Just when a Bollywood blockbuster on “new India” almost stole the attention of a nation that lives and breathes cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL) made headlines with numbers amounting to over $3 billion. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals found new owners on Tuesday, who will pay $1.78 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively, for the teams, changing the perception around the league.
For years, IPL teams were seen mostly as high-profile sporting properties — glamorous, influential and culturally powerful, but still tied closely to the passion and prestige of their owners. That equation is now changing.
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But here’s the bigger picture. This isn’t just about two franchises surpassing a symbolic valuation milestone. It is about the IPL emerging as a sustainable business and not just a cricket league. The IPL has matured into a league with predictable revenues, premium branding and global investor appeal. The two deals indicate a fundamental shift in how cricket itself is being priced and owned.
Why these deals are happening now
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The timing of these valuations is worth noting. The IPL has achieved scale and visibility — something every serious investor craves. Its media rights for the 2023–27 cycle were sold for ₹48,390.32 crore, demonstrating the league’s ability to command enormous broadcast and digital value. Sponsorship demand remains strong, and franchise-level revenues have become easier to model. Moreover, the IPL now offers predictability to investors. Its central revenue pool, sponsorship ecosystem, ticketing upside, merchandising potential and digital fan engagement contribute to that predictability. The addition of the Women’s Premier League has expanded the league’s commercial horizon. Therefore, the IPL is a proven, scalable business.
More than just a league
The billion-dollar valuations clearly indicate that these deals sit inside a system that combines central media revenues shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), league-wide sponsorships, local commercial deals, fan communities and content distribution. That gives each team a platform effect that goes beyond wins and losses on the field.
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A conventional team business depends heavily on matchday earnings and sporting performance. By contrast, an IPL team benefits from the power of the entire league infrastructure. The franchise is a gateway into cricket’s most commercially potent ecosystem, where value is created not only through performance but through attention, content, sponsors and reach.
From vanity ownership to financial asset
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The character of IPL ownership is changing as well. In the initial years, teams were associated with their promoters, celebrities or business houses. Owning an IPL team had a strong vanity component. That has not disappeared, but the focus is shifting. Today, consortia, institutional investors and private capital increasingly view IPL stakes through the lens of returns.
This reflects the growing maturity of the league. A scarce asset with predictable income, long-term appreciation potential and strong brand visibility attracts investors who think in portfolio terms. An IPL team offers scarcity because there are only a limited number of franchises. It offers yield through revenue streams tied to the league and sponsors. And it offers appreciation because the broader cricket economy continues to expand. IPL ownership is moving from passion-driven to portfolio-driven.
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What new money sees in IPL teams
For newer investors, the appeal of IPL franchises goes well beyond the cricket field. These are media-facing consumer brands with multiple monetisation levers. They sit at the intersection of sport, entertainment, digital distribution and community engagement. That makes them especially attractive in an era when attention itself is a valuable asset.
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The modern investor sees an IPL team as a content engine, a sponsorship platform and a digital consumer brand. The level of social media engagement around these franchises is a testament to that appeal.
The Women’s Premier League adds another layer of long-term possibility. This is why IPL teams are being viewed less as sporting curiosities and more as expandable commercial vehicles. IPL is no longer only sport to investors. It is becoming an alternative asset class.
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Why Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals commanded premium valuations
The two deals, though linked by the same larger trend, reflect slightly different strengths. Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s premium is easier to understand at first glance. It has one of the most engaged fan bases in the league, enormous digital traction, strong commercial appeal and a visibility level amplified by star power and years of relevance in public conversation.
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“RCB commands a premium because of its unmatched fan engagement, commercial pull, and the legends of the game associated with it,” said Sunil Kalra, an independent cricket analyst.
Rajasthan Royals, however, represent something equally important. Their valuation underlines the strength of the IPL as a whole. Even a franchise that may not always dominate public chatter like the most high-decibel teams can still command a premium because it owns a scarce place in one of the world’s most valuable cricket leagues.
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“However, Rajasthan Royals has focused on roping in cricketing royalty and creating its brand value. Shane Warne won the first season for the team, and Rahul Dravid has been associated with RR for over a decade now. That’s cricketing royalty for you,” Kalra added.
