The Seattle Seahawks head into the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots as slight favorites. However, Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg thinks the Patriots will be too much for Seattle’s defense to handle.
Wahlberg, who is a lifelong Patriots fan, was asked about his prediction for Super Bowl LX during an interaction with TMZ Sports in San Francisco on Friday. Wahlberg predicted a dominant win for New England.
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“It’s gonna be an ass-whooping, Patriots are gonna win big!” Wahlberg said. “It’s time for Drake Maye to take the throne!”
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NFL fans called out the actor for his “delusional” Super Bowl prediction.
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“Delusional.”
“Remember… he left the stadium when we were down 28-3… what kind of fan is he?”
Remember… he left the stadium when we were down 28-3… what kind of fan is he?
“He’s still trying to make up for leaving during 28-3.”
Hes still trying to make up for leaving during 28-3
“He probably thinks Tom Brady is gonna gear up tomorrow and save them lol 😂”
He probably thinks Tom Brady is gonna gear up tomorrow and save them lol 😂
“That’s a pipe dream.”
“The worst people being pro patriots .. makes u think.”
The worst people being pro patriots .. makes u think
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The Seahawks will make their fourth Super Bowl appearance on Sunday, hoping to win their second ring in franchise history. The last time they faced the Patriots in the Super Bowl in 2015, they suffered a dramatic 28-24 loss against Tom Brady’s team.
Mark Wahlberg predicted Patriots’ success under Mike Vrabel at the start of 2025 season
The Patriots hired Mike Vrabel as their coach before the start of the season and Mark Wahlberg predicted success under the first-year coach during a coverstation with Stephen A. Smith in September.
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“For the last couple of years, I had no stress,” Wahlberg said. “And I found myself sitting on the couch with my son, getting anxiety again, getting that knot in my stomach, right? I lose my appetite.
“We’re going back. We’re going back to the promised land, adding more championships, adding more trophies,” he added. “The Krafts gotta build another trophy room. It’s happening.”
Vrabel has led a remarkable turnaround in his first season with the Patriots and aims to win the first Super Bowl in the post-Bill Belichick era.
“They have literally said I can’t go to their stadium again. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
05:55, 10 Mar 2026Updated 06:26, 10 Mar 2026
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A Manchester United fan says he has been made to feel ‘like a criminal’ after officials at Manchester City banned him from watching the Blues as a ‘neutral’ supporter – and cancelled his ticket to watch Pep Guardiola’s team play Real Madrid.
Lewis Barlow, 21, a forklift truck driver, splashed out almost £600 on flights, accommodation and a ticket for City’s match against Real Madrid in the Bernabeu stadium in the Spanish capital on Wednesday night.
But just days before the fixture his ticket and membership were cancelled after an official at City realised that ‘manchesterunited’ was part of his email address. A subsequent search of his social media accounts revealed that he is a devoted Red.
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Lewis, from Tintwistle in Derbyshire, followed most of his family in becoming a Manchester United fan and he has been to every home game at Old Trafford for the last two seasons.
But his brother Kyle, 18, and some of his friends are Man City fans – and so to be with his pals and his sibling he’s also been going to the Etihad to watch the Blues, he says.
This season he says he has been to 10 matches at the Etihad, the last of them last week when, instead of watching his beloved United at Newcastle on the TV, he was at the Etihad to watch the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. He says he’s been going to the Etihad for 10 years to watch the Blues.
In November he successfully applied for and purchased a £35 Man City membership to make it easier to get tickets. The club didn’t seem to notice that he applied using an email address which included the term ‘manchesterunited’.
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But his membership and his ticket for the upcoming Champions League game at Real Madrid were suddenly cancelled last week after he had a call from City to ask if he was actually a Red. When he answered ‘yes’, his membership was quickly ended and the upcoming ticket was cancelled.
An email to Lewis’ ‘manchesterunited’ account from a ticket compliance manager said: “Further to the call earlier, as a Manchester United fan, you cannot have a ticketing account that would allow access to tickets in the Manchester City section of any stadium.
