Rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s new home have fans impatient as the Bucks keep their dealings under wraps with only hours to go before the deadline.
On Thursday, the Bucks’ X account posted a single emoji on their timeline, a yawning emoji. The cryptic message may be a hint at Antetokounmpo’s decision to stay wiith the Bucks, who are valued at $4.3 billion by Forbes.
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The trade deadline closes at 3:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, and it appears Milwaukee has convinced the two-time MVP to stay with them for another ride. ESPN’s Shams Charania backed the speculation about Antetokounmpo staying in Milwaukee a few hours before the deadline.
“The Milwaukee Bucks believe they can build a contender around Giannis Antetokounmpo this Summer and get him on board with remaining with the team long term,” Charania said on NBA Today on Thursday.
However, Charania revealed that Antetokounmpo was convinced that he needs to leave to expand his legacy, which forced the Bucks to listen to offers. However, Milwaukee believes that they can build a roster good enough around their superstar to compete for another championship.
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The Bucks (20-29) are not good enough to compete for a championship this season. They are 12th in the Eastern Conference standings.
Giannis Antetokounmpo reaffirms his belief in the Milwaukee Bucks
Reports in the last few weeks have suggested that Giannis Antetokounmpo has lost confidence in the Bucks and wants to move to a new team. While they may be right about the two-time MVP’s aspirations, they forgot to cover the love he has for the city that drafted him.
On Wednesday, Eric Nehm of “The Athletic” published an article featuring an interview with the Bucks star, in which he expressed his desire to play for the Bucks forever.
“Brother, if you ask me deep down what I want today, I want to be a Milwaukee Buck for the rest of my career,” Antetokounmpo said. “I want to win here, another championship.”
“Let’s put the Bucks on the side for one second. Let’s talk about the city itself, the memories that I’ve created here. When you open my kids’ passports, it says Milwaukee, Wisconsin.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the best players in the world when he is healthy and in his groove. The Bucks superstar has proved in 2021 that he can lead a franchise to a championship if he has the right pieces to support him.
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The Bucks now have a last chance to show their superstar that they can help him get another championship. Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game on 64.5% shooting.
While the Major League Baseball season is only just underway, some clear storylines are forming for the year.
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For the New York Yankees, the biggest storyline is the breakout of Ben Rice. He was already great last season, but he’s taking his play to a new level in 2026.
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Amid such a breakout, MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch is calling for Yankees fans to believe this breakout is for real, and that Rice is a future All-Star, and a lefty-hitting counterpart to Aaron Judge on the right side of the plate.
Yankees fans should believe in Ben Rice’s breakout
“Yankees: Ben Rice is a future All-Star,” Hoch writes. “The next step in Rice’s development will come with increased opportunities against left-handed pitching.”
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Rice had a .255 batting average and an .836 OPS across 138 games last season. It was a great year, but there was room for improvement.
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And he’s shown exactly that so far in 2026. While it’s only been 20 games, with limited playing time against lefty pitching, Rice has dominated this season.
He is currently hitting .339 with a ridiculous 1.242 OPS to begin the season. While not a super-long sample-size, Rice’s production has been extensive enough to believe in.
He already has seven homers and 17 RBIs with six doubles this season, and could be headed towards an elite season for the Yankees.
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But, there is one issue: his chances against left-handed pitching. Aaron Boone has held Rice back from getting reps against lefties, and while those chances are sure to come at some point, Yankees fans are running out of patience.
Rice, the 27-year-old slugger, looks to be a future All-Star even if he’s not playing every game as a starter. He’s one of the best hitters in baseball this season, and his breakout is one Yankees fans should believe in. Rice is actually this good.
Ben Shelton connects with the ball during his second-round match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., Friday, March 6, 2026.
Ben Shelton rolled to his second title of the year, winning the BMW Open with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Italy’s Flavio Cobolli at Munich, Germany.
Shelton won 85% of his first-serve points on the clay surface and saved all six break points he faced to win his fifth career title and first since Dallas earlier this year. Shelton showed his form early when he broke Cobolli’s serve twice in the first three games of the match.
