Sports
US midfielder Weston McKennie extends Juventus contract till 2030 | Football News
United States midfielder Weston McKennie had his contract at Juventus extended on Monday so that he can spend a decade with the Turin club.
The new deal expires in 2030 – 10 years after McKennie signed with Juventus.
The extension was announced by Juventus and comes three months before a home World Cup for McKennie. It also comes with a reported salary increase from 2.5 million euros ($3 million) to 4 million euros ($4.7 million) per season, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport.
The 27-year-old McKennie has 26 goals and provided 26 assists in 220 appearances for Juventus. He has also become a favorite of new Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti, who appreciates McKennie’s versatility – even fielding him at striker recently.
McKennie has eight goals since Spalletti was hired in October – more than any other player in the squad.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First Published: Mar 03 2026 | 11:12 AM IST
Sports
Ejiofor leads Senior Night comeback as No. 18 St. John’s tops Georgetown 72-69 at MSG
NEW YORK — Zuby Ejiofor scored 23 points, Joson Sanon added 15 off the bench — all after halftime — and No. 18 St. John’s rallied from 12 down in the second half to beat skidding Georgetown 72-69 on Tuesday night.
With a gritty comeback on Senior Night at Madison Square Garden, the Red Storm (24-6, 17-2 Big East) tied No. 4 UConn atop the conference standings with one regular-season game remaining. A victory Friday night at Hudson River rival Seton Hall would give the Johnnies at least a share of their second consecutive Big East regular-season championship following a 32-year drought.
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The only time they’ve won back-to-back league crowns was 1985 and ’86.
Dylan Darling had 12 points for St. John’s, which has won 15 of 16 overall and 11 straight meetings with Georgetown — the longest streak for either school in a series that dates to 1909.
Sports
Fantasy Football Fallout: Colts transition tag Daniel Jones
For now, Daniel Jones is expected to return to the Colts in 2026. But it’s not guaranteed since Indianapolis used the transition tag on the quarterback on Tuesday.
The transition tag gives Jones a one-year, fully guaranteed $37.83 million salary for 2026 and allows him to negotiate with other teams, though Indianapolis retains the right to match any offer sheet. Barring something unexpected, Jones should play for the Colts in 2026 — once he’s healthy.
Jones underwent surgery in December to repair a torn right Achilles that he suffered in Week 14. The recovery timeline is 6-to-8 months, which puts him in a position to be fully cleared for Week 1.
Fantasy managers should view Jones as a No. 2 quarterback in all leagues, and he’s only worth drafting with a late-round pick in one-quarterback leagues. In Superflex and two-quarterback leagues, Jones is worth a mid-round selection.
After spending the majority of his career with the Giants and a brief stop in Minnesota, he resurrected his career with Indianapolis in 2025 when he completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,101 yards, 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions, along with 164 rushing yards and five touchdowns. And prior to suffering the Achilles injury, Jones was also playing though a fibula injury suffered in Week 10.
When healthy, through the first nine games of the season, Jones was averaging 22.8 Fantasy points per game. He topped 20 Fantasy points six times during that span.
But before we can fully evaluate Jones as a Fantasy quarterback in 2026, we need to see what his receiving corps will look like. With Jones getting the transition tag, Alec Pierce is now an unrestricted free agent.
The Colts have said they want to keep Pierce, so we’ll see what happens. And Michael Pittman has a cap hit of $29 million for 2026, which could force the Colts to release him if they don’t restructure his contract.
It would be great if Indianapolis ran it back with the same receiving corps, which also features Tyler Warren and Josh Downs. But no matter what happens with Pierce or Pittman, Jones will only be a No. 2 Fantasy quarterback in all leagues in 2026 if he stays with the Colts as expected.
Sports
Braves DH Jurickson Profar suspended for 162 games after failing second PED test
Atlanta Braves outfielder/designated hitter Jurickson Profar has failed a PED test for the second straight season and been suspended for 162 games, MLB announced Tuesday. He was also set to be on Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic and is now ineligible for the event.