“As stated during the purchase journey for the Real Madrid away fixture, all tickets are sold subject to availability and are issued subject to the General Tickets Terms and Conditions – Manchester City F.C.
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“By purchasing tickets in the Manchester City section, you are confirming you are either a fan of the club (Manchester City) or a neutral supporter. A Manchester United fan, arguably the biggest rival of Manchester City, is not a neutral supporter.
“Being a Manchester United supporter, with access to home tickets, means there is a very high risk you could be in attendance when the two teams play each other, in the Manchester City section. As a result of this information coming to light, we have cancelled your future tickets, and restricted your ticketing account. We have also refunded your membership as it was only bought recently.”
In its terms and conditions for applying for away tickers the club says it ‘may offer tickets for sale to fans of the club and neutral fans only’, adding: “By applying to purchase one or a number of tickets, you hereby warrant and represent that you are a fan of the club or a neutral fan and not a fan of the opposing club.”
Club officials say they retain ‘full discretion’ when distributing tickets. Lewis insists he was never a fan of the opposing club each time he attended the Etihad and isn’t a fan of Real Madrid either.
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He said: “Most of my family are United fans. I’ve never missed a home game for the last two seasons. But my brother is a City fan and my auntie is a City fan. My mates are City fans. So I go to City. It gets me out. I’ve been to quite a few games this season.
“I just do it to get out with my mates. When I go to United, my mates aren’t there. I’m on my own. I go with my mum sometimes but the majority of time I’m on my own.
“Every time I’ve been to City, I’ve never caused any issues or anything. I don’t do anything negative. I’m just there to have a good time with my mates. I would understand if I caused issues but I never have.”
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Asked what he does when City score a goal, he said: “Stand up and clap. To be fair, I actually want City to win the league because I don’t want Arsenal to win. For the past few weeks I’ve been supporting City. I really don’t like Arsenal.”
He said his favourite City player is Rayan Cherki while his favourite Red is Bruno Fernandes. He added: “I think it’s discrimination. They think I’m going to cause havoc which is never the situation.
“I’m with all my City fan mates. Why would I cause trouble. I’m surrounded by City fans. Why on earth would I cause issues. I’m literally going to have a good time.”
He said the City official who called ‘spoke to me like I was a criminal’. “It was like I had broken the law. At first I thought it was a prank call from one of my mates,” said Lewis.
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He said of City terms and conditions that ‘there’s nothing about being a United fan means you can’t go’. Lewis urged the club to re-instate his membership, saying: “They have literally said I can’t go to their stadium again. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Lewis’ mum Vicky said of her son: “Lewis is a hardworking young man who is of excellent character who just has a love for the beautiful game of football. We feel Lewis has been stereotyped as a football hooligan when he’s never been in trouble in his life. He’s never even been in trouble once in his life with the police.”
Manchester City declined to comment when contacted by the M.E.N. However, it is understood club officials believe Lewis has breached the club’s ticketing terms and conditions as he cannot be said to be a neutral fan and acted to ensure safety at matches. Officials are also keen to ensure City supporters have priority especially for big games.
John Stones captained Manchester City to an FA Cup win over Newcastle United at the weekend as he played 90 minutes for the first time since November
John Stones is raring to go for Manchester City’s run-in after declaring ‘I feel great’ following a lengthy injury absence.
The defender started City’s FA Cup win over Newcastle United on Saturday and captained the Blues to a 3-1 win and a spot in the quarter-finals. That was his first 90 minutes since November with the 31-year-old missing three months of the campaign with a calf injury.
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But he is now fighting fit and keen to play his part as City challenge for trophies on four fronts. “Physically I feel great,” said Stones, speaking to TNT Sports Mexico. “The start of the season up until December when I got this problem in my calf, I felt great and had a great run in the team.
