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Former Vikings QB Lands Massive Payday

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Colts quarterback Daniel Jones throws a pass during the first half of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium.
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones delivers a pass from the pocket during the first half against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Oct. 19, 2025. The wide stadium view captures Jones surveying the field as the Colts offense settles into rhythm beneath the venue’s sweeping roof. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.

Last offseason, Daniel Jones had a choice: return to the Minnesota Vikings for a training camp battle with J.J. McCarthy or sign with the Indianapolis Colts, where he might more easily win a QB1 job. He made the right decision. Jones signed a meaty contract extension on Wednesday, locking him in as the Colts’ quarterback for the next two seasons at a price point of up to $50 million per year.

Indianapolis made its choice, and Minnesota’s quarterback picture may have shifted with it.

The Colts hinted in the last four months that they wanted Jones for the long haul, and they were not bluffing.

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Daniel Jones’s Deal Could Clarify the Vikings’ Next Move

Cross the Colts off the quarterback carousel list.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones takes the field before an NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams. former Vikings QB
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones runs onto the field before kickoff against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC Wild Card matchup at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., Jan. 13, 2025. Jones prepares for postseason action as Minnesota opens its playoff run against Los Angeles in the NFC’s opening round. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Jones Secures $50 Million Per Year in IND

Jones, indeed, got his bag after betting on himself. It’s a done deal.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted Wednesday, the third day of free agency, “The Colts and QB Daniel Jones are finalizing a two-year, $88 million deal that can be worth up to $100 million with incentives, sources tell me and Ian Rapoport. Originally on the transition tag, Indiana Jones gets over $60 million guaranteed on a deal done by AthletesFirst.”

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Bleacher Report‘s Andrew Peters added, “Per Spotrac, the Colts had $280.32 million counting toward the cap prior to the deal. That gave them $31.6 million in space to work with. Jones, who was released by the New York Giants during the 2024 campaign, signed with the Colts last offseason after spending the latter half of the previous season with the Minnesota Vikings.”

The Colts will now consider themselves contenders for at least the next two years.

The Updated QB Carousel

Another piece of the NFL offseason quarterback puzzle has snapped into place. Here’s a look at the landscape:

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Browns: TBD
Cardinals: Gardner Minshew
Colts: Daniel Jones
Dolphins: Malik Willis
Falcons: Tua Tagovailoa
Jets: Geno Smith
Raiders: 99.9% Fernando Mendoza
Steelers: TBD but Aaron Rodgers Expected
Vikings: TBD but Kyler Murray Expected

This leaves quarterbacks like free-agent-to-be Kirk Cousins and perhaps Mac Jones in San Francisco looking for QB1 jobs in a now-skimpy market.

Jones’ 2025 Performance

Even prior to the Achilles tear in December, Jones’ performance was trending downward, a fact largely unnoticed nationally, though efficiency metrics clearly indicate a drop-off.

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Daniel Jones’ NFL Ranking,
per EPA+CPOE,
in 2025:

Before Week 9: 4th
After Week 9: 28th

The first half of the season was a different story altogether. Throughout September and October, Jones led Indianapolis to an 8–2 start, fueling MVP consideration.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Oct. 19, 2025. Jones scans the field while setting up a throw as the Colts offense begins its early drives in the AFC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images. former Vikings QB
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., Oct. 19, 2025. Jones scans the field while setting up a throw as the Colts offense begins its early drives in the AFC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images.

Before the injury, Jones was on pace for the following season-end stats:

  • 4,055 Passing Yards
  • 31 Total TDs
  • 10 INTs
  • 68.0% Completion
  • 7th in EPA+CPOE Ranking

Fans even labeled him “Indiana Jones.” Then, in December, everything changed. Jones tore his Achilles, causing the Colts’ season to collapse, and Indianapolis struggled through the remaining weeks. In a desperate attempt to salvage the season, the front office even coaxed Philip Rivers out of retirement, but the move failed to revive the offense, and their playoff hopes vanished.

