Reality television personality Jessie Holmes has clinched a second consecutive victory in the grueling Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race after guiding his team across approximately 1,000 miles of Alaskan wilderness.

His triumph marks a significant achievement in the challenging endurance event.

Holmes navigated his dog team to the finish line on Tuesday night in Nome, a Bering Sea coastal community.

The arduous race began on 8 March in Willow, following a ceremonial start in Anchorage, taking mushers and their dogs over two mountain ranges, along the frozen Yukon River, and across the unpredictable Bering Sea ice.

This repeat win places Holmes, a former cast member of National Geographic’s “Life Below Zero,” among an elite group.

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He is only the third competitor in the Iditarod’s 54-year history to win back-to-back races after their initial victory, joining legends Susan Butcher (1986-1987) and Lance Mackey (2007-2008), both of whom went on to claim four titles.

Before the race, Holmes described this year’s Iditarod as the most crucial of his career.

He told The Associated Press: “That’s hard to put that on yourself because you got to live with that pressure every day. And if I do not make it, it is going to absolutely crush me.”

He will pocket about $80,000 for this year’s win, up from the $57,000-plus he took home last year.

The prize fund was bolstered by Norwegian billionaire Kjell Rokke, who also participated in a new, non-competitive amateur category. Rokke reached Nome on Monday, under rules allowing outside support from a former Iditarod champion, flexible rest periods, and dog swaps.

Holmes first competed in the Iditarod in 2018, earning rookie of the year honours with a seventh-place finish. He has now raced nine times, achieving seven top-10 placements and securing a top-five spot in his last five attempts.

His eight-year stint on National Geographic’s “Life Below Zero”, chronicling life in rural Alaska, provided the means to acquire better dogs and equipment.

It also enabled him to purchase raw land near Denali National Park and Preserve, where the carpenter has established a homestead in the wilderness, his closest neighbour some 30 miles away.

Rokke, who now lives in Switzerland, provided $100,000 in additional prize money and $170,000 to Alaska Native villages that serve as checkpoints.

Canadian entrepreneur Steve Curtis, another non-competitive musher, pledged $50,000 to help youth sports programmes in the villages, though he did not finish the race.

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The Iditarod continues to face criticism from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which claims over 150 dogs have died in the race’s history.

PETA urged Rokke to spend his money helping dogs rather than putting them through “hazards and misery.” The Iditarod has never provided its count of dog fatalities.

Tragically, one dog has died in this year’s event: a four-year-old female named Charly from musher Mille Porsild’s team, as confirmed by the Iditarod in a statement on Tuesday. A necropsy is scheduled to determine the cause.

This year’s race saw 34 competitive mushers start, matching the 1973 inaugural event for the second-lowest number in its history.

The dwindling participation is attributed to the retirement of many seasoned mushers and the escalating costs of supplies, such as dog food, which have kept field sizes small this decade.

First Published: Mar 18 2026 | 4:22 PM IST

Global apparel brand UNIQLO has announced Indian cricket star Jasprit Bumrah as its new brand ambassador in India, marking a strategic collaboration that aligns sport with everyday lifestyle fashion. 
The partnership kicks off with a fresh campaign that reflects UNIQLO’s signature LifeWear philosophy, focused on delivering simple, high-quality clothing designed to improve daily life through comfort, functionality, and timeless style.

A partnership rooted in simplicity

The association highlights a shared approach between the brand and the cricketer, one built on consistency, authenticity, and effortless performance. Bumrah, known for his calm demeanor and precision on the field, embodies the understated confidence that UNIQLO aims to represent through its clothing line.

Campaign focus: AIRism collection

The campaign subtly draws parallels between Bumrah’s evolution as a fast bowler and the idea of everyday essentials becoming indispensable over time. Just as discipline and instinct define his game, the campaign suggests that comfort-driven clothing naturally integrates into one’s lifestyle.

Bumrah on the collaboration

Speaking about the partnership, Bumrah said, “In my day-to-day life, I prefer clothing that feels comfortable and effortless, especially when I’m spending time off the field. That’s why I’m happy to be partnering with UNIQLO, the brand’s approach to everyday clothing feels like a natural extension to my personal style.”

Brand Perspective and Rollout

Nidhi Rastogi, Marketing Director at UNIQLO India, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are proud to partner with cricket world champion Jasprit Bumrah and welcome him to the UNIQLO family. His focus on excellence, authenticity and quiet confidence reflects the essence of UNIQLO’s LifeWear philosophy.”

The campaign has been launched across multiple platforms, including digital media, social channels, outdoor advertising, and in-store displays, aiming to connect with a wide audience while reinforcing the brand’s commitment to everyday comfort and style.