With the second set tied 5-5, Shelton broke Cobolli again and won on serve on his first match point. Shelton became the first American man since 2009 to win three ATP 500 titles.
“I have big ambitions for the clay courts,” Shelton said in his post-match interview. “It is a surface I want to get better on each year. It is slowly becoming one of my favorite surfaces to play on.”
Barcelona Open
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Arthur Fils of France held off a late charge from Russia’s Andrey Rublev to record a 6-2, 7-6 (2) victory in the final of the tournament.
Fils won his first title since returning in February after missing eight months because of a back injury.
Fils was well on his way to victory after cruising in the first set and leading 5-2 in the second before Rublev dug in his heels. Rublev broke Fils’ serve to pull within 5-4 in the second set, then staved off one match point to make it 5-5.
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Rublev broke serve again to lead 6-5 in the second set before Fils finally regained control and finished off the match in a tiebreak.
“The end of the second set was just about the mental (pressure),” Fils said. “The whole match was a bit tough because I was a bit tight. I played well for a set and a half, but when I had to close, I started to think a little. But I’m very happy with the way I played the tiebreak.”
Manchester City were the better team against Arsenal but still had to work to make that count on the scoresheet
18:44, 19 Apr 2026
Arsenal are desperately trying to end the Manchester City era of dominance in the Premier League. In the biggest game of the season, even an error wasn’t enough for them.
There was an irony given all the conversation around Kepa Arrizabalaga and goalkeeping No.2s after the Carabao Cup final, but also a pattern for City’s season. All the forward steps they have taken towards the top of the Premier League table have not been enough for them to actually reach the summit before they have suffered another setback: nearly but not quite.
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When Rayan Cherki danced his way through the Arsenal defence to score the opening goal of the game, it looked like City were once again the unstoppable force in April that barge all title contenders to one side. Then the Donnarumma error came seconds later and the whole stadium went into shock, Guardiola running back towards his seat in the dugout with his hands on his head to get a second look at the horror that had unfolded.
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Arsenal, whose inclusion of Martin Odegaard in the XI was a surprise boost for them, were more aggressive and more attacking than their performances in recent weeks have been. In a first half littered with errors, City had the better of it but Arsenal were hardly spectators.
Then, as the game opened up and stretched in the second half, the visitors sensed their opportunity. Donnarumma saved well from Havertz, then moments later Eberechi Eze’s shot hit the inside of the left-hand post and spun past the other one and away from danger.
As the game ticked past an hour enter Donnarumma again, this time starting an attack with a positive throw forward for Nico O’Reilly. City’s matchwinner from the cup final sprung forward, exchanged passed with Jeremy Doku and then put the ball across the box where Erling Haaland held off Gabriel and lashed it into the bottom corner.
The Norwegian should have scored before then, but he was also putting in a monstrous shift against Gabriel and the Arsenal backline that referee Anthony Taylor was happy to let go unchecked. It wasn’t the worst strategy, although how Gabriel escaped a red card for throwing his head forward to Haaland’s was beyond anyone in the stadium with sense.
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Haaland, like O’Reilly and Donnarumma, had his moment and made it count and a terrific rearguard effort kept out Arsenal for the rest of the game and seven long added minutes. Bernardo Silva and Rodri are unrivalled in these big games and Silva was straight to Donnarumma at full-time before celebrating with the South Stand in his first game since announcing he is leaving.
This afternoon was the high point for this new team as they overcame the pressure and the setbacks in the game, building on their Carabao Cup win to produce an even bigger victory. And in claiming a huge three points, they give more hope to the idea that their climax this season may come with more silverware.
Despite rumblings that the future of LIV Golf is in limbo due to funding and other issues, the company says the Indianapolis tournament scheduled for August at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield is “full steam ahead.”
Reports that LIV executives held an emergency meeting in New York earlier were inaccurate, LIV said in an e-mail to IndyStar.
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Officials from the breakaway tour – a competitor to the PGA Tour, featuring players such as Bryson DeChambeau, John Rahm and Phil Mickelson – were summoned to an emergency meeting in New York, according to a report in The Telegraph, it was reported Wednesday. The meeting came amid speculation fueled by social media Tuesday night that the circuit could be on the verge of shutting down operations.