ESPN added context to Jones’s new contract Wednesday: “Jones, recovering from a torn Achilles, is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season and one source told Schefter he ‘absolutely’ expects him to be ready for training camp. The Colts had placed the rarely used transition tag on Jones before the March 3 deadline. That allowed the Colts to match any offer sheet he might have signed.”

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“If he had played on the tender, he would have been paid $37.833 million this season. That decision allowed top wide receiver Alec Pierce to test free agency, but the Colts were able to re-sign him to a four-year, $116 million contract at the start of the free agent negotiating period. They then traded wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to the Pittsburgh Steelers, saving $24 million against the salary cap.”

Path Cleared for Kyler Murray to MIN?

How do the Vikings factor into this development, aside from one of their own hitting it big? Well, the Colts were a theoretical landing spot for Murray, who is on the verge of a roster release by the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has visited the postseason just once in seven seasons with Murray at the helm, and a new coaching staff evidently wants a clean slate at quarterback.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray surveys the field during pregame warmups before a preseason game against the Chargers. former Vikings QB
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray looks across the field during pregame warmups at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., Aug. 8, 2019. Murray surveys the stadium atmosphere before Arizona’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers as the rookie quarterback prepares for early NFL action. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.

Murray should be officially a free agent soon, and any minute now, based on the above quarterback carousel, his choices appear to be down to the Vikings and Steelers.

As a kid, Murray cheered for the Vikings, and he has never been shy about announcing it. With Rodgers probably heading back to Pittsburgh — his longtime head coach, Mike McCarthy, is now in charge — Murray to Minnesota feels inevitable, especially with the Colts no longer seeking a QB1 alternative.

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Jones will turn 29 in May, and Indianapolis will hope his midseason decline in 2025, along with the busted Achilles, don’t matter.


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Mike Tyson’s verdict on Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2: “I hope he’s taking it seriously”

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Mike Tyson is expecting a good fight between 49-year-old Floyd Mayweather and 47-year-old Manny Pacquiao when they meet for a rematch this September.

The two fighting icons first fought in 2015, with Mayweather running out a unanimous points winner after twelve rounds of action that failed to deliver on incredible hype that had been built up for around six years.

Despite the general consensus that both men were significantly past their best, the event was a money-spinner and set various records in the sport that still remain intact today. The best chance of those records being broken may only be a return fight.

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That gives some insight into why Mayweather and Pacquiao have signed a deal with Netflix to face off once more, this time at The Sphere in Las Vegas – the futuristic venue’s first boxing event.

Speaking to FightHype, Tyson was excited at the prospect of the rematch, praising Pacquiao’s latest performance against Mario Barrios.

“I think that’ll be a good fight. I hope Manny’s serious. Manny looked good in his last fight he fought, too.”

Pacquiao fought to a draw with then WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in July last year. Mayweather, who retired in 2017, has only been active on the exhibition circuit – something he says he will continue twice this year before putting his famous 50-0 professional record on the line against his Filipino rival.

Many had assumed that scheduled exhibitions for both men – Tyson for Mayweather, Ruslan Provodnikov for Pacquiao – would be canned due to the magnitude of the rematch. Asked if his bout with Floyd would still go ahead, Tyson remained tight-lipped, dialling back on an interview earlier this week in which he said with certainty it was going ahead.

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“Hey, you never know. Anything’s possible … You know he’s crazy.”

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3 critical steps for a great downswing

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Learning how to sequence your downswing properly can be confusing, especially if you’re doing it on your own. The internet is flooded with swing tips, and for every great coach offering thoughtful guidance, there’s an armchair expert doling out bad advice to chase clicks, making it harder to tell what’s actually correct and what just sounds convincing.

That’s why it helps to listen to those who have spent a lifetime studying and mastering instruction. We turned to Brian Manzella, a GOLF Top 100 Teacher, to simplify the downswing and strip it down to the essentials. 

