Indiana should go into the 2026 season as the preseason No. 1 team in college football after landing QB Josh Hoover out of the portal from TCU.
Plus, Curt Cignetti still has the best staff in the country.
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin and ‘Locked On Bama’ host Luke Robinson discuss the Crimson Tide’s ongoing QB battle in Tuscaloosa.
Does Austin Mack have a built-in advantage over Keelon Russell?
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Colorado enters 2026 with some pressure on Deion Sanders to win, aided by new OC Brennan Marion.
‘Locked On Buffs’ host Kevin Borba shares thoughts on his conversation with Colorado’s new playcaller.
05:42 Hoover’s Potential and Playoff Expectations 06:44 “Josh Hoover Stands Out 17:34 Alabama QB Battle Breakdown 22:32 Patience Pays Off in Football 28:34 Deion Sanders & Colorado’s Future 30:35 Coach Criticized for Job Success 33:45 Utah, BYU, Colorado Coaching Outlook
Gujarat Titans’ captain Shubman Gill (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill has joined the growing list of Indian players voicing concerns over the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League, stating that it “takes the skill out of the game.” Gill’s remarks come shortly after similar criticism from players like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel. During the IPL captains’ meeting held in Mumbai, a majority of team leaders, including Gill, reportedly pushed for a review of the rule, which was first introduced by the BCCI in 2023 and has since been extended until at least 2027. Speaking a day after the meeting, Gill was clear in his stance against the regulation, which allows teams to introduce an extra batter or bowler at any point during a match. “Personally for me, I don’t think there should be an impact player. I think cricket in general is an 11 players’ game and on wickets where we play on the grounds that we play, adding an extra batsman is I think it takes the skill out of the game,” Gill said. He further explained that the traditional balance of the sport is being affected, especially in pressure situations where teams are expected to adapt with limited resources. “There’s a certain skill in the game that you need to have. When you have a certain amount of batters and if a couple of your batters get out, there’s an amount of skill that you need to have to still get the scoreboard moving and get your team to a good score.” Gill also argued that the rule is making matches more predictable and less competitive, particularly on batting-friendly surfaces. “With that one extra player, it’s making the game more one-dimensional and it’s taking a little bit of the skill out of the game. Chasing 180 on a challenging wicket or 160 on a challenging wicket is for me, it’s personally way more exciting than chasing 220 on a flat wicket,” he added. Despite the criticism from several players, the rule is set to remain in place for the foreseeable future, with any potential review expected only after the 2027 season. “It’s gonna be there till 2027. It’s something that we also spoke about in the captain’s meeting yesterday. I understand it makes the game a bit more entertaining, but let’s see. It’s there. It’s up to them what the BCCI is going to do, they’re gonna take their decision, but personally I don’t like it,” Gill said.
New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero made MLB history Wednesday: He became the first player to use the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS).
During the fourth inning of the Yankees’ 7-0 Opening Day win over the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, Caballero challenged home plate umpire Bill Miller’s strike call after Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb threw a sinker at the top of the zone.
Caballero, 29, tapped his head to initiate the challenge and appeal the strike call, but lost the challenge. The 12 Hawk-Eye cameras of the Automated Ball-Strike System displayed that Webb’s 90.7 mph sinker was in the zone.
José Caballero (72) of the New York Yankees runs to first after hitting a one-run double in the second inning during the game between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on March 25, 2026.(Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Despite losing the challenge, he had conviction in his decision.
“Nope, I wanted to go for it,” Caballero said.
Caballero thought it was a little higher than what was shown, but he is a fan of the ABS system despite his unsuccessful appeal.
