Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah speaks with Paul Allen during a radio appearance discussing multiple team topics, with October 22, 2024 falling in the buildup to a Week 8 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The conversation came amid a dominant 14–2 regular season that positioned Minnesota as an NFC contender. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
Minnesota Vikings misses and myths are actually quite hot and heavy this week, mainly because of misinformation regarding Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s termination. Here’s a glance at the Nopedy Nopes.
A quick truth check on three Vikings talking points that picked up steam heading into Super Bowl week.
Our weekly publication chronicles all the false and outlandish takes in the Vikings’ orbit — or stuff that simply didn’t work out.
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Kwesi Rumor, Maye Trade Talk, and Cine’s Latest Detour
The Nopey Nopes of Super Bowl week are here.
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah speaks with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine inside the Indiana Convention Center, with the session taking place on Feb. 27, 2024, as Minnesota weighed offseason priorities, roster flexibility, and long-term planning while setting the framework for free agency and the upcoming draft cycle. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
The Nopedy Nope: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired, in part, because he took paternity leave in 2023.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero joined KFAN this week and, among several items, dispelled the fictitious paternity leave theory.
He told the Power Trip Morning Show, “To pin it on ‘He took paternity leave three years ago,’ even if you’re bringing it up to say, ‘But that wasn’t it,’ you’re introducing a topic that had not been a topic. Sure, is there a level of frustration that comes when you feel like you’re having to do more because your co-worker is out? You don’t fire a guy three years after he took paternity leave. Like, what are we even talking about? It’s just wild. Like, we all knew that.”
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“Yeah, he wasn’t around in the summer of 2023. He missed chunks of the spring and missed part of training camp. But I never got any sense that it was some long-standing thing. It was well known that that happened and that there was some frustration from the people in the building about it, but it never changed the relationship. So, this idea that it was this toxic environment is, frankly, complete and utter nonsense.”
The paternity leave situation was mentioned by reporters covering the Vikings, and some fans then chose to make it the smoking gun for Adofo-Mensah’s termination.
Pelissero added, “I will say this, there is a habit for certain people, if they get beat on a scoop, to immediately lend additional details to the story that may or may not be 100 percent grounded in fact. So, you ended up with a bunch of tweets thrown out there into the universe, that suggested things, that based upon all my knowledge of the situation are not entirely accurate.”
“The idea that this was a toxic environment, there was tension between — Kwesi and Kevin are friends, personally. They have always been good. There was not a fight. There was not a blow-up. It was not, quite frankly, like it was at the end of the Mike Zimmer-Rick Spielman era, two guys that I like a lot, but they weren’t talking. It was never like that.”
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It may be true that paternity leave is uncommon in the NFL, but the Wilfs didn’t fire Adofo-Mensah for it — three years later.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Adofo-Mensah losing his job for taking two weeks of paternity leave while working from home.
The Nopedy Nope: The Vikings had a trade in place for Drake Maye in 2024, but they backed out.
SI.com‘s Albert Breer published a piece this week chronicling Sam Darnold’s rise in Seattle, laying out the broader takeaways from that arc.
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Buried inside the article was a revealing detail about Minnesota’s quarterback ambitions in 2024. Breer wrote, “There’s the one caveat to all of this, which is that the Vikings tried with all their might to trade up for Drake Maye in 2024. O’Connell loved him. Maye was coached in high school by Vikings assistant Josh McCown and was a teammate of McCown’s son.”
“Minnesota offered both of its first-round picks in 2024 (Nos. 11 and 23) and its 2025 first-rounder to the Patriots, with later-round pick swaps favoring Minnesota to move up to the third pick.”
North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye warms up on the field at Hard Rock Stadium prior to kickoff, with the scene unfolding on Oct. 8, 2022, as the Tar Heels prepared to face Miami while Maye went through pregame throwing drills and movement work ahead of the ACC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports.
Despite that, a segment of the fan base has spent the time since the 2024 NFL Draft insisting Minnesota simply walked away from the deal. That belief doesn’t align with what actually happened.
Breer added, “O’Connell pushed them to go further. It wouldn’t matter, because the Patriots weren’t moving, sitting there as convicted in Maye as Minnesota was in the former North Carolina quarterback.” The resistance came from New England, not hesitation from Minnesota.
“But if the Vikings had somehow gotten the Patriots off their spot with Maye, all of this might look different, and the aforementioned rumblings probably would have stopped.” The entire trajectory hinged on a pick that was never available.