Profar tested positive for exogenous testosterone and its metabolites, according to the league. His suspension officially begins on March 6.
“We were incredibly disappointed to learn that Jurickson tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance and is in violation of MLB’s Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” the Braves said in a statement late Tuesday. “Our players are consistently educated about the program and the consequences if they are found to be in violation. The Atlanta Braves fully support the program.
The 2024 All-Star was also suspended last season for a violation of the MLB Joint Drug Agreement. This time around, he’ll miss the entirety of the 2026 season. The first offense carries an 80-game suspension, the second is 162 games and the third is a permanent ban.
Keep in mind that suspended players aren’t eligible for the playoffs, so even if the Braves qualify for the postseason, Profar is out until 2027.
Profar, 33, had a career year in 2024 for the Padres. He hit .280/.380/.459 (134 OPS+) with 3.6 WAR and made his first All-Star team. He parlayed that into a three-year, $42 million deal with the Braves, but PED suspensions come without pay and he missed basically half of last season and will get nothing in 2026.
In his 80 games last year, Profar hit .245/.353/.434 (121 OPS+) with 16 doubles, 14 homers, 43 RBI and 56 runs, looking like he’d be an important part of the Braves’ 2026 lineup.
In fact, he was expected to hit cleanup while serving as Atlanta’s DH. The loss of Profar leaves the Braves scrambling. Until catcher Sean Murphy and infielder Ha-Seong Kim return from surgery, the best DH option on the big-league roster looks like Eli White. Maybe a non-roster invite to camp like Dom Smith makes a mark. The available pool of free agents is thinned to the point that possible options out there are Rowdy Tellez, Justin Turner, Wilmer Flores, Tommy Pham and Jesse Winker. Andrew McCutchen is also out there if he wants to stray from Pittsburgh.
The Braves could also wait until there are cuts from spring training or they could explore a trade (people continue to pine for Byron Buxton to return to Georgia, where he was born and raised, though he has long said he’s a Twin for life).
The Braves entered March as the favorites to win the NL East, according to some projections. FanGraphs had them winning the division by a game, Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA also had them by roughly one game. They were +190 to win the NL East on DraftKings, even with the Phillies and trailing the +165 Mets, entering Tuesday.
Sports
Wolves Topple Liverpool with Dramatic Late Winner
Wolves celebrated back-to-back Premier League wins after producing a dramatic, last-gasp victory over defending champions Liverpool at Molineux.
After a quiet first half, the second period erupted into chaos. Wolves’ breakthrough came late when Rodrigo Gomes’ superb finish put the hosts ahead. Mohamed Salah responded seven minutes from time to level for the visitors, keeping the tension high.
But Wolves refused to settle for a draw. In the fourth minute of injury time, Andre struck from distance, aided by a significant deflection, to beat Alisson and send the home crowd into raptures.
The match had begun cautiously, with Liverpool testing Wolves early through Cody Gakpo, whose effort was comfortably saved by Wolves goalkeeper Sa. The visitors dominated possession in the first half, creating chances through Dominik Szoboszlai and Gakpo, but Wolves’ disciplined defending kept the score level at the break.
Liverpool continued their pressure after the interval, with Curtis Jones hitting the crossbar in a scramble inside the Wolves box. Wolves responded by introducing Tolu Arokodare, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, and Yerson Mosquera, which gradually shifted momentum in their favour.
In the final ten minutes, substitutes Arokodare and Gomes combined to give Wolves the lead, only for Salah to equalise moments later. The match reached a frenetic climax, with Wolves finally snatching victory through Andre’s deflected strike, securing a memorable three points and sending a statement to the Premier League heavyweights.
Wolves’ victory highlighted their resilience and ability to thrive under pressure, leaving the reigning champions humbled at Molineux.
Sports
Blue Jays sign Joe Mantiply to minor-league deal, invite to spring training
Reliever Joe Mantiply has signed with the Jays on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training, the team announced on Tuesday.
Mantiply, 35, is coming off a 2025 campaign that ended in triple-A with the Buffalo Bisons, where he posted a 3.45 ERA in 14 appearances.