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“I think it’s really good, keep everyone accountable,” he added. “It gives us a chance to really see how good (we are) with the zone or not. I wish it was the other way around, I’m trying to get the overturn call but this time I didn’t.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr., left, and José Caballero, right, of the New York Yankees are congratulated by Austin Wells (28) after both scored on Ryan McMahon’s two-run single against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, California, on March 25, 2026.(Jeff Chiu/AP Photo)
Caballero’s challenge was the lone one of the game. The Yankees were up 5-0 at the time of the challenge.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he has tried to be direct with the feedback he has given to players regarding their challenges.
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“We’ve had a lot of dialogue at it. It’s something that we’ve poured a lot into, I’ve certainly,” Boone said. “It’s become one of the things I’ve kind of tried to lead the charge on a little bit. Another kind of end-of-spring meeting with all the position players and catchers at the end just kind of running through different ones that came up and give my feedback on it. I’ve been very direct with them during spring as far as after the fact if I thought one was really good or conversely if one was terrible.”
“I’ve tried to be real direct with them and why,” he said. “I feel like we’re going to be good at it, that’s the expectation. I’m sure we’ll continue to evolve with it.”
New York Yankees shortstop José Caballero (72) throws the ball to first to record an out against the San Francisco Giants in the ninth inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, on March 25, 2026.(Cary Edmondson/Imagn Images)
Teams are given two challenges a game, but if they successfully challenge a call, they retain it. But if the challenge is unsuccessful, you lose it. So, the Yankees were down to one challenge for the rest of game after Caballero’s unsuccessful attempt in the fourth inning.
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Caballero, who went 1 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, drove in the first run of the 2026 MLB season with a single that scored Giancarlo Stanton in the second inning.
The Yankees (1-0) will look to continue their hot start when they take on the Giants (0-1) on Friday at 4:35 p.m. ET.
In recent years a growing number of sports federations, including World Aquatics and World Athletics, have barred athletes who have undergone male puberty from competing in elite female competition amid concerns over fairness and safety.
Last May the Football Association and England and Wales Cricket Board were among a number of British sports bodies to follow suit after the UK Supreme Court’s ruling that the legal definition of a woman was based on biological sex.
The moves have been opposed by trans rights campaigners who argue they could violate human rights, and insist inclusion should be prioritised.
However, this year US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that prevents transgender women from competing in female categories.
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He said it would include the 2028 Olympics and that he would deny visas for transgender athletes trying to visit the US to compete at the Games.
New Zealand’s Laurel Hubbard became the first openly transgender women to compete at an Olympics after being selected for the women’s weightlifting team at Tokyo 2020.
The Paris 2024 Olympics were engulfed in controversy after Algeria’s Imane Khelif won the women’s welterweight boxing gold medal, a year after being disqualified from the World Championships for reportedly failing a gender eligibility test.
The IOC cleared the 25-year-old to compete, along with Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, who was also banned by the suspended International Boxing Association (IBA).
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The IOC said competitors were eligible for the women’s division if their passports said they were female.
Some reports took the IBA saying Khelif has XY chromosomes to speculate that the fighter might have DSD. However, the BBC was not able to confirm whether this was or was not the case.
Last week it was announced that Lin could return to women’s sport after passing a sex test.
At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, all three medallists in the women’s 800m, including winner Semenya, were DSD athletes, intensifying calls for tighter rules.
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World Athletics then insisted that for track events from 400m up to the mile, DSD athletes must reduce their testosterone levels in order to be eligible.
Semenya refused, arguing it was an infringement of her human rights and discriminatory.
Amid a long legal battle, World Athletics’ made its rules stricter in 2023.
GENEVA — Transgender women athletes are now excluded from women’s events at the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy on Thursday which aligns with U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on sports ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females,” the International Olympic Committee said, to be determined by a mandatory gene test once in an athlete’s career.
It is unclear how many, if any, transgender women are competing at an Olympic level. No woman who transitioned from being born male competed at the 2024 Paris Summer Games, though weightlifter Laurel Hubbard did at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 without winning a medal.
The eligibility policy that will apply from the LA Olympics in July 2028 “protects fairness, safety and integrity in the female category,” the IOC said.
