Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City thrashed Liverpool 4-0 in their FA Cup quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland opened the scoring from the penalty spot late in the first half. He added a second goal before the break, while Antoine Semenyo made it three shortly after half-time. Haaland completed his hat-trick before the hour mark to seal a dominant win for the Premier League champions.
Mohamed Salah, playing his first match since announcing he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, had a penalty saved by James Trafford when his team were already four goals down. It was a difficult afternoon for manager Arne Slot and his players.
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The first goal came after Virgil van Dijk fouled Nico O’Reilly in the box, allowing Haaland to score from the spot. Haaland’s second goal came in stoppage time of the first half.
Rayan Cherki played an important role in the attack, setting up chances as City continued to dominate. Semenyo added another goal early in the second half to complete Liverpool’s misery.
Haaland was named Player of the Match after an outstanding performance.
Scottie Scheffler stared at the ball as it rose through the Texas sky. The World No. 1 was coming off back-to-back birdies and had a green-light wedge from 105 yards. He was on the hunt, trying to run down Si Woo Kim and hold off Wyndham Clark to defend his title at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. Everyone thought Scheffler, who started the final round two shots back, would eventually overtake Kim and claim the trophy. That’s what killers do. Surely, he’d stick this wedge shot tight for a third straight birdie and be off to the races.
The ball came down at the flag, but this time the golf gods had a different plan. It hit the stick and ricocheted back down the green, leaving Scheffler a 55-foot putt for birdie. He made par and eventually finished in third place, five shots back of Clark, who shot a final-round 11-under 60 to win.
“When you’re winning tournaments, those are the ones that sometimes go in,” Scheffler said, laughing, after his round. “When you’re not winning tournaments, those are the ones that hit the pin and kind of go 50, 60 feet away.”
And so Scottie Scheffler’s strange year of near-misses continued at a course he tore apart last season en route to a runaway win.
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Scheffler has now finished in the top three six times this season. He won in his season debut at the American Express, but the floodgates have not opened as expected. Scheffler has still lived atop the leaderboard, but has constantly found himself grasping for a trophy yet unable to grip it.
Back in February at Pebble Beach, Rory McIlroy referred to Scheffler as “relentless.” Nothing seemed to faze the World No. 1. Not a bad round, bad shot, nor a bad break. He just kept coming. That week, Scheffler stumbled out of the gates in Round 1 but went on a Sunday charge that came up just short as he finished in a tie for fourth.
“One of my skills, and I feel I’ve been able to be on a lot of leaderboards recently, is getting in the round when I haven’t had my best stuff,” Scheffler said that week at Pebble Beach. “I think these are some of the weeks when you look back, I’m very proud of sticking with it, not giving up even when I felt like things were going against me this week. Just kept fighting, kept trying to hit shots, kept trying to execute.”
A lull by Scheffler’s standards followed as he finished T12 at the Genesis and T24 at the Arnold Palmer in his next two starts. At the Players Championship, Scheffler was asked about how he manages expectations. Ever since he broke through in 2022, Scottie Scheffler has won a lot and won everywhere. That level of dominance leads to everything being viewed through a binary lens: win or lose. Scheffler bristled at the idea that he had not been playing up to expectations. Expectations can be an anchor, especially if they are outsized. But Scottie Scheffler explained that he views everything through his ability to control his game and his preparation. The results will come if that foundation is sturdy.
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“I think that’s kind of a funny question, because if you flipped my season around, what did I finish last week? Like 24th or something — 24th and 12th, and like 3rd and 4th, and a win. Would your question be the same if I was coming from 3rd, 4th, win?” Scheffler said at TPC Sawgrass. “So that’s my point. It’s like your expectations of me are living week by week. My expectations of myself are almost shot-by-shot.
“When it comes to my golf game and my expectations of myself, my expectations all are based around what I want for me mentally on the golf course as being committed to what I can do, and controlling that aspect.”
He struggled that week. The driver was bad, and his normally pristine iron game was only just really good.
Next came the Masters and a flurry of near-misses that have come to define a weird season for the world’s best player.
