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Two Massive Questions That Will Define the NBA’s Second Half

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Feb 3, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) battles for position on a foul shot with Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn ImagesFeb 3, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) battles for position on a foul shot with Denver Nuggets center Jonas Valanciunas (17) in the third quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

The NBA season has reached its most boring part of the season, the All-Star break. With the falling popularity of the Dunk Contest, All-Star weekend has become more of an opportunity for players to rest than anything else.

However, the actual basketball being played this season has been wildly exciting. Many hate CJ McCollum for changing the CBA, making it harder for teams to retain their full rosters, but it has done its job in making the NBA as competitively balanced as it’s ever been.

Unlike years past when we were just waiting for the Cavs and Warriors to rematch in the Finals, this season has us asking a few questions before we finish the second half. Here are my two biggest questions that still need to be answered.

Are the Pistons the Real Deal?

After losing a tightly contested first-round series with the Knicks last year, many were hoping for a small jump out of the Pistons. Well, they’ve skipped that step entirely and have the best winning percentage in the NBA, and have the third-best odds to win the Eastern Conference.

At the start of the year, I highly doubted that the Pistons were real, but I’m done doubting them. When JB Bickerstaff took over as head coach, I looked at him as more of a floor raiser than a ceiling raiser, but he’s instilled a culture in Detroit that is one of the best in the league.

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Cade Cunningham is playing at a first-team All-NBA level, and everyone around them has upped their game. Outside of that, it’s been the smaller moves that have been huge for Detroit. Daniss Jenkins has gone from an unused two-way player to a sharp-shooting rotation piece.

Duncan Robinson looked like he might be a bit of an overpay for Detroit, but he has become the exact floor spacer Cade needed. Then, of course, Jalen Duren turning into a walking double-double, and a perfect rim-running partner for Cade, can’t go unnoticed.

The Pistons didn’t look afraid of the moment last year, so I’m interested to see how they will look as heavy first-round favorites as we make it to April.

Could the Thunder be Vulnerable this Year?

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Jan 21, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn ImagesJan 21, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives against Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

If Shai Gilgeous Alexander’s injury has any long-term impacts, who’s going to lead the Thunder? Chet Holmgren is having a career year in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage. He’s doing this while also having the second-best odds to win the defensive player of the year.

He’s been great, but he’s not a guy I trust as a number one option, and hopefully he doesn’t have to be. On the other hand, Jalen Williams has had a bit of a down year. Besides Williams having the worst shooting splits of his career, OKC has simply been better when he’s been off the court.

There’s no doubt he’s still incredibly valuable, but I’m not sold on him being used properly. I think he would be better suited in a lower usage role, as he’s been a bit of a ball stopper for the Thunder.

Because of these concerns, I think there are some real threats to the Thunder’s crown—specifically, two threats in the Spurs and Nuggets. I also want to believe in the Rockets, but their lack of a true point guard and spacing concerns feel like too much of an uphill battle.

Victor Wembanyama is obviously great, but more than just that, he’s done a miraculous job at giving the Thunder fits. The Thunder rely on getting downhill, and that’s just not going to happen against Wemby. But they’re more than Wemby at this point.

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De’Aron Fox has returned from injury and is back to playing like an All-Star. Not only that, but getting top three picks in back-to-back drafts and nailing those selections with Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, most certainly helps.

Then with the Nuggets, they have Nikola Jokic, but more than having the best player on the planet, this might be the best team they’ve ever put around him. Jamal Murray is playing the best basketball of his career, and they’ve paired that with role players who work perfectly with Jokic.

Also, the firing of long-term coach Mike Malone was heavily scrutinized, but Adelman might have found the perfect offensive fit for Jokic. They slowed the game down significantly, going from 9th in possessions per game last year to 23rd this season. This change of pace has allowed them to work the ball through Jokic more and have him kick it back out to their perimeter shooters.

Both of these teams are much better suited to compete with the Thunder this year, but if OKC is at full strength, they’re still easily the team to beat this season.

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What is Rock League? Meet curling’s answer to T20 cricket and darts

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Scottish world curling champion Bruce Mouat is ready to embrace pyrotechnics, pints and possibly a bit of profanity if it draws audiences to Rock League, his sport’s answer to cricket’s The Hundred.

The first professional curling league counts a trio of NFL players amongst its early investors and will premiere Monday in a condensed proof-of-concept tournament set to feature live music, dramatic walk-outs, innovative formats, fans in fancy dress and even an on-ice spectator bar.

Its founders drew influence from darts, golf and the WWE in an attempt to entice the committed and curious to a venture they are confident will eventually be profitable, and, most importantly for athletes like 31-year-old Mouat, provide a rare income stream.

“I think curling has had a lot of tradition in its past, and we still hold on to that at some points,” Northern United captain Mouat told the Press Association. “But I don’t think we should shy away from having pyrotechnics and a good time.

