Feb 4, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Hall of Fame member Warren Moon speaks during a press conference announcing the NFL hall of fame class of 2012 finalists at the JW Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
In all likelihood, Kyler Murray will lead the Minnesota Vikings at quarterback in 2026, so long as third-year passer J.J. McCarthy doesn’t score the training camp upset. And according to former Vikings signal-caller Warren Moon, Murray’s emergence to the QB1 spot sounds bittersweet.
Moon sees Murray’s upside, but the familiar commitment questions still follow the Cardinals quarterback.
Moon believes Murray has the talent for the job, but seemed to question his commitment.
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Murray’s Vikings Career Still Depends on McCarthy — and Himself?
It’s a familiar critique of Murray.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray scrambles with the football while Green Bay Packers cornerback Rasul Douglas closes in during Thursday Night Football action at State Farm Stadium. Murray extended plays with his mobility on Oct. 28, 2021, as Arizona battled Green Bay in one of the NFL’s marquee regular-season matchups during the Cardinals’ hot start that season. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
Moon on Murray
Moon spoke to Kay Adams this week and didn’t hold back, saying about Murray, “He never looks like he’s motivated. Maybe he is inside, but he just doesn’t give you that demeanor. He doesn’t give you that demeanor. I hope he’s learned over the last couple of years, with all the criticism that he’s taken, with the injuries that he’s gone through. I have to give more of myself to my football team.”
“I have to show people more about what I’m feeling and thinking. You have to do that as a quarterback in order to get people to follow you. Murray is so dynamic. He makes so many plays that you go, ‘Wow.’ And then, all of a sudden, he goes through phases where he doesn’t even look like the same guy.”
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The Vikings inked Murray in March to a $1.3 million 2026 contract, one of the best-value contracts in sports.
Moon added, “I hope that coming into this situation, he’s re-motivated to show what he can do. He’s been out of the game for a while with injury. He’s going to a great place with a great coaching staff, and he has really excellent weapons to throw the football to. It’s all in his possession if he wants it.”
“But J.J. McCarthy is right there, too. I don’t think he’s going to make it easy.”
The “Aloof” Talker + Study Clause
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Moon seems to be buying into a widespread, consistent Murray-themed talker: the guy loves video games too much and doesn’t prioritize football. That narrative has persisted for years, prompting an outside audience to wonder whether Murray cares about his craft as much as his quarterback peers.
The Cardinals even baked a “study clause” into his contract extension four years ago, which drew ire and awe because of its unprecedented nature. After backlash, the Cardinals removed the clause.
So, in conjunction with Moon’s comments, Murray must prove the naysayers wrong. The perception is that football may be a side perk for him; he has to dispel that.
All Up to Murray
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In addition to the attitudinal concerns, Murray has a tall task afoot. He’ll be asked to guide a 9-8 team from last year to the postseason, and hopefully, for the head coach’s sake and job security, win a playoff game or two.
Getting kicked out of Arizona — a franchise known for generally poor ownership and operations — in favor of Jacoby Brissett and rookie Carson Beck is flat-out embarrassing. On top of that, the Cardinals are paying Murray to play for the Vikings. It’s how Minnesota finagled the March contract for $1.3 million.
Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon speaks with reporters as Cam Ward is introduced as the Tennessee Titans’ first overall pick during NFL Draft festivities in Nashville. The moment unfolded on Apr. 25, 2025, after Moon approved Ward wearing his retired No. 1 jersey, connecting two eras of franchise quarterback history for the Titans organization. Mandatory Credit: Denny Simmons / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Murray can “stick it to the Cardinals,” as athletes often do to their ex-employers, almost like a grudge match in wrestling. He also has 2027 to consider. A 30-touchdown season with 3,500+ passing yards in 2026 will fetch him around $50+ million per season via his next contract — in Minnesota or elsewhere. A 7-10 campaign with a litany of Murray injuries might lead to more “prove-it” contracts, which Murray basically has right now.
It’s all up to Murray to show that he’s locked and can perform at a Top-15 NFL quarterback clip.
A QB Verdict in August
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Of course, Murray must win the job over McCarthy first. Minnesota is selling the competition to anyone willing to buy, creating an atmosphere for McCarthy to pull off the upset if he has the stomach for it. Unlike last year, when McCarthy was handed the QB1 job on a silver platter without impediment, Murray must stave off McCarthy’s advances. McCarthy is young and hungry. Murray is seeking redemption and, from Moon, accusations that he “never looks like he’s motivated.”