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“It is not retroactive and does not apply to any grassroots or recreational sports programs,” said the IOC, whose Olympic Charter states that access to play sport is a human right.
After an executive board meeting, the International Olympic Committee published a 10-page policy document which also restricts female athletes such as two-time Olympic champion runner Caster Semenya with medical conditions known as differences in sex development, or DSD.
The IOC and its president, Kirsty Coventry, have wanted a clear policy instead of continuing to advise sports’ governing bodies who previously have drafted their own rules.
“At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat,” Coventry, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming, said in a statement. “So, it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.”
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She set up a review of “protecting the female category” as one of her first big decisions last June as the first woman to lead the Olympic body in its 132-year history.
Female eligibility was a strong theme in a seven-candidate IOC election last year — held after a furor around women’s boxing in Paris — when Coventry’s main rivals pledged a stronger policy to leading on the issue.
Before the 2024 Paris Olympics, three top-tier sports — track and field, swimming and cycling — excluded transgender women who had been through male puberty. Semenya, who was assigned female at birth in South Africa and has high natural testosterone levels, won a European Court of Human Rights judgment in her years-long legal challenge to track and field’s rules which did not overturn them.
The IOC document details its research that being born male gives physical advantages that a working group of experts believes are retained.
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“Males experience three significant testosterone peaks: In utero, in mini-puberty of infancy and beginning in adolescent puberty through adulthood,” the document said.
It added this gives males “individual sex-based performance advantages in sports and events that rely on strength, power and/or endurance.”
The IOC said its expert group agreed the current gene test is “the most accurate and least intrusive method currently available.” It screened for “the SRY gene, a segment of DNA typically found on the Y chromosome that initiates male sex development in utero and indicates the presence of testes/testicles.”
Still, the mandatory gender screening — already conducted by the governing bodies of track and field, skiing and boxing — is likely to be criticized by human rights experts and activist groups.
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One of the two women’s boxing gold medalists at the center of the gender controversy in Paris, Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan, has passed her gene test and can return to competition, the World Boxing governing body said last week.
In the U.S., President Trump signed the executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” in February last year, and pledged to deny visas to some athletes attempting to compete at the L.A Olympics. The order also threatened to “rescind all funds” from organizations that allowed transgender athletes to take part in women’s sports.
Within months the U.S. Olympic body updated its guidance to national sports bodies citing an obligation to comply with the White House.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – MARCH 23: Belinda Bencic of Switzerland returns a shot to Amanda Anisimova of the United States on Day 7 of the Miami Open Presented by Itau at Hard Rock Stadium on March 23, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Belinda Bencic delivered a commanding performance at the Miami Open 2026, defeating Amanda Anisimova 6–2, 6–2 to reach the quarterfinals.
It is her second Miami quarterfinal appearance and her first since 2022.
Bencic controlled the match from start to finish, using precise groundstrokes to take time away from one of the tour’s most powerful hitters.
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The win also marks: her 41st career Top 10 victory her third Top 10 win of the 2026 season
She continues to build strong form as the tournament progresses.
Off the court, Bencic also shared a lighter moment with Jannik Sinner, who was playing football with her daughter:
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“It was so sweet. Jannik is very sweet to her. She’s very skeptical of everyone. I hope later she can realize who was talking to her.”
Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) carries the ball through traffic, pushing upfield against the Maryland defense on Oct. 4, 2025, at SECU Stadium in College Park as the Huskies leaned on their ground game during a competitive matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images.
Are you ready for the Minnesota Vikings to draft a dynamic young running back for the first time in eons? The club took a step in the right direction this week, meeting with rookie tailback Jonah Coleman.
The Vikings keep doing homework on this deep 2026 running back class, and that is excellent.
Coleman is considered the third- or fourth-best running back in this year’s class, and there’s a small chance that he transfers his purple uniform from Washington to Minnesota.