Barcelona are reported to be in no rush to finalise a deal for Marcus Rashford to complete a permanent move to Catalonia from Manchester United

After the final obstacle preventing Marcus Rashford from completing a permanent move to Barcelona was cleared on Sunday, new details have emerged about how the club intend to pay Manchester United the transfer fee. The Spanish giants have the option to make Rashford’s move permanent for €30million (£26m) at the end of the season, when his loan spell concludes.

Joan Laporta has been re-elected president for another five-year term, meaning changes at the Nou Camp will be minimal. Sporting director Deco retains Laporta’s backing, and the president’s intention is to keep Rashford at the club.

However, Barcelona’s ongoing financial issues are well documented, and Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo reports that the club plan to pay the fee in three €10m instalments. A three-year contract on a fixed salary is also said to have already been agreed with Rashford.

With that said, the report notes that there is ‘no rush’ from the Spanish giants to finalise a deal, as they want to assess how the England international performs between now and the end of the campaign.

It’s claimed that if he fails to find consistent form before the end of May, his ‘chances will decrease,’ with the Champions League clash against Newcastle United described as a fresh opportunity for him to showcase his best.

Despite scoring 10 goals and providing 13 assists in 38 games, his last goal came on January 31 against Elche in La Liga.

Since then, he has featured against Mallorca, Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao in the league, Newcastle in the Champions League, and Albacete and Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey – all without finding the net.

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A number of Barca supporters have already voiced their opinions on the possibility of signing the winger.

One said: “You don’t want to spend €30m on Rashford. You want to sign a left-footed centre-back, a centre-forward and a full-back. How much would you invest in those three?”

Another added: “Rashford’s salary, even if reduced from what he earned in Manchester, will still be one of the highest. Plus, we have to invest €30m in the transfer, and so far he’s only shown inconsistency.”

A third pointed out: “He started very well, but his performance has dropped. If he returns to his early-season form, he’s a necessary option to rotate with Raphinha.”

Another supporter suggested: “Seems expensive for what he can contribute,” whilst a fifth concluded: “He has the talent, but in my opinion he lacks a competitive mindset. In elite football, being good and fast isn’t enough.”

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Sanju Samson is set to begin a new phase in his Indian Premier League journey after playing a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph. The wicketkeeper-batter has joined Chennai Super Kings, marking a significant shift after leading Rajasthan Royals in recent seasons. At CSK, he enters a different dynamic under captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, with MS Dhoni still part of the setup — a factor that could influence Samson’s chances behind the stumps.

The move presents both opportunity and expectation. Joining one of the IPL’s most successful franchises places Samson in a high-pressure environment, but also gives him a broader platform to elevate his game. Adjusting to conditions at Chepauk will be a fresh challenge, while the strong CSK fan base could further amplify his profile in the coming season.

Speaking on JioStar, Former India captain Anil Kumble believes Samson’s arrival reflects a wider transition in Indian cricket leadership, while also strengthening CSK’s squad. He pointed to Samson’s recent form and confidence as key positives heading into the IPL.

“Icons from one generation to another, the baton has passed on in Indian cricket, from Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin, then to Virat, with MS Dhoni also part of that era. You had the likes of Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly before the shift to MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, who still carry that aura and continue to perform. In that sense, Sanju coming in is a great move for CSK. The icing on the cake is his fantastic form leading into the IPL and winning the World Cup for India with three back-to-back knocks,” Kumble said on CSK’s decision.

Kumble also underlined that Samson’s value goes beyond his performances. His background and familiarity with the region could strengthen the franchise’s connection with its supporters, while his role as a wicketkeeper-batter adds balance to the squad.

“I’m sure that will certainly contribute to the franchise’s fan following. From a Chennai perspective, he fits their need, being Kerala-born, speaks Tamil, so there’s a connect, a wicketkeeper-batter, so in a similar mould to MS, and his experience will be valuable for CSK,” he said.

CSK’s leadership structure has seen frequent changes in recent years, with Dhoni stepping back into the captaincy role during injury setbacks or transitional phases. Kumble feels Samson is well-suited to provide stability in such situations, given his leadership experience with Rajasthan Royals.

“I think that’s the perfect role for Sanju, handling those responsibilities almost like a vice-captain. He has captained Rajasthan for a long period of time, so that leadership role comes naturally to him, and that’s something CSK will be looking for. Last year, when Ruturaj was injured, MS had to take over, and previously, when Ravindra Jadeja was also captain, MS Dhoni came back in as captain midway through the season. So there have been some challenges in identifying who the next captain would be for MS.”