Last season in the Majors with the Diamondbacks, he threw just 9.2 innings and allowed 17 runs for a 15.83 ERA.
The best stretch of his career came from 2022-24, where the southpaw logged at least 39 innings each year and recorded just one season with an ERA over 4.00.
In 2022, Mantiply earned his lone all-star nod and posted a career-best 2.85 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Sports
2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational odds, predictions, field: PGA picks this week from 10,000 simulations
The PGA Florida Swing continues on Thursday with the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge. The Signature Event status for this tournament brings virtually all of the PGA’s top players back after most sat out last week’s Cognizant Classic. The top-10 players in the Official World Golf Ranking are all in the field, and it’s Scottie Scheffler who is atop the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational odds board at FanDuel Sportsbook.
He’s the +350 favorite (risk $100 to win $350), followed by Rory McIlroy at +1000. Tommy Fleetwood (+2000), Matt Fitzpatrick (+2200), Collin Morikawa (+2500) and Xander Schauffele (+2500) are among the other 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational favorites. Before locking in any 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational picks, entering any Arnold Palmer Invitational one and done contests, or making any PGA DFS picks on sites like FanDuel or DraftKings, be sure to see the golf predictions and projected leaderboard from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
SportsLine’s proprietary model, built by DFS pro Mike McClure, simulated every PGA Tour event 10,000 times and reveals golf betting picks that have a history of being extremely profitable.
This same model has also nailed a whopping 16 majors entering the weekend, including the 2025 Masters — its fourth Masters in a row — as well as last year’s PGA Championship and Open Championship. Anyone who has followed its sports betting picks could have seen massive returns on betting sites.
New users can also target the DraftKings promo code, which offers $200 in bonus bets if your first $5+ bet wins:
Now that the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational field is locked in, the model simulated the tournament 10,000 times, and the results were surprising. Head to SportsLine now to see the projected leaderboard, which you can use for PGA picks, one and done contests or golf DFS lineups.
2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational predictions
One major surprise the model is calling for at the API 2026: Schauffele, one of the favorites and a two-time major winner, barely cracks the top 10 of the projected leaderboard. He’s a golfer to fade. The 32-year-old finished T7 at the Genesis Invitational last time out, but otherwise has finished T19 or worse in every other tournament this year. He’s never finished in the top 20 of this tournament and was T40 after barely making the cut at this event last year. See who else to fade here.
Another surprise: The model says Si Woo Kim makes a strong run at the title, even though he’s a +3300 longshot. Kim has cooled a bit in his past two events, but he opened the season with four straight finishes of T11 or better, including a T2 at the Farmers Insurance Open and a T3 at the WM Phoenix Open. See who else to pick here.
New users can also check out the latest FanDuel promo code and get $100 in bonus bets at FanDuel if your first $5+ bet wins:
How to make 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational picks
The model is also says three golfers going off at +3000 or higher will make a run at the top spot on the leaderboard. You can only see the model’s picks here.
Who will win the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational, and which massive longshots will stun the golfing world? Check out the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational odds below and then visit SportsLine to see the projected leaderboard, all from the model that’s nailed 16 golf majors, including three in 2025.
2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational odds, favorites
Get full 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational picks, best bets and predictions here.