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“I’m always trying to stay positive about these things (injuries) and it’s part of football. But nights like these (at Newcastle) make those tough times and the hard work worthwhile and the lonely times when you’re training by yourself and the guys behind the scenes are helping you.
“It’s difficult when you put everything in and be as professional as you can be and try and do all the right things and you don’t have the answers but it is what it is and we have to look forward.
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“I look forward now and look at this exciting time, important time. I’m sure the manager is happy and has a headache that he has everyone back playing well and on the other hand he has everyone to choose from for these big important games that we all want to get through and keep progressing and keep winning and put the pressure on in every situation.”
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Stones grew into the game at Newcastle and was thrilled to come through the contest with no issues.
He added: “It felt great. It took a little while to get the rhythm back and it’s something that will never change for a player when you’ve not been playing for a while no matter how many games you’ve played and how many times you’ve been in the big stages, being in a competitive match you can’t replicate it in training or however you try.
“To be out there, to feel comfortable and get the rhythm of the game is really pleasing for me personally. To win, to captain the team as well, a super proud night and an important one at that.”
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But at the end of the day, it’s just basketball, which is why Thunder star Luguentz Dort apologized to three-time MVP Nikola Jokic after their latest confrontation on Monday.
Late in the fourth quarter of a 129-26 Thunder win, Dort was chasing Nuggets guard Jamal Murray at the arc when Jokic set a screen. As Dort made a move to avoid the pick, his left arm swung up and struck Jokic in the face. After review, Dort was awarded a flagrant 1 foul, and Jokic received two free throws plus a Nuggets possession.
“Just lost in the competition,” Dort told ESPN afterwards. “But shook his hand, (said) ‘great game’ and I apologized that that happened.”
This isn’t the first bout of violence between Dort and Jokic this season. In a game on Feb. 27, Dort tripped Jokic and the two then shoved each other as a scrum involving players on both sides broke out. Dort was ejected from that game and players and coaches from both teams traded verbal jabs in the media afterward.
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This time, the two players are taking the high road.
“It was over since last time,” Jokic said when asked Monday if there were still any hard feelings with Dort.
“I didn’t mean to hit him in the face,” Dort added. “But when I go over screens and stuff like that, my arms are just everywhere, and then unfortunately I just hit him in the face. … I didn’t think it was a flagrant 1. Unnecessary means I did (it) on purpose, which I didn’t.”
Oleksandr Usyk has three fights left in the game, hoping to extend his record to 27-0 before hanging up the gloves for good.
The elite Ukrainian was undisputed at cruiserweight before twice repeating that feat at heavyweight. Across the two divisions, he has statement wins over Murat Gassiev, Mairis Briedis, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
Speaking on Inside the Ring, Usyk assured fans that while this outing may not be at the elite level he is known for, his final two fights will be.
“Rico, this is first. Second, it’s who wins Wardley-Dubois. Third fight is my friend, Greedy Belly, Tyson Fury.”
Asked how long he has left, Usyk confirmed that he was three and out.
Fabio Wardley was elevated from Interim to Full WBO champion when Usyk vacated the belt last year, and puts that status on the line against Dubois on May 9 in Manchester. Should ‘DDD’ win on the night, Usyk’s final two planned bouts may both be trilogy fights.
The 39-year-old from Simferopol has twice beaten both Dubois and Fury, stopping the former on both occasions and the latter on points. Fan interest in the bouts, therefore, may be limited.
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However, if Wardley can retain in two months’ time, many would love to see the Ipswich man in there with a man in Usyk who has cemented himself as the greatest heavyweight of a generation.
More so, the WBC has ordered Usyk to face Agit Kabayel next, something that is clearly not in his plans. This means he may be stripped of all three belts in the not-so-distant future.
Viktor Gyokeres’ first goal against Tottenham has been voted Emirates Goal of the Month for February, highlighting a positive period for the striker during an important stage of the season.
The Swedish forward enjoyed a productive spell throughout February, contributing goals that helped Arsenal remain unbeaten and strengthen their push for silverware. His efforts during the month played a role in maintaining the team’s momentum as they continued to compete across several competitions.