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Jon Rahm celebrates his season-long individual championship title Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, during day three of LIV Golf Indianapolis at The Club at Chatham Hills in Westfield.
A day later, LIV Golf executives and players were in Mexico City for a four-day tournament that ends Sunday. CEO Scott O’Neil spoke on Thursday about the financial speculation on the league.
“This notion of secret meetings and, you know, getting summoned to New York. I live in New York, so it’s easy to summon myself there,” O’Neil told LIV Golf commentator Arlo White. “But it’s a lot of reaching and grabbing for headlines.”
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O’Neil went on to say, “For us, we’re business as usual, but if you want to ask me if this business is tough, I would say absolutely. If you ask me if we were managed very tightly, I would say absolutely. Can this be challenging? Absolutely. And that’s what we signed up for. … we signed up for this adventure and it is the ride of a lifetime. Or should I say round of a lifetime.”
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O’Neil addressed the LIV Golf media reports, saying “we’re kind of used to it” as a new league battling the PGA Tour, but that this week it was amplified.
“You know, having been in private equity now for over a dozen years, this is the process you go through. And sometimes it’s not smooth and sometimes it’s not easy,” he said. “But I can tell you, given the momentum of this business, we’re really excited about where we are and the position where we are.”
In its email to IndyStar, LIV provided financial details of the league:
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From 2024–25, LIV Golf grew more than 100% in revenue. In 2026, ticket sales are up 130 percent year over year
LIV sold more than 115,000 tickets for Adelaide and more than 100,000 in South Africa. Sponsorships are up 40 percent year-over-year, according to LIV
Through five events, the league is pacing $100 million ahead of last year’s revenue, the league reported
Tickets for LIV Golf Indianapolis 2026 are available at LIVGolf.com/schedule/indianapolis-2026, including three-day grounds passes and Club 54 Hospitality Tickets.
Liverpool Transfer Update: Paul Joyce Confirms Interest in Yan Diomande
Liverpool are advancing plans for a significant attacking reshuffle this summer, with Paul Joyce reporting that the club are actively assessing options to reinforce their forward line. The development follows confirmation that Mohamed Salah will depart at the end of the season, leaving a sizeable gap in both goals and leadership.
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Under the guidance of Arne Slot, Liverpool are preparing for a new era after securing the Premier League title in the 2024/25 campaign. Replacing Salah remains a complex task, yet recruitment work has intensified in recent weeks as the club seek to maintain their competitive edge.
Yan Diomande emerges as key target
One name gaining prominence is Yan Diomande, a highly rated 19 year old currently on the radar of several elite clubs. According to Paul Joyce, Liverpool have included Diomande on a shortlist of attacking reinforcements, with internal discussions progressing.
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Diomande’s versatility stands out, he is comfortable operating on either flank and offers a two footed attacking threat. His profile aligns with Liverpool’s evolving recruitment strategy, focusing on young, high ceiling talent capable of immediate impact and long term development.
Photo: IMAGO
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RB Leipzig are expected to demand a fee in the region of £85 million, a figure that reflects both the player’s potential and the growing competition for his signature. Liverpool’s interest has been longstanding, with sources indicating they are among the most advanced English clubs in the pursuit.
Recruitment strategy shaped by injuries
Liverpool’s transfer approach has also been influenced by the injury to Hugo Ekitike, who is set for an extended spell on the sidelines. As a result, the club are now targeting two attacking additions rather than one.
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Alternative options under consideration include Anthony Gordon, Iliman Ndiaye and Harry Wilson, each offering different qualities across the frontline. However, Diomande remains a priority target as Liverpool weigh up their next move.
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Reports suggest that initial contact has already been made with Diomande’s representatives, signalling intent from Liverpool as they look to position themselves strongly in negotiations.
Wider transfer plans for Liverpool
Beyond attacking reinforcements, Liverpool are expected to address other areas of the squad. Midfield remains under review, with links involving Eduardo Camavinga and Alexis Mac Allister continuing to surface.
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Defensively, Liverpool are monitoring centre back options, including Nico Schlotterbeck and Maxence Lacroix. With younger players being integrated, the need for experience at the back has been identified as a priority.