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There’s a meaningful gap between claiming the Vikings backed off a deal and acknowledging that the Patriots refused to move. One version reflects how draft negotiations actually unfold; the other rewrites events to paint Minnesota’s front office as recklessly incompetent. That’s just not the case.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on the Vikings backing out of the Maye trade; Robert Kraft cancelled the deal.
The Nopedy Nope: Lewis Cine would catch on in the UFL.
Cine is out — and the UFL league that was supposed to offer a reset.
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Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine observes practice activity at the TCO Performance Center during training camp, with the moment captured on July 27, 2022, as the rookie acclimated to NFL routines, team drills, and coaching instruction following his first-round selection earlier that offseason. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
UFL writer Michael Heilman wrote over the weekend, “The D.C. Defenders released wide receiver Jalen Virgil, offensive linemen Elijah Ellis and Silas Dzansi, and defensive back Lewis Cine on Saturday according to the UFL Transactions page. Lewis Cine is six foot two and weighs 199 pounds. The 26-year-old from Cedar Hills, Texas, was drafted by the D.C. Defenders in the 2026 UFL Draft.”
“The Minnesota Vikings drafted Cine in the first round (32nd pick) of the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons in Minnesota with one tackle (1 solo) in 10 games. In 2024, he made 16 tackles (8 solos, 8 assists), one sack, one interception, and one pass breakup in three preseason games. The Vikings released him on August 27, 2024.”
For Cine, this is another miss on a resume that no longer has room for them. The UFL was supposed to be a proving ground. Cine couldn’t even make the cut there.
The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Cine’s football career — in general. He’s probably done.
However, on Sunday at the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open, five PGA Tour pros not previously qualified for this year’s Masters punched their tickets to Augusta National.
He said he hoped the public admission would help him progress in recovery. And did it ever. The 2019 U.S. Open champion dominated the Texas Children’s Houston Open to win his first title since that U.S. Open.
The victory also earned him a spot in the 2026 Masters, where he’ll make his first start since 2024.
But he had one other avenue to make it to Augusta: the Official World Golf Ranking. All players ranked within the Top 50 of the OWGR after this year’s Texas Children’s Houston Open earn spots in the 2026 Masters.
At No. 47 to start the week, Hojgaard was at risk of getting knocked out. Though a Sunday 71 left him five shots behind Woodland, Hojgaard finished runner-up, which improved his OWGR ranking to 36th.
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As a result, he safely earned his spot in the Masters, where he’ll be making his third-career start. He joins his brother Rasmus in the Masters field. In 2025, they became the first pair of twins to compete in the Masters.
Daniel Berger
Berger is a four-time PGA Tour champion who has played in six Masters. His best finish was a T10 in his Masters debut in 2016. Though he missed the 2023 and 2024 events, he returned to the Masters in 2025 and finished T21.
That wasn’t good enough to qualify him for 2026, but after finishing the Texas Children’s Houston Open at 38th in the OWGR, he earned his tee times at Augusta National in a week’s time.
Jake Knapp
Knapp, 31, has only played in one Masters, doing so after winning the 2024 Mexico Open for his only PGA Tour victory. He made the cut and finished T55.
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Knapp didn’t qualify last year, but when he woke up on Monday, his OWGR ranking of 42 officially stamped his place in the 2026 Masters field.
He played great as a Masters rookie, eventually finishing an impressive T14. But that wasn’t quite good enough to punch his ticket to the 2026 Masters. No matter. He played his way into the Top 50 in the OWGR with a solid start to the season, finishing last week at 46th. That means he’ll make his second Masters start next week.
Franklin had never been stopped before heading into the bout, including in fights with Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte, but a vicious uppercut followed by a right hook sent the American face first onto the canvas and gave Itauma a dominant victory.
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Speculation has already begun over who the 21-year-old could face in his next outing, with some fans suggesting he already has the skills to test himself against unified world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Instead, it is a battle against WBA Regular heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev that may be next, after Gassiev’s promoter Al Siesta posted on social media confirming they are ready for the fight.
“Amazing performance by Moses. Remember we are READY to host Itauma against our WBA Champion Murat Gassiev NEXT. London, Moscow, Dubai, ANYWHERE.”
Gassiev became WBA Regular champion thanks to a stoppage win over Kubrat Pulev in December, and as Itauma is currently ranked as the number one contender with the WBA, a clash against Gassiev has been touted for some time.