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Although Gyokeres has faced challenges during parts of his time at the club, his performances in February demonstrated his ability to make a significant impact. The striker delivered several impressive displays, providing the type of attacking contribution that Arsenal expect from a player in his position.
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Gyokeres earning Arteta’s trust
Mikel Arteta has continued to show faith in Gyokeres despite earlier inconsistencies. The Arsenal manager recognises the striker’s qualities and has maintained confidence that he can deliver when the team needs him most.
The club also view Gyokeres as an important member of the squad and is prepared to give him the time required to reach his best form. His recent performances suggest that he is capable of playing a crucial role as the season approaches its decisive stage.
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With several important matches still to come, the striker will be expected to maintain his improved form and continue contributing goals that can help the team secure positive results.
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Goal of the Month recognition
According to Arsenal Media, Gyokeres’ opening goal against Tottenham has been voted the Emirates Goal of the Month for February. The strike stood out among the club’s goals during the period and reflects the impact he had throughout that month.
The recognition serves as further encouragement for the forward as he aims to build on his recent performances. Arsenal will hope that Gyokeres can maintain his scoring form in the coming weeks, providing the attacking edge needed to help the club finish the campaign strongly.
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If he continues to deliver decisive moments in front of goal, Gyokeres could play a vital role in Arsenal’s pursuit of trophies before the end of the season.
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Gyokeres goal against Tottenham wins him Goal of the Month
World silver medallist Kate O’Connor and Irish national champion Nick Griggs have been named in Ireland’s team for the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.
O’Connor won Ireland’s first medal at the championships since 2006 in Nanjing last year when she finished second in the pentathlon.
The 25-year-old then followed that up with a stunning second-place finish in the heptathlon at the World Championships in Tokyo in September.
In a historic year, O’Connor won a gold medal at the University Games and claimed bronze at the European Indoor Championships.
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Nick Griggs, who won the Irish senior title earlier in March, will race in the 15-strong 3,000m final alongside Andrew Coscoran.
Five-time European medallist Mark English is also a leading name for the Irish team when he races in the 800m at the event in Torun, which runs from 20-22 March.
Paul McNamara, Athletics Ireland’s high performance director, said it was “an exciting team with real prospects for medal success”.
“Kate’s achievement in Nanjing last year has set a bar for what Irish athletes can achieve at these championships, and we travel to Poland with real intent,” he said.
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“Along with our seasoned performers it’s great to see emerging talent make an impact this season and earn the opportunity to compete against the best in the world.”
Sarah Lavin will enter the Women’s 60m hurdles, while Bori Akinola and Lauren Roy will race in the men’s and women’s 60m respectively.
Maeve O’Neill will make her senior Irish international debut in Poland in the women’s 800m, while Ciara Neville (Women’s 60m), Emma Moore (Women’s 800m), James Gormley (Men’s 1500m) and Elizabeth Ndudi (Women’s Long Jump) have achieved the ‘B’ Standard and are provisionally selected pending confirmation of their qualification status by World Athletics.
Few awards in sports carry the weight of the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot. While the tournament crowns the world’s best national team, the Golden Boot honors the player who delivers football’s most decisive currency: goals.
Every four years, the race for this award creates its own drama. Established superstars chase history while emerging talents try to turn one brilliant tournament on the global stage into a career-defining moment.
The 2026 World Cup introduces another variable. An expanded 48-team field and up to eight matches for finalists could make the scoring race more unpredictable, placing several elite attackers in the spotlight.
Kylian Mbappé: The Favorite Chasing World Cup History
At +650 odds, Kylian Mbappé enters the 2026 World Cup as the early Golden Boot favorite. The logic is simple. Few players in modern football combine pace, positioning, and clinical finishing with the same consistency.
Mbappé already owns 12 World Cup goals, putting Miroslav Klose’s long-standing tournament record of 16 firmly within reach. That storyline alone adds extra intrigue to every appearance he makes in North America, where another scoring surge could push him into the record books.