Bruce Mouat is ready to embrace Rock League
Bruce Mouat is ready to embrace Rock League (PA Wire)

“I think as the sport evolves we need to evolve with it. You see The Hundred in cricket has created this, more similar to the darts, they want to make it a bit of a party, a bit of a laugh, people come in costumes, people choose one franchise to support.”

The first season will see curlers converge on Toronto, where six mixed-nationality franchises based in Europe, Canada, the United States and “Asia-Pacific” will face off.

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Teams collectively compete for a $250,000 (£189,000) prize pot across a multi-format week that, unusually, includes mixed fours. Athletes also receive a participation fee, a development which Mouat admitted “wasn’t necessarily something I thought was going to happen in my career lifespan.”

Curling received considerable attention at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, largely due to ‘Boopgate’, a clash between the Canadian and Swedish teams – including an f-bomb caught on a hot mic – over alleged cheating.

Mouat and Jennifer Dodds represent Northern United (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Mouat and Jennifer Dodds represent Northern United (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA)

Mouat, who skipped the British men to Olympic silver in Italy, said: “That moment brought a lot of eyes to our sport, and they say no publicity is bad publicity.

“We’ve seen a massive influx of people looking at our sport because of that situation. It was also quite a meme-able moment for curling.

“You have to have a bit of a laugh. As much as it was intense in the moment, I think it’s now a bit of a funny story for a lot of the curlers.”

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Rock League’s early investors include NFL tight ends George Kittle and TJ Hockenson, and Hall of Fame defensive end Jared Allen.

The Canadians found themselves at the centre of controversy (Andrew Milligan/PA)
The Canadians found themselves at the centre of controversy (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Founder Nic Sulsky, who also owns parent company The Curling Group, is happy to take on disgruntled purists.

“Sport needs villains,” he told the Press Association. “If I have to play (that role) in the early days, that’s cool.

“You can’t dislike what we’re doing and the change we’re trying to bring into the sport and at the same time, loving the curlers who are supporting what we’re doing.

“You can’t love curling without respecting the fact that curlers should be paid more money.”

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Green Spaces claims 2026 Australian Derby glory for Baker and King

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The Derby win allowed Baker to accomplish a key career target, emulating his father, famed New Zealand preparer Murray Baker with five victories in the storied Randwick feature.

This Derby ranks among the country’s most enduring premier races, first held in 1861 coinciding with Archer’s initial Melbourne Cup triumph.

After the colt’s dominant display, Baker affirmed intentions to target the 2026 Melbourne Cup with Green Spaces.

“Melbourne Cup – bring it on!” Baker said

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King delivered a tactically superb steer to become the first woman jockey to win the Derby, just 40 minutes after Jamie Melham prevailed on Sheza Alibi in the Doncaster Mile.

“This is just so satisfying,” King said.”I’ve had some much belief in this horse, the whole team has, they’ve done an amazing job and Bjorn has timed the colt’s Derby preparation to perfection.

“He’s a beautiful horse and I was very confident he would stay. He relaxed so well and did everything I asked.”

Green Spaces, at $4.40, proved his class with superior staying power, bolting in by more than three lengths from Dezignation ($151) and Storm Leopard ($4.60) a long neck away in third.

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Favourite Observer ($3) fought back to fifth but was not fully at ease on the “shifty” track.

Those beaten by Green Spaces have few alibis, such was his total command.

Baker had long planned the Derby for Green Spaces after the colt’s easy win in the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Newcastle’s lone meeting last November.

“This is so special, what a great watch,” Baker said.”When they are in the zone like that, his trackwork has been in the zone, I was very confident, I couldn’t have him any better going into today.

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“Every time I looked at him in the box, his coat was great, he was in the zone, and his work on Tuesday was great.”

With Murray’s five Derby successes in 12 years – Quick Thinker (2020), Jon Snow (2017), Mongolian Khan (2015), It’s A Dundeel (2013), Nom Du Jeu (2008) – Baker tapped his father for tips this week.

“I spoke to Murray a lot this week, I asked him what would you do with this horse,” Baker said.”He said don’t leave him short son. Then when the rain came this morning, I was very confident he was fit enough.”

Baker highlighted King’s ride as exceptional in the Derby.

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“Rachel’s done so much work for our stable and she delivers, she delivers on the big stage,” Baker said.”She rode him perfectly today, it was an exceptional ride.”

King hailed Baker as a “massive supporter of mine”.”I disappear for a month to ride in Japan but he’s always there for me when I come back,” King said.”I made an effort this year to come back and trial this horse during my trip because I wanted to stay with the colt so thanks to Bjorn and the Godolphin team for sticking with me.”

Godolphin-Darley’s Street Boss notches a fourth unique Group 1 winner this season via Green Spaces, after Tentyris, Tempted and Pericles.

Anamoe, the champion former Horse of the Year, is also by Street Boss.

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Dezignation, prepared by Matthew Smith, ran a huge second, grinding home best over the tough 2400m Derby distance bar the superb Green Spaces.

“He has run out of his skin,” said jockey Tyler Schiller, rider of Dezignation. “He stays all day.”