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At Augusta National, Scheffler played near-flawless golf in brutal conditions in Round 1. He stumbled on an easier setup in the second round, leaving him 11 shots back of Rory McIlroy entering the weekend. Then, Scheffler played 36 holes of bogey-free golf and came up one shot short of McIlroy. On the 17th hole on Sunday, Scheffler’s birdie putt was tracking toward the hole but bobbled left at the last second, leading to a par and a second-place finish.
After the round, Scheffler bemoaned Augusta National’s decision to soften the setup on Friday and then praised McIlroy while noting that a few shots over the course of 72 holes were the difference. The margins are razor-thin, and sometimes one swing is the difference between winning and losing.
“I’ve competed against him for a long time, and you don’t win the amount of tournaments that he’s won out here without being pretty resilient,” Scheffler said of McIlroy. “I knew going into today I was going to have to do something special if I wanted to catch him on Cam [Young] and I was close but just a few shots here or there.”
Rory McIlroy beat Scottie Scheffler. But Scheffler also gave him an opening.
Scheffler entered the weekend seven shots behind Matt Fitzpatrick, but made a weekend charge and tied the Englishman on the final hole to send the tournament to a playoff. Then, Fitzpatrick hit a piercing 4 iron through the wind to 13 feet and made the birdie putt to win and hand Scheffler another runner-up finish.
“On Sunday, it’s a shot here or there that makes a difference,” Scheffler said as Fitzpatrick celebrated. “This was one of those weeks where anytime Fitzy needed something to happen, he made something happen. He definitely earned the win, and he just played great golf.”
A few weeks later, at the Cadillac Championship, Scheffler got off to a ho-hum start while Cameron Young fired an opening-round 64 to best him by seven shots. Scheffler matched him over the next 54 holes but had to settle for a second-place finish as Young walked to a six-shot win at Doral.
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“This week he hit a lot of quality shots,” Scheffler said of Young that week. “A lot of quality iron shots, quality tee shots, especially on the holes where it really matters. There are some tee shots out here that are really difficult and he stepped up and hit the shots. On the greens, he was unbelievable this week. First 27 holes, I don’t think he missed anything really. It was nuts. Guy was just holing everything. When you’re hitting really good shots and holing a lot of putts, that’s a recipe to run away with a golf tournament.”
Scottie Scheffler has been playing really good golf. If you look at his stats compared to last season, when he won seven times, Scheffler has been just a tick worse. Last season, Scheffler ranked first in total Strokes Gained (2.743), was second in Strokes Gained: Off The Tee (0.748), first in approach (1.291) and 22nd in putting (0.382). This season, Scheffler has been a little better on the greens (0.506) but has seen his iron play drop from otherworldly to just good (0.521 Strokes Gained: Approach). Scheffler’s total Strokes Gained is down to 2.221 this season. That still leads the PGA Tour, but the dip in iron play is just enough to make him beatable when other world-class players bring their A-game.
“If you looked statistically, I’m probably not much different than I have been the past couple of years, just a few shots here and there,” Scheffler said Sunday after losing to Clark. “A couple things go my way in some tournaments. This season looks a bit differently, but like you said, I’ve been playing some solid golf. Just keep putting myself in position, and things will turn my way.”
Golf is a fickle game that’s won and lost on the finest margins. Tiger Woods once went two years and four months without a win. Jack Nicklaus also went 24 months without a victory. Rory McIlroy went 18 months without hoisting a trophy.
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Scheffler’s last win came three months ago.
He’s still the best player in the world. That his near-misses are even a topic of conversation speaks to the expectations of greatness. Such is the price of world-beating talent. Scottie Scheffler’s golf has been a touch below the standard he set last year, leading to him constantly finishing on the other side of golf’s fine line. One bad swing or bad round has opened the door for McIlroy, Fitzpatrick, Young and, on Sunday, Clark to play their best and beat him.