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France has expanded Mbappé’s role in recent years. Once deployed mainly on the left wing, he now drifts across the front line and attacks central spaces more often, while Antoine Griezmann orchestrates from deeper areas to supply him with chances.
Mbappé’s position among the early Golden Boot contenders in 2026 World Cup futures reflects both his scoring pedigree and France’s ability to make deep tournament runs, which often gives top forwards more opportunities to add to their totals.
Harry Kane: The Most Reliable Tournament Finisher
Harry Kane rarely surprises anyone anymore. Consistency has defined his career, and that same reliability makes him one of the strongest Golden Boot contenders at +750 odds.
Kane already knows what it takes to win the award. His six-goal performance at the 2018 World Cup secured the Golden Boot in Russia, and his scoring record for England has only strengthened since then.
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England’s attack provides him with excellent service. Jude Bellingham drives forward from midfield to create passing lanes, Bukayo Saka stretches defenses on the wing, and Phil Foden adds creativity between the lines, regularly supplying the chances Kane thrives on.
Penalty duties strengthen his case. Kane is one of international football’s most reliable spot-kick takers, and those goals often decide Golden Boot races. Combined with England’s attacking style and his movement in the box, even a brief defensive lapse can quickly become a goal.
Lionel Messi: A Legendary Career Nearing Its Final Chapter
At +1400 odds, Lionel Messi enters the 2026 World Cup as both a contender and a sentimental favorite. Few players have shaped the modern era of football more profoundly, and another deep tournament run would only strengthen an already historic legacy.
Messi will be 38 during the tournament, but experience remains one of his greatest advantages. Argentina’s system allows him to conserve energy for decisive moments, with midfielders like Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister handling defensive work and ball progression.
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That structure mirrors the approach that helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup. Messi no longer needs to control every phase of play. His composure in knockout matches and ability to deliver timely goals could still place him firmly in the Golden Boot conversation.
Erling Haaland: The Wildcard Goal Machine
Erling Haaland enters the Golden Boot race at +1600 odds and may be the tournament’s most unpredictable contender.
Norway has not appeared at a World Cup since 1998, but Haaland’s rise has changed that outlook. His club scoring record borders on absurd, with goals often arriving in rapid bursts rather than steady trickles.
Efficiency defines his game. Haaland frequently needs only a few touches inside the penalty area to score, and defenders quickly discover that physical strength alone rarely contains him.
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The expanded 48-team format could amplify his impact. Early group-stage mismatches may create opportunities for multi-goal performances; however, Norway’s ability to reach the later rounds will likely determine how long he remains in the Golden Boot race.
Lamine Yamal: The Breakout Star to Watch
Every World Cup introduces a new star to the global stage, and Lamine Yamal could easily become that player in 2026. The Spanish winger enters the tournament at around +1800 odds with enormous expectations and already plays a central role in Spain’s evolving attack.
Spain’s traditional style relied on possession and patient buildup, but recent tactical shifts have introduced a more direct attack. Yamal reflects that change with his ability to cut inside from the right, creating shooting chances and unpredictable movement around the box.
Youth remains the biggest question. Consistency at the international level can challenge younger players, yet Spain’s status among the tournament favorites increases the likelihood that Yamal will feature prominently in key matches deep into the knockout rounds.
The Factors That Often Decide the Golden Boot Race
Individual brilliance rarely tells the whole story. Tournament dynamics often determine which player ultimately lifts the Golden Boot.
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Several factors consistently influence the final outcome.
● Deep tournament runs: Players from teams reaching the semi-finals usually have the advantage because they simply play more matches,
● Penalty responsibilities: Spot kicks frequently decide close scoring races,
● Chance creation: Teams with attacking systems generate more scoring opportunities for their strikers,
● Club form entering the tournament: Players arriving in peak scoring rhythm tend to carry that momentum into international competition.