I know there’s been some conversation in the media about whether Ty Simpson can challenge Mendoza for QB1. Maybe in 2-3 years, but not by late April. This is as close to a sure thing as you’re going to get.
The Jets were incredibly busy during free agency, especially when it came to bolstering the front seven … but in a class with no QB worth taking No. 2 overall and questions about Arvell Reese’s true position, Bailey is the best option here. Is he as good as former top-five edge rushers Abdul Carter and Will Anderson Jr.? Nope, but he was dominant at times for Texas Tech in 2025 and made huge strides from his 2024 campaign at Stanford.
Is this too rich for an RB? Maybe. But there’s something to be said for supporting a young QB with as many game-changers as possible. Love would rank behind Ashton Jeanty, Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson — but not by much. He’ll immediately add some juice to the Titans RB room, and he’s also a threat as a receiver out of the backfield.
I’ve said this before, but if the draft were the week after the Super Bowl, we wouldn’t have months to create narratives that run counter to what our collective eyeballs told us in the fall. For Reese, it’s pretty simple: he’s a rare athlete who was one of the best defenders in the country in 2025. That his pro-day bag-drill workout didn’t meet expectations shouldn’t really carry much weight. He’s a freak who is the “positionless player” prototype.
I think this is too high for Freeling, but I can’t in good faith mock Kadyn Proctor to Cleveland here, not after all the concerns about Dawand Jones’ weight that saw him fall to the fourth round. Plus, even though I consider Freeling a bottom-half-of-the-first-round talent, that doesn’t mean teams don’t view him higher. Remember the 2013 draft, when the Chiefs were “stuck” drafting OT Eric Fisher No. 1 overall? I mention that draft because some guy named Lane Johnson was OT3 in that class. The point: sometimes — a lot of times — players can exceed their pre-draft expectations.
Downs is a culture changer, though in Kansas City the culture is in pretty good shape. The secondary needs some restocking and Downs, who gives me Troy Polamalu vibes, has a chance to be truly special.
This isn’t quite worst-case scenario for Cincy, but it’s not great, either. The defense desperately needs edge-rush help. And with Bailey, Reese, Bain and even Styles off the board, Plan B would be Downs … who the Chiefs grabbed at No. 9. Woods isn’t a bad consolation prize — the D-line could use reinforcements — and the Bengals did add Boye Mafe in free agency.
Delane ran in the 4.3s at his pro day, which answered any remaining questions about his speed. He was as close to a shutdown corner as you’re going to get in 2025, and with all the secondary needs in Miami, this pick feels like a layup.
Mesidor will be a 25-year-old rookie … and I do not care, not even a little bit. If the Cowboys get five good years out of him, it’s a sound investment. Plus, Mesidor has the size and versatility to line up at several spots along the defensive line.
Almost everyone agrees that Tate is WR1, but in talking to scouts at the Ohio State pro day, a recurring question was if he’s a top-10 pick. In this mock, he falls to No. 13, but lands in an ideal spot: a Sean McVay offense with Matthew Stafford somehow still in his prime.
Faulk is just scratching the surface on his abilities — he measured 6-foot-5, 276 pounds and had 34⅜-inch arms at the combine. At 21, he’s still growing into his body, but he’s flashed all the tools to be an elite pass rusher at the next level. In Tampa, he’ll fill a need at pass rusher.
Garrett Wilson has been asking for a legit No. 2, and Lemon provides that and then some. He’ll draw comparisons to Amon-Ra St. Brown because of his toughness and YAC ability.
If Penei Sewell moves to the left side, the Lions could look at, say, Spencer Fano here. But if Sewell stays at right tackle, Proctor feels like the natural successor to Taylor Decker.
Harrison Smith is a future Hall of Famer, but it appears, for now, that he’s played his last snap for the Vikings. McNeil-Warren is a long, athletic ball hawk who also excels in run support.
McCoy didn’t play a snap in 2025 after tearing his ACL the previous January, but his 2024 tape is some of the best in the class. Jaycee Horn is elite when healthy, but Mike Jackson is in the final year of his current deal.
The Cowboys get an edge rusher and cornerback with their first two picks. And if the defense just improves to above-average in 2026, there’s no reason the team won’t be in the mix for the division title. Hood excels in press-man coverage and is one of the most physical CBs in the class.