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Coleman Fits Minnesota’s Search for Backfield Juice
Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) carries the ball through the defense, working upfield against Maryland on Oct. 4, 2025, at SECU Stadium in College Park as the Huskies leaned on their rushing attack during a competitive road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images.
Vikings Meet with Coleman
In all likelihood, the Vikings will draft a halfback somewhere in April’s draft, and the franchise now has a meeting with Coleman on record.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz wrote this week, “The Vikings will host Coleman on a Top 30 visit, per Arye Pulli. The former Arizona and Washington standout has recorded over 1,100 yards from scrimmage in each of the last three seasons and scored 27 touchdowns in 25 games for the Huskies.”
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“He’s been an efficient college runner who can also catch the ball (87 career receptions) and pass protect. There’s a lot to like about Coleman, but he’s also undersized at 5’9″ and isn’t particularly explosive.”
At the moment, Coleman is projected as a 3rd-Round pick, and Minnesota has two of those in the chamber.
A Superb Landing Spot
In Minnesota — if the Vikings press the button on Coleman — he’ll strut into a wonderful situation, not oozing with the pressure of an immediate RB1. The Vikings have Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones back in 2026, and they figure to take the bulk of rushing attempts next year if healthy.
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With a man like Coleman, he can mature for a season as the RB3, be promoted to RB2 if an injury emerges — it probably will — or win the RB1 job outright if he’s that damn effective at training camp and in the preseason.
Coleman will also have offensive teammates as weapons, including Kyler Murray, Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and the aforementioned running backs. The spot is ideal for Coleman, and he might be ideal for the Vikings.
The Green Bay Packers could give Coleman a peek, as well.
Zone Coverage‘s Mitch Widmeier on Coleman to Green Bay: “A true three-down back with the Huskies, Coleman could be an every-down back if he reaches his ceiling in the NFL. For Green Bay specifically, two things stand out. Coleman had a grand total of two fumbles in 551 career rushing attempts. That covers two years with Arizona and another two with Washington. Coleman protects the football as well as any college running back has in the last four years.”
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“If you want to play running back in Green Bay, you need to protect the rock, have some capability to pass block, and possess a certain level of character. Check, check, and check. Coleman could be selected as early as Round 2, or he could fall into Round 4. If nobody selects him in the second round, he will be an awfully tempting option for Green Bay.
Coleman’s Scouting Report
Coleman is 5’8″, 220 pounds, has 4.5 speed, and has a style similar to Ray Rice from the Baltimore Ravens (without the spotty reputation) 15 years ago. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, and he scored 27 touchdowns at Washington in the last two years.
NFL Draft Buzzon Coleman’s rookie profile: “Coleman is not going to test his way into a higher draft slot, and his game does not need him to. His vision between the tackles finds creases before they fully develop, and his patience within zone schemes lets linemen finish their work before he commits.”
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“He averaged over five yards per carry in 2024 behind an offensive line ranked 105th nationally in run-blocking grade, which speaks louder than any combine drill. Zone-heavy offenses are the natural fit. Where Coleman separates from other power backs in this class is ball security paired with receiving ability. One fumble across 396 career touches keeps you on the field in December.”
Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) heads toward the locker room after the final whistle, leaving the field following a win over UC Davis on Sep. 6, 2025, at Husky Stadium in Seattle as Washington wrapped up its opening-week victory. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.
Power backs who can act as receivers are somewhat rare.
NDB added, “He caught 31 passes for 354 yards in 2025 and looked comfortable on underneath routes, giving coordinators the option of leaving him in on passing downs. Pass protection needs refinement; he brings effort against blitzers but his technique is still developing.”
“His floor is a reliable early-down grinder who handles 15 to 20 touches and controls tempo without putting the ball on the ground. His ceiling is a three-down back in a system that values patience over home-run speed.”