Instead of a dozen swing thoughts, Manzella says you need to remember just three key moves. Follow along with his three-step approach to dial in your sequence and start striping your shots in time for golf season.

1. Drop from the top

Brian Manzella step 1 downswing

There’s a common mistake amateurs make at the top of their backswing that can ruin your sequence before it even starts: spinning or turning your body to lower the club down. As Manzella explains, keeping the club in the same position and turning your body toward the target never works out well.

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Instead, he says, something has to lower the club down to set you up for a successful following sequence. You just need to learn how to do that properly.

“The drop of your arms down to a normal hitting position — arms relative to the torso — early in the downswing is your first step,” Manzella says.

According to Manzella, before you practice dropping the club down, you first need to ensure that your lead arm is higher than it is across your chest. Meaning the club isn’t starting from a position that is too far inside, or behind you. Once you’re in the proper position at the top of your swing, let your arms fall straight down until your hands reach about hip height.

2. Twist or tumble to turn the clubface

Brian Manzella Step 2 Downswing

“Your second step is, depending on the golfer, you’re either going to have to apply some twist pretty soon after this drop occurs,” he says, “or you may drop it so much that you have to apply another move, the tumble.”

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Manzella explains that this “twist” move helps players turn their clubface toward the ball, which helps them square up the face as they enter impact. The ‘tumble,’ on the other hand, is a slightly more pronounced action where the club travels slightly more out and forward to get the face turning toward the ball.

The twist, it seems, is ideal for players who keep their club on plane during their initial drop in the downswing sequence, while the tumble is optimal for players who get slightly more laid off during their first step in the downswing.

If you tumble the club, Manzella says to remember one key thing: avoid dropping the club too far under plane. This can make it difficult to consistently turn the clubface toward the ball, and lead to poor face control and inconsistent contact.

3. Throw it into impact

Brian Manzella Step 3 Downswing

The final step in Manzella’s three-step approach to the downswing is throwing the club into impact, and it might be the easiest of all. The secret to a successful throwing motion? Clubface control. 

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As Manzella explains, when you’re throwing the club into the ball, you need to line it up for the shot you’re trying to hit. That means avoiding any twisting or turning of the hands as you deliver the clubhead into the back of the ball. 

If you can control your face as you throw the club, you’ll nail this move and catch it clean every time.

While these three pieces work in tandem as a synchronized chain, Manzella encourages players to work on them both individually and together. Do that, he says, and you’ll have the club in position to hit textbook shots every time.

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The Compression Ball: Golf Impact & Swing Training Aid

The Compression Ball: Golf Impact & Swing Training Aid

The Compression Ball
The New Golf Swing Ball Training Aid to Build a Consistent, Connected Motion and Improve Ball Striking
Stop the guesswork and start building a powerful, repeatable golf swing. Introducing The Compression Ball, the premier golf impact ball training aid designed to master the most crucial element of a great swing: connection. If you’re tired of inconsistency, this golf swing trainer is your key to synchronizing your arms and body for more accurate strikes and better performance.
This impact ball golf trainer is more than just a piece of foam; it’s a comprehensive system for developing muscle memory. Whether you’re a beginner struggling with a “flying elbow” or an experienced player refining your sequence, this is one of the top golf training aids for immediate, tangible feedback.
 
Why The Compression Ball is a Must-Have Piece of Golf Training Equipment:

MASTER YOUR CONNECTION: As a leading golf impact ball, its primary function is to keep your arms and body working as one. Place the soft foam ball between your forearms to eliminate separation in your backswing and downswing, leading to dramatically improved ball striking.

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INNOVATIVE LANYARD SYSTEM: What truly sets this impact ball training aid apart is its adjustable, removable lanyard. When you lose connection during a drill, the ball doesn’t fall to the ground. No more chasing your aid—just uninterrupted, efficient practice.

PREMIUM ADAPTIVE FOAM: Made from ultra-soft, durable memory foam that comfortably molds between your arms. We selected the best foam for this training aid—it’s soft enough to prevent tension but firm enough to provide clear feedback on your arm structure.

