With just nine days to go until Oleksandr Usyk defends the WBC heavyweight world title against Rico Verhoeven, the WBA have decided to allow him to defend their belt also.
Whilst recognised as a Dutch kickboxing legend, Rico Verhoeven boasts a professional boxing record of just 1-0; that victory coming over 12 years ago against the then 0-5 recorded, Janos Finfera.
This led to speculation that WBA and IBF could strip Usyk of their titles, with Murat Gassiev [WBA] and the victor of Frank Sanchez’s fight with Richard Torrez Jr. [IBF] likely to benefit and either be elevated to champion or positioned for a vacant title bout with the respective bodies.
However, in an intriguing but confusing twist, the WBA have suddenly announced their terms for the ‘title fight’ after a ‘special request’. Now, they have determined that a Usyk victory will count as a successful title defence but that, if Verhoeven were to pull off the remarkable upset, ‘the WBA Championship Committee would then review his [Usyk’s] status’.
“Should Usyk emerge victorious, the bout will officially count as a successful title defense. If the champion were to lose, the WBA Championship Committee would then review his status and determine the next course of action regarding the heavyweight championship.”
Therefore, whilst Usyk can officially retain his WBA heavyweight world title with a triumph next Saturday, the unranked Verhoeven will be unable to claim that belt.
Although, the WBA have revealed that a Verhoeven win would make him eligible to enter their heavyweight ratings.
Punjab Kings openers Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh became the first uncapped opening pair to cross 1,000 partnership runs in the IPL. The milestone was reached when the team score moved to 24 during PBKS’ match against Mumbai Indians on Thursday.The duo also added a 50-run stand in the match before the partnership was broken by Deepak Chahar, who dismissed Priyansh Arya for 22.Prabhsimran Singh, who scored 549 runs in 2025 and 439* in 2026, also became only the third uncapped Indian player to score 400 or more runs in multiple IPL seasons. The other two are Suryakumar Yadav (2018, 2019 and 2020) and Abhishek Sharma (2022 and 2024).Earlier, Mumbai Indians skipper Jasprit Bumrah won the toss and chose to field first against Punjab Kings in their IPL 2026 match in Dharamsala on Thursday.Bumrah is leading Mumbai Indians for the first time in the IPL. Regular captain Hardik Pandya is recovering from a back spasm, while stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav is unavailable due to personal reasons.Punjab Kings came into the match after four straight defeats at a key stage of the season. After seven matches, they were at the top of the table, but have since dropped momentum in the race for a top-two finish.Mumbai Indians have also had a poor season overall, with three wins from 11 matches and ninth place on the points table.At the toss, Bumrah said: “We have decided to bowl first. We saw the last game and felt that maybe with the cold weather coming down, the wicket would settle down. I didn’t think that I would be a Test captain before becoming MI captain (smiles). As much as we can, we can play three games left, and we want to enjoy and maybe ruffle a few teams. Surya is not here for personal reasons, and Allah is not there as well,”PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer said: “We would have bowled first as well. The wicket looks a bit drier. Still don’t know how the pitch will play, so just being positive about it. We should stop thinking about what has gone wrong. We have to think about being in good shape and having a positive mindset. Harpreet Brar, Xavier Bartlett and Azmatullah Omarzai come in.”
The ACC reportedly has “consensus” regarding expansion of the College Football Playoff.
Would the league benefit from having 24 teams make the Playoff each year?
On today’s episode of Locked On College Football, Spencer McLaughlin and ‘Locked On Canes’ host Alex Donno discuss the commitment of 5-star DB Donte Wright Jr., who flipped from Georgia.
Where does the landscape for high-end DB recruits sit on the NIL front?
San Diego State enters its third season under HC Sean Lewis and its 1st year in the new-look Pac-12.
The Aztecs should expect to be a conference title contender.
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00:00 Discussing college football playoffs 04:10 Changes in college football playoffs 06:58 Big Ten influence on expansion 14:26 Recruitment surprise with Donte Wright 20:17 Discussing college football recruiting 21:44 Importance of offensive tackles 27:18 Texas State’s standout quarterback combo 28:17 San Diego State football analysis
In his competitive prime, Johnson Wagner knocked down enough flagsticks and drained enough big putts to win three times on the PGA Tour.