What this means for the IPL’s future
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These deals are likely to do more than generate headlines. They may reset expectations across the league. Once billion-dollar franchise valuations are established in the market, they create a new benchmark for future stake sales, minority investments and structured capital raises. That can attract more institutional money and encourage existing owners to think more strategically about capital structure, governance and monetisation.
The longer-term impact could be profound. More professional ownership structures may lead to sharper financial discipline, stronger management practices and greater focus on long-term asset building. The IPL may now be entering a more mature, finance-led phase of growth.
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The significance of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals valuations goes far beyond two transactions. They show that IPL teams are no longer being judged only as sporting brands or promoter trophies. They are being treated as premium media properties, investable assets and magnets for serious capital. That changes the conversation around cricket itself. The IPL’s next phase may be shaped as much by balance sheets as by scorecards.
The Hauser Jets, a Class 1A program coming off their best two-year run since winning the state championship in 2006, is hiring Wadsworth away from the Mustangs, confirmed Hauser athletic director Kyle Shipp on Monday.
Edgewood Head Coach Matt Wadsworth instructs his team during the Edgewood versus Sullivan boys basketball game at Edgewood High School on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025.
Wadsworth poured a lot of time and energy into Edgewood’s youth programs, but won’t be around as those players begin circulating into the high school. He also saw the opening of the new fieldhouse this winter.
“The first thing I’ll say is, we owe Matt a lot in regards to, he came in during COVID and our youth program was struggling,” Edgewood athletic director Jerry Bland said. “Matt got involved and help stabilize our youth program, knowing they would become our athletes.
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“He stayed active and helped build the junior high program and provided some travel opportunities our kids may not have gotten. Matt made sure those opportunities were out there and available. A lot of that group is just now reaching the high school, so someone else will see the results. He put a lot of work and time in.”
Interestingly, Whiteland’s current head coach, Nate Cangany, was hired out of Hauser to replace Wadsworth in 2019.
Wadsworth takes over for Trent Moorhead (79-27), who left Hauser after four years to take over at Center Grove. Moorhead lead the Jets to semi-state the past two years, only to lose to the eventual state champs by narrow margins. Moorhead’s brother Brad, now head coach at South Ripley, was an assistant under Wadsworth at Edgewood.
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Hauser will play South Ripley on Dec. 11.
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Edgewood will get to work quickly on finding a successor, with summer activities right around the corner. The Mustangs are not rushing the process at the expense of making the right hire. As of Monday afternoon, the administration had not received an official letter of resignation from Wadsworth.
“Once the position is open, and I hope that happens soon, we’ll take applications for the next couple of weeks,” Bland said. “And if we get what we need, or a good assortment of candidates, we’ll move to set up interviews.
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“In a perfect, ideal world, we’ll have someone in place by the start of June, which is a pretty significant month for basketball.”
A lot of team activities take place in June before players turn to more travel team action in July.
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Eastern Greene hires two
Eastern Greene has named a pair of former T-Birds as its new volleyball and girls basketball coaches.
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Nathan Martindale, who coached the middle school girls basketball team and is the middle school athletic director, has stepped up to the varsity position. He has also previously coached the EG girls golf team.
The staff includes Josh Cunningham (JV coach), Jarrod Bahr (varsity assistant) and Lexi Brough (volunteer assistant).
Dara James is the new volleyball coach. She has previously coached for Eastern Greene at the middle school level.
Desmond Mason is back in the news, but this time for legal trouble instead of basketball. The former NBA Slam Dunk Contest winner was arrested in Oklahoma last week on a felony warrant linked to a Texas case, according to News 9 and local police reports. Police said Mason was taken into custody in Bricktown on Thursday before being transported to a local hospital because of a medical issue.
After treatment, he was booked into the Oklahoma County Detention Center, where he remained in custody as of Monday morning. Reports from News 9 stated Mason is currently being held on a “flight to avoid” charge, which is often used when someone crosses state lines to avoid prosecution. The case has quickly gained attention because of Mason’s history as a former NBA player and public figure.
According to News 9, the felony warrant connected to Mason comes from Collin County, Texas, and involves an alleged theft of sports memorabilia. Officials said a couple claimed they paid Mason more than $9,000 in March 2025 for custom framing work involving several sports collectibles.
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The couple reportedly told investigators they never received the framed memorabilia back after handing the items over to Mason. They also claimed Mason became difficult to contact afterwards and often gave reasons for delays instead of delivering the finished products to them.