If Tyson is healthy, he’s battling for WR1. In Pittsburgh, he’ll take the Steelers WR room from “DK and everybody else” to “three dudes,” which is great news for Aaron Rodgers, Will Howard or whomever else might be under center in the Steel City.
The Chargers have needs along the interior offensive line, but Parker is too good to pass up here. Tuli Tuipulotu is one of the best young edge rushers in football, but Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree can’t play forever.
Fano could go 10 spots higher, but this is how the board fell. And in Philly, he can be next in line after Lane Johnson retires — and in the meantime, kick inside to guard.
The Browns get an offensive tackle and a big-play WR with their two first-rounders — filling their biggest roster needs. Concepcion can play in the slot or outside, has return ability and is one of the best yards-after-catch receivers in this draft class.
If Banks is healthy, he could be a top-10 pick. At 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds with 35-inch arms, he can take over games. The problem has been his inability to consistently stay on the field. If he’s cleared medically, Banks is a first-rounder all day long. If teams have questions, he could slip to Day 2 like Jer’Zhan Newton did a few years ago.
If the right wide receiver is still on the board, the Bills could target one, even after trading for DJ Moore. But with four wideouts already gone, Buffalo bolsters its secondary with Thieneman, who made huge strides at Oregon after transferring from Purdue.
We might look back in a few years and Lomu is the best tackle in the class. In San Francisco, he’ll be ready to step in for Trent Williams when he eventually moves on.
Thomas’ arms measure shorter than 32 inches … and no one should care. We all overthought it with Nik Bonitto, a second-rounder currently playing like one of the best pass rushers in football. The Chiefs need some juice off the edge, and that’s exactly what Thomas brings to the party.
The Dolphins traded Jaylen Waddle, and they’re replacing him with a long-striding, contested-catch machine in Boston, who should make Malik Willis’ already-tough job slightly easier.
Will Campbell is the Pats’ left tackle. The team continues to protect Drake Maye with Miller, who made enormous strides last season after an inconsistent 2024.
The Steelers have 12 picks, so they package two of them — Nos. 53 and 76 — to move up to No. 32 and take Simpson. Yes, next year’s QB class is LOADED … but don’t we say that every single year, and every single year it’s never quite as loaded as we all predicted? Meanwhile, midway through the season, we talked about Simpson being in the running for QB1 until injuries changed the conversation.
The Florida Panthers captain was ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season by head coach Paul Maurice on Sunday.
Barkov has been practising with the team for weeks, leading to some speculation he could return during the final stretch. Maurice shut down that speculation.
“I don’t think so. Not in this situation,” he said, per Florida Hockey Now. “If (his timeline) is six-to-eight (months) and we put him in at seven and something happens, that doesn’t make much sense. We’ll let him go straight through the entire rehab process.”
Barkov has yet to play this season after tearing his ACL and MCL on the first day of training camp in September.
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Although he may have been able to return in time for the playoffs, the two-time reigning champion Panthers sit 15 points out with just nine games remaining.
Barkov has won the Selke Trophy in each of the last two seasons as the NHL’s best defensive forward, plus captained the Panthers to titles in each of those two seasons.
Liverpool playmaker Florian Wirtz believes the struggles he encountered after making the move to Anfield have made him stronger.
The 22-year-old Germany international arrived in a £116m deal from Bayer Leverkusen as one of Europe’s hottest young talents but bedding into a team which underwent a £450m summer overhaul proved difficult.
Wirtz struggled with the physicality but a tailored strength and conditioning programme designed to make him more robust for the Premier League helped get him through.
After failing to score in his first 22 appearances, he enjoyed a run of six in 10 matches from Boxing Day, although he has since gone eight games without scoring.
Florian Wirtz has endured a mixed first season at Liverpool (Getty Images)
But his overall success is not entirely in his own hands as he has created over 70 chances in the Premier League and Champions League this season but the under-performing team has failed to capitalise.
“It wasn’t an easy phase,” Wirtz, speaking about his first few months in England, told German television show Sportschau.
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“It’s sometimes good that things don’t always go upwards and that you experience a dip and grow stronger because of it.
“That’s how I see it now as well – it has made me a bit stronger. I had to overcome resistance and adapt. I had to learn to become stronger and hold onto the ball.”
While his domestic form may have dipped again, he showed his quality in Germany’s 4-3 win over Switzerland on Friday – with two goals and two assists – and he credited national team boss Julian Nagelsmann with helping him during his tough transitional phase.