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Interest in Diomande also faces competition from Manchester United and Arsenal, adding further complexity to the situation. The player is understood to be willing to delay a final decision until after the World Cup, which could extend negotiations into later stages of the window.
Liverpool’s recruitment drive is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in Europe, with Paul Joyce highlighting Yan Diomande as a central figure in their summer plans.
Manchester City player ratings for their Premier League game with Arsenal that saw Pep Guardiola’s side win 2-1
18:27, 19 Apr 2026Updated 18:30, 19 Apr 2026
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Manchester City gained a crucial victory in the Premier League title race with a 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad. The Blues beat the league leaders in a pulsating afternoon that saw both sides try to land the decisive blow.
Rayan Cherki danced through the Arsenal defence to give City an early lead in a goal that the hosts hoped would open the floodgates. However, Gianluigi Donnarumma was caught in possession seconds later to gift Arsenal an equaliser.
City huffed and puffed but could not find another way through until the 65th minute when Nico O’Reilly’s cross found Erling Haaland in what proved to be the winning goal. Here are the player ratings from the Manchester Evening News for the City players.
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Donnarumma: A horrible error that could have cost City dearly, but he recovered, made some good saves and played a part in the winner. 6
Nunes: Was targeted aerially and had some nervy moments but also did well for Cherki’s goal and kept pushing up. 7
Khusanov: A monster at the back, mopping up everything that came in his and working well with Rodri and Guehi. 8
Guehi: Nearly played City into trouble in the second half and also earned a booking, but he got plenty right. 7
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O’Reilly: One of the best players in the league in this form and he was decisive again when the team needed it. 9
Silva: Absolutely everywhere again, stopping dangerous Arsenal attacks and popping up in their box to help the City attack. 8
Rodri: Essential to protecting the defence and also launched some wonderful crossfield balls to start City attacks. 8
Semenyo: Got into lots of dangerous positions but it wasn’t his afternoon with that final ball or shot never paying off. 6
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Cherki: What a goal to open the scoring, showing how he can balance his art with clinical play. Arsenal were never comfortable with him. 8
Doku: Got City out of trouble several times and also played them into it. His partnership with O’Reilly is really strong. 7
Haaland: He should have scored more than one but when you see the effort he put in against the defence in addition to the winning goal it is an excellent display. 8
Substitutes
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Foden (for Cherki, 85)
Semenyo (for Doku, 87)
Gonzalez (for Rodri, 87)
Ake (for Semenyo 90)
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Not used: Trafford, Stones, Ait-Nouri, Gonzalez, Reijnders, Savinho, Marmoush
Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (22) lines up during action against the Wyoming Cowboys, with Dec 30, 2023 marking the Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. McNeil-Warren contributed in the secondary during the postseason matchup between Toledo and Wyoming. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
You are not far away from learning who the Minnesota Vikings draft in Round 1 this offseason. The club has the 18th pick and will render a verdict on Thursday night. So to make sure you’re prepared, it’s time to peek at the leading contenders to turn purple that night.
Seven names. One pick. Thursday is here.
Ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = Vikings’ most likely draft pick), here’s the list.
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The Prospects Most Firmly in Play for Minnesota at No. 18
The long offseason journey is close to a grand reveal.
Tennessee defensive back Colton Hood (8) walks with teammates during the Vol Walk before Tennessee’s home opener against ETSU, Sept 6, 2025, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee, moving through a crowd of fans as part of the pregame tradition that builds energy ahead of kickoff in the Volunteers’ early-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
7. Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
Turning 21 this year, Hood could be the answer to Minnesota’s decade-long search for a successful rookie cornerback drafted to effectively fill the position. Ranked No. 35 on the Consensus Big Board, Hood aligns with the Vikings’ history of drafting in this range, as seen with Donovan Jackson at No. 39.
His ability to play outside cornerback makes him a particularly valuable prospect, with the potential to contribute as a starter immediately.
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6. Kayden McDonald (DL, Ohio State)
If Minnesota considers trading back 5–12 spots, McDonald is a stable, reliable option. A true run-stopping nose tackle, he could fill the void in the defense left by the departures of Linval Joseph and Dalvin Tomlinson. McDonald is a “safe” pick.