As he left TPC Craig Ranch on Sunday, Scheffler sounded like a broken record discussing another near-miss that very well could’ve had a different ending had he just been a little sharper and not run into another outstanding performance.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to tip your cap and say good playing, and 60 was going to be pretty tough to beat today,” Scheffler said. “Overall, I’m proud of this week for myself, but I wish I could have gotten a few more shots out of it. Overall, Wyndham played great golf.”
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Then Scottie Scheffler departed his hometown tournament, hoping that his next start, the Memorial, will have a different ending.
Rajasthan Royals are set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator match of IPL 2026 on Wednesday in Mullanpur. Riyan Parag and Co sealed their Playoffs berth with a convincing 30-run victory over Mumbai Indians in their final league-stage match. Batting first, RR posted 205/8 in 20 overs and later restricted MI to 175/9. With this result, Punjab Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders were knocked out of the Playoffs race. Ahead of the Eliminator clash, the RR squad departed from Mumbai and arrived in Mullanpur.
At the airport, RR’s young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shared a light-hearted moment with skipper Riyan Parag. At just 15, Sooryavanshi has taken the cricketing world by storm with his power-packed performances and has quickly become a favourite among the paparazzi, who are eager to capture the Bihar-based batter on camera.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, photographers were seen requesting Parag to pose with Sooryavanshi. However, the RR captain declined, saying, “We aren’t film stars,” before walking away. Reacting to his captain’s remark, Sooryavanshi gave a puzzled look but continued posing for pictures.
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Look at Vaibhav Suryavanshi‘s reaction when the paparazzis said to Riyan Parag, “Riyan, Vaibhav ke saath ek photo please,” and Riyan replied, “Hum koi film star nahi hain.” After hearing this, Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s smile disappeared.
There is no denying that Sooryavanshi has enjoyed strong backing from Parag within the RR setup. Following the departure of former head coach Rahul Dravid, Parag has stood firmly in support of the teenager.
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Meanwhile, the win over MI confirmed RR’s place as the fourth and final team in the IPL 2026 Playoffs.
“Obviously it’s good when things go to plan. I know we’ve won the game, we’ve qualified, but a lot of areas that we can do better. Wanted the set batter to play a little longer (the move to have Jofra at 7, Jaddu at 9). We needed runs. It’s a wicket where you can’t have two players batting in the middle and going at a run a ball. Wanted one guy to take the initiative, take the risk. And the other guy could stay a little bit longer. And Jadeja is as reliable as always. I knew back-end he would get us at least 20 off 10 which he did,” said Parag after win against MI.
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Tushar Deshpande’s Brilliant Final Act Ensures Thrilling Win For RR Over Gujarat Titans
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass against the Chicago Bears during the third quarter on Dec. 20, 2015 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Bridgewater helped power Minnesota to a 38-17 divisional victory as the Vikings strengthened their playoff positioning late in the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Last summer, controversy swirled when it was revealed that former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, in his role as a Florida high school football coach, paid for his team’s meals and transportation. Evidently strictly forbidden, Bridgewater eventually left his job and returned to the NFL. He was also suspended. Fast forward to May 2026, and Florida lawmakers changed the rules.
Bridgewater’s generosity became a fight over rules, but Florida lawmakers ultimately sided with common sense.
The Bridgewater Act now allows exactly what the man provided: aid.
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The Bridgewater Act Flips Last Summer’s Controversy
They got this one right.
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater (5) and Taylor Heinicke (6) react following minicamp practice on Jun. 15, 2016 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bridgewater continued leading Minnesota’s offense entering the 2016 campaign while Heinicke worked to develop as a young backup quarterback during organized team activities at Vikings headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
The Bridgewater Act Goes into Law
It’s done. Associated Pressreported Saturday: “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the ‘Teddy Bridgewater Act’ into law Friday, meaning high school coaches in the state will now be able to use their own money to help their players with expenses such as food, transportation, physical therapy and rehabilitation services.”
“The Bridgewater Act is named for the Florida native and longtime NFL quarterback who coached his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High, to a state championship in 2024. But he was suspended for the 2025 season after revealing that he personally paid for meals, ride-share services and treatments for some players.”
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Bridgewater was totally miffed by the outrage last summer.
