heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the North Queensland Cowboys vs.
Melbourne Storm
game and give you our free tips and bets.
North Queensland Cowboys vs Melbourne Storm Preview
South Sydney returns to Accor Stadium seeking a response after an uneven start to the season. While their attacking talent remains evident, lapses in defence have proven costly in recent weeks. Their opponents arrive with momentum, having produced a disciplined performance built on strong completions and defensive pressure. Historically, this fixture has delivered competitive contests, often decided in the closing stages. South Sydney’s spine will be central to their chances, needing to find greater cohesion to unlock opposition defences. With both teams capable of scoring quickly, this shapes as an open encounter where control and composure will be crucial.
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