At No. 31 on the CBB, trading with a team like Miami at No. 30 could yield additional Day 2 draft capital while still allowing the Vikings to secure McDonald.
SB Nation‘s Michael Peterson on McDonald and the Vikings’ fit: “With the way the Vikings want to play defense under Brian Flores, they’ll need big bodies to plug up as many holes as possible so as not to get burnt by well-timed runs into some of their pressure packages.”
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“McDonald is the best at doing just that while still having the strength to push the pocket when needed. He likely won’t be a three-down player immediately at the next level, but I can easily foresee him being able to re-work his body, transform some of the bad weight into better mass, and become an all-around menace in the middle.”
5. Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
With T.J. Hockenson’s contract potentially extending through the 2027 free agency period, Sadiq’s long-term fit becomes particularly appealing.
If Sadiq is the highest-rated player available at No. 18, the timing aligns well for a future-oriented selection. At 21 years old, Sadiq offers a combination of pass-catching and blocking abilities and meets all the necessary physical requirements.
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4. Jermod McCoy (CB, Tennessee)
McCoy is projected to be selected before Minnesota’s pick, making his acquisition less likely. Widely regarded as the CB2 in this draft class behind LSU’s Mansoor Delane, he is generating Top 15 buzz.
The 20-year-old McCoy, currently recovering from a torn ACL that will sideline him for the 2025 season at Tennessee, specializes in outside cornerback duties, similar to Hood.
3. Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
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The departures of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, who collectively accounted for over 1,300 defensive snaps last season, create a significant void on the defensive line, typically necessitating addressing the position in the draft.
Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) stands on the field before the game against NC State, Sep 21, 2024, at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, South Carolina, preparing during pregame warmups as he readies for a key conference matchup with expectations centered on his impact along the defensive front. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
If Minnesota remains at No. 18 and seeks to bolster the interior, Woods emerges as a logical and impactful choice.
2. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
A strategic trade down could create an opportunity to select McNeil-Warren while simultaneously acquiring additional premium draft capital.
With safety projected to become a pressing need if Harrison Smith retires, McNeil-Warren offers a combination of size, range, and a proven ability to generate turnovers. While the selection of safeties in Round 1 is often debated, his overall profile makes a compelling case.
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SI.com‘s Justin Melo wrote about McNeil-Warren to Minnesota this week, “Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman is among the more commonly mocked players to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 18 overall. Does McNeil-Warren not warrant consideration here?”
“We’re not convinced Thieneman is the consensus No. 2 safety on every draft board. The Vikings are almost certainly in the market at the position, with 14-year mainstay Harrison Smith available in free agency. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores preaches physicality and violence in the defensive backfield, and McNeil-Warren would fit his scheme like a glove.”
1. Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
Those who closely follow mock drafts have frequently seen Thieneman linked to Minnesota. Parallels to Harrison Smith continue to emerge, and the timing aligns well with Smith’s career trajectory. Smith might retire; he might be back for one more season. Nobody knows.
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Purdue defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) speaks with teammate Joseph Jefferson II (32) after a Notre Dame touchdown, Sep 14, 2024, at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana, reacting to the play during a difficult game as the Boilermakers regroup following a scoring drive by the Fighting Irish. Mandatory Credit: Alex Martin/Journal and Courier-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Initially viewed as a Round 2 prospect, a strong Combine performance has elevated his stock, and the connection between Thieneman and Minnesota continues to gain momentum.
If you ask the general population who will end up with the Vikings on Thursday night, most will say Thieneman.
Paige made her shocking return to WWE at WrestleMania 42 Night 1. She joined forces with Brie Bella to compete in the Fatal 4-Way Match for the Women’s Tag Team Championships. To everyone’s surprise, The Anti-Diva went on to win the titles at The Grandest Stage of Them All to make her return even more memorable.
Nikki Bella was in the corner of Paige and Brie Bella the entire time during the match. She acted as a big supporter for the duo through and through, and they were spotted having a celebration following the match. The former AEW star, along with The Bellas, also appeared on the WrestleMania Post Show, where Nikki talked about her return. However, the former Divas Champion accidentally botched a live interview.