“There will be strict rules regarding how — and how much — coaches can spend. It would apply to a team’s head coach only, cannot be used in recruiting, must be reported in full to a state agency and is capped at $15,000 per team per year,” AP added.
FL Governor on the Law
Bridgewater had Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on his side, paving the way for change.
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DeSantis said before signing the bill into law, “He got into this situation where he was paying for meals and rides for some of his players who were underprivileged and he was using his personal funds to do this. These were people that he was mentoring and that somehow got him suspended because of the way the rules were written.”
“Look, there’s some possible downsides if you don’t have a structure like we have. But I also think the previous rules didn’t allow for the upside for a coach that really wants to make a difference in folks’ lives.”
NFL fans and Florida residents largely sided with Bridgewater’s cause last summer, embracing the Robin Hood feel of his deeds. In that vein, it wasn’t difficult to see his intent.
A Bizarre Grievance
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Bridgewater personally funded Uber rides, meals, clothing, and strength-and-conditioning support. When the story broke in July, many people simply shrugged. A wealthy former NFL quarterback using his own money to help high school players didn’t strike most as a major scandal.
The FHSAA, however, viewed the situation differently.
From their perspective, Bridgewater’s generosity provided certain athletes an unfair advantage. Since other high school players lacked access to similar resources, this, by their rules, rendered the entire arrangement illegal.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) reacts during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 10, 2015 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Bridgewater battled throughout a tightly contested road matchup before Arizona secured a 23-20 victory over Minnesota in prime-time action. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The public’s reaction was far simpler: “Who cares?”
Bridgewater wasn’t accused of exploiting children, steering them toward agents, or running a clandestine recruiting operation. The sole complaint was that he had simply provided too much assistance. Most people found this perfectly acceptable; “He’s not hurting anyone,” was the obvious response, and it’s difficult to argue otherwise.
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Bridgewater, 10 months ago, said about the allegations: “I’m protective, and I’m a father first before anything. And when I decided to coach, those players became my sons. And I wanted to make sure that I just protected them in the best way that I can.”
“I think that’s what came about. Miami Northwestern in a tough neighborhood and sometimes things can happen when the kids are walking home and things like that. So I was just trying to protect them and give them a ride home instead of having to take those dangerous walks.”
Bridgewater Back with Lions
Meanwhile, Bridgewater has not returned to high school football — the FHSAA suspended him — and is now the Detroit Lions’ backup quarterback. He’d be the first line of defense if something happened to Jared Goff.
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Detroit Lions quarterback Teddy Bridgewater waves to fans during pregame warmups before facing the Denver Broncos on Dec. 16, 2023 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. The veteran quarterback spent the 2023 season with Detroit, providing experienced depth and leadership for the Lions during their playoff push. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
Bridgewater played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2025.
It’s unclear if Bridgewater will return to coaching when he formally retires (again) from the NFL. He did, though, effectuate change.
Bridgewater will turn 34 in November and was the Vikings’ main ray of hope at quarterback in 2014 and 2015. The Vikings and Lions will lock horns for the first time in 2026 on November 1st.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Dec 21, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman (33) is introduced prior to a game against the Buffalo Bills at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings’ defense was the backbone of the team, keeping the 2025 Vikings competitive while the offense struggled all season. There have been some changes to the unit this offseason, and there could be room for one more move. Here are three Vikings trade candidates to boost the defense ahead of the 2026 season.
Defensive Depth Could Become Minnesota’s Trade Focus
I recently wrote about Pro Football Focus’s selection of Blake Cashman as a potential trade candidate. The three players named here appear in the same article and are players the Vikings should be interested in if they want to improve their team.
Minnesota isn’t blessed with a ton of salary cap space, but that can be worked around if you want it to. If the Vikings really want to be competitive in a tough division, here are three defensive players who can make a difference.