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray walks off the field following a road victory over the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Murray and the Cardinals secured a 37-20 win on Oct. 3, 2021, during an early-season stretch when Arizona emerged as one of the NFL’s hottest and most explosive offensive teams. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
In that regard, training camp may be cinema for the Vikings, a winner-take-all duel for the QB1 crown.
Moon played for the Vikings from 1994 to 1996, so he knows a little something about the franchise.
Vikings training camp is 10 weeks away.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Arthur Okonkwo cleared to represent Nigeria ahead of Unity Cup
Arthur Okonkwo has officially switched international allegiance to Nigeria national football team and is now eligible to represent the Super Eagles.
The 24-year-old goalkeeper received FIFA clearance in April after previously representing England at the youth level.
Okonkwo arrives after an impressive season with Wrexham AFC, making 38 appearances in the Championship while recording nine clean sheets and 111 saves.
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His arrival gives new Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle another strong goalkeeping option as Nigeria continues rebuilding the squad ahead of future tournaments.
The goalkeeper could make his debut during the upcoming Unity Cup in London later this month, where Nigeria will begin their campaign against Zimbabwe.
Golf instruction is ever-evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In GOLF.com’s series, Timeless Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice teachers and players have dispensed in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today we look back to our September 2013 issue for Johnny Miller’s “single best tip” for improving ball striking.
Over the course of his career, Miller won 25 times on the PGA Tour, including a U.S. Open victory at Oakmont that featured a final-round 63. Although younger golf fans may remember him only for his work in the booth, it was his golf game that made him a household name.
Back in 2013, the World Golf Hall of Famer contributed an article to GOLF Magazine outlining his “single best tip” about ball striking.
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Miller’s best ball-striking tip
Even today, I still get nervous on the first tee or if I’m playing with people I don’t know that well. When I first came up on Tour, I was nervous all the time, especially when faced with a tough shot, such as hitting a half wedge over water or a long iron off a tight lie. So I came up with a drill — maybe my single best tip! — to help me feel the most important parts of my swing and instantly build the confidence needed to pull off the shot. I call it the “brush-brush” drill, and I’m certain that if you try it, you’ll hit better shots.
On the range, use the toe of your club to make a line in the grass, then set up centered over the line. Make a half swing and try to brush the grasss on the target side of the line — not a huge divot, just a slight brush — then repeat. I do it twice in a row, because it instills good rhythm: “brush-brush.”
It sounds simple, but you actually have to do so many things right to brush the grass in the right place that, when you do, you’re grooving good mechanics. Plus, success in this drill will prevent you from catching the ground behind the ball, which is the fastest way to hit a really bad shot.
The trick is to get the butt of the grip even or ahead of the line before unhinging your wrists and brushing the grass with the clubhead. Most amateurs make the mistake of unhinging their wrists when the butt end of the grip is still behind the line, and some players release the hinge when the butt is still behind their right leg. But if you lead the clubhead with the handle and delay the unhinging until the last possible moment, you get that crisp, Tour-style impact with the shaft leaning slightly toward the target with any iron or wedge.
Not only does this drill get you into a better impact position, it gives you ball-first contact regardless of your lie. Anyone can make decent contact on a flat range, but on the course you’ll encounter uphill lies, downhill lies and lies where the ball is either above or below your feet. Slopes like these tend to exacerbate impact problems, and if you have the type of swing that brushes the grass behind the ball, you’ll have no chance on anything but a perfect lie. Lead with the handle, then brush. I’ve been around golf for 60 years, and this drill beats them all.
NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi once again stole the spotlight as the 15-year-old produced a stunning 93 off just 38 balls to guide Rajasthan Royals to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants in a crucial IPL 2026 clash in Jaipur. The victory kept Rajasthan firmly alive in the playoff race, with the team now needing one more win against Mumbai Indians to strengthen their qualification hopes.Chasing a huge target of 221, Rajasthan looked fearless from the start. Sooryavanshi smashed 10 sixes and attacked almost every bowler, making the difficult chase look surprisingly easy. He first added a quick partnership with stand-in captain Yashasvi Jaiswal before building another massive stand with Dhruv Jurel, who stayed unbeaten with a half-century. Although the teenager missed his century by just seven runs, he had already taken the game away from Lucknow.Former cricketer Ian Bishop summed up the youngster’s brilliance perfectly on commentary, saying: “He is ready.”Earlier, Mitchell Marsh had powered Lucknow to 220/5 with a brutal 96 off 57 balls. Josh Inglis also played aggressively, scoring 60 as the pair gave LSG a flying start with a 109-run opening partnership. Marsh continued the attack even after Inglis got out, smashing boundaries all around the ground and narrowly missing out on a century.However, Rajasthan’s bowlers struggled for most of the innings, with only young spinner Yash Raj Punja managing to create some control with two wickets. Jofra Archer’s disciplined final over also helped limit further damage.The young batter is now closing in on several IPL records, including Chris Gayle’s mark for most sixes in a season. His fearless batting even put pressure on India pacer Mayank Yadav, who conceded heavily during one over.While Lucknow’s playoff hopes ended with the defeat, Rajasthan now head into their final league match with qualification still within reach.