Storm Leopard’s rider Tommy Berry sensed a win after passing Observer inside on the corner to lead.”I thought it was an extraordinary effort off the back up,” Berry said of Storm Leopard, who won the Tulloch Stakes last week.”The winner was set for the race and won accordingly but Storm Leopard has a bright future in the staying ranks.”

Visit trusted betting sites to check racing odds for the Australian Derby.

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UConn wrote a perfect script, and once again Braylon Mullins was up for the hero role

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INDIANAPOLIS — The ultimate hero of UConn’s game-clinching sequence in its 71-62 Final Four victory over Illinois on Saturday night inside Lucas Oil Stadium was a familiar one, as freshman phenom Braylon Mullins drilled a 3-pointer from the left wing with 52 seconds left that cemented the outcome.

But the defining shot of a tight late-game situation required something from all five starters who were on the floor with just over a minute to play as the Huskies surged to the national title game for the third time in the past four seasons.

“If that moment is going to be set up for me, absolutely,” said Mullins, who was 0 for 5 in the second half. “You’ve got to shoot it with confidence, and if that moment arises, then we’re going to hit it.”

Therein lies the beauty of Mullins’ place on the UConn roster. He’s played the role of hero lately, and it’s because the entirety of the Huskies’ machine of a program sets him up perfectly to nail the role.

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Illinois had roared back from a 14-point deficit to cut the UConn edge to just 63-59, and the Illini were one defensive stop away from potentially trimming the Huskies’ lead down to one possession for the first time since late in the first half.

Before Mullins planted his feet and sank a memorable sequel to his heroic Elite Eight game-winner against Duke, four other players did their part.

First, senior forward Alex Karaban hit Illinois’ Kylan Boswell with a sinister pump fake that created an opportunity for a clean 3-point look at the 1:13 mark. It clanged off the iron, but point guard Silas Demary Jr. fought for the offensive rebound over two taller Illinois players.

Demary, who has been gutting through an ankle injury, then passed the ball to the safety in the hands of Solomon Ball, who had the presence of mind to pass up a wide open 2-point look, instead opting to pull the ball out and run more clock.

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The last and most aesthetically pleasing sequence of the game-clinching possession involved center Tarris Reed catching just enough of Illinois guard Keaton Wagler on a screen so that Mullins could get a clean look. As he fired off the Reed screen, Mullins squared up and caught a pass from Demary in stride. Then, he banged home the dagger from beyond the arc that put UConn ahead 66-59 with 52 seconds remaining.

“We have so many actions, and it’s tough for a team to be locked in on the movement,” Karaban said

For four seasons, Karaban has been the master of peeling off of UConn’s intricate web of screens for quality looks. He spoke of Mullins’ footwork on the clinching shot like a proud uncle.

“He does it better than I do,” Karaban said. “I think it took him time to adjust just with the speed. You’ve got to come off pins reading whether guys are going to go under or whether they’re chasing you. So it’s definitely an adjustment from high school that he’s done a great job of. But, shoot, he gets the ball off quicker than I do, so I didn’t teach him nothing.”

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Demary followed up his massive offensive rebound — which was his ninth board of the night — by hitting Mullins right in the heart of his shooting pocket for his seventh assist.

“I think as the year went on and the chemistry got better and better, I was able to read his feet when he’s coming off that screen so he can get into his one-two, and not pass it too early but pass it just on time,” Demary told CBS Sports.

And don’t forget about the screener. Reed has been an NCAA Tournament hero in his own right for UConn with monster stat lines. Quality screens don’t get properly quantified anywhere on a box score. But for the Huskies to be effective in their detailed off-ball actions, they are a necessity. Reed’s name shows up nowhere in the official play-by-play documenting the clinching sequence, but the 6-foot-10 bruiser played the role of screener to perfection.

“When he really screens, no one wants to keep running through that screen over and over again,” Demary said. “So now guys are second-thinking, ‘should I run through this screen, or should I try and find a way to run around him?’ I think that’s what makes him get even more option shots.”

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Reed led the Huskies in points with 17 and rebounds with 11. Demary led the Huskies in assists. Ball led UConn in +/- at a remarkable plus-19, and Karaban is the anchor of it all as the program’s all-time wins leader.

Collectively, they have created the framework for Mullins’ glorious return to Indianapolis. Collectively, they set the stage on Saturday night for the pride of nearby Greenfield, Indiana, to continue living the hero’s role that no other program could have cast so well.

“I wouldn’t want to be doing it anywhere else,” Mullins said. “I’m so happy for the spot that we’re in. This is what the coaching staff pushed for, so just to be a part of this moment, it’s a blessing.”

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Touring Tree Farm with architect Kye Goalby

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Kye Goalby was in grade school when his father won the Masters, too young to fully grasp the magnitude of the feat.

He learned soon enough.

Bob Goalby’s victory in 1968 came, of course, with a lifetime Masters invite, which in turn gave rise to a gig for his son. By his late teens, the younger Goalby was caddying for his dad in the tournament. Even as the years wore on and he gave up those looping duties, he kept coming back to watch and walk the grounds. His ties to the Augusta area run deep.