(odds via FanDuel and subject to change)
Scottie Scheffler +350
Rory McIlroy +1000
Tommy Fleetwood +2000
Matt Fitzpatrick +2200
Collin Morikawa +2500
Xander Schauffele +2500
Harris English +3000
Si Woo Kim +3300
Russell Henley +3300
Hideki Matsuyama +3300
Ludvig Åberg +3300
Viktor Hovland +3300
Cameron Young +3500
Min Woo Lee +4000
Patrick Cantlay +4000
Jake Knapp +4000
Sam Burns +4500
Robert MacIntyre +4500
Chris Gotterup +4500
Kurt Kitayama +4500
Adam Scott +4500
Shane Lowry +4500
Justin Rose +5000
Sepp Straka +5000
Rickie Fowler +5500
Ben Griffin+5500
Ryan Gerard +5500
Maverick McNealy +5500
Pierceson Coody +5500
Nicolai Højgaard +6000
Jacob Bridgeman +6000
Justin Thomas +6500
Jordan Spieth +6500
Akshay Bhatia +6500
Corey Conners +6500
Jason Day +7000
Keegan Bradley +7000
Nick Taylor +8000
J.J. Spaun +8000
Ryan Fox +8000
Keith Mitchell +8000
Ryo Hisatsune +10000
Sahith Theegala +10000
Michael Thorbjornsen +10000
Nico Echavarria +10000
Harry Hall +10000
Alex Noren +10000
Samuel Stevens +10000
Sports
The Reason Jonathan Greenard Trade Talk Has Arrived
Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard is due for a contract extension, and because the team is cash-strapped in 2026, a trade may be the end result.
If Greenard wants top-market money, the Vikings may decide the cleanest path is moving him before the bill comes due.
Greenard’s guaranteed money ran out in 2025; he’s seeking a long-term extension — and Minnesota must decide whether it has the funds or to pivot toward Dallas Turner as Greenard’s replacement.
A Contract Squeeze Is Driving the Greenard Conversation
Greenard’s contract enters the offseason chat.
Greenard Seeking a “Market Correction”
News broke of a possible trade fate for Greenard on Tuesday, and SI.com‘s Albert Breer cleared up the mystery shortly after.
“The Vikings’ situation with OLB Jonathan Greenard is a bit complex — Greenard is seeking a market correction to his contract, per sources. He’s due $19 million and would like a raise,” Breer tweeted.
“Minnesota is comfortable with him at his current number. The team views him as one of their best players, and won’t just let him go. But if someone comes with a big offer, a deal could be had.”
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert added, “Greenard’s contract calls for a $22.3 million cap number and a $19 million cash salary for 2026, but none of that money is fully guaranteed. If he is still on the roster on the fifth day of the new league year, $4 million of his base salary will become guaranteed. A trade would save them about $12 million in cap space.”
“The Vikings have already told two other veterans, running back Aaron Jones and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, that they will be released or traded for cap purposes. Their departures would save $18.65 million in cap space.”
In short, Greenard wants a raise — not unlike the Danielle Hunter situation for the Vikings in years past.
If No Luck, Then a Trade
Greenard earns the aforementioned $19 million per season. When joining the Vikings two years ago, that number was fair and aligned with market value. Now, the veteran EDGE probably deserves a bump near $27 million, give or take.
For context, Micah Parsons in Green Bay earns $46.5 million annually. Parsons is certainly a better defender than Greenard, but he’s probably not $27.5 million per season better.
The Vikings must decide if they can find a pay raise for Greenard in the budget. The budget is slim this offseason after a humongous spending spree in 2025 by former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, which featured newcomers Will Fries, Javon Hargrave, and Jonathan Allen, among others.
The Trade Compensation
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted Tuesday, “Teams I’ve talked to believe Minnesota wants a Day 2 pick for Greenard.”
Greenard will turn 29 this year; he won’t fetch a 1st-Rounder. Perhaps the Vikings could package their 18th overall pick in April’s draft with Greenard to move into the Top 10 of the draft order, but aside from that, Greenard alone just won’t command a 1st-Round pick.
That leaves the mystery somewhere in Round 2 or 3 — if the Vikings trade him at all. For example, Minnesota could ship Greenard and a 5th-Rounder to an EDGE-needy team for a 2nd-Rounder.
Perhaps a high 3rd-Rounder will do the trick.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis added, “What I know on Jonathan Greenard: The Vikings think the world of him as player/person in locker room. In 2024, he signed what now looks like a team-friendly deal. MIN cap crunch complicates any new contract. Interested teams will have to pony up on draft capital & new contract.”