UCLA baseball has been on a dominant run all season long, becoming the first NCAA Division I team to be ranked No. 1 for an entire regular season in D1Baseball and Baseball America polls.
On Tuesday, that dominance was rewarded in the Big Ten end-of-season conference awards. The Bruins claimed a conference-leading nine total selections across the First, Second, and Third Teams along with the Player of the Year and Coach of the Year awards.
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Junior shortstop Roch Cholowsky earned the Big Ten Player of the Year Award for the second season in a row. He is the first player in UCLA history to win the award twice in a career and the third player in Big Ten history to win back-to-back Player of the Year awards.
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Cholowsky, who led the Big Ten with 21 home runs, is the No. 1 ranked prospect entering the 2026 MLB Draft
Jun 17, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; UCLA Bruins shortstop Roch Cholowsky (1) throws to first base against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the third inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images
Cholowsky was also named an All-Big Ten First Team selection. Six other Bruins were also First Team honorees, which led the conference for most First Team selections from the same team. Alongside Cholowsky, Will Gasparino, Easton Hawk, Mulivai Levu, Roman Martin, Wylan Moss and Logan Reddemann were First Team selections.
Catcher Cashel Dugger was a Second Team All-Big Ten selection, and pitcher Cal Randall was a Third Team honoree. Dugger, Gasparino, Levu and outfielder Dean West were selected for the Big Ten All-Defensive Team, while pitcher Zach Strickland was included on the conference’s All-Freshman Team.
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Lastly, head coach John Savage was named the unanimous Big Ten Coach of the Year. This is the third time in his career he has earned the conference Coach of the Year award, with his first two being in the Pac-12 in 2013 and 2019.
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Savage led the Bruins to a program-record 48 regular season wins and the longest conference winning streak in Big Ten history. Savage and the Bruins will begin the Big Ten Tournament on May 22.
Tim Cone expects the Kings to face a hard-fighting Painters in the semifinals. —PBA IMAGES
When Barangay Ginebra faced Rain or Shine in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup elimination round, the Gin Kings barely broke a sweat.
“We felt we had something to prove in that game against Rain or Shine in the eliminations. It’s a different feeling now, though,” coach Tim Cone said after his wards punched a ticket to the semifinals with a victory over Phoenix.
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“We have to make sure that we stay neither too high nor too low at this point.”
As someone who has seen and accomplished everything in the PBA, Cone knows that once the playoffs begin, previous results no longer matter.
Naturally, he has chosen to forget Ginebra’s 114-90 rout of the Elasto Painters in the eliminations because it is now back to square one in a best-of-seven series.
Cone is also fully aware of how dangerous counterpart Yeng Guiao can be in a long series.
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“I just know how hard it is to go up against Yeng,” he admitted.
“They play extremely hard and fast. They compete all the time. They can wear you down in a series because of their depth. There’s a lot of concern when you’re facing a team like that.”
According to league chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III, Ginebra won the last two playoff meetings against Rain or Shine. The most recent came in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Philippine Cup, while the other was during the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup.
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Interestingly, the last time Guiao and the Elasto Painters defeated the Gin Kings in the playoffs, they also went on to beat San Miguel Beer in the semifinals of the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup.
War of attrition
Rain or Shine eventually captured the title of that conference, marking the last time an independent team won a PBA championship.
But Cone was quick to stress that past results mean little now.
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All he knows is that Ginebra faces a war of attrition against Guiao and the Elasto Painters, who are coming off a quarterfinals upset of the mighty Beermen.
“I expect it to be a tough series.”