VERSATILE SWING TRAINER: This is the perfect swing trainer golf aid for a wide range of practice. Use it for chipping, pitching, half-swings, and full-swing practice. It’s lightweight and perfect for the range, home, or as part of your pre-round warm-up.

Benefits –
✅ Build a Tour-Level Swing: Promotes ideal arm structure and body synchronization.
✅ Improve Timing & Tempo: Encourages a smooth, one-piece takeaway and transition.
✅ Develop Lasting Muscle Memory: Ingrains the feeling of a connected, efficient swing.
✅ Instant, Honest Feedback: Immediately signals when your arms and body are out of sync.
✅ For Golfers of All Levels: Simple enough for juniors, effective enough for scratch players.
✅ Practice Anywhere: Its durable, lightweight design is ideal for indoor or outdoor use.
 
Simple & Effective Golf Impact Ball Drills:
Getting started with your new golf swing ball training aid is easy:

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Placement: Place The Compression Ball between your forearms, just below the elbows. Apply light pressure to hold it in place.

Chipping Drill: Start with small chip shots. Focus on keeping the ball between your arms from start to finish, rotating your chest to control the swing. This will eliminate wristy, inconsistent chips.

Half-Swing Drill: Progress to 9-o’clock to 3-o’clock swings. If the ball drops, you know you’ve lost connection. This drill is key for improving your swing path and impact position.

Full-Swing Integration: Once comfortable, take smooth full swings. The goal isn’t to hit at 100% power, but to maintain connection throughout the entire motion.

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Connection is the secret that separates good golfers from great ones. Stop searching for complex solutions and get back to the fundamentals. With The Compression Ball, you have the simple, effective golf swing training aid you need to build a swing you can trust.
Order the Compression Ball and feel the difference a connected swing makes!

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ACC basketball tournament 2026: Bracket, schedule and scores

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ACC Tournament action ramps up Wednesday with four games, including the postseason debuts for five teams. No. 7 seed NC State will look to stop its late-season slide against No. 15 seed Pitt in the day’s opening game. Then, No. 6 seed Louisville will take on No. 11 seed SMU in a high-octane offensive matchup to cap the early session. 

The Cardinals will be without star freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr., who has been dealing with a back injury and is seeking to get healthy for the NCAA Tournament.

No. 8 seed Florida State will play No. 9 seed Cal to open the evening window as the Seminoles look to stay hot against a Cal team fighting for NCAA Tournament consideration. Finally, No. 5 seed Clemson will take on No. 13 seed Wake Forest as the Tigers look to stabilize following some struggles late in the regular season.

ACC Tournament play began with a thriller on Tuesday as No. 15 seed Pitt upset No. 10 seed Stanford 64-63 to potentially ruin the Cardinal’s at-large aspirations for the NCAA Tournament. Damarco Minor played the role of hero for the Panthers by rebounding his own miss and scoring a go-ahead put-back in the final second.

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In other action, No. 11 SMU stayed on the path toward at-large consideration with a desperately needed 86-69 win over No. 14 seed Syracuse. The Mustangs had dropped four straight entering the contest, jeopardizing their NCAA Tournament hopes. The nightcap between No. 12 seed Virginia Tech and No. 13 seed Wake Forest made for a thrilling end to the first day of action, as the Demon Deacons outlasted the Hokies 95-89 in overtime.