Officials later confirmed the missing memorabilia involved in the case is valued at nearly $40,000. Mason was eventually arrested in Oklahoma following the investigation. The former NBA player also faced legal trouble in 2024 after being jailed in Oklahoma City on a contempt of court charge linked to his divorce case.
Desmond Mason Built A Second Career In Oklahoma After His NBA Retirement
Before this latest incident, Desmond Mason was widely known for his athletic NBA career and deep connection to Oklahoma basketball. The former Oklahoma State player entered the NBA as the 17th overall pick in the 2000 draft and later won the 2001 Slam Dunk Contest.
Mason spent nearly a decade in the NBA playing for teams including the Seattle SuperSonics, Milwaukee Bucks, New Orleans Hornets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Sacramento Kings. After retiring in 2009, he stayed in Oklahoma City and slowly built another public career outside basketball through artwork and business projects.
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According to News 9 and Oklahoma City civic records, Mason operated an art studio in Midtown and participated in several community and downtown projects over the years. Authorities have not yet confirmed when Mason could potentially be transferred to Texas as the legal process continues moving forward.
The Minnesota Vikings kicked off rookie minicamp last week, and along the way, the franchise signed a hybrid OLB-DT named Smith Vilbert. Yes, it’s the Vilbert the Viking this summer.
Minnesota’s latest roster flyer brings size, length, and a wonderfully obvious nickname.
Vilbert played with Bill Belichick at North Carolina, so the Belichick-to-Brian-Flores communication pipeline is evidently wide open.
Vilbert Adds Another Oversized Body to Flores’ Front
We have details on Vilbert.
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North Carolina defensive lineman Smith Vilbert closes in on Richmond running back Andrew King during second-quarter action on Sep. 13, 2025, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Vilbert later emerged as an intriguing NFL prospect because of his unusual size profile, offering teams the ability to deploy him as a heavy edge defender with occasional interior pass-rushing flexibility. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images.
Vilbert to MIN
Minnesota hosted dozens of rookies (and some veterans like quarterback Cooper Rush) last week, and Vilbert actually snagged a contract.
SI.com‘sWill Ragatz wrote, “After the conclusion of their rookie minicamp on Friday, the Vikings signed former Penn State and North Carolina defensive lineman Smith Vilbert to an undrafted free agent contract, according to his agent Brett Tessler. Vilbert was one of 21 rookie tryout players at Friday’s camp and must have impressed the coaching staff in a short time period.”
“Standing nearly 6’6″ and 290 pounds, Vilbert has 34-inch arms and brings some versatility. He lined up mostly as an edge defender in college but can also play on the interior of the D-line. A New Jersey native, Vilbert was a three-star recruit coming out of high school in 2019 and chose Penn State over several other big-time offers.”
Ever since Minnesota discovered defensive tackle Jalen Redmond two years ago, under-the-radar DL additions turn heads for Vikings fans.
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The Background
Vilbert embodies a classic “lottery-ticket” addition for the Vikings: a big, long, and experienced prospect who faces a steep climb to the 53-man roster.
Physically, he checks all the boxes, standing at an imposing 6-foot-6 and 282 pounds. His imposing frame gives Minnesota a rookie defensive lineman capable of fitting into various roles, from traditional defensive tackle to five-technique or a larger edge presence. Such versatility is crucial in Flores’ defense, which frequently demands front-seven players to move around, disguise formations, and take on multiple assignments.
However, his college production doesn’t exactly scream “instant-impact rookie.” Though older than the average first-year player, his collegiate resume is more intriguing than dominant. While he showed flashes at both Penn State and North Carolina, Vilbert enters the NFL more as a developmental project than a polished defender ready for immediate contributions. Hence the undrafted free-agent status.
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The Vikings have already invested significantly in the defensive line with Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange, so Vilbert’s most realistic path involves showcasing flashes in training camp, earning preseason reps, proving himself on special teams, and potentially securing a practice squad spot.
Nevertheless, his combination of size, length, and positional versatility makes him precisely the type of undrafted or minicamp prospect Flores is keen to develop. Especially if Belichick brokered the deal.
Penn State defensive end Smith Vilbert waits before kickoff on Oct. 23, 2021, at Beaver Stadium in University Park ahead of a matchup against Illinois. Vilbert spent several seasons developing in the Big Ten before later transferring to North Carolina, where his size and athletic profile helped draw additional NFL interest as a versatile defensive lineman. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports.