While discussing Paige’s comeback at the 16:39 mark of the post-show interview, Nikki Bella unintentionally referred to her as Saraya. Well, it needs to be noted that it is the Briton’s real name, and she used that during her AEW run. Therefore, it was a botch to call her by that label in the Stamford-based promotion. However, as a true professional, Bella quickly corrected herself without creating much of a difference.
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“Both at the same time, the only person who will still make it feel special and like family is Saraya, Paige,” said Bella.
Check out the video below:
Well, the former AEW star’s return has managed to make a lot of headlines all over the globe. It will be interesting to see how things will unfold for her in the Stamford-based promotion from here on out.
Paige makes history with her return at WrestleMania 42
Paige’s comeback was a historic moment for her in the world of professional wrestling. It was her first WWE appearance in a long time, and fans were quickly taken on a nostalgia ride with her iconic theme song. But that was not the only thing that happened last night. With that return and the women’s tag team title win, The Anti Diva has achieved a unique feat in pro-wrestling.
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With that title win with Brie Bella, the 33-year-old star has become the only pro-wrestler to win a championship at All In and WrestleMania. Saraya became the AEW Women’s World Champion at All In: London in 2023 at the famous Wembley Stadium. All In is the biggest show produced by All Elite Wrestling; meanwhile, WrestleMania is the biggest show by WWE.
Now, as the new women’s tag team champion, Saraya has got a huge target on her back. It will be exciting to witness who will be the first challengers for her and Brie Bella on Monday Night RAW next week.
When Forest strolled out of north London with a 3-0 win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 28 days ago it felt seismic.
They were only three points above the relegation zone, but the magnitude of the win could not be understated.
It was Pereira’s first win as Forest manager and the nature of the victory felt huge, with Gibbs-White scoring a game-clinching second.
Fast forward a month and Gibbs-White’s hat-trick piles more misery on Spurs and gives them another reminder of what could have been.
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A move to Tottenham appeared done in July when it appeared his £60m release clause had been triggered.
Yet Forest looked to take legal action and were furious with Tottenham‘s conduct and were adamant they had not been given permission to speak to their player.
Gibbs-White went on to sign a new three-year contract a few weeks later and the saga was perhaps a prelude to the two club’s chaotic seasons, with Forest going through four managers and Spurs close to their first relegation since 1977.
“A massive three points. We knew how important this game was coming into it. The first half was a bit nervous, tense,” Gibbs-White told BBC Match of the Day.
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“The words from the gaffer was to give it everything out there – whatever will be will be. They boys came out fighting, took our chances when we needed to and controlled the game.
“The first, I was a bit erratic. I knew for the second one to take a touch and be a bit more composed. When the third went in, it was a delight.
“We got the win and we have that gap.”
Instead of potentially spearheading Spurs’ survival bid, Gibbs-White has delivered another hammer blow.
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Spurs, in 18th, will be four points from safety if West Ham beat Crystal Palace on Monday.
Ex-Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy told Match of the Day: “It is strange how football works.
“One of the things Spurs fans have been vocal about is the club not being able to get good players signed and over the line.
“Whether that could be through the inability to negotiate properly, whether it’s financial, who knows?
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“But, ultimately, a player like Gibbs-White would have been brilliant for Tottenham this season and would have hit the ground running – unlike Xavi Simons, who is a good player but has taken time to adapt.
“Today is a double kick in the stomach for Spurs as he could have been the man to save them from trouble. Instead, he’s given Forest a huge boost to beat the drop.”
You slice. You catch it fat from the fairway. Your game: riddled with a two-way miss. With my plan, that’s all part of your golfing past.
Below, you’ll learn how to nix these errors and get a ton more consistent in your ball striking. It’s a plan that I feel works for everyone — from struggling rec player to the golfers you see on TV each weekend. It’s based on always getting back to a solid impact position, something you can do by rehearsing impact first. Then you’ll be growing the swing to add more speed and power.