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Tournament expansion adds another variable. A 48-team field increases chances of high-scoring group matches, where a striker can build an early lead. Informed fans increasingly follow the latest soccer news and trends to track injuries and form shaping the Golden Boot race.
A Golden Boot Race Full of Storylines
Every World Cup produces unforgettable moments, and the Golden Boot race often becomes one of the tournament’s most compelling storylines. While teams compete for the trophy, the top scorer battle creates its own drama.
Mbappé could chase the all-time scoring record, while Kane offers relentless consistency. Messi represents a legendary career nearing its final chapter, Haaland brings explosive scoring potential, and Yamal symbolizes football’s next generation.
The expanded tournament format adds intrigue. One breakout performance can reshape the leaderboard, and one decisive goal can echo throughout the tournament. The Golden Boot rarely follows a predictable script.
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*Content reflects information available as of 04/03/2026; subject to change
The Hundred’s landmark player auction could go down as an “historic moment for UK sport”, according to the man responsible for bringing down the hammer on every deal.
Auctioneer Richard Madley will oversee the bidding in what is a first for any professional sport in this country and knows exactly what it means to be there at the start of a new chapter.
As well as being known for his role in daytime television favourite Bargain Hunt, Madley was the frontman for the inaugural Indian Premier League auction in 2008 – a watershed moment for the game that peaked with MS Dhoni fetching a then unthinkable 1.5million US dollars from Chennai Super Kings.
“I said that was the day that cricket changed forever and I stick by it. When I brought the hammer down on Dhoni, things were never the same again,” Madley told the Press Association.
“I’ve got a feeling about this one too. It’s an historic moment for sport in the UK. Once people realise what is happening, that we are selling athletes on the open market, it could be a day that is remembered as setting a blueprint for the future.
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“It could become a feature on the sporting calendar here. I have been approached to work in golf, in rugby and heaven forbid if football caught on to it.”
The women’s auction takes place on Wednesday, followed by the men’s teams on Thursday, with both events taking place at Piccadilly Lights in central London and a total of 425 names in the hat.
And while the numbers will not hit IPL levels of excess, the involvement of new private investors has seen a considerable leap in available funds. Women’s squads now have a total of £880,000 to spend, with the kitty swelling to £2.05million for the men’s teams.
The biggest earners have already taken a chunk of that as direct signings – Harry Brook leading the way with a £465,000 deal at Sunrisers Leeds, while Nat Sciver-Brunt and Lauren Bell have negotiated £140,000 contracts with Trent Rockets and Southern Brave, respectively.
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But Madley believes there is plenty of intrigue around how teams choose to deploy their resources, with major overseas stars available alongside leading English names including Joe Root, Adil Rashid, Tammy Beaumont and Davina Perrin.
“I’ve seen some of these guys are the bidding tables in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Cape Town and the UAE. There’s a lot of noise in the run-up, I hear the whispers, but I think you can read the room and anticipate who’s up for it,” he said.
“Could we see a player earning £350,000? Indeed. But it’s a high-risk strategy and you end up with egg on your face if you get to the end and you’ve run out of cash or you can’t find £50,000 for a player.
“I’ve got a job to do and it’s not about generating the highest prices, it’s making sure the teams leave with a complete squad.”
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Madley recalls with fondness the time Andrew Flintoff bought him a beer after securing a bumper payday with CSK in 2009 and is happy to continue as the face of cricket’s free market frontier.
“The antiques market is on the wane and cricket is still on the way up, so I prefer selling cricketers,” he said.
“We’ve also introduced total transparency. We disclose the base prices, who is bidding, how much much for and who against. That never happened when I sold impressionist art at Christie’s.”
Steve Lapper died in his sleep last week — a quiet passing for a beloved husband, father, unreformed golf junkie and friend to many in the game, none of whom would have described him as quiet.