“The coach always supported me during the difficult phase after my move to Liverpool and always had an open ear for me,” he added.
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“He gave me tips and reassured me. That has brought us closer together.”
The 41-year-old, who leads the PGA Tour in driving distance and clubhead speed, was dialed at Memorial Park Sunday, leading the field in Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee in the final round on his way to a five-shot victory.
Woodland plays one of the coolest driver setups on the PGA Tour, opting for Cobra’s prototype OPTM Max LS-K driver, something Cobra Tour Rep Ben Schomin described as a “working prototype” earlier this season. It’s essentially a lower-spin, fade-biased version of Cobra’s retail Max K driver that was specifically built with Woodland in mind when he started playing Cobra’s DS-ADAPT Max-K driver last season.
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LOW loft. Heavy shaft. Back weighted.
They don’t make many drivers like Gary Woodland’s. He explains how he found his current gamer. pic.twitter.com/KGSTivFfR7
“This is my 18th year on Tour and the drivers that I’ve played when I’ve driven the golf ball well have been back-weighted,” Woodland told GOLF in February, referring to the deeper CG of drivers designed for game-improvement players. “Everyone wants front weight to get the spin down and distance. But for some reason, I’ve been back with it, and I started struggling with spin last year. I went through all the drivers, and I got to their Max K driver last year, and it was low spin for me for some reason.”
With that deep CG, Woodland prefers a lower lofted head, which is why his driver measures in at just 6.4 degrees of loft. He also pairs it with a telephone pole-like Ventus Black 8-X shaft.
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When Max Homa breifly switched into the prototype earlier this year, Schomin explained that because the LS-K is not a production model like the regular OPTM LS, X and Max-K, they can still make changes to it. The goal is to test design and performance concepts to potentially utilize in future production models.
Compared to the production Max-K, the LSK has a similar shape, but a lower and deeper CG to lower spin and produce a neutral-to-fade bias, Schomin said.
As opposed to the retail OPTM line of drivers, which have glossy crowns, the LS-K has a matte finish because it’s easier for the company to get it out on Tour. Woodland has been using the prototype since the PNC Championship in December.
He also pairs the prototype head with a lead pipe-esque Fujikura Ventus Black 8-X with VeloCore+, a shaft many players have in their 5/7-woods, but Woodland loves a heavy driver shaft at a shorter length to pair with his smoother tempo.
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Gary Woodland’s winning driver at the 2026 Texas Children’s Houston Open
If you’ve never set foot on the hallowed grounds of Augusta National, the occasion can feel momentous. Not only is Augusta one of the most famous and revered courses in the world, but the Masters is also a social event unlike any other — a place to see and be seen, with golf in between.
For those lucky enough to attend the tournament, one inquiry often looms large: What should I wear? It’s an important question that deserves some thoughtful consideration.
Attending in a patron capacity is a little different than attending as a member of the media. When you’re working, you need to be both comfortable and professional, right? Luckily, golf and athleisure apparel have come such a long way that it’s possible to tick those boxes with some style too. At the Masters, I like to go a little bit dressier than other events.
It’s been a while since I’ve attended the Masters in person, though, so I tapped my colleague Maddi MacClurg to weigh in with some guidance. Below, you can read our thoughts on the best approach to dressing for the Masters, as well as check out some links to items that would be right at home on the fairways of Augusta.
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Top recommendations for putting together a Masters-ready ensemble
Maddi MacClurg’s dos and don’ts
Do: Dress in layers. The weather at Augusta National can turn on a dime — cool morning breezes can give way to scorching midday heat, or even an afternoon shower. It’s common for patrons to experience multiple seasons in a single day — especially if you’re arriving early to secure your Masters Gnome. So, it pays to be ready to bundle up or shed a layer at a moment’s notice.
Don’t be afraid to dress to impress. The Masters is as much a style showcase as it is a major golf event, with plenty of patrons treating every day as an opportunity to break out their Sunday best. While there’s no dress code requiring you to dress up, leaning into sharp, spring-ready looks is part of the fun.
To go green or not?
Maddi: Absolutely! Green is the signature color of the Masters, so it’s a natural choice. But don’t be afraid to add pops of Augusta National’s other iconic hues, like yellow and pink. Pastels also work, and will help you nail the spring vibes.