In this special edition of GOLF instruction, I’ll show you how to do just that in five easy steps, starting with learning what proper impact should look and feel like while incrementally adding width and speed to your overall swing. They are proven fundamentals that will not only help you, but also give some structure and insight to your regular practice sessions. Guided practice is the best practice, more so than simply swinging for the fences when you’re at the range. Follow along and at the start of the new season, your golfing buddies won’t believe what they’re seeing. Neither will you.
STEP 1: REHEARSE IMPACT WITH A LOWER- CASE ‘y’
A lower-case ‘y’ is what ideal impact position looks and feels like.
GOLF
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In order to achieve perfect impact, you need to know what it looks and feels like. That’s Step 1 in this learning session. So … with a wedge, follow these steps:
1. With a ball set slightly forward of center, ground your club while setting about 80 percent of your weight on your front foot.
2. Push your tailbone back and rotate your hips 40 to 45 degrees open — as if you’re getting them “out of the way” for the moment you strike the ball.
3. Call this the Holy Grail of impact: Press your hands forward without moving anything else, adding some bend to your trail wrist while keeping your lead arm straight. You know you did it right if your arms, hands and club form a lowercase ‘y’, as you see in the photo above.
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4. As you get into these positions, mind your head — set the right side of your face behind the ball. As you’ve probably experienced in your golfing career, moving your head too far in front of the ball tends to lead to a ton of swing misery.
5. Once you’re set, stick a tee between your trail arm and your torso, right in your armpit. Create pressure between your arm and your body to hold the tee in place. Subtle, but this trail arm and body connection is one of the true keys to producing solid strikes, as you’ll learn in Step 2 below.
If you can copy what you see here, you’re on the fast track to better ball striking and lower scores. Practice these impact alignments as much as you can. You can spend time at the range as well as at home grooving this. In the next step, you’ll learn how to guide your swing through this A-plus position.
STEP 2: SWING LOWERCASE “y” TO CAPITAL “Y”
In Step 2, you add the swing motion.
GOLF
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Once you have nailed the look and feel of a proper impact position in Step 1, it’s time to add some motion to your overall swing. We’ll start small and work into fuller motions in the proceeding steps.
To put this in action: It’s time to reset your lowercase ‘y’ impact position, then smoothly rotate back. The goal here is to transport the lowercase ‘y’ you formed in your mock impact position to a one-third backswing (top photo avove). All you need is a slight shoulder turn and moving a bit of weight from your front foot to your trail foot. Important: Don’t swing past this length at this point in the overall exercise.
Once you’ve set your lowercase ‘y’ mini- backswing, hit the ball, swinging your arms and turning as normal, but cutting off your finish to the point where the club is parallel to the ground (bottom photo above). Check that you’ve posted up solidly on your lead leg. Your wrists will have just a slight re-hinge. This combination of body turn and arm extension is a hallmark of great players. You’ll know you did it correctly when you move from a lowercase ‘y’ to a capital ‘Y’ position.
Big key: Keep the connection between your trail arm and your torso, pinching the tee in your armpit firmly. This is critical to managing your body structure as well as keeping you on plane through the strike.
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You’re not looking for big hits here, just solid strikes as you work on your lowercase ‘y’ to capital ‘Y’ motion. If you’re like most of my students, you’ll feel like you’re compressing the ball like never before, even with a “mini-swing.”
Dedicate at least a full range bucket to this drill before even thinking about adding length to your motion.
STEP 3: BUILD AN ADDRESS POSITION THAT FUELS SOLD IMPACT
In Step 3, it’s all about address position.
GOLF
Suggestion: Start every one of your practice sessions with Steps 1 and 2. You’ll build the ability to create solid ball-first contact every time.
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But knowing you can’t play this game in “drill mode,” it’s now time to build an address position that best allows you to achieve the four key impact fundamentals without even thinking. Here’s what to do, in four easy steps:
1. Stand erect with any iron, hinging your wrist to get the club parallel with the ground while keeping both arms snug against your sides. Put the club level to your belt buckle.
2. Without changing anything else, extend your hands away from your body. Checkpoint: The distance between the butt of the grip and your body should equal the distance between your thumb and pinkie when both splayed.
3. Again, without changing anything else, simply bend from your hips and sole the club against the ground. Think “back straight” and “arms relaxed.” You’re looking good.