More conference tournament scores, brackets: Big Ten | Big 12 | Big East | SEC

2026 ACC Tournament bracket, schedule

Location: Spectrum Center — Charlotte, North Carolina
Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)  | Follow live: CBS Sports App  

All times Eastern; some start times approximated

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Second round — Wednesday, March 11
Game 4: No. 7 seed NC State 98, vs. No. 15 Pitt 88 | Recap
Game 5: No. 6 seed Louisville 62, No. 11 seed SMU 58 | Recap
Game 6: No. 8 seed Florida State vs. No. 9 seed California | 7 p.m. on ESPNU
Game 7: No. 5 seed Clemson vs. No. 13 seed Wake Forest | 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2

Quarterfinals — Thursday, March 12
Game 8: No. 2 seed Virginia vs. No. 7 seed NC State | Noon on ESPN2
Game 9: No. 3 seed Miami vs. No. 6 seed Louisville | 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2
Game 10: No. 1 seed Duke vs. Game 6 Winner | 7 p.m. on ESPN
Game 11: No. 4 seed North Carolina vs. Game 7 Winner | 9:30 p.m. on ESPN

Semifinals — Friday, March 13
Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 9 winner  | 7 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN2
Game 13: Game 10 winner vs. Game 11 winner  | 9:30 p.m. on ESPN/ESPN2

ACC Tournament Championship Game — Saturday, March 14
Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 13 winner | 8:30 p.m. on ESPN

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2026 ACC Tournament scores, results

First round — Tuesday, March 10
Game 1: No. 15 Pitt 64, No. 10 Stanford 63 | Recap
Game 2: No. 11 seed SMU 86, No. 14 seed Syracuse 69 | Recap
Game 3: No. 13 seed Wake Forest 95, No. 12 seed Virginia Tech 89 (OT) | Recap

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Iran women’s team lands in Malaysia amid asylum talks

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Members of the Iranian women’s national football team landed in Malaysia on Wednesday after their Asian Cup elimination and are awaiting a flight home as Iran‘s airspace remains closed amid US and Israeli strikes.

They were received in Kuala Lumpur by Iran’s ambassador to Malaysia, Valiollah Mohammadi, and are staying in a hotel while travel plans are finalized.

Anthem protest and asylum offer

Six players and one staff member remain in Australia after accepting humanitarian visas offered by the Australian government. Another player initially accepted Australia’s asylum offer but changed her mind at the last minute.

The team was offered asylum after some players remained silent during the Iranian national anthem before their opening match — a gesture that led Iranian state television to call them “wartime traitors.”

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Fearing possible persecution if they returned home, the Australian government offered the squad humanitarian visas.

Some members, officials told the Associated Press, were not granted visas — reportedly because of ties to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

After the opening game, the players sang the anthem in subsequent matches but have not publicly explained their actions or shared their views.

Iran's players salute during the national anthem before the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 football match between Iran and Philippines in Gold Coast on March 8, 2026
The Iranian women’s team was in Australia for a match against the PhilippinesImage: Str/AFP

‘Come home’ — Iran’s foreign minister

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, has called the team to “come home.”

“Don’t worry — Iran awaits you with open arms,” Baqaei wrote on X.

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Meanwhile, Iran’s governing football body says Australia held the players as “hostages” and coerced them to abandon their country.

Rights groups have long accused Iranian authorities of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives or seizing property if they defect or speak out against the Islamic Republic.

Team members who chose to stay in Australia, Burke said, would not face a legal battle for permanent residency and would receive health, housing and other support in the country.

Edited by: Richard Connor, Alex Berry

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Brave and determined Kitzbuhel lands G1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

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Kitzbuhel (11/1) was bravery personified as he led from the start to land the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

Ridden by Harry Cobden, the six-year-old French-bred grey gave his trainer Willie Mullins a 1-2 as the Paul Townend-ridden Final Demand (7/2) was runner-up three-quarters-of-a-length behind the winner.

Salver (25/1), with Caoilin Quinn in the saddle, was third for handler Gary Moore, two-and-a-quarter lengths behind Final Demand.

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Kitzbuhel, owned by Corkman Joe Donnelly, provided Willie Mullins with a Grade 1 double on the day.

It was an eighth Cheltenham Festival win for the Donnellys, a seventh for jockey Harry Cobden and a 117th success for trainer Willie Mullins.

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Final Orders gives Cromwell successive Cross Country wins

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Final Orders gave Gavin Cromwell successive wins in the Glenfarclas Cross County Chase on Wednesday.