In more recent years, those ties have extended to Aiken, S.C., which Goalby says has become something of a “home away from home.” That affection is due partly to Palmetto Golf Club, a historic layout whose understated atmosphere and character-rich design suit Goalby’s own laid-back sensibility, not to mention his love of great golf architecture. But his affinity for the area has a professional dimension as well. A former shaper for the likes of Tom Doak and Gil Hanse, Goalby has built a reputation as a skilled architect in his own right, and one of his credits is in Aiken.

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GOLF recently spent time with Goalby in the Aiken area, tracing his fondness for the region and touring the Tree Farm, one of the standout courses in a swath of South Carolina that has become one of the hottest destinations in American golf.

Routed by Doak and designed by Goalby on behalf of Tour pro Zac Blair, the Tree Farm doesn’t clamor for attention. Then again, neither does the unassuming Goalby. Not one for chest-beating, he took a restrained approach to the project, which his collaborators shared.

“At the time we were building this, and even still today, the courses you see are trying to get Instagram photos and trying to get a dramatic look, and I was kind of sick of it,” he says. “No one cared about ratings when we were building this. Let’s not rely on a lot of flash and let the land speak.”

The result is an expansive, rumpled course that takes advantage of ample elevation shifts, draping elegantly across the terrain in ways that, in places, call to mind the broad-shouldered movement of Augusta National. The fairways are generous, but angles off the tee are essential. The greens appear serene, but they demand careful thought and a delicate touch. The bunkering is free of the flamboyant edges fashionable elsewhere, and around the greens, Goalby often dispensed with bunkers altogether, trusting the ground itself to conjure more than enough intrigue.

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For more on Goalby, Tree Farm and the wealth of golf in Aiken, check out the video above.

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Man United can complete four summer deals easily after savvy transfer clauses

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Manchester United are expected to be busy in the summer transfer window and there are some deals that could be easier to complete than others

As Manchester United look to consolidate their position in the top four and seal a Champions League return, focus has started to shift towards their summer transfer activity. While the club may harbour ambitious targets in the market, there are also some transactions which could prove far more straightforward to complete.

In recent windows, United have chosen to insert buy-back clauses when selling certain players. They haven’t always activated them – for instance, they permitted Real Madrid an uncontested move for Alvaro Carreras when the defender departed Benfica – but they have been keen to keep their options open, particularly when it comes to younger players who can kick on away from Old Trafford.

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Should Michael Carrick finish what he’s started and seal European qualification, it could enhance the club’s appeal to prospective signings. It might also leave senior figures believing they have little alternative but to award the interim manager the position permanently in what already looks like being a busy summer.

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Former United midfielder Carrick might not be the only man to clinch a reunion, though. We’ve examined four players who could be brought back if the club opts to exercise one of those buy-back options.

Hannibal Mejbri

Academy product Hannibal made an impression when he progressed through the youth system and earned a first-team opportunity. His determination and combative nature drew praise but he didn’t manage to fulfil his potential at Old Trafford.

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The Tunisian international netted his maiden United goal in a loss to Brighton under Erik ten Hag early in the 2023/24 campaign but didn’t add to it and saw a loan stint at Sevilla bring limited minutes. He departed on a permanent basis at the end of that term, signing for Burnley for a knock-down initial fee which could rise to £9.4million.

As previously reported by the MEN, United possess a buy-back clause worth an undisclosed sum and also hold matching rights. This means should Burnley accept an offer for Hannibal from another club, his previous employers are entitled to submit an identical offer to the Clarets.

United are also understood to have a 50 per-cent sell-on clause for the 23-year-old. Burnley are facing relegation from the Premier League this season, yet Hannibal – who featured in 37 league matches during last term’s promotion push – has caught the eye despite the side’s difficulties.

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Mason Greenwood

United sold Mason Greenwood to Marseille for a little under £30m in 2024 and didn’t have any serious plans for a return at the time. Nevertheless, The Telegraph reported that a buy-back clause was incorporated into the agreement despite ‘no expectation or intention’ of any comeback.

The Premier League outfit had determined well before that point that Greenwood had no future at the club. However, those reports of a clause prompted some to question whether the door remained slightly open.

He had spent a season on loan at Getafe before completing a permanent switch to Marseille. He has an impressive record of 47 goals in 74 outings for the French club as they finished second in Ligue 1 last season and fell agonisingly short of the Champions League knockout stages this term.

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Alongside the buy-back clause, United also inserted a sell-on clause into Greenwood’s Marseille transfer. Figures differ depending on the source, though it is understood to sit somewhere between 40-50 per-cent of any profits generated by the Ligue 1 side.

Facundo Pellistri

Uruguay prospect Pellistri arrived at United in 2020 but started more frequently for his country than for the Premier League club. After 25 outings – and a number of loans – he made a permanent move to Panathinaikos in a deal worth just over £5m plus potential add-ons in 2024.