The Alternatives
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Assume the Vikings want a rookie running back, Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love isn’t available, and a different team picks Coleman. These would be the options before the end of Round 5:
Jadarian Price (Notre Dame)
Mike Washington Jr. (Arkansas)
Emmett Johnson (Nebraska)
Nick Singleton (Penn State)
Kaytron Allen (Penn State)
Demond Claiborne (Wake Forest)
Washington Huskies running back Jonah Coleman (1) takes a handoff and pushes forward during first-quarter action, attacking the defense against UC Davis on Sep. 6, 2025, at Husky Stadium in Seattle as Washington established its ground game early. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.
Pickleball in India is quietly but steadily moving beyond its tag as a casual, recreational sport and turning into a serious competitive discipline. The Indian Pickleball Association’s recognition as the National Sports Federation has played a key role in this shift, bringing much-needed structure and credibility to the sport.
With systems like rankings, organised tournaments, and grassroots initiatives now in place, pickleball is beginning to build a proper pathway for players across the country. Coupled with rising participation and growing interest from brands and investors, the sport is not just spreading rapidly but also starting to establish India as a credible force on the global stage.
In an exclusive and freewheeling conversation with Sportskeeda, the President of the IPA, Suryaveersingh Bullar, opens up on the pickleball ecosystem in India and why he thinks the sport could become a potential Olympic medal opportunity for the country in the future:
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Q1. The Indian Pickleball Association recently gained NSF (National Sports Federation) status. How does this milestone change the structure of the sport?
The granting of NSF status is the most significant milestone for any sport. With IPA becoming the sole governing authority, it allows us to push for inclusion in programs like Khelo India, university competitions, and the School Games Federation of India, as well as explore integration into the CBSE sporting system.
This recognition ensures athletes receive the same prestige as those in traditional sports, while also opening doors to government grants, SAI training facilities, and eligibility for honours like the Arjuna Award.
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Importantly, it brings standardisation and governance. We are implementing national standards, certification programs, and have launched a coaching certification. We are also working towards referee certification and setting up an equipment testing lab in India to support local manufacturing and quality control.
Q2. Where does pickleball stand in India today, and what is your long-term vision?
Over the past year, pickleball in India has transitioned from a niche recreational activity into a high-growth performance sport. The IPA has driven this through structured ranking tournaments, international representation, and high-performance centres.
But this is just the beginning. We believe pickleball has the potential to bring India an Olympic medal once it is included in the Games. Our vision is to make India a top-three global powerhouse, with athletes capable of winning medals at the Asian Games and Olympics.
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Q3. What steps are being taken to grow the sport beyond metro cities and at the grassroots level?
We are working aggressively to take pickleball beyond metros. A key step is our partnership with Sports Gurukul to launch a national inter-school championship, leveraging a network of over 500 schools.
IPA operates across 27 states, and we are focusing on district-level expansion to identify talent in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. We are also promoting portable nets, allowing any flat surface to become a pickleball court, making the sport highly accessible.
Efforts to integrate pickleball into Khelo India will further accelerate grassroots growth.
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Q4. How is IPA building a talent pipeline to compete globally?
We have established a structured development framework anchored by a transparent ranking system and a tiered tournament structure from district to national level.
High-performance centres provide elite coaching, while international exposure remains a priority. India’s seventh-place finish at the Pickleball World Cup (among 78 nations) highlights our progress.
Our partnership with the US Open gives national champions direct entry, bypassing the lottery system. Additionally, a dedicated selection committee scouts talent nationwide and supports players with training, sponsorships, and international opportunities.
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Q5. What does the IPA tournament roadmap look like over the next 12–18 months?
The structure includes IPA-run state tournaments culminating in the annual Nationals, alongside a rapidly growing calendar of IPA-sanctioned events.
We conducted around 110 tournaments last year and expect to nearly double that. The Indian Open is now an IPA-sanctioned global event, and discussions are underway to host the first Asian Pickleball Championship in India, potentially featuring over 18 countries.