Greenard’s Production
Greenard had a down year in 2025, per sack production. He played 12 games before succumbing to an injury, registering just 3 sacks. Spanned to 17 games, Greenard was on track for 4 sacks. That is emphatically not enough end for a starting EDGE rusher, especially one who reached the Pro Bowl in 2024.
However, even missing 5 games, Greenard finished 2025 ranked 17th in quarterback hurries and 31st in total pressures, two numbers that can’t be disregarded. There’s a reason Vikings fans joked all season that Greenard was the king of “almost sacks.” He terrorized offensive linemen, but just couldn’t close the deal with a sack more often than not.
Minnesota’s coaching staff and front office must ask themselves if Greenard will bounce back from a 3-sack season and return to his double-digit norm. If the answer is yes, pay the man fair market value. If no, trade him for a 2nd- or 3rd-Round pick and promote Turner, while scouring free agency for an OLB3 type, probably a player like Jadeveon Clowney or Joseph Ossai.
Finally, there’s the roster-building argument. For a team that must win now to secure the head coach’s long-term job security, does it really make sense to trade productive EDGE defenders? Most Super Bowl-contending teams hoard pass rushers, not find ways to offload them.
Greenard logged a 74.2 Pro Football Focus grade in 2025.
Sports
USWNT vs. Canada live stream: Rivals meet in the SheBelieves Cup with first place on the line
The 2026 SheBelieves Cup will turn into a rivalry night on Wednesday when the U.S. women’s national team squares off against Canada. Head coach Emma Hayes and her squad get the perfect match to build on players’ tournament experience, a theme Hayes wants replicated for a large portion of the roster. There are eight players from the 2024 Olympic gold medal-winning team on the SheBelieves Cup roster, with plenty of others who are either experiencing their first or second SheBelieves Cup competition.
Following a 2-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday’s opener, the USWNT now face a Canadian side that lead the tournament table after a 4-1 win over Colombia. With a final game against Colombia on Saturday, the match against Canada sets the stage for a meeting that will likely determine this year’s champion.
The Americans are expected to have Trinity Rodman after an injury concern in the opener.
Here’s how to watch the game and key storylines:
How to watch USA vs. Canada
Date: Wednesday, March 4 | Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
Location: ScottsMiracle-Gro Field — Columbus, Ohio
TV: TNT
Stream: HBO Max
Long-time rivals
The rivalry between the two North American giants dates back to 1986, with the United States leading the all-time series. The USWNT holds a commanding advantage through 67 previous meetings, with 54 wins, four losses, and nine draws, and has outscored the regional rivals 189-42.
Despite the lopsided record, recent versions of the rivalry have taken dramatic turns, often in tournament settings, with the sides getting the better of each other. From penalty shootouts in the 2024 Gold Cup and 2024 SheBelieves Cup to Olympic semifinal showdowns, the two nations are no strangers to high-stakes moments against each other.
In 2012, the USWNT’s come-from-behind extra-time semifinal win over Canada in London paved the way for a fourth gold medal, and Canada’s 1-0 semifinal win in the 2020 Tokyo Games secured their first-ever gold medal. The 2020 Summer Games remain the most recent win against the USWNT to date.
Scouting Canada
Canada head coach Casey Stoney is officially in year two of her tenure with the program, and the squad is eager to turn the page on a lackluster 2025 that featured plenty of growing pains.
Canada are 10th in the official FIFA rankings, their lowest since 2018, when they held fourth place. Despite the positive headlines Canada Soccer received upon hiring Stoney, following a drone scandal that led to the dismissal of Bev Priestman, the Canadians picked up a Pinatar Cup win and managed respectable wins in a string of friendlies. However, they closed out the year on a terrible skid, with losses to Japan, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Stoney named a 24-player roster for the SheBelieves Cup, raising eyebrows with key players missing. Veteran players Adriana Leon, Shelina Zadorsky, Ashley Lawrence, and Sabrina D’Angelo were omitted, along with Jayde Riviere. Rising star attacker Olivia Smith had to withdraw following a concussion, and defender Megan Reid was called in. There are 13 players who play for NWSL clubs, six from European clubs, and four players represent the emerging Canadian league, NSL.