MEN reports at the time indicated a three-year buy-back clause was written into the agreement. United are also believed to hold a 45 per-cent sell-on clause should the Greek side choose to offload the winger

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Now 24, Pellistri played his 50th Panathinaikos match earlier this season. He scored against Chelsea in last season’s Conference League and has played in the Europa League this season.

Willy Kambwala

Kambwala was thrown into first-team action very suddenly during an injury crisis. Three of his 10 appearances were Premier League starts, including one against rivals Liverpool in April 2024.

His displays under Erik ten Hag attracted attention from clubs on the continent and United couldn’t keep hold of him. After the French youth international turned down a contract extension, Villarreal submitted a bid worth up to £9.6million.

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According to The Guardian, United ensured a buy-back clause was included in that deal, as well as in the sale of left-back Carreras earlier in the same window. Carreras moved to Benfica for £5m before completing a switch to Real Madrid for close to £50m just 12 months later, after United chose not to activate their £25m option.

Kambwala featured in 19 league matches for Villarreal last season as they finished fifth in La Liga and secured Champions League qualification. He has yet to feature this season owing to a hamstring injury, though he recently returned to the matchday squad as he closes in on a comeback.

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Two late goals lift Whitecaps to come-from-behind victory over Timbers

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The Vancouver Whitecaps believe in one another, and the team proved Saturday why exactly that unwavering faith is warranted. 

After falling behind 2-1 just moments before halftime, the ‘Caps rallied with a pair of stoppage-time goals for a 3-2 victory over their regional rivals, the Portland Timbers. 

“It doesn’t matter the score, we can always get the three points,” said midfielder Sebastian Berhalter, who put away the game-winning strike in the 95th minute. “It’s a testament to the culture, I guess, that we’ve built … that everyone still believes and no one panics. 

“And it’s our identity, it’s who we want to be. We want to be people that, even if we’re winning 3-0, want to get the fourth. If we’re down 2-1, we want to get the 3-2.”

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The Whitecaps improved to 5-1-0 on the season while the Timbers fell to 1-4-1. Portland has not won a game since Feb. 21 when the Columbus Crew 3-2 to open the season. 

Vancouver controlled 61.1 per cent of possession across the game and outshot Portland 22-9, with a 9-4 edge in on-target shots.

It took the home side until nearly the final whistle to seal the win. 

“You can never draw up a game. You can hope for something and prepare something, but you know, this game is so unpredictable,” said Whitecaps head coach Jesper Sorensen. 

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“For a neutral (fan), I think it was very entertaining. For our fans, I think they left the building very happy. And they should, because it was. I think we played a very good game in general.”

The ‘Caps got off to a solid start, with Edier Ocampo scoring six minutes in.

Vancouver ‘keeper Yohei Takaoka sent a long kick up the field and his Portland counterpart James Pantemis came up outside of the penalty area to challenge. Ocampo collected the ball before Pantemis could get to it and took a couple of strides before rolling a low shot in to give the home side an early 1-0 lead. 

The Whitecaps controlled play through much of the first half, but the visitors pushed late in the frame and capitalized on their chances. 

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Juan Mosquera levelled the score at 1-1 in the 37th minute, sending a rocket of a shot soaring into the top corner of the net off a corner kick. 

He then helped out on David Da Costa’s tally in first-half injury time. Vancouver defender Mattias Laborda blocked a cross but couldn’t clear the ball and Mosquera was there to pick it up and get it off to Da Costa, who sent a sharp-angle shot in from the side of the six-yard box to give the Timbers a 2-1 lead. 

The Whitecaps didn’t take advantage of their chances during the first half, Sorensen said. 

In the locker room at the break, the coach said he told his team to stay focused and not panic. 

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“Just keep believing. We need one moment to equalize and then we needed to push for the rest of the game. And today we managed,” he told reporters. “But there was no need to panic. It would have been worse if we had played a very bad first half. Then we would have needed to change a lot. But there was no need for this.” 

Vancouver pressed in the second half, hemming the Timbers in their own end and creating several chances that Portland blocked or quickly headed out of harm’s way. 

A corner kick in the 89th minute proved fateful for the ‘Caps. 

Berhalter swung the ball in and Ocampo drilled a shot into a defender at the top of the penalty area, who was called for a handball. Referee Joe Dickerson signalled for a penalty kick. 

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Thomas Muller stepped up to take the shot in the first minute of injury time, stutter stepped, then fired a left-footed shot in past Pantemis for his third goal of the season. 

Four minutes later, Berhalter chipped a left-footed shot off from the top of the penalty area, sailing the ball in to give Vancouver a late 3-2 lead with his fourth goal of the season. 

“I knew I needed to get in the box. I just got fortunate it fell to me, and then once it fell to me, I knew I was going to score,” said the American midfielder. “So it’s a good effort by the whole team. Honestly, I just looked at it — that was the 91st and 95th minute. And to score two goals in stoppage time shows a lot.”

Even after collecting an important victory, the Whitecaps have work to do, Takaoka cautioned. 

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“It’s a massive win for us, and we showed our mentality,” said the ‘keeper. 