“Ruturaj was identified, and it is good that he continues as captain despite Sanju coming into the scheme of things. I wouldn’t be surprised if MS Dhoni gives Sanju the keeping role at some point during the season. He will be part of the leadership group, and in case if Ruturaj is unavailable due to injury or otherwise, Sanju would probably take over rather than MS,” Kumble said.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed on Sunday and the first weekend of March Madness is typically all about matchups. If you love to see teams that let it fly, No. 6 Louisville vs. No. 11 South Florida could be one of the best matchups of March Madness 2026. Both teams were top 25 in the country in 3-point attempts per game and the expectation is certainly for a high-scoring battle between two teams that love playing with pace.

Louisville freshman Mikel Brown Jr. missed the ACC Tournament with a back injury and his status for the first round is up in the air, so might South Florida be a double-digit seed worth backing in your 2026 NCAA Tournament picks? Before making any 2026 March Madness bracket predictions, be sure to check out the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

Their proven projection model has simulated every game in the tournament 10,000 times. It has absolutely crushed its March Madness picks recently, beating over 91 percent of all CBS Sports brackets in four of the past seven tournaments. It was all over UConn’s championship run two years ago and nailed 12 teams in the Sweet 16 last year. It also correctly predicted all four Final Four teams in 2025.

It knows how to spot an upset as well. The same model has produced brackets that have nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016.

Now, with the 2026 NCAA bracket being revealed, the model is simulating the matchups and its results are in. You can only see it over at SportsLine.

2026 March Madness bracket games to watch

One of the 2026 March Madness matchups to keep an eye on: No. 8 seed Villanova vs. No. 9 seed Utah State in the West Region. Kevin Willard has brought Villanova back to March Madness in his first year as the program’s head coach, following three straight years of it missing the NCAA Tournament. Before these last three seasons, Villanova had been an NCAA Tournament staple, making 16 of 17 Big Dances and winning two national titles. The Wildcats enter 24-8 ahead of a matchup against Utah State, which is 28-6 and coming off a Mountain West Tournament title. The Aggies are playing in their fourth straight March Madness, but they have won only one game in the prior three trips.

Also in the West Region, Miami vs. Missouri figures to be a pivotal 7 vs. 10 matchup. Jai Lucas and Dennis Gates both played in the NCAA Tournament as players, with Lucas making the Big Dance at both Florida and Texas while Gates earned a bid in 2002 with Cal. Now Lucas will make his March Madness debut as a head coach with Miami and Gates is making his third appearance as a head coach with Missouri after making it once with Cleveland State. Miami went 25-8 this season and went 13-5 in the ACC while Missouri went 20-12 and was 10-8 in the SEC. Tipoff for this matchup is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET on Friday.

The third matchup to watch in the West Region features No. 4 seed Arkansas vs. No. 13 seed Hawaii. Both programs are coming off conference tournament championships, with Arkansas defeating Vanderbilt on Sunday to win the SEC and Hawaii besting UC Irvine on Saturday to win the Big West. The Razorbacks are led by superstar freshmen Darius Acuff and Meleek Thomas while Hawaii’s top four scorers this season were all seniors. They’ll tip off at 4:25 p.m. ET in Portland at the Moda Center on Thursday. You can see how far all these teams go over at SportsLine.

How to make 2026 NCAA bracket predictions

How far will those major programs go? And which Cinderella teams will make surprising runs through the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket? With the model’s track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it is calling this year before locking in any 2026 NCAA bracket picks.

So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament bracket 2026? And which 2026 March Madness underdogs will shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which teams you can back with confidence, all from the model that’s nailed 25 upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception and beat over 91% of players in four of the last seven tournaments.

In 2022, the Minnesota Vikings moved on from the previous regime by firing head coach Mike Zimmer and GM Rick Spielman. Two first-timers, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell, were hired to take their spots. A few months in, the duo faced its first significant task on the job when the draft rolled around. The results were a disaster.

Let’s fast forward nearly four years. On Tuesday, running back Ty Chandler, a 2022 fifth-rounder, agreed to terms with the New Orleans Saints, confirming a reality many had been expecting for a couple of years. Not a single Vikings draft pick from 2022 received a second contract with the franchise.

The Vikings entered that draft with the 12th overall pick; surely, that would help find a new franchise player. Well, Adofo-Mensah shipped that pick to Detroit for pick 32 and used that to acquire safety Lewis Cine. In theory, adding more picks makes sense, but it only works if their own picks work out. Cine did not.

He played in ten games and was cut after his third preseason. A nasty injury in his rookie year, combined with a coordinator and scheme change, didn’t help, but it can’t be ruled out that he just didn’t have what it takes.