But he’s better known these days for striking shots that don’t count toward his score.
As a reporter and analyst, first for NBC/Golf Channel and now for CBS Sports, Wagner, 46, has gained a fervent fan base for a segment in which he recreates (or attempts to, anyway) pivotal moments from that day’s action.
For golf junkies, it’s must-see TV. But how did it come about?
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On a recent episode of GOLF’s Subpar podcast, Johnson told the origin story.
It happened in the opening round of the 2024 Players Championship, where Rory McIlroy, having hooked his drive into the water on the par-4 7th hole, took what some regarded as a questionable drop. The incident sparked a discussion with McIlroy’s playing partners, Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland, over where the ball had crossed the hazard line.
For Johnson, it also sparked a thought, which he shared with his producers.
“If we get the camera angle that shows the ball bounce and I throw it into the ground, I can prove that (Rory) took a good drop,” Johnson said, recounting the conversation with his bosses to Subpar co-hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz.
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Given the green light, Johnson went out to the 7th hole later in the day to do exactly that. He was with his son, which was helpful. The two played a game of long toss so Johnson wouldn’t blow his arm out.
“I need to get to 180 ball speed,” he said.
The warm-up went well. But nothing could have prepared him for what transpired when he threw the ball for real, only to watch it land just above the red hazard line and dart left. The evidence seemed damning. Leaving the course after the film, Johnson called his producer to voice concern.
“I feel like I proved that Rory took a bad drop,” Johnson said.
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His producer had good news.
“Have you checked social media?”
The segment was a hit. A viral star was born. And he soon had a chance to shine again. The following day, during the second round of the Players, McIlroy hit another poor drive on the 7th, a block into the trees, which he followed with nifty recovery: a low-hook bounce shot to get back in play.
For the second time in two rounds, Johnson went out to recreate the shot. Easier said than done. Johnson’s attempt caromed off a tree and bounced back at him.
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“It wasn’t a shank,” Johnson said, though many delighted viewers believed it was.
Not that it mattered. Johnson and Golf Channel were clearly onto something. Who could forget, for instance, the moment in the gloaming at Pinehurst No. 2 in June 2024, when Johnson attempted to replicate Bryson DeChambeau’s U.S. Open-clinching blast from a green-side bunker on the 18th hole?
If that one escapes you, not to worry. Johnson recounts the details on the podcast, too. You can watch the entire episode below.
Veteran Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler made a late start to the 2026 season after dealing with blood clots last year. However, the All-Star pitcher has not missed a beat as he put on a solid performance against the Boston Red Sox in his last start on Tuesday.
While Wheeler took the mound against the Red Sox, his wife, Dominique, rocked up at Fenway Park to cheer for the Phillies starter. She wore a cropped Phillies jacket with Wheeler’s name and number on the back.
She shared the pictures from her outing in her Instagram post, writing:
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“Game day.”
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Dominique and Wheeler reportedly met in 2016 and started dating before getting engaged in 2018. They tied the knot a year later in 2019 and share four children.
The three-time All-Star pitcher shared a heartfelt message for his wife in an Instagram post to celebrate Mother’s Day. He captioned the post:
“Thank you for being the best mom out there. You’re the rock and always present and comforting to our little ones. You always put the kids first and make sure they are having the best time ever. love you Gnikawheelz Memories are being made every day.”
Zack Wheeler puts in historic performance with wife Dominique at Fenway Park
Tuesday’s outing was Zack Wheeler’s fourth start of the season. The Phillies ace pitched 7.1 innings, allowing just one earned run with four strikeouts, helping Philadelphia to a 2-1 win.
The veteran ace set an MLB record as he needed just 16 pitches to complete the first three innings on Tuesday.
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“Zack Wheeler needed just 16 pitches to complete the first 3 innings tonight. That’s the fewest pitches thrown by a starter through the first 3 innings of a game since at least 2000!”
With his wife watching from the stands, Wheeler threw only 87 pitches with 57 of them being strikes.
US athletic country club operator, Life Time, says its 2026 growth strategy and outlook are on track after strong Q1 results.
Revenue increased by 11 per cent to US