“We never give up until the end. It’s a massive win, but we have to look back at the end of the first half, we’ve conceded two games in a row. We have to be solid and we can’t allow a goal in the end of the first half. So I think we should be better, but it’s a great win.”

Saturday marked the second meeting between the two clubs this season. The ‘Caps beat the Timbers 4-1 in Portland on March 7. Striker Bruno Caicedo made his Whitecaps debut, coming on for Cheikh Sabaly in the 71st minute. An announced crowd of 25,465 took in the game at B.C. Place. 

Timbers: Host Los Angeles FC on Saturday, April 11.

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Whitecaps: Host New York City FC on Saturday, April 11.

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I got the Sir Alex Ferguson hairdryer and told wife I couldn’t hack playing for Man United

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The former Manchester United star has opened up about the moment he decided to quit Old Trafford

Ben Foster departed Manchester United just weeks after receiving the infamous “hairdryer treatment” from Sir Alex Ferguson. The retired goalkeeper spent five years at Old Trafford with two loan spells at Watford during his time there.

Foster made just 23 appearances for United following his transfer from Stoke City in 2005 for a £1 million fee. One of those outings was a 1-1 draw with Sunderland towards the conclusion of his spell at United that didn’t go as he’d anticipated.

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In fact, the shot-stopper informed his wife Kate that United was “not for me” after receiving one of Fergie’s infamous dressing room tirades regarding his display. During an appearance on The Managers with Mick McCarthy and Tony Pulis, Foster discussed his final curtain call at Old Trafford.

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He said: “Yeah we played Kenwyne [Jones] for Sunderland, a one-all draw at Old Trafford and I hadn’t played in a little while and he put me in. He said, ‘Listen, I’m going to give you a go against Sunderland. You know, they’re struggling a bit. I think it’ll be a good game for you.’

“Anyway, I’ve made a mistake for the goal, come out and tried to punch it. Big Kenwyne, b***** hell he’s strong and he’s just beat me to the header and headed it in. Patrice Evra thankfully scored a last-second goal, a last-minute equaliser.

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“We got away with a one-all draw but [when] come in at full time, God, has he given me, honestly, absolute pelters, full-on hairdryer and in front of all the lads.

“But when Sir Alex is going at it, all the other lads just keep their heads down because they don’t want anything [to do with it]. They don’t want none of the smoke.”

Following the verbal battering from Fergie, Foster turned immediately to his partner for comfort. He added: “I just remember coming away from that, I remember talking to my wife about it and just saying, ‘This isn’t for me. I can’t deal with this, it’s not for me, I really can’t,’ and that was it, that was genuinely it.”

In May 2010, Foster secured his exit from United, putting pen to paper at Birmingham City for a fee understood to be in the region of £6m. Reflecting on his departure, he said: “I remember going in a few weeks later, we still had probably about six weeks left of the season to go.

“Sir Alex said, ‘Birmingham have made a bid for you, it’s a really good deal, £6million, it’s great for the club, but also really good for you,’ because I think even he knew anyway. He said, ‘I think it is probably just too big for you.’ And I was like, ‘Thank you so much. I was buzzing. I’m so happy.’”

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Dan Hurley, UConn one win away from claiming a modern sports dynasty

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INDIANAPOLIS — Dan Hurley may well be inevitable. 

The best coach in college basketball conducted Connecticut to a 71-62 crunching of Illinois in the national semifinals on Saturday, sending the Huskies to their seventh national title game. It’s both familiar and favorable territory for the program. UConn has never lost on the final night of the season; it’s 6-0 in previous trips, including the past two in 2023 and 2024 under Hurley’s colorful command. 

No one should be remotely surprised that this team is headed back for another Monday night April opportunity. 

This is Connecticut in the tournament under Hurley. Yet at the same time, what’s happening here is beyond remarkable. It’s unprecedented in the modern era of the tournament and may well prove unrepeatable for the next few generations. 

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For those keeping track at home, UConn is 18-1 in its last 19 NCAA Tournament games. The lone loss came in a thriller by two points last year against eventual champion Florida. Hurley’s still yet to experience a loss in the Sweet 16 or later, boasting an 11-0 record from that stage and beyond. In national semifinals and title games, UConn has trailed for a total of 13:39 out of 200 minutes since 2023.

Borderline fictional.

A quick reset on where we’re at with the best men’s program of the past 30 years: Connecticut’s blue blood status was firmed up for good with its dominant 2023 title run and fifth NCAA crown. Hurley’s status as a Hall of Famer was then clinched with an even better team that snagged a second straight national championship the next year in Phoenix, in 2024.

But three natties in four seasons? 

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If Hurley can scheme-and-scream up this team to win just one more game, a third national title in four years would validate outright dynasty status in American sports, not just college basketball. Especially when factoring in the opponent that awaits — Michigan, which mowed down Arizona in a stunning letdown of a semifinal — one more UConn conquest would cap off one of the greatest team and coaching accomplishments in any sport this century. This kind of thing is not supposed to happen anymore in men’s college basketball. Not in this era, the one before it and even the one further back than that.