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Game 1 of the semifinals between Cone and Guiao is set for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Ynares Sports Center in Antipolo, serving as the nightcap to the TNT-Meralco opener at 5:15 p.m. INQ
The Houston Astros entered Tuesday with a 19-30 record and the worst ERA (5.45) in MLB. Their injury-riddled pitching staff took another hit hours before first pitch when they scratched starter Lance McCullers Jr. ahead of a road matchup versus the Minnesota Twins.
“He’s been recovering well, kind of your normal, typical post-start soreness,” Espada said pregame, per The Athletic. “But, this week, he wasn’t able to get rid of it. We decided to get him seen by our doctors.”
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McCullers is the latest member of Houston’s season-opening starting rotation to be bitten by the injury bug. He’ll join both Cristian Javier and Hunter Brown on the IL, where those two are healing up from Grade 2 shoulder strains.
Another right-handed pitcher, Jason Alexander, took McCullers’ place on the mound Tuesday. The Astros recalled Alexander from Triple-A Sugar Land earlier this week.
Not only did the 32-year-old McCullers land on the IL, but the Astros also sent him back to Houston for further evaluation and treatment.
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That said, the Astros did reinstate outfielder Jake Meyers and right-handed reliever Nate Pearson from the IL, optioning Shay Whitcomb to Triple-A Sugar Land in the process.
As for McCullers, injuries have plagued the one-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion throughout his Astros tenure. He’s missed three full seasons because of them.
McCullers had Tommy John surgery in 2018. In 2023, he needed flexor tendon repair. Now he’s in the final season of a five-year extension reportedly worth $85 million.
He’s made eight starts and registered a 6.86 ERA during the Astros’ frustrating 2026 campaign. Last year, over 13 starts, his ERA ballooned to 6.51, by far his highest since 2017 when he clocked out with a 4.25.
McCullers bounced back to throw 5 1/3 innings during a 4-3 win over the Seattle Mariners on May 13. But less than a week later, he’s on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.
Sources said that Kidd had expressed a desire to be promoted to president of basketball operations after general manager Nico Harrison was fired in November, but Dumont informed Kidd months ago that he wouldn’t be considered for the front office. Kidd was kept out of the loop in the process that resulted in Ujiri’s hiring, sources said.
Arsenal have been crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw by AFC Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
City, who had won six of the last eight league titles, needed victory to keep the title race alive until the final day of the season. However, Bournemouth frustrated Pep Guardiola’s side and ended their hopes of retaining the trophy.
Junior Kroupi gave Bournemouth the lead in the 39th minute with a fine finish, leaving City with a difficult task in the second half. Norwegian striker Erling Haaland scored a late equaliser in stoppage time, but it was not enough as City failed to find the winning goal they desperately needed.
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The result confirmed Arsenal as Premier League champions before their final game of the season against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Wild celebrations broke out outside Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium after the final whistle, with supporters celebrating the club’s first league title since the famous “Invincibles” season of 2003/2004 under former manager Arsène Wenger.
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice also celebrated on Instagram, posting a picture with his teammates alongside the caption: “I told you all … it’s done.”
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The title is Arsenal’s 14th English league crown, moving them closer to rivals Liverpool FC and Manchester United, who both have 20 league titles.
Manager Mikel Arteta has now guided Arsenal back to the top after several years of near misses. Since taking charge in 2019, Arteta has transformed the club into one of the strongest teams in England.
The former Arsenal and Everton midfielder becomes the first ex-Premier League player to win the title as a manager. Arsenal had previously finished second in the league for three straight seasons.
This season’s success has been built on a strong defence and dangerous set-pieces. Arsenal have conceded only 26 league goals in 37 matches and kept 19 clean sheets. They have also scored 24 goals from set-pieces, including a record 18 from corners.
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Arsenal’s excellent campaign could become even more memorable as they prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final on May 30. The North London club will hope to win Europe’s biggest trophy for the first time in their history.
Marvel Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 10 AFL game between St Kilda Saints and
Richmond Tigers. The game kicks off at 3:15 pm with St Kilda Saints heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the St Kilda Saints vs.
Richmond Tigers
game and give you our free tips and bets.
St Kilda returns to Marvel Stadium on Sunday afternoon hoping to steady its season against an injury-hit Richmond side. The Saints struggled badly in Darwin last week, with the absence of Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera and an in-game injury to Callum Wilkie exposing their lack of depth against Gold Coast. Richmond again fought hard despite an extensive injury list, though the Tigers were ultimately overpowered by Adelaide as their casualty toll worsened further. St Kilda has generally handled this matchup well in recent seasons, including a dominant 82-point win earlier this year at Marvel Stadium. Wanganeen-Milera was particularly influential in both recent victories over Richmond and remains crucial to the Saints’ ball movement and transition game. If St Kilda can regain some defensive stability, the Saints should see this as a valuable opportunity to remain in touch with the finals race.