The Viking Age‘s Adam Carlson on Vilbert: “Vilbert played 47 games in college, spending all but 12 of those with Penn State before transferring to North Carolina. His statistics at Penn State were not very impressive, but he got significantly more productive once arriving with ill Belichick at UNC.”
“In those 12 games at North Carolina, Smith Vilbert had 22 combined tackles, including six tackles for a loss and one sack. In addition, he accumulated two pass defenses and recovered two fumbles while forcing one fumble. A six-foot-six, 256-pound defender, Vilbert was projected to be a Day 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, with a comparison to Tennessee Titans defensive lineman Jack Crawford by Brian Dohn at 247 Sports.”
Updated OLB Room
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The Vikings’ interior defensive line room has changed substantially since the club released Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave. It also traded Jonathan Greenard during the draft.
If Minnesota uses Vilbert as an EDGE rusher, here’s the OLB group at the moment:
OLB1: Andrew Van Ginkel OLB2: Dallas Turner OLB3: Bo Richter OLB4: Tyler Batty OLB5: Chaz Chambliss OLB6: Cam’Ron Stewart OLB7: Jordan Botelho OLB8: Arden Walker OLB9: Smith Vilbert
For good measure, though Vilbert has an outside linebacker’s frame, here’s the DT unit:
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DE1: Jalen Redmond DE2: Caleb Banks DE3: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins DE4: Elijah Williams DE5: Monkell Goodwine NT1: Domonique Orange NT2: Levi Drake Rodriguez NT3: Taki Taimani
Summer Trajectory
Vilbert, of course, is at the very bottom of the Vikings’ 90-man roster. It would actually be strange for Minnesota to strike oil twice in two years on stud defensive linemen out of nowhere: Redmond and Vilbert.
North Carolina defensive end Smith Vilbert wraps up Stanford running back Micah Ford during first-quarter action on Nov. 8, 2025, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Vilbert earned attention from NFL evaluators because of his combination of length, size, and positional versatility, traits that allowed him to contribute both on the edge and near the interior defensive front. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images.
Therefore, Vilbert will likely vie for a practice squad spot at training camp and in the preseason. There, he could bide his time and possibly claw his way up the depth chart.
Remember, though, Belichick helped refine his skill set at North Carolina. There’s a small chance that he could be a diamond in the rough.
Danhausen referred to a popular WWE Superstar as a legend in a recent social media update. He met the star backstage at the Backlash Premium Live Event.
The name in question is former WWE Women’s Champion Asuka. The Japanese star competed against IYO SKY at the PLE. Unfortunately, she lost the bout, and the two stars embraced after the match. The Empress of Tomorrow waved at the crowd at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida, before walking to the back.
Thanks for the submission!
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Earlier today, Danhausen took to Instagram to post a picture of himself standing alongside Asuka, with both of the two stars doing his signature “curse” pose, pointing toward the camera. He called Asuka a legend in the caption.
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“The Legend @wwe_asuka 🤡👹,” he wrote.
Real Reason why Jacob Fatu lost at Backlash – Check Here!
You can check out the Instagram post below:
The 35-year-old wrestled his first premium live event match at WWE Backlash. He teamed up with Minihausen to take on The Miz and Kit Wilson in a tag team match. The chaotic contest ended with the former AEW star pinning The A-lister to secure a massive win and extend his undefeated run.
A WWE Hall of Famer defended Danhausen following WWE Backlash
Minihausen showing up as Danhausen’s tag team partner for the traditional tag team match at WWE Backlash garnered mixed reactions from the wrestling fans online.
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Speaking on the most recent edition of his The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles opined that the SmackDown star was doing a great job. The veteran noted that WWE needed a bit of everything on the show, and the 35-year-old was filling the need.
“He’s doing a great job, and this is what we need. A lot of people don’t understand it. We need a little bit of everything. We want to make sure you get the entertainment from wrestling, but also we want to make you laugh, too, and we got the storylines. We want to give you a little bit of everything. Danhausen is definitely filling the need,” he said. [H/T: WrestlePurists on X]
Very Nice, Very Evil had been trying to get The Miz to mentor him. It will be interesting to see what’s next for him after the win at the Backlash Premium Live Event.