Jessica: I agree, Maddi. It’s really fun to lean into the green, and lots of brands are aware of this and create special Masters-inspired apparel collections to make it easy.
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Which pieces are you eyeing for this year’s edition?
Maddi: Right now, I’m all about finding unique, playful accessories. A standout bag, a printed headband, or even a slinky, on-theme scarf can elevate an already great outfit — especially if you love a monochrome look as I do. Visors have also become a new favorite of mine. Not only do they keep the sun off your face, but the right one can feel incredibly chic — like the perfect finishing touch that pulls your whole outfit together.
Jessica: Golf brands specialize in making apparel that looks great and functions well on the course, so if you go this route, there’s no doubt you’ll be comfortable. But it’s ok to source your clothes from outside the golf world, too. At last week’s Ford Championship, one of my media friends at the LPGA tipped me off to this dress from Anthropologie, which she’s planning to wear on-site at Augusta. She said it’s a favorite of a player’s agent, too, and easy to see why: structured, comfortable and polished. Here are some other looks I’m currently loving:
The Somerset Maxi Dress
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I was pleasantly surprised to find that this dress is a popular silhouette with several different print options. I love the sleeves, the length and the cinched waist.
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Puma golf dress
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Puma Women’s 30904 Sleeveless Pique Golf Dress
This one’s for the sporty girlies! Easy to wear and super comfortable with a fun green stripe.
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Johnnie-O sweater
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Johnnie-O Bridget Garment Dyed Crewneck Sweater
You’ll find all shades of green onsite at Augusta, and I love the hue and texture of this sweater.
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Golf dress
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Addison Bay Smooth Sport Fairway Active Dress
This dress is a super-cute green-and-white look, and the print is also available in separates and a matching windbreaker.
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Rugby sweater polo
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G/FORE Rugby Merino Wool Sweater Polo
Rugby stripes are trending, and I love the contrast stripe collar on this cool sweater from G/FORE.
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Goldie dress
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This dress has a winning retro vibe and is available in a number of other solid colors.
Shoe guidance
Jessica: Sandals are cute, but they have the potential to not only hurt your feet but also get incredibly dirty — especially if it rains. Open-toe styles can be especially dangerous. Even if you opt to wear a dress or skirt, I think stylish sneakers are the answer.
Maddi: If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a dozen times — and for good reason. Augusta National’s rolling terrain is more demanding than it looks, and the wrong footwear can leave you dealing with blisters before the afternoon groups even tee off. Plan to wear comfortable shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty from the course elements.
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Here are a few shoes I’m loving for the Masters:
Veja sneakers
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Veja Exclusive Volley Sneakers
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These shoes are the embodiment of Augusta National’s Azaleas, with their pops of green and pink. The vintage-inspired wingtip detailing is a nod to an earlier era of the game, when legends like Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Lee Trevino teed it up in classic brogue-style spikes.
Espadrilles
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TOMS Valencia Platform Espadrille (Women)
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Espadrilles of any kind will always complement a light linen or cotton outfit for a sunny, spring day on the course. That said, if you’re planning to trek all over the course, you may be better off opting for a slip-on or Mary Jane style like this one for added comfort and ease.
Adidas golf shoes
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Adidas Gazelle Spikeless Golf Shoes
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Whether you’re walking 18 or strolling across the clubhouse terrace with an Azalea in hand, these spikeless, sneaker-style golf shoes are a perfect on-course companion. Comfortable and practical, their extra traction comes in handy on slick grass—and with plenty of cute colorways, you can show off your personal style.
Cole Haan loafers
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Cole Haan Women’s Danby Travel Loafers
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Loafers are always a classic at the Masters — and for good reason. They strike that perfect balance between polished and practical. Whether you opt for a sleek leather pair or something with a bit more personality, loafers will easily elevate any outfit while still being able to keep up with you as you wander the grounds at Augusta National.
The first half-week of the Major League Baseball season is always such a mixed bag. We know we aren’t supposed to get all emotional or draw wide-sweeping conclusions based on such a small sample of games, yet we sat around and waited all winter for meaningful MLB action. Deep down inside, we can’t help ourselves.
As an example, most readers know I’m a Cubs fan. I will admit that while my head knew that the Opening Day loss wasn’t the biggest deal in the world, I was pretty bummed and even a bit angry about my favorite team getting pounded by what is likely one of the worst teams in baseball. I’m pretty livid about the series loss. Hey, we’re all human.