When Lanny Wadkins won the Byron Nelson Classic in 1973, he earned a $35,000 paycheck and a handsome trophy, presented in person by the tournament’s namesake.
Wadkins was 23, at the dawn of his career. Nelson was 61 and long retired from competition. The two became friends and fellow World Golf Hall of Famers. Their connection would not end there.
Through the decades, Wadkins watched as the Byron Nelson moved from venue to venue, leaving its home at Preston Trail Golf Club for other Dallas-area courses. Nelson remained its official host until his death in 2006, and his name has followed the event ever since. Wadkins, meanwhile, has forged a new tie to it as the architect of sweeping renovations to TPC Craig Ranch, which hosts this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
“Oh, I’ll be out there watching,” Wadkins said by phone. “I want to see how those guys take it on.”
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Wadkins is 76, but he’s no old dog learning new tricks. He’s been involved in course design for decades, collecting credits that include Blackjack’s Crossing in Lajitas, Texas, and TPC Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. After his playing days, he climbed the broadcast tower and spent 18 years as a TV commentator. Now that that chapter is closed too, he’s turned his full attention to design. “I really don’t like to do something unless I can go all in,” he said.
His work at TPC Craig Ranch was the lynchpin to a $25 million overhaul carried out by club owner, Invited Clubs. The work began as soon as last year’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson wrapped up, with Scottie Scheffler running away with the title by eight shots at 31-under par. The course, a Tom Weiskopf design that opened in 2004, had never been touched. Now it has been.
Wadkins’ mandate was familiar in the modern era: stiffen defenses against the game’s best players while keeping the course playable for everyone else. One of the layout’s strengths, he said, was its flexible tee options, crucial in Texas, where the wind holds near-constant sway. He leaned into that, stretching several holes that play with a favoring prevailing wind. He also repositioned and deepened bunkers and tweaked angles on several holes. The 9th green now sits closer to a creek, for instance, while the 11th green — a bunker-less complex with false fronts that Wadkins described as reminiscent of the 14th at Augusta National — wraps closer to a lake.
“That’s one way to defend these days,” he said. “I try to put the driver back into play as an important club.”
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On the greens, Wadkins and his team went with bentgrass, a receptive turf that allowed them to create challenging contours. Hole locations sit in relatively flat areas, so players will be rewarded for precise approaches. But sloppy shots stand to be punished, leaving players with long, bending putts or testy recoveries from run-off areas.
“Without stellar iron play, it’s going to take some real imagination to play well,” Wadkins said.
Growing up in Virginia, Wadkins cut his teeth on Golden Age designs, including a pair of William Flynn courses. Those experiences stuck.
“I did well enough in my career that I got to play a lot of really great courses,” he said. “But always really liked the old stuff.”
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At Wake Forest, his home course was Old Town Club, a Perry Maxwell design, and he credits Maxwell’s wrinkled, contoured greens as an influence in his own work.
Some of that old-school sensibility shows up at Craig Ranch. The par-3 4th now features a Biarritz green, a classic design element, with a deep swale bisecting the putting surface. The 11th green, with no bunkers and a series of false fronts funneling wayward approaches away from the hole, is reminiscent of the 14th at Augusta. On the 6th hole, Wadkins and his team added a fronting lion’s mouth bunker, stiffening the demands of a short par 4 that Wadkins watched players carve up last year. They also stretched the tournament tee back to the fence line and installed crossing bunkers at 320 yards, forcing players to decide whether to lay up safely to a ticklish distance, or challenge the sand.
How hard will the course play? Wadkins isn’t sure. A lot depends on setup, which he does not control. He planned to play a practice round with his sons to get a feel for things — though he’s quick to note his game is no barometer of elite golf. “I hit it so short, I can hear it land,” he said.
If he had his way, the rough would be thick and the greens lightning-paced. “I think they could play them at 13,” he said, “though I don’t think the Tour would want to play them quite that quick.”
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Hard to know what the winning number will be. The purse, though, will be dramatically different than it was when Wadkins won. The total payout tops $10 million, with the winner taking home $1.8 million.
;)
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