I first met Steve some 15 years ago in the grill room of a hidebound Boston-area club. He was seated at the next table over, holding forth in a voluble stage whisper on the work of the Golden Age architect William Flynn. Someone made an introduction and we got to talking, first about courses, but soon about work and kids and where to get the best dim sum nearby. Within no time, he was giving me the kind of good-natured grief I only expect from people I have known and liked for years.
That was Steve. He made your acquaintance quickly. He was drawn to golf as an art form and a pastime, but even more as a catalyst for social connections, which he seemed to forge wherever he went. Busting chops was just one of his ways of expressing fondness. He relished his relationships in the game, with an understanding that the places golf took him and the people he met through it were its richest rewards.
Steve was born and raised in New Rochelle, N.Y., and grew up caddying at Wykagyl and Winged Foot. One of his cherished memories was walking Winged Foot as a standard bearer in the 1974 U.S. Open, an experience he’d happily recount to anyone who’d listen.
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Both his parents played, his mother well enough to win her club championship. Steve could get his ball airborne, too. Sometimes, he even hit it with power and precision. But he never deluded himself into thinking he might do it for a living. Golf instead became a near-constant companion through a career that spanned trading floors in Chicago, San Francisco and New York.
It was in Manhattan where he met his wife, Melissa. They later moved to New Jersey, where they raised two daughters, Sydney and Whitney.
Like New York, Steve had an outsize personality and stories to match. Friends sometimes accused him of taking poetic license with his anecdotes, including the one about playing golf and poker with Michael Jordan when Jordan was a rookie. Steve’s pal, Mike Policano, was among the amiable doubters until a few years ago, when he wound up at dinner with Steve and two friends, one of whom mentioned he’d just bumped into Jordan in a hotel lobby. “He then described the two of them playing poker and golf with Jordan,” Policano told me. “I stammered, ‘You mean, that story was true?’”
Along with good yarns, Steve brimmed with interests and opinions. He read voraciously. He collected art. He could speak on high-brow topics without sounding pretentious and on low-brow matters without coming off as a knucklehead. Aside from his wife and daughters, few subjects delighted him more than golf design.
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He was an early and forceful voice in online architecture forums. Debates on those platforms can be like academic feuds in which people care so much because the stakes are so small. At times, Steve ruffled feathers and had his ruffled back. But he never lost touch with the point of those exchanges, which was to swap ideas and insights with fellow obsessives, or their ultimate importance, which was minimal. He could disagree heatedly and laugh about it an hour later. And he was never too proud to admit when he was wrong.
“Steve could be a lot,” one of his friends told me, tenderly. I’ve always thought that’s better than being a little. To engage with Steve was to understand that he expected you to go all in. You could count on him to show you the same respect in return.
Steve served as a GOLF Magazine course rater for more than a decade. But his deepest involvement in the game was as a course operator and developer. He was president of Paramount Golf Club in New York and co-owner of Fox Hollow Golf Course in New Jersey, and he was working toward a real-estate project at nearby Spring Brook GC when he died.
Brandel Chamblee, the Golf Channel and NBC Sports analyst, first encountered Steve over lunch at Paramount under circumstances not unlike my own. Steve was seated nearby and “he was not inconspicuous,” Chamblee said. “He also knew more about architecture than anyone I’d ever met. It was like talking to George Thomas, Alister MacKenzie, Bill Coore and Gil Hanse all in one.”
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Steve and Chamblee became friends, though not because they agreed on everything. “Politically, we couldn’t have been more opposite,” Chamblee said. “But with Steve, you could have an argument without animosity. He would listen to you. He was open to having his mind changed. Even on fraught topics, conversations with Steve were always civil. It reminded me of the way the world used to be. Of the way the world should be.”
Golf was a Lapper family affair.
Courtesy of Sydney Lapper
They eventually partnered on a golf development project that fell into limbo. The friendship didn’t.
Steve will be remembered for his gregariousness but also for his generosity. He was giving with his time as well as with his contacts. Whether I was writing about design, agronomy, the business of golf development or legal issues around the Tour-LIV war, he topped my call list. If I needed a source, he had a reference. The Kevin Bacon of the golf world, he was rarely more than a few degrees removed from a notable figure. Often that figure was someone he knew well enough to bust their chops.