The County Meath-based hander, who won the race with Stumptown last season, saw Conor Stone-Walsh and Final Orders defeat the race favourite Favori De Champdou (2/1) by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

Winning rider Conor Stone-Walsh said of his first Cheltenham Festival win:

“It’s a bit surreal at the minute – I think it will take a while to sink in! I had no real plan, just get a good start and go wherever he was happy, but I was conscious that I wanted to cover the least ground as possible, so I let him rock down to the Canal Turn, and he jumped that well and ended up on the inside, and I was happy where I was and he was taking me everywhere. He jumped from fence to fence and he kept going the whole way.”

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The runner-up, ridden by Jack Kennedy, had 18 lengths to spare over the third-placed finisher, Vanillier – also from the Cromwell yard. The 13/2 chance was ridden by Seán Flanagan.

Final Orders, who has taken well to the cross-country discipline, won over course and distance last December when landing the Crystal Cup.

Today’s victory is a first Cheltenham Festival success for County Wexford-born jockey Conor Stone-Walsh.


LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

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Shai matches Wilt’s 126-Game scoring Record

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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has matched one of the most remarkable scoring records in NBA history, tying the mark set by Wilt Chamberlain by scoring 20 or more points in 126 consecutive games.

The milestone came during the Oklahoma City Thunder victory over the Denver Nuggets, where Gilgeous-Alexander finished with 35 points and hit a decisive three-pointer with 2.7 seconds remaining to secure a 129–126 win.

The reigning MVP reached the historic mark with a three-pointer late in the third quarter, pushing his total beyond 20 points for the night and tying Chamberlain’s legendary streak.

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Chamberlain originally set the record between 1961 and 1963, when he scored at least 20 points in 126 straight games while playing for the Philadelphia Warriors.

Despite the milestone, Gilgeous-Alexander kept the focus on the team’s success.

“It’s still a lot to even wrap my head around it,” he said. “I try not to think about it during the season. So much is going on and so many things have to go right.”

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The Thunder currently hold the best record in the league, and Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistency has been a major factor. During the streak, he has recorded five games with at least 50 points, including a career-high 55-point performance earlier this season.

He now has the chance to break Chamberlain’s record in the Thunder’s next game against the Boston Celtics, which would give him sole possession of one of the NBA’s most iconic scoring achievements.

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Iran signals 2026 World Cup boycott after US strikes

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Iran’s sports minister said Wednesday that Iran would not take part in the 2026 World Cup, citing airstrikes carried out in the country by the tournament co-host, the US, alongside Israel.

“Since this corrupt government assassinated our leader, we have no conditions under which we can participate in the World Cup,” the minister, Ahmad Donyamali, said on state television.

“Our children are not safe,” he added.

Federation chief floats boycott, cites Australia precedent

It is not yet clear whether the decision is final. But Mehdi Taj, the president of the Iranian Football Federation, has raised the prospect of a boycott.

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“What reasonable person would send their national team to the US if the World Cup is going to be as political as it was in Australia?” he told the Isna news agency.

He pointed to the Asian Cup in Australia, where five players from Iran’s women’s football team were granted asylum after refusing to sing the national anthem before their first match, fearing persecution if they returned home.

FIFA’s president, Gianni Infantino, said on Instagram that US President Donald Trump told him during a meeting on Tuesday that Iran’s team “is, of course, welcome to compete in the tournament in the United States” despite the war.

Trump had previously said “I really don’t care” whether Iran participates in the World Cup or not.

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The Iran team huddles during the FIFA football friendly international soccer match against the Uzbekistan national team in November, 2025
Iran’s team is scheduled to play across US cities starting June 15Image: Sebastian Frej/IMAGO

Iran scheduled for matches in US cities

Iran is among the 48 nations qualified for this year’s World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Iran, who dominated the Asian qualifying rounds, was the only nation missing from the FIFA planning summit held last week in Atlanta, US.