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NEW DELHI: A win over Delhi Capitals would have taken Punjab Kings to the top of the IPL 2026 points table. However, that was not to be as Punjab Kings slumped to their fourth consecutive defeat of the season, going down by three wickets to Delhi Capitals in Dharamsala.The frustration and disappointment were clearly visible on Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer’s face during the post-match presentation.
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Jamie Overton opens up on CSK comeback & bowling role
Asked to bat first by Delhi Capitals, Priyansh Arya smashed six sixes during his whirlwind 33-ball 56 before DC pacers adjusted their lengths smartly to restrict Punjab Kings to 210/5.In reply, aggressive half-centuries from David Miller (51 off 28) and skipper Axar Patel (56 off 30) powered Delhi Capitals to 211/7 in 19 overs – the highest successful chase at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.“(Where it went wrong) I won’t beat around the bush; I’ll just say fielding and bowling again,” Iyer said after the match.“(If he thought 210 was a good score) Absolutely, I feel that it was 30 runs more on this wicket considering how the ball was seaming and there was variable bounce,” he said.“(On bowling Chahal) There was absolutely a thought in my mind, but the way ball was seaming and the way it was helping seamers, I think if we would have executed our line and length precisely, we could have been able to extract wickets, but unfortunately again, we didn’t,” Iyer added.Explaining the ideal bowling strategy on the Dharamsala pitch, the PBKS skipper said:“(On how to bowl here) Still into the surface. I always say that the hard length – short of a hard length – is the best ball, especially when a new batsman is coming in. It’s not easy to hit because if you keep repeating those balls, at least one ball gives a chance of mis-hitting and you can get a wicket. We’ve been short of planning,” Iyer said.The win helped Delhi Capitals move up to seventh place in the IPL 2026 standings. DC have now played 12 matches, winning five and losing seven, with 10 points and a net run rate of -0.993.Punjab Kings, despite the loss, remain fourth on the table with 13 points from 11 matches, having registered six wins and four defeats, while one match ended without a result. Their net run rate stands at +0.428.Punjab Kings will next take on Mumbai Indians on May 14.
Monday’s winner-take-all Game 5 between the Montreal Victoire and Minnesota Frost has been postponed.
The postponement is due to an illness impacting multiple players on the Montreal roster, sources told Sportsnet.
“The decision was made following consultation with medical personnel and in accordance with the league’s commitment to the health and well-being of players, fans, staff and all those involved in the competition,” the PWHL said in a statement. “Medical assessment has determined that the symptoms are not consistent with hantavirus.”
A makeup date will be determined once “medical guidance determines it is appropriate to resume play.”
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The Victoire and Frost are tied 2-2 in their best-of-five series after the Frost won Game 4 on Friday in Minnesota.
The winner of the series will face the Ottawa Charge in the Walter Cup Final.
The Buffalo Bills signed free agent defensive end Mike Danna to a one-year deal on Monday.
Further terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Danna, 28, has spent his entire six-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs, who picked him in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
His best season came in 2023, when he started 16 regular-season games and all four playoff games for the Super Bowl champions. He totaled career highs of 50 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits in the regular season and added seven tackles in the postseason.
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Last season, he totaled 25 tackles, one sack and four QB hits in 15 games (14 starts).
He has totaled 194 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks, 51 QB hits and six forced fumbles in 87 games (49 starts) in the regular season along with two Super Bowl championships.
In a corresponding move, the Bills released cornerback MJ Devonshire, who was signed to the practice squad in December and signed a two-year, $1.9 million reserve/future contract in January.
Xabi Alonso feels his football can fit the Chelsea squad, as the London club explore a deal to appoint the Basque as their next manager, according to sources with knowledge of the process.
There has been no serious contact from Liverpool, despite his playing connection to Anfield. Arne Slot is instead widely expected to stay in the job, despite current fan dissent.
Alonso is understood to be keen to return to work this summer, having left a very difficult job in Real Madrid after just seven months. The recent chaos at the Bernabeu nevertheless means that brief role has had no real impact on a burgeoning reputation having previously won a title at Bayer Leverkusen with an unbeaten season.
While there is still some distance to go until any actual deal is struck, contact between the camps has progressed over the past week, with increasingly positive noises.
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Aside from his reputation, Alonso is the kind of hands-on coach that the Chelsea hierarchy like. He is also said to see how his system can work with most of the existing players, give or take the few signings that Chelea are expected to make.