We haven’t seen a school win three out of four since John Wooden was ruling the sport during a much different age at UCLA in the 1970s. Back when the tournament didn’t have automatic bids and was far fewer than 68 or 64 teams and wasn’t nearly as spread out with talent the way things are in the 21st century.

Force of personality has always played a prominent role in college athletics and in the success that can often come with it. Hurley’s as much an embodiment of that sentiment as perhaps any coach ever. He’s 199-74 at Connecticut, the 199th win on Saturday hardly being a work of art. But Hurley has always been way more Jackson Pollock than Pablo Picasso. He and his staff will throw everything at the canvas; that tapestry of sets and Xs and Os can be as beautiful as it is unpredictable. 

Illinois, which entered this Final Four as the No. 1 offense in college basketball, played 37 games this season. The only two times it didn’t score at least 65 points came against the same team: Nov. 28 against at Madison Square Garden and April 4 against at Lucas Oil Stadium against the Connecticut Huskies.

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Making it even more unbearable for the guys in orange, Illinois’ only other loss draped in infamy and anemia in recent seasons came against Hurley’s guys in the 2024 Elite Eight, a 77-52 loss that featured one of the most dominant in-game runs in NCAA history: UConn buried that Illini team with a 30-0 avalanche to secure a Final Four trip. 

I won’t overstate it and say UConn was overlooked coming into this Final Four. That can’t happen with that coach, those uniforms, that nonpareil status in the sport.

But the Huskies were an underdog going into Saturday. Even with the miracle 3-pointer from Braylon Mullins that vaulted UConn over No. 1 overall seed Duke in an instant classic East Regional final, the Huskies had less glitz and hype attached to them in this year’s Final Four than the two most recent runs.

Despite the 13-point win over the Illini the day after Thanksgiving — and five more wins than Illinois overall — the Huskies were not the favored side. On Saturday, UConn held an Illini team that averaged almost 15 assists per game to just three. Illinois scored just .98 points per possession and only had two players in double figures, led by Keaton Wagler’s 20 in the final game of his fabulous freshman season.

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The Huskies got just enough from Mullins: 15 points, including four 3s, the last of which made it 66-59 with under a minute to go and was the shot that essentially sealed the deal. Tarris Reed Jr. continued his outstanding tournament with another double-double: 17 points, 11 rebounds. 

“The confidence from [the November game], there probably wasn’t enough made of that,” Hurley told CBS Sports, “where we just probably were a tough matchup for them, because we do have size and we had some tenacity defensively. … I was kind of surprised at how big of an underdog we were coming into it, based on the fact that that first game, I think we were up 21.”

Maybe it’s because UConn didn’t win the Big East regular season or postseason championships. It also took bad losses at home to Creighton and on the road to Marquette. But this team started 22-1! Earlier this season it beat BYU, won at Kansas and knocked off Florida in a revenge game. Against Arizona in mid-December without Mullins and Reed, the Huskies lost in the closing seconds in one of the best games of the first two months of the season.

In February, they held St. John’s to 40 points, giving Rick Pitino the worst statistical loss of his incredible career. Did people forget what this team is capable of?

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It’s no shock whatsoever that UConn’s done this again and made it to another NCAA championship affair. The reasons are in the dozens but they all filter back to the guy at the top who’s the face of college basketball. 

Hurley is as superstitious as it gets, and as he made his way to the locker room before the game Saturday, he walked by a television that had an old Duke game playing; the stadium was showing highlights of every Final Four held in Indianapolis over the years. He saw a much younger version of his brother, Bobby, playing in this city back in 1991.

Duke won its first national championship that year. Hurley took it as a positive omen.

“I’m looking for signs,” Hurley told CBS Sports after the win. “Indiana boy (Mullins) brings us back here. Michigan‘s playing in the Final Four, Tarris Reed on the team (was previously at Michigan). AK (Alex Karaban) comes back. You know, it’s just a lot of things pointing in our direction.”

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Hurley was so excitable in the throes of Saturday night’s win, he was also yelling out for a local tailor as he went back into the celebratory locker room. His lucky beaded bracelet wasn’t built the right way, either.

“There’s multiple things happening,” he said. “I actually didn’t have my beads for the beginning of the game, and so my wife did like a half‑ass job. The beads should be all the way there, but the (jacket) lining is completely ripped. It’s coming out during the game. I got all types of problems right now.”

Hurley isn’t getting that jacket fixed now, though. No way. It’s good luck.

For Monday night’s mammoth Michigan matchup, Hurley said, “I’m going grimy.”

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It’s almost never pretty with Hurley, but his force of personality and everything that comes with him — the good, bad, crazy and otherwise — has him one win away from elevating his status to one of the sport’s true all-time great coaches. 

Remember, as Hurley said Thursday, the Huskies came here for rings, not watches. 

They’ll win something even greater than jewelry if they can find a way to beat Michigan Monday night: all-time sports immortality.  