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Ronnie Hickman (S), Cleveland Browns
Oct 19, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) celebrates after intercepting a pass during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Safety was one of the big areas of concern in Minnesota coming into the offseason, and there hasn’t been much done to alleviate those concerns other than drafting Jakobe Thomas in the third round of this year’s draft. Adding a player like Cleveland’s Ronnie Hickman would give the team a solid starter who thrives on coverage, and at a good age to be a long-term solution. Here is what PFF says about Hickman and his trade potential.
Although the Browns were widely lauded for assembling one of the league’s best draft classes, their rookie crop might have ripple effects on someone like Hickman.
The 24-year-old has been sneakily good since being an undrafted free agent out of Ohio State, producing at least a 70.6 overall PFF grade in every year. In 2025 specifically, Hickman thrived in coverage with a 75.3 PFF coverage mark — the 10th-best among qualified safeties — while averaging a sound 29.0 snaps per reception.
After Cleveland drafted Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in the second round, it suggests that either Hickman or Grant Delpit isn’t in the team’s long-term future. Both are on expiring contracts, although Hickman seems like the better trade piece given his superior production and younger age.
Jeremy Chinn (S), Las Vegas Raiders
Oct 1, 2023; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers safety Jeremy Chinn (21) reacts after a sack in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Chinn is the more veteran option at safety with six seasons accrued in the league. He would be a solid option and would improve the Vikings’ safety unit, but he’s not the coverage guy I believe the team needs. Here is what PFF says about his availability.
Chinn enjoyed a resurgent season with the Raiders, but his future with the team might be in doubt.
The former second-round pick played to a 67.7 overall PFF grade in his first campaign in Las Vegas, his best since 2021. Chinn’s 69.5 PFF run-defense grade placed in the 67th percentile at the position, and he missed a modest 9.9% of his tackle attempts.
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The Raiders made a splash when they selected versatile Arizona defensive back Treydan Stukes with the 38th overall pick. While Stukes may play all over the secondary, he figures to be more of a traditional safety considering the team also acquired slot corner Taron Johnson. As a result, organizations could call about Chinn with just one year left on his contract.
Jer’Zhan Newton (DT), Washington Commanders
Dec 22, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton (95) jumps into the stands to celebrates with fans after the Washington Commanders beat the Philadelphia Eagles at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Minnesota bolstered its interior defensive line in this year’s draft, selecting both Caleb Banks (first round) and Domonique Orange (third round). So did Washington, and that could leave former second-round pick Jer’Zhan Newton available. Newton has struggled in run defense, but he has proven he can be an effective pass rusher, and at the right price, Brian Flores could make good use of him as a pass rush specialist. Here is PFF’s lowdown on Newton.
The Commanders relentlessly fortified their ailing defense this offseason, including along the defensive line. However, that negatively affects someone like Newton.
The 36th overall pick in 2024 hasn’t blossomed as Washington would’ve hoped, notching a career 50.0 overall PFF grade with a 38.6 PFF run-defense grade. Yet what has been encouraging is Newton’s pass-rushing, as his 9.3% pass-rush win rate placed in the 63rd percentile last year.
The Commanders inked former Texans interior defender Tim Settle to a three-year, $25.5 million contract during free agency, which only pushes Newton down the depth chart. The 23-year-old former Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year could garner attention for teams looking to bet on his upside.
Of these three options, Hickman would be the top prize and the player I’d most like to see the Vikings pursue. However, Newton would also be an intriguing option. It remains to be seen if Minnesota has any desire to be in the trade market.
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Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.
The on-field controversy between Virat Kohli and Travis Head is taking new turns with each passing day. What began as a banter during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad quickly escalated after Kohli refused to shake hands with Head following the game. The situation worsened when several fans dragged Head’s wife, Jessica, into the controversy, subjecting her to online trolling. In a bizarre twist, American rapper Travis Scott also found himself caught in the middle of the storm, as some Kohli fans mistakenly identified him as Travis Head.
Taking to Instagram, several users flooded Scott’s pictures with hateful comments, confusing him with the Australian cricketer. The posts soon went viral, once again highlighting the darker side of fan behaviour.
Earlier on Monday, Jessica Head spoke about her ordeal, revealing how she was targeted by fans over her husband’s on-field altercation with Kohli.