Still, here in the Power Rankings, the key is to keep our wits about us. I often say in the early going that we need to react without overreacting. With only a half week of action, there’s hardly anything to react to at all. Let’s look back at last year for some examples of how reacting could lead us astray.
The three teams with winning records above all missed the playoffs, while the teams that looked terrible ended up in the postseason. Of course, the Dodgers were 5-0 and that 0-4 Braves start was the beginning of a disaster of a season.
How do we know what is real and what was a mirage? We don’t, really. We can judge teams based on confirmation bias (I knew the Dodgers were gonna be unbeatable!), but that’s about it so far.
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Are the Braves and Orioles having bounceback seasons after falling apart last year? Are the Rangers for real? How about the Marlins?!?! The Brewers look great again, but was that just a lack of competition? The Yankees looked amazing, but do the Giants actually just suck? Are the Phillies taking a step back? How about the Blue Jays sweeping the Athletics; did that tell us anything?
We just don’t know yet and that’s part of the fun.
I do know one thing for sure: I missed this. I’m excited for the grind that is our marathon of a regular season. We’ll see plenty of surprises through the course of the season. The most unsurprising thing will be the Dodgers winning the NL West with ease. Again. But we’ll see plenty of other fun things. I promise. We’re back, baby!
Pete Crow-Armstrong last season had three bunt hits. So far this season, he already has two. It’s a nice wrinkle for a player who hit 31 homers last year and can fly.
I had concerns heading into the season that the offense would be far too reliant on the top three hitters, as awesome as they are, and nothing in the first three games has alleviated those concerns.
Obviously winning matters, but the Pirates weren’t really all that far from sweeping the Mets. Make Oneil Cruz catch two flies in the opener and then make better pitches in extras in game two. (Of course, they were awfully close to getting swept too).
Really good sign from Randy Vásquez to work six scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. The Padres’ rotation is worrisome, but a big step forward here could work wonders.
I’ve spoken with relievers before who have lamented that a bad outing early in the season can ruin their numbers for weeks or even months. Ian Seymour gave up five runs without getting an out on Opening Day. That’s gonna leave a mark.
It took 20 innings, but the Giants finally scored their first run of 2026 on Saturday. Maybe their manager should’ve given more “fire and brimstone” speeches. I hear those definitely help with big leaguers.
Zac Gallen’s problem innings last season were the first, second and fourth. He threw four scoreless innings against the Dodgers on Opening Day! And then he fell apart in the fifth. Back to the drawing board.
The appeal hearing involving Senegalese supporters detained in Morocco has been delayed once more, with the court fixing April 13 as the new date for proceedings.
The case was expected to continue as scheduled, but the presiding judge ordered an adjournment, causing another setback in the trial.
The supporters have been held in custody since January following incidents of disorder during the final match between Morocco and Senegal.
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Efforts by the Government of Senegal, which put together a legal team to defend the fans, have yet to yield progress, as the case continues to face repeated delays, raising concerns about how long the supporters have remained in detention.
Dmitry Bivol has finally had his long-awaited return to the ring confirmed.
The 35-year-old was last in action over 12 months ago when he went up against countryman Artur Beterbiev in their undisputed light heavyweight showdown back in February 2025.
It was a rematch of their clash the past October which Beterbiev had won by majority decision, but Bivol was able to gain revenge in the second meeting to dethrone his rival by the exact same outcome and become undisputed champion.
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Since then, Bivol had to relinquish his WBC title which is now held by David Benavidez, but the Russian still remains in possession of the WBA, IBF and WBO belts, and is now set to compete against his mandatory challenger Michael Eifert.
Bivol had to undergo back surgery which delayed his return, and after several extensions for purse bid negotiations were granted for the bout against Eifert, a date and location has been revealed.
It was initially expected that the fight would be part of the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven card in Egypt on May 23, but that won’t be the case, after it was announced that Bivol will face Eifert in Yekaterinburg, Russia on May 30.
Eifert has won 13 of his 14 professional contests, with his most notable win coming against Jean Pascal in March 2023. He has fought only once since then, a victory over Carlos Jiminez in August 2024, meaning the German has been more inactive than Bivol.
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Unified champion Bivol will be a big favourite in the bout, and if successful against Eifert, he has recently stated his desire to face Beterbiev in a trilogy contest next, before a potential fight against former rival Canelo Alvarez, or even a move up to cruiserweight.
;)
;)
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