The group is looking ahead after a big 4-1 against Colombia to open the competition, with goals by Vanessa Gilles, Janine Sonis, Sydney Collins, and Nichelle Prince.
Take a look at Canada’s complete roster:
Canada’s 2026 SheBelieves Cup squad
Goalkeepers (3): Kailen Sheridan (North Carolina Courage), Emily Burns (Nantes), Melissa Dagenais (Ottawa Rapid)
Defenders (7): Jade Rose (Manchester City), Vanessa Gilles (Bayern Munich), Sydney Collins (Bay FC), Marie Levasseur (Montpellier), Gabrielle Carle (Washington Spirit), Brooklyn Courtnall (Bay FC), Megan Reid (Denver Summit)
Midfielders (6): Julia Grosso (Chicago Stars), Simi Awujo (Manchester United), Jessie Fleming (Portland Thorns), Emma Regan (Denver Summit), Marie-Yasmine Alidou (Portland Thorns), Kaylee Hunter (AFC Toronto)
Forwards (8): Jordyn Huitema (Seattle Reign), Evelyne Viens (Roma), Nichelle Prince (Boston Legacy), Janine Sonis (Denver Summit), Holly Ward (Vancouver Rise), Delaney Baie Pridham (Ottawa Rapid), Annabelle Chukwu (Notre Dame Fighting Irish), Cloé Lacasse (Utah Royals)
Destined for penalties?
The 2026 SheBelieves Cup is stepping into its next decade. The tournament is marking its 11th year and doing so with an added twist. In a change from previous editions, all 2026 matches tied after regulation will go directly to penalty kicks rather than two overtime periods. Teams that win the penalty shootout will earn an extra point.
The competition is still a round-robin style tournament, with teams getting three points for a win, one point for a tie after regulation, and an extra point for winning the penalty shootout. If teams are tied on points following the final matchday, the first tie-breaker will be goal difference, then most goals scored, then head-to-head result — regardless of who wins the penalty kick shootout. The final tiebreaker is based on fair play rules if needed.
With Canada and the United States having key games decided by penalties in recent years, it’s not hard to imagine SheBelieves’ new tournament point system could come into play.
Sports
India script history as Harmanpreet Kaur-led side becomes first-ever women’s cricket team nominated for Laureus honour | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: India’s women’s cricket team has achieved another historic milestone as they have been nominated for the 2026 Laureus World Team of the Year Award after winning their first-ever World Cup title.The nomination, confirmed by Laureus Sport, makes them the first women’s cricket team to receive this honour. Their journey to the title included a record-breaking moment in the semi-final against Australia, where they completed the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history — 339 runs — before going on to defeat South Africa in the final.
Laureus Sport said in a press release: “In their Cricket World Cup semi-final against Australia, the India Women’s Cricket Team pulled off the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history (339) – before winning their first title against South Africa and are the first women’s cricket team to be nominated for this Award.”Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian team now finds itself in elite company. They have been nominated alongside global heavyweights such as the England Women’s football team, the European Ryder Cup squad, Paris Saint-Germain, and the McLaren Formula 1 team.Their World Cup victory sparked celebrations across India, with the BCCI announcing a cash reward of Rs 51 crore for the squad.The team also joins a small list of Indian sportspersons previously nominated in major Laureus categories, including Vinesh Phogat, Neeraj Chopra, and Rishabh Pant.The winners will be chosen by the Laureus World Sports Academy jury and announced at a grand ceremony at the Cibeles Palace in Madrid on April 20, marking the third straight year the Spanish capital will host the event.
Sports
Bruce Pearl backs Trump, Netanyahu in Iran conflict
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Bruce Pearl said President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have his full unconditional support in their war against Iran.
“They do have my support and my prayers, and I’m grateful for their courage,” the legendary former Auburn men’s basketball coach and Chair of the U.S. Israel Education Association told Fox News Digital.