Chelsea also greatly admire Iraola, who is the subject of interest from a number of clubs. Manchester United have been monitoring his situation, but the expectation is still they will ultimately appoint Michael Carrick.
Officially, Reitan’s victory is credited to Ping’s PLD platform, their custom building program for putters that typically have milled faces. But according to Ping Principal Design Engineer Tony Serrano, the putter has all of the guts of the new Scottsdale TEC line.
“The putter he has now is, in my opinion, it is a TEC putter,” Serrano told GOLF. “We made it here in our machine shop for him. Same sole plate, same head, same insert, same hosel. The only thing different, he wanted a different sight line on it.”
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In February, Reitan visited the Ping PLD lab to work on his putting while the Tour was in Arizona for the WM Phoenix Open. It was the rookie’s first chance to visit HQ during a Tour week.
In testing, Ping engineers found that Reitan, who was at that time using a face-balanced putter, could do a lot better with something that had toe hang.
“We could see, and he saw the numbers, suggested that he needed some toe down,” Serrano said. “He didn’t really fit that great with a face balance putter.
“He needed something that would match his natural putting stroke.”
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Kris Reitan visited the Ping PLD putting lab in February when the Tour was at the WM Phoenix Open wanting to take a look at his putting.
Turns out he needed something very different from what he was using.
While the Ally Blue H isn’t available in the U.S. market, it is in other markets around the world and on the Ping Tour truck.
Reitan loved just about everything about the new putter, from the feel and roll of the PEBAX insert, to the white finish and the way the putter released with his stroke. However, he wanted one with a simple full sight line instead of the EyeQ version on the TEC that has a dot on the top line and then a full-length trailing line.
Rather than take an existing Scottsdale TEC head and mill away the sight dot into a complete line, Serrano built Reitan a PLD version of the Scottsdale TEC, just with a different sight line. It was easier to build a new putter from scratch while retaining every other feature of the Scottsdale TEC.
That includes the new PEBAX insert that is made from the material pioneered in the use of running shoes. It provides a feel on the softer side, but because of the lighter weight and increased energy transfer, is still quite responsive and lively.
Reitan received the putter, built to his specs at 37″ and 2˚ of loft, a few weeks ago and put it in play for the first time at Quail Hollow. He finished second in the field in SG: Putting, picking up 5.158 shots.
Reitan’s Putter specs
Putter: Ping PLD Ally Blue H Hosel: Plumber’s Neck Finish: White Alignment Aid: Full Line Insert: PEBAX Loft: 2˚ Length: 37″ Lie: 70˚ Grip: Ping Superstroke Tour 1.0P 17″
Eric Lauer‘s time in Toronto may be coming to an end.
The team also placed slugger Addison Barger on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation while recalling outfielder Yohendrick Pinango and pitcher Yariel Rodriguez.
Lauer, 30, has struggled in his second season with the Blue Jays, posting a 6.69 ERA over 36.1 innings.
He has also been critical of Toronto manager John Schneider’s usage of him, going so far as saying he “hates” coming out of the bullpen following an opener.
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Lauer entered Sunday’s game as the bulk pitcher behind a pair of openers, but coughed up six runs over five innings in a 6-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels.
Barger was scratched from Toronto’s lineup Sunday with right elbow soreness just one day after missing a month due to a left ankle sprain.
He’ll be replaced by Pinango, who is listed as the 10th-ranked prospect in the Blue Jays organization, according to MLB. In 10 games played with the big club this season, Pinango is slashing .423/.444/.462.
In 22 games with triple-A Buffalo this season, Pinango is batting .288/.370/.488 with three homers and 13 RBI across 92 plate appearances.
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Pinango will bat second when the Blue Jays open a three-game set at home against the Tampa Bay Rays Monday at 7:07 p.m. ET / 4:07 p.m. PT on Sportsnet ONE and Sportsnet+.
Meanwhile, Rodríguez has posted a 2.63 ERA while recording 25 strikeouts and nine walks in 13.2 innings across 11 triple-A appearances this season.
Rodríguez was one of Toronto’s most relied-upon relievers in 2025, posting a 3.08 ERA over 73 regular-season innings.
Despite the strong full-season totals, the six-foot right-hander struggled in the second half and post-season and threw just 2.2 innings for the Blue Jays in October.
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Rodriguez will also be active for the series opener against the Rays.
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