The team is scheduled to play on June 15 against New Zealand, then face Belgium and Egypt later in the five-week tournament. All three matches are set to take place in US cities.

According to FIFA rules, any team that withdraws from the tournament “no later than 30 days before the first match” will be fined at least 250,000 Swiss francs ($320,800, €277,049).

Sanctions may also include expelling the federation from future FIFA competitions and replacing the team with another country.

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Edited by: Alex Berry

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Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal live: Champions League final score and result from last-16 tie tonight

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FULL-TIME! Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal

The referee blows the final whistle and it’s level at half-time of this tie!

Not a vintage Arsenal performance but they have the result to take back to London, while Leverkusen put in a spirited display and may well feel hard done by to not come out with a win.

Chris Wilson11 March 2026 19:39

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Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal

It’s a good delivery…but there’s some holding and an Arsenal player is penalised.

Chris Wilson11 March 2026 19:38

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A late corner for Arsenal. Can they steal the win from right under the noses of the hosts?

Chris Wilson11 March 2026 19:36

Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal

A well-taken penalty from Havertz and Arsenal are right back in it. At this stage, you feel like they might just settle for the result.

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We’re into the first of three minutes of added time.

Chris Wilson11 March 2026 19:34

GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal

Havertz steps up against his old club – he’s calm and collected as he slides it right into the corner past Blaswich!

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(REUTERS)

Chris Wilson11 March 2026 19:33

PENALTY! Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal

It’s given! Perhaps a little soft but Tillman definitely catches Madueke and once it’s given, those can’t be reversed.

Havertz will step up to take it!

Chris Wilson11 March 2026 19:31

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Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal

PENALTY! Finally something a little more direct from Arsenal, and they have a penalty for it!

Madueke skips in between the two defenders and he bursts into the box, and he’s clipped by Tillman!

It’ll go to a VAR check but the on-field call was a penalty.

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Chris Wilson11 March 2026 19:30

Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal

CLOSE! Arsenal go up the other end and Martinelli hangs up another good cross. Timber is there to meet it just a few yards out but he can only direct his header over the bar!

Chris Wilson11 March 2026 19:28

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Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal

Another free-kick in a dangerous area for Leverkusen. Can they make something of another set-piece?

Garcia’s ball in looks like a tempting one but it has a little too much on it and nobody is there at the back post.

Chris Wilson11 March 2026 19:27

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Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal

Changes for both sides as Gabriel Jesus replaces Eze for Arsenal.

Leverkusen take off Terrier and Palacios for Fernandez and Hofmann.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Chris Wilson11 March 2026 19:26

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Canelo offered immediate title fight by new world champion: “I’ll show I’m better”

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Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is gearing up for fight number 69 after suffering just the third defeat of his career last year.

The Mexican icon was relieved of his undisputed super-middleweight world championship by Terence Crawford last year, his first loss at 168lbs and third overall after coming up short against Floyd Mayweather in 2013 and Dmitry Bivol in 2022.

With Crawford’s retirement taking a rematch off the table for Canelo, he has announced his return on a September card in Saudi Arabia, a fight that boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh says will come with a world title.

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In an interview with Bowks talking Bouts, Christian Mbilli – who was elevated from interim to full champion when Crawford was stripped of the belt – made it clear he wants to be the man in the opposite corner.

“For me, my goal right now is to fight Canelo because I was [the] long time number one WBC challenger. Number one challenger, number one on WBC for Canelo. Now I have to show that I am the number one of the division.”

Mbilli fought on the Canelo–Crawford undercard, drawing with Crawford stablemate Lester Martinez to retain the belt. The Cameroon-born Frenchman said, in the same interview, that he intends to rematch Martinez down the line.

The fight with Alvarez has little to no obstacles and plenty of weight behind it: Turki Alalshikh, Canelo’s good standing with the WBC and his number one ranking, and it being undoubtedly the most lucrative option for Mbilli. If the Mexican wants to test himself, the opportunity is there.

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