Indian teams will also compete in global events like the World Cup, the US Open, and the amateur EPIC World Championship in Singapore.
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Q6. Are there plans to collaborate with schools, colleges, or private leagues to accelerate adoption?
Yes, collaboration is central to our strategy. The Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), held in Delhi and sanctioned by IPA, was a major success and significantly boosted the sport’s visibility.
We have also launched the national inter-school championship with Sports Gurukul and are exploring inter-college competitions. These initiatives are helping us build a strong ecosystem and drive widespread participation.
Q7. Infrastructure is a key challenge for emerging sports. How is IPA addressing this?
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Infrastructure is always a challenge, but pickleball’s growth has led to courts emerging across the country. IPA is partnering with private facilities to use them as training and awareness centres.
We are also in talks with sponsors to set up high-performance centres and with the Sports Authority of India to establish academies within existing stadiums. Since pickleball requires relatively less space, we are confident of expanding infrastructure rapidly over the next two years.
Q8. What does the professional pathway look like for a young player in India today?
A young player today can enter through district-level tournaments, progress through state rankings, and eventually compete at the IPA Nationals.
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From there, standout performers gain access to high-performance centres, national camps, and international exposure. With structured rankings, scouting systems, and global tournament pathways, the route to becoming a professional athlete in pickleball is now clearly defined.
Q9. How do you see the commercial side of pickleball evolving in India? What role will leagues like IPBL play?
Pickleball is growing strongly as a commercial sport. It offers excellent returns on investment due to its accessibility and appeal across age groups.
Leagues like the IPBL have already elevated the sport’s profile with broadcast backing and team ownership from major business houses. Going forward, the IPBL can play a role similar to the IPL – creating opportunities for players, coaches, referees, brands, and sponsors, while driving the sport’s overall growth.
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Q10. What is your message to young athletes considering pickleball?
Whether you dream of representing India at the Pickleball World Cup, the US Open, or even the Olympics in the future, the IPA is here to support you. The infrastructure is growing, the system is in place, and the opportunities are expanding.
Grab a paddle, your journey to the top starts now!
Gevonta Davis has not won a fight since June 2024 but remains as the WBA’s champion-in-recess. Now, the man hoping to succeed Davis as WBA champion has demanded that the Baltimore-born fighter is removed from that position.
Davis drew with Lamont Roach Jr in his lone outing of 2025, meaning that he has not won a contest since knocking out Frank Martin almost two years ago. However, out-of-ring issues are largely behind the inactivity of the 31-year-old, which have led to him losing his WBA lightweight world title.
Davis has been named as the champion-in-recess rather than stripped entirely, meaning that he could be reinstated as full champion in the future or mandated to fight any new champion upon his return.
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It had been believed that number one contender Floyd Schofield, ‘Kid Austin’, would take on either Lucas Bahdi or Roach in a clash for the now-vacant belt, but an announcement has yet to take place.
Posting on X, Schofield has spoken out and demanded that the WBA strip Davis of his title or mandate a fight between he and ‘Tank’.
“It’s so much politics with boxing and belts. I think we may just fight to put on great fights and vacate the WBA Boxing titles.
“If WBA Boxing and Golden Boy can not get a fight for the World Title, do we need them[?]
“They need to mandate KID vs Tank or strip him.”
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Schofield’s outburst, combined with the delayed confirmation of a bout to determine a new champion, could potentially be a sign that Davis may soon be reinstated as champion, with a pending court case expected to determine how soon before ‘Tank’ returns to action.
Tom Brady may have only worn the helmets of two different teams in his NFL career, but in his post-playing journey, he’s become a man of many hats.
Brady is the Chief Wellness Officer of eMed Population Health, a lead broadcaster with FOX and a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders – among other things.