This is not the first instance of players’ families facing the brunt of on-field incidents. During the 2023 ODI World Cup final between India and Australia, Travis Head’s stunning catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma had triggered a similar wave of online abuse directed at Jessica. The aftermath of the recent Kohli-Head clash in IPL 2026 has proven to be no different for her.
“It feels like a repeat of the abuse that happened after the World Cup. I woke up to my socials blasting… we are fine but they are attacking my friends and family,” Jessica said while speaking to Australian media outlet The Advertiser.
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“I think across all sports at the moment there’s an important conversation around mental health, perspective and the way we speak to one another. Passion will always be part of sport, but so is remembering there are real people and families behind the game. Hopefully this encourages more kindness and support for one another,” she added.
Bengaluru and Hyderabad could clash again in IPL 2026 season as both have qualified for the playoffs.
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Gaël Monfils played the final match of his career at Roland Garros. He lost in five sets to Hugo Gaston (6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0).
Spain has announced World Cup squad, which includes no Real Madrid players. Bruno Génésio is leaving LOSC. In Italy, AC Milan is undergoing a major shake-up following its disastrous end to the season.
The second-ranked Texas Longhorns softball team clinched the Austin Super Regional and earned a trip Women’s College World Series, with a 5-0 win over Arizona State on Sunday. But the victory was overshadowed by an explicit hot mic moment.
ESPN microphones picked up an unidentified person whispering obscene remarks after Texas pitcher Teagan Kavan got ahead 1-0 against the opposing batter.
A male voice was then heard over the microphone directing listeners — and likely viewers — to lick a specific part of his anatomy, video showed.
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The remark, however, did not seem to distract play-by-play announcer Kevin Brown, who continued the broadcast without acknowledging it.
A general view of Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin, Texas, before the SEC college softball game between Texas Longhorns and Tennessee Volunteers on April 12, 2025.(David Buono/Icon Sportswire)
“You’re going to compete for national championships as an assistant, and then they’re going to send you off,” Brown said while discussing Arizona State manager Megan Bartlett’s track record of developing assistants.
Sunday’s moment was just one of several surprising developments leading up to the tournament.
An Arizona State Sun Devils softball helmet is shown during a college softball game between the CSUN Matadors and Arizona State Sun Devils at Alberta B. Farrington Softball Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., on Feb. 10, 2019.(Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire)
A celebration involving former NBA star Jason Williams and his daughter, Mia, led to Williams’ ejection during Texas Tech’s game against Florida over the weekend.
Mia hit a two-run homer to help push the Red Raider past the Gators, her former team, last Friday.
NCAA signage is displayed before the Division II women’s softball championship game between the UT Tyler Patriots and Western Washington Vikings at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, Fla., on May 25, 2024.(Tyler Schank/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Captain Dean Henderson has challenged Crystal Palace to “finish the movie off” when their Conference League final brings down the curtain on Oliver Glasner’s glittering spell in south London.
The Austrian manager has already guided the Eagles to an historic FA Cup and a Community Shield, and on Wednesday night in Leipzig could leave Palace with the ultimate parting gift, should they beat Rayo Vallecano and require even more room in their trophy cabinet.
Henderson inherited the armband following Marc Guehi’s January departure to Manchester City, and, despite admitting to feeling “depressed” during the post-FA Cup comedown, wants nothing more than to polish off a “sensational” script for his departing boss.
The Conference League final is Oliver Glasner’s last match in charge of Palace (John Walton/PA) (PA Wire)
“The togetherness in this group is phenomenal,” said the England goalkeeper. “All the lads are pushing in the right direction for each other. All the staff at the training ground, everyone.
“It’s just like a family club. We’re all pushing towards the same end goal. Obviously, it would be a great way to finish the movie off for Glasner as well. Everyone wants that happy ending and everyone’s working towards that.
“It’d be unbelievable for him, wouldn’t it? Obviously the best manager this club’s ever had and to finish on such a high would be sensational.”