What makes matters worse is that picks 12 through 14 have all had a pretty good career and Adofo-Mensah had the option to draft one of them: Jameson Williams, Jordan Davis, or Kyle Hamilton. He also passed on first-rounders Trent McDuffie, Tyler Smith, and Tyler Linderbaum.

Unfortunately, the draft didn’t even trend up after Cine’s selection. Entering the second round with pick 34, Adofo-Menash traded that to Green Bay. That trade was a massive win on the trade charts, as he received a couple of second-rounders. He ultimately traded up once for Andrew Booth and also picked Ed Ingram in the process.

Cornerback Booth struggled with injuries in his Vikings tenure and was traded in the summer of 2024 to Dallas in exchange for Nahshon Wright. He also encountered the problem of being drafted into one scheme and suddenly having to work in another. However, he also hasn’t particularly thrived elsewhere and is in the UFL now.

Ingram started 41 games through three seasons, but was one of the worst guards in the NFL. Last offseason, the Vikings traded him to Houston for a late-rounder, where he had his best season and received a sweet contract extension. It’s fair to wonder whether the coaching could have been the issue in his case.

The Vikings had a third pick on Day 2, selecting linebacker Brian Asamoah early in the third round. The linebacker showed flashes as a rotational player in his rookie season, but new coordinator Brian Flores didn’t use him on defense. Asamoah was waived last summer and has bounced around since.

The Vikings added another six players on draft Saturday.

Cornerback Akayleb Evans was a rotational player in 2022 and a full-time starter in 2023. He was surprisingly waived during his third season with the club and has been with the Panthers since. Defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo was another player Flores didn’t like, as he was cut entering his second season. He’s still in the league, mostly as a rotational defensive lineman.

Chandler has been a depth running back and is one of only two players who fulfilled their entire four-year contract. He has never truly established himself on offense, but has been a useful backup and special-teams player.

Offensive tackle Vederian Lowe was traded after one season for a sixth-rounder, which was his original draft slot. The pick was a wash, but he was a solid backup tackle for the New England Patriots and just signed a lucrative deal with the 49ers.

Wideout Jalen Nailor is undoubtedly the best pick on the list, carving out a nice role as the team’s WR3. He just received a paycheck from the Las Vegas Raiders. And finally, reserve tight end Nick Muse, who appeared in 16 games with the Vikings and departed after the 2024 season when he joined the Eagles on the Super Bowl run.

It’s been a disastrous group. Adofo-Mensah worked with the scouting department from the previous regime, then traded down just to trade, picked the wrong players, and didn’t get much help from the coaching staff in developing players. The change from Ed Donatell to Brian Flores certainly helped the defensive success and the operation, but the players selected for Donatell’s scheme were in trouble.

At the end of the day, the draft will go down as one of the worst in recent memory, with some role players and many more players that didn’t work out at all. What was supposed to kickstart the new era of Vikings football turned out to be a huge stinker.

Next month, the decision-makers want to do a better job at finding the next generation of Minnesota Vikings.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

Argentina captain Lionel Messi was left frustrated after the cancellation of the Finalissima, seeing the match as a key opportunity to prepare for the upcoming World Cup, according to ESPN.

The Inter Miami star had approached the game with ambition, viewing it as a serious final, but he was not involved in the decision-making that led to its cancellation.

Clash Between Continental Champions

The match was set to feature Argentina, winners of the 2024 CONMEBOL Copa America, against Spain, the 2024 UEFA EURO champions. Originally scheduled for March 27 in Qatar, the fixture was called off due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, preventing the organizers from safely staging the event.

Alternative Dates Explored

CONMEBOL confirmed that other venues and dates were considered, but UEFA rejected those options. The Argentine Football Association reportedly suggested March 31 as an alternative, stating it had no objection to the venue, but UEFA deemed even this date impossible. 

The Finalissima was ultimately cancelled, leaving Argentina without a high-profile warm-up before the World Cup.

Messi eyes 49th team title

A source close to the squad revealed that Messi regarded the game as a chance to secure the 49th team title of his illustrious career. Despite missing the Finalissima, Messi remains football’s most decorated player, having recently lifted the MLS Cup with Inter Miami in December. 

The Argentine captain’s focus now shifts entirely to the World Cup, where his availability and form will be crucial for Argentina’s chances.

Preparing for the World Cup

While the cancellation was disappointing, Messi and Argentina’s coaching staff must now find alternative ways to test the squad ahead of the global tournament. 

The loss of a competitive match against a European champion means the team will need to adapt their preparation strategy to ensure peak performance when the World Cup kicks off.