Fox Sports announcer Kevin Burkhardt (left) with Tom Brady on the field before Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome on Feb. 9, 2025.(Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
While he appeared on FOX Business’ “Mornings with Maria” on Thursday to talk about his role with eMed, anchor Maria Bartiromo asked the seven-time Super Bowl champion whether he would ever consider becoming a majority owner of an NFL team.
“Great question. I gotta work pretty hard. I paid ordinary income taxes for a very long time in the NFL,” he said. “And these valuations have gotten very expensive.”
Founders FFC quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws ball against Logan Paul of Wildcats FFC during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at BMO stadium on March 21, 2026.(Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Brady said he enjoys the roles he currently has and joked about not getting booed anymore when he walks into a stadium.
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“But I love playing the role I have,” he continued. “I certainly love my role at FOX and broadcasting has been … I could never have imagined the joy I find being able to be on camera with my great partner Kevin Burkhardt, our entire team, and communicating to all our fans how incredible the game of football is and how sports brings together communities. I see it every week when I go to these amazing stadiums and it feels really nice walking into stadiums and not getting booed by everybody anymore. There’s more cheers than I realize, like, ‘Oh man, maybe they respected me a little more than I thought.’
Former quarterback Tom Brady, left, gestures before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
“So, having this role in broadcasting, being involved in football with the Raiders has absolutely been a dream come true and also making a difference in other people’s lives, trying to share some of the things in my mind that I’ve learned from incredible mentors, trying to inspire through the different people that have come into my life, to communicate the messages that I’ve been able to get that have helped me live my dream. And I want to do that for others.”
Like so many Brazilians, Thiago Pessao was captured by the World Cup as a child. By the time the tournament came to his homeland in 2014, it was a full blown obsession. He attended 23 games in that tournament and 17 in Russia four years later. Only Brazil’s early exit and an agreement with his wife to leave on their departure stopped him racking up even bigger numbers in Qatar 2022.
In short, Pessao is committed to the World Cup – Brazil and beyond. But even he is struggling to justify the cost and hassle of the largely US hosted expanded tournament this time round.
He estimates he has spent $30-40,000 (€26,000 to €35,000) already. Tickets to Brazil’s group stage matches in New Jersey, Philadephia and Miami and likely round-of-32 match in Houston have cost upwards of $4000, the return air trip to Brazil $5000, and a combination of internal flights, accommodation, further match tickets and spending money are adding up fast.
He estimates he spent a little more than $10,000 in Qatar (with tickets being the main point of difference) and even less at previous tournaments.
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If record winners Brazil go all the way to the final, his bill will increase still further – and that’s without attending the neutral games that are normally part of his World Cup ritual.
An early Brazil exit, like in 2022, would disapoint their fans – but could also save them moneyImage: Robert Michael/dpa/picture alliance
”I love to watch a lot of games. But for this World Cup, the tickets are too expensive, so my plan right now is only to follow Brazil,” he told DW. “A final ticket is costing $4,000 or $5,000 [the current cheapest ticket is $4,185]. I think it’s too much but my feeling is that if Brazil is in the final, I have to be there. Maybe other people will think differently, but for me, the motivation is there.”
High prices, hostile atmosphere
Pessao had a ticket for the 2022 final, which he re-sold. But he said the dynamic pricing introduced for the 2026 tournament and a lack of demand on FIFA’s new ticket exchange portal to pay the high current prices and fees before knowing the fixtures means he’s prepared to wait and see this time around.
His is a fortunate position, with such budgets and flexibility a pipe dream for many, especially those from qualifying countries with lower average incomes.
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To some degree, this is always the case at World Cups. Usually it’s tempered somewhat by cheaper tickets and travel packages for fans of countries who have followed the team throughout qualifying. Though FIFA introduced a small number of $60 tickets in December following fan pressure, the sort of vibrant fan marches, dances and songs that usually mark a World Cup may be notable by their absence, thinks Pessao, who also worries about how the political climate will impact foreign visitors like him.