As the U.S. and Israeli continue to carry out a joint military operation against Iran after eliminating the ayatollah, Pearl admits he does have anxiety about what comes next, especially as it relates to potential American and Israeli causalities.
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Former Auburn Tigers men’s basketball head coach Bruce Pearl walks on the field before a game Between Auburn and the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
Pearl has multiple friends and family members in Israel as Iran carries out its counter-attack, and six American service members have already been confirmed killed since the violence started.
Pearl placed blame on former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden for agreeing to deals that resulted in finances going to Iran over the last decade plus.
“I think President Obama was well-intentioned, but his decision was costly and wrong,” Pearl said. “He funded the terrorists who rebuilt Hezbollah, who rebuilt Hamas, who rebuilt the Houthis. The United States government is responsible in part for funding Iran’s war and terror.
“President Trump doesn’t want war, but he’s also not going to look the other way and let Iran terrorize the Middle East, which they did. And, so, then what does President Biden do? He comes in and he reverses all the policies that President Trump enacted, and he goes back to refunding Iran and treating them like a normal country. And all they did was refund the terrorist, rebuild their weapons.”
The Obama administration transferred $1.7 billion in cash to Iran in 2016 to settle a 1979 arms dispute, while the Biden administration released $10 billion to $16 billion in frozen Iranian oil funds as part of a 2023 prisoner swap and humanitarian trade. The funds were Iranian assets frozen abroad but not known to be U.S. taxpayer funds.
Pearl told Fox News Digital he is angered by the Iranian aggression against America in recent decades.
“Iran is the greatest enemy to the world since Adolf Hitler. They have been this country’s No. 1 enemy since 1979. They have killed more Americans than any other country in the world. So, what I would say to America, we didn’t start this war. Iran has declared war on us for a long, long time, and they’ve been killing our citizens,” Pearl said.
“They sponsored, funded and gave the green light to Hamas to commit the atrocities of Oct. 7. And 46 Americans died. Innocent Americans died that way at the hands of Hamas, who was part of Iran’s proxies. That angers me. That angers me as an American. And I’m glad that this president is doing something about it.”
Pearl, the chairman of the U.S. Israel Education Association, recalled having to witness the deaths of people he was close to due to violence in the Middle East.
“I know hostage families who have lost their lives. I know Israeli friends who have lost sons and daughters. I’ve known Americans who’ve lost family members in Lebanon in 1982, in the barracks, and also in fighting the wars in Iraq,” he said.
Since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, Pearl said, he has encountered anti-Israel protesters in America.
The pro-Palestine movement in the United States has evolved into one of the country’s largest and most sustained protest waves sparked by a foreign event in modern history.
Within just two weeks of the initial Oct. 7 attack, the movement rapidly expanded from early vigils to 420 rallies across 46 states, according to the Harvard University Ash Center. By November of that year, the burst of activity had solidified into a sustained national wave broader than any previous pro-Palestine movement in U.S. history, particularly on college campuses.
Now, as America and Israel wage war on Iran, which could potentially fan the flames of the pro-Palestinian movement in the U.S., Pearl has a message for those protesters.
“If you want to protest, have an understanding what you’re protesting for. I ask you the question. Are women free in Israel or are they free inside of Gaza? Do they in Israel, do they get to go to education, college, school, live a normal, incredible life like any other human being, or are they subject to Sharia law? How can you protest for that? You want to protest? Protest for the Iranian people who are fighting for their freedom,” Pearl said.
“How is it possible that on Oct. 8, 9 or 10, just days after 46 Americans were murdered and 1,200 people were killed and 250 were held hostage, how is it possible that college students were protesting to free Palestine from the river to the sea and supporting Hamas? The free Palestine from the river to the sea is to free Palestine of the Jews from the river to the sea. That means either kill us or remove us.”
Many Americans have been trapped in Israel since the counterstrikes began. This includes at least three American women’s basketball players.
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South Carolina women’s basketball coach Dawn Staley has led a public effort to bring them home.
Pearl, who admitted he hasn’t heard about those players’ situations, said “when the airspace is safe, they’ll be able to go home.”
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