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Bridger Western Cards tier list

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Cards are an important passive mechanic in Bridger Western, available through the Mud Witch at the Swamp. These apply various bonuses that encourage a specific type of a play style, which can radically impact how you approach different activities. They have a potential to be build-defining, which is why it’s important to know which of them are worth pursuing.

This article ranks all Cards in Bridger Western based on their respective bonuses. Feel free to refer to this tier list whenever you wish to pursue a specific Card type for your build.


Ranking all Cards in Bridger Western

S-Tier

Active Card slots (Image via Roblox)Active Card slots (Image via Roblox)
Active Card slots (Image via Roblox)

The S-Tier Cards have no flaws, and the passive abilities offer game-changing effects. These are incredibly useful passives that can completely overhaul how you approach combat in the title. We recommend keeping them in your deck, should you acquire them through rerolls in the Mud Witch’s hut.

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Card

Effect

Snake Eater

Staying still grants you passive invisibility and faster stamina regen.

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Show Me a Good Time

Increases blade damage by 10%.

Grants the ability to parry bullets.

Lungshot

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Your hits now drain enemy stamina.

Time Heals All Wounds

Grants passive HP regeneration.

Sturdy

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+15% max HP, now takes three hits to finish.

The Bridger Western beginner’s guide offers gameplay tips for newcomers to get a running start in the experience.


A-Tier

Official cover art for the game (Image via Roblox)Official cover art for the game (Image via Roblox)
Official cover art for the game (Image via Roblox)

The A-Tier Cards are decently powerful, with minor drawbacks or niche uses that keep them from joining the upper echelon of Cards. While still quite effective, they are not as crucial to regular gameplay as those in the S-Tier. They are worth keeping in your deck, provided your Card slots are not occupied by the S-Tier options.

Card

Effect

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Archer’s Child

Increases Bow draw speed by 1.5x.

Increases Bow fire rate by 2x.

Executioner

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If a headshot deals more than 40 damage and knocks a player down, they will be decapitated.

Evil Eye

Increases Ocular Prowess duration by 50%.

Reduces Ocular Prowess cooldown by 50%.

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Veteran

Reloading revolvers no longer empties the chamber.

Secret Technique

Activate Secret Technique when below 40% HP.

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Too Tired to Fall

Reduces damage received when below 50% Stamina.

Quick Draw

Equip your primary Weapon to enter a Quick Draw state.

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FAUX: High Noon

Reduces max HP by 10%.

Gain Auto Aim when using Ocular Prowess if you have High Noon equipped.

Can’t Lay Off the Tonic

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Increases power based on the number of active Tonics.


B-Tier

Gameplay still (Image via Roblox)Gameplay still (Image via Roblox)
Gameplay still (Image via Roblox)

While not bad per se, the Cards belonging to the B-Tier are simply far too niche for their effects to be seen routinely during gameplay. The merit in keeping these Cards in your active Cards slots is fairly low. Naturally, these Cards are best used as secondary options behind their higher-tier counterparts.

Card

Effect

Total Checkmate

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Throw knife volleys.

A True Cowboy

Automatically aims lasso at other players while on horseback.

Increases Gun Damage by 17% on horseback.

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Free Runner

Increases Stamina by 20 points.

Combat roll is now a slide.

Desperado

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Increases Gun damage based on how low your HP is.

Silver Prodigy

Increases damage dealt with Silver Bullets and Silver Dagger.


C-Tier

The applications of the C-Tier Cards are even more restricted than those of the B-Tier. Either these are too flawed or too niche to be useful for long. As such, these options are best avoided or ignored, and you are better off spending your Moola to get better ones.

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Card

Effect

Boy with Fists

Increases Melee Damage by 20%.

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Reduces Gun accuracy by 55%.

Seasoned Hunter

Spawn with a Stake.

Vampires gain less blood if you have less health.

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Flesh Automaton

Taking lethal damage can trigger an explosion.

High Noon

Reduces max HP by 10%.

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Grants Auto Aim for five seconds at noon.

Belmont Family Crest

Deal 25% more damage to Vampires.

Receive 25% more damage from Vampires.

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Winged Man

Increases midair damage by 25%.

Poltergeist

Increases combat roll stamina by 80%.

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Reduces combat roll visibility.

Silver Wireset

Steel Wireset now applies Silver Damage and burns Vampires.

Twenty Meter Radius Steel

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Creates a web when using Silver Wireset.

Sneaky Lowlife

Others’ Ocular Prowess no longer highlights you.

Small Cuts

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Receive 10% more damage when shot rapidly.

Receive less damage per shot.

Also read: Unique Roblox username ideas for new players


FAQs on Bridger Western

How many Cards does Bridger Western feature?

The game currently features 30 unique Cards.

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What does FAUX: High Noon do?

FAUX: High Noon grants you Auto Aim when using Ocular Prowess and reduces your max HP by 10%, provided you have the High Noon Card in your deck.

Is Snake Eater a good Card?

The invisibility and stamina regeneration bonuses offered by Snake Eater are a game changer, making it a great way to approach combat in the experience.