“Compared to other World Cups, I’m a bit more concerned about how the hostility and the surroundings will affect things. I think that the presence of ICE in the stadiums or in the cities will bring the atmosphere down.”
That’s also a concern for USA fan Adaer Melgar. He started putting away $100 a month when the World Cup was handed to his homeland eight years ago and was expecting high prices.
Despite living close to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, making things as cheap as they could realistically be, he was still shocked by how much the experience will cost him.
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‘Money-grab’ makes tournament unaffordable
“I feel like I went into the ticket buy-in process with a level head, with the understanding that it was going to be pretty expensive, but it’s still greatly exceeded my own expectations,” he said. His six tickets for two non-US matches cost him $3,400.
“I’m dealing with my own ethical qualms right now, wanting to boycott the World Cup because of the [Donald Trump] administration and the way FIFA’s going about it. For example, they’re charging to get into the fan zone. That’s never been done before. I feel like it’s a big money grab.”
While Pessao and Melgar are picking their way through their reservations, for some the relentless expense and perceived hostility mean they feel they must stay at home. Bengt Kunkel is the Stimmungsmacher (fan leader/atmosphere maker) for the German national team and has made that call. He estimates the average cost to German fans of attending their three group stage matches at between €5,000 and €8,000.
“As an ordinary person you really have no chance of affording this tournament,” he said, adding that new social media checks on visitors to the US were also a factor in his decision.
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Kunkel is not alone in his reservations. On Tuesday, European consumer group Euroconsumers and fan group Football Supporters Europe filed a complaint against FIFA alleging breaches of the Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which prohibits abuses of a dominant market position. Among the complaints are pricing, FIFA’s resale platform (where both buyer and seller are charged a 15% fee), dynamic pricing and what they describe as pressure selling tactics.
“Emails to fans claimed “exclusive access” to a “limited” ticket window that doesn’t reflect reality. By creating artificial urgency, FIFA pressured fans into making rushed decisions,” the statement said.
Visa delays and travel bans frustrate fans
The previous two World Cups have also had a fast-track, temporary visa process. While the new FIFA PASS offers the “opportunity to obtain an expedited visa interview, if needed” FIFA have been clear that tickets are no guarantee of a visa. That has proved particularly problematic for some fans including those of first-time qualifiers, Jordan. Several fans DW spoke to said their visa applications had been held up or rejected and, with the embassy currently shuttered due to the US-Israel war with Iran, hope is in short supply.
“We ask for help from the US Embassy to look closely at the Jordanian fans’ applications. We applied, but we didn’t hear any answer until now. Our applications are stuck there,” said Jordan fan Ghazi Al Samouee.
On Wednesday, the US State Department added 12 countries to a list of countries from which it demands visitors post bonds of as much as $15,000. Qualifiers Tunisia have been added while Algeria, and Cape Verde were among the World Cup teams already on the list.
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Some fans won’t even be able to get as far as thinking about a visa. While Iran’s participation seems unlikely, given the war, people from Senegal, Haiti and Ivory Coast are on Trump’s travel ban list and won’t be able to go to the tournament unless they have an alternative passport. That’s despite FIFA President Gianni Infantino promising in 2025 that: “Everyone will be welcome in Canada, Mexico and the United States for the FIFA World Cup next year.”
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“If we’re not accepted as supporters, our teams shouldn’t go and neither should we as supporters,” one Senegal fan told DW at the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. “We are the strength of these competitions. Without spectators, there’s no one. Without spectators, there is no sport, there is no entertainment.”
Infantino and FIFA have repeatedly expressed strong sentiment about the importance of fans to a World Cup.
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“The world needs occasions of unity, of bringing teams together, of bringing people together, of bringing fans together,” Infantino said in the same statement last year.
Whether they are banned from traveling, feel uneasy about their safety, can’t get visas or just can’t afford it, fans around the world are struggling to feel welcomed in the US.
Dana Sumlaji and Thomas Klein contributed to this story.
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