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4. To complete the process, simply add a bit of knee flex. You’re now in a position that is balanced and ready to dynamically move. Once you’re set, take your trail hand off the club and splay your hand with pinkie and thumb open wide. Use this gauge to make sure the distance between the club and your body hasn’t changed since Step 1 in this drill.
You need to practice these steps to build your great setup. By doing so, you’re in an excellent position to catch it crisp every time.
STEP 4: SWING CAPITAL ‘L’ TO CAPITAL ‘L’
In Step 4, the ‘y’ swings become ‘L’.
GOLF
So far this lesson has focused on the main requirements of Tour-level impact with what you need to do at address to make it all possible. But, as every golfer knows, this is a power game. At some point you need to learn how to add speed without losing the fundamentals of impact and setup address in Steps 1 to 3.
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Enter Step 4: adding serious mph to your lowercase ‘y’ swing. Easy. To get it right, get into your address posture, but this time with an alignment rod held snug between your hands and whatever iron you’ve chosen to swing.
Get set, take the club back, and now you’re building more length to the swing. You’re using the alignment rod to check your ‘L’ positions and to groove a great swing plane. In the backswing, the ‘L’ should point at or slightly inside the ball target line. On the through swing, it should return back and point at the target line again. When using the alignment rod, move slowly back and through to check your angles. This is not about speed; there’s a reason why this is called the “punisher drill.” If you don’t do it correctly, you will hit yourself with the stick. Go slowly to work on the motion, then you can take the rod away and simply swing the club from ‘L’ to ‘L’. This is where the perfect “snap” release lives — the swish! You can also practice this drill only swinging the alignment stick, and you’ll really hear the speed firing up! If you fight a slice with the dreaded chicken wing through the ball, you’re definitely not doing this!
This is how you begin building speed correctly.
STEP 5: GET YOUR SHOULDERS IN ACTION BY TURNING TO ‘THE WALL’
Step 5 puts it all together.
GOLF
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The four drills discussed thus far are your fast track to better strikes and more speed. There’s just one more element as you work on each during your training sessions and that’s turn.
A great way to practice this is to set up in your address position [1], with an alignment stick set perpendicular to your target line just inside your trail foot.
As you move from your dynamic address and start building your capital ‘L’ [2], you’re now going to focus on turning both shoulders to the rod while keeping the ‘L’ shape intact [3]. I call this turning to the “imaginary wall.”
Think of the alignment stick on the ground as a thin vertical wall that is running through your trail shoulder at address. Your upper body and lower body are fully coiled to it. As you can see in the picture [3], my lead shoulder and the edge of my trail hip are both stacked over the rod. We’re now in a fantastic spot to let things unleash back through a great impact [4]. This move is a bona fide swing accelerator and usually the one that separates good golfers from those who can really mash it.
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Go in slow motion at first if you need to, but once you groove creating that capital ‘L’ in your backswing and moving it all the way to a solid top position with your shoulder and hip turn, the ball won’t know what hit it.
All the while, keep in mind that your primary goal is to deliver the club through a great impact position, no matter how far back your body allows you to turn.
It’s a process — go step by step. Soon, you’ll be striping it better than ever. There’s one more letter to keep in mind: a capital T.
ONE MORE MOVE: MAKE A “T” AT THE FINISH
Form a ‘T’ to finish the swing.
GOLF
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Practice your impact position, creating the lowercase ‘y’ with your arms, club and hands. Build your swing from lowercase ‘y’ to uppercase ‘Y’. Then, move ‘L’ to ‘L’, stretching your swing by keeping all of these elements intact while finishing the full turn.
We’re now moving on to the full finish: the capital ‘T’. As you turn fully through, your trail shoulder will be closer to the target and you will be fully balanced on your lead leg, with your hands above your lead shoulder. Your body is facing the target. If you do it right, your body and the club will magically form the letter ‘T’ as you see here.
As I tell my players, you’ve done all the hard work in practice that builds a great impact. Now you’ve earned the right to let it go.
Brech Spradley is the owner and director of instruction at Barton Creek Golf Academy in Austin, Texas.
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