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Henderson was instrumental in Palace’s 2025 FA Cup triumph over Manchester City, saving Omar Marmoush’s first-half penalty in their 1-0 win at Wembley, where they secured their first major silverware and a proper European campaign.
The passionate and popular skipper is candid about how he felt after that day, admitting: “The high to the low. I remember after the FA Cup final, three days after, I didn’t want to get out of bed. I was like, ‘what has gone on here?’
“I swear. I don’t know whether that was alcohol, or… but I actually think it was like, I felt depressed. It was mad. But I don’t know why. I’ve never really spoken about it.”
Henderson admitted Wednesday’s European final has been playing on his mind during the final stages of the campaign.
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“Naturally, you’re thinking about it,” he said. “Even for the last couple of weeks, you’re probably thinking, ‘let’s try and win the final’. It’s natural. No one speaks about it. No one speaks about it to each other. It’s just about your individual battles, isn’t it?”
While it remains uncertain who will follow in Glasner’s indelible footprints, when the credits finally roll on Palace’s topsy-turvy campaign, Henderson and his fellow Premier League protagonists want to be holding a trophy.”
He added: “When the tournament’s got real, we’ve turned up haven’t we? We’ve delivered some great performances and some good results, obviously, since we got out of the group stage.
“So, yeah, as I say, we’re looking forward to it. We won’t freeze. We’ll play with no fear and we’ll have confidence.”
MONTREAL — Two nights after becoming just the second team in NHL history to have as few as 12 shots in a Stanley Cup Playoff game that extended beyond regulation time, the Montreal Canadiens generated just 13 and ended up with the same result.
It was a 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, who hadn’t beaten them all season before responding to Montreal’s Game 1 win with a 3-2 overtime win on Saturday.
In both games, the Canadiens were one shot away from winning. In both games, they couldn’t find a way to have that shot hit the net, let alone put it in, hence their first consecutive losses in 71 days.
The Canadiens had chances. Heck, they had three of them in overtime before Andrei Svechnikov launched the point shot that tipped off Juraj Slafkovsky 74:04 into the game.
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But Nick Suzuki missed the net on a breakaway 35 seconds into the extra period. Mike Matheson shot his into the crossbar 25 seconds later. And Alex Newhook’s shot through a screen hit Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen’s toe and didn’t originally count as a shot on net until it was reviewed and added long after Svechnikov ended the game.
Lane Hutson, who got caught between two decisions and made the wrong one on that play, blamed himself twice for the loss, which was sealed shortly after his turnover near his own blue line.
But the Canadiens had a chance to recover from Hutson’s gaffe and didn’t. And their own mismanagement of the puck near the offensive blue line was the biggest reason they found themselves in overtime to begin with.
“I think we’re missing too many chances to get in on the forecheck and go get the puck back,” said Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis. “They’re a team that is hard to put good pucks in on because they’re really on top of you. But you have to find a way. I found that, at the blue line, we didn’t read situations well enough. We should’ve put more pucks deep and gotten in on the forecheck, and there’s a balance between possessing on the other side of the blue line and getting it past them and going to get it.”
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The Canadiens never quite found that balance, with SportLogiq tracking their zone-entry success rate at just 40 per cent.
When the Canadiens got in, St. Louis said he felt they made better plays in possession than they did in Game 2.
But they didn’t make enough of them.
“We can still do a better job of holding onto pucks in the offensive zone,” said Mike Matheson, “and generating more time in the O-zone.”
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The task has felt monumental over the last two games.
The Hurricanes, who were disconnected and gave the Canadiens far too much space in a 6-2 Game 1 loss, have rebounded with the same pristine execution that netted them eight consecutive wins before the Eastern Conference Final. They smothered the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers, and now they’ve spent the better part of two games suffocating the Canadiens.
“They’ve been on top of the league for the last couple of years and you know there’s a reason why they’ve consistently been in this position (The Hurricanes are in their third conference final since 2023),” said Cole Caufield. “You can ask every team; they’re a tough team to play and they’ve been doing it for a while. So, I guess they’re all really on the same page and we’ve just got to find ways to break them down.”
On this night, the Canadiens broke themselves down too much.