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The golf course photographer Jon Cavalier experienced this firsthand. Steve was a big booster in Cavalier’s launch of LinksGems, the now-prominent Instagram account he runs. “When I was starting out, I didn’t know much about great architecture or private clubs,” Cavalier told me. “I didn’t know who to contact or how to conduct myself.” Steve liked Cavalier’s work, reached out to say so, and became both a friend and mentor, educating him about design, showing him how to navigate the industry. “If I’ve got 1,000 great relationships in golf,” Cavalier said, “I probably owe 950 of them to Steve.”
Steve shared his love of golf at home. He inspired Melissa to take up the game and taught both daughters to play. Before his death, Whitney had been planning to host a tournament at her college in Wisconsin to raise money for one of the campus clubs. That event is in April. Steve and Sydney had planned to attend. Now, Sydney and her mom will go. “But my dad will be there in spirit,” Sydney said. “His idea of heaven was a golf course.”
Steve would have turned 69 this year. The last time we spoke, he’d been scraping it around. His game had seen better days and he was the first to say so but without complaint. He knew that was the bargain every lifelong golfer strikes. He had trips planned and a clear sense of how he hoped to spend his time. He had played 99 of GOLF’s Top 100 Courses in the World, Augusta National being the exception. He would have thrilled to play it, but he wasn’t going to break his back to try to make that happen. Getting out with friends and family was the main thing. The cachet of the course concerned him less than the company he kept.
In 2022, one of Steve’s close friends, a fellow course rater named David Baum, was killed in a car accident in New Jersey. In a tribute on GOLF.com, Steve wrote: “Like so many of us, David took lessons and worked on his swing, yet his goal wasn’t as much to shoot a lower score as it was to enjoy the walk. . . He also saw the game as a portal to adventure and discovery.”
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I count myself among the many who feel similarly about golf, and whose world was widened because of Steve.
The Man United legend has addressed the post he made on social media following the Premier League loss against Newcastle.
07:38, 10 Mar 2026Updated 07:52, 10 Mar 2026
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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has revealed that former teammate Michael Carrick ‘wasn’t upset’ by the social media message sent in the aftermath of the loss against Newcastle. United fell to a 2-1 loss at St James’ Park on Wednesday night, their first defeat under the guidance of Carrick.
Under the interim manager, United have won six of the eight Premier League games, drawing one, with the one loss coming against the Magpies. The impressive form have seen them climb up into third place in the Premier League table in what is a boost to their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
He wrote: “Michael has definitely got something special about him…cos Utd have been [expletive] last four games.” He later deleted the post.
Speaking on his The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast on Monday, Scholes has now explained the message, and revealed a conversation with Carrick over it. “It was in no way intended to be offensive towards Michael,” he said.
“Michael is one of the nicest people you will ever meet in football, he’d be the last person that I would want to offend.
“I messaged Michael anyway. I went straight to Michael and said, ‘Look, I was never intending to upset you’
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“And I don’t think I needed to say that anyway and he told me himself he wasn’t upset by it.”
Host Gary Lineker said: “You see, there’s a little bit of beef between Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick? He’s digging him out, isn’t he? He’s not exactly being very supportive of his old team-mate, is he?”
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Shearer then responded with: “It’s a strange, it’s weird, isn’t it?”
Lineker then added: “It’s weird, isn’t it? Maybe there’s a bit of history there. Who knows?”
Fellow pundit Micah Richards said: “I need a fact checker on that though, I don’t believe it’s true. Everyone is saying it’s true, it has got on all the headlines from social media.
“But if he did say that, Scholesy (Paul Scholes) when you see him, he is one of the nicest guys ever and I don’t think he has got any aspirations to be a coach. As an ex-teammate, I thought they had love for each other, but it was strange to say the least.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
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