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Giving up 38 shots to the volume-shooting Hurricanes was one thing. Giving them 11 from nine feet or less was a recipe to lose by more than one goal, which assuredly would’ve happened had Jakub Dobes not conjured miraculous saves.
He made two on Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven in succession before Svechnikov shot one off Slafkovsky as the Slovak was passing right through his Czech netminder’s crease.
“(Dobes has) been great all playoffs. Not surprised,” said Hutson. “He battled so hard. It sucks that I blew it for him, but it is what it is.”
Taking the blame was a noble gesture from the 22-year-old, but, as St. Louis said afterwards, the outcome of this game wasn’t on him.
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“I didn’t love the play (from Hutson), but whatever,” said St. Louis. “It’s what’s next, and we didn’t do what’s next. We didn’t get the job done.”
He was talking about the winning goal, but he just as easily could’ve been referring to the decisions that led to the Canadiens getting less than 23 minutes of offensive-zone time to take some pressure off themselves and apply it on the Hurricanes.
It’s a Herculean lift against a team that has fired on all cylinders for all but one game of these playoffs.
And while the Hurricanes were undoubtedly rusty after an 11-day break between the second round and the third before playing that one game, the Canadiens showed in that one game to what extent they can make that heavy lift.
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They pushed in spurts of Games 2 and 3 but wobbled too much to win, even if they were one shot away in each game.
“We definitely have another level,” said Hutson.
He and Matheson, who each scored Monday, need to find it. As do the rest of their teammates come Wednesday’s Game 4, which will present the Canadiens a chance to even the series 2-2 and improve their playoff home record to 3-5.
It will take everyone playing their best, and much more.
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“You need everything working against a team like that,” said St. Louis. “You’re at this stage right now, you’ve got to put it all together. Execution’s part of that. Jam is part of that. It’s not one thing. We’ve just got to put it all together.
“I know we can. We didn’t expect this to be easy, and we’re OK with that.”
Pacer Yash Dayal has finally opened up on missing the ongoing season of the IPL for the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, saying that he is still part of the squad despite his absence this year. Before the start of the season, RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobat revealed that Dayal would not feature for the Bengaluru side this year due to a “personal situation.” However, the 28-year-old has differed from the explanation given by Bobat regarding his absence from the team this season.
Speaking on the Talk with Manvendra podcast, Dayal revealed that he misses the team and insisted that opting out of the ongoing season was not his decision.
“Obviously, if you are sitting outside. When I watch them on television, sometimes I just get up. But then it is my team, and they haven’t removed me. They kept me on the retain list and didn’t get me a replacement. They probably think that I am an important part. The other thing is that my opting out of this season wasn’t my personal decision. The statement could be controversial, but the decision is always made by the authority. I don’t know what was the reason was behind RCB’s decision. I miss them a lot. I don’t know if the team misses me, the fans will say that,” said Dayal.
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Dayal added that he remains in regular contact with the RCB management, including team mentor Dinesh Karthik, despite his absence from the field this season.
“I have been in conversations with the management. I have spoken to the director, and with the coach too, and also Dinesh Karthik. We communicate in intervals, and the connection hasn’t broken. There is no communication gap. Everything is clear and sorted,” he added.
For context, Dayal’s absence is linked to ongoing legal proceedings that have prevented him from returning to competitive cricket.
The pacer faces allegations of sexual exploitation in one matter, alongside a separate case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
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The first FIR against 27-year-old Dayal, who plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL, was registered on July 6 at the Indirapuram police station in Ghaziabad district under Section 69 (Sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means etc.) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Dayal has been accused of sexually exploiting a woman on the pretext of marriage.
Regarding the second instance, NDTV accessed the FIR report, which was registered against Dayal at Jaipur’s Sanganer Police Station for allegedly raping a girl over a period of two years while emotionally blackmailing her. It was revealed that Dayal lured her with promises of a cricketing career and invited her to a hotel in Sitapura, where the first sexual assault took place. The girl was only 17 when the abuse began, prompting the police to register the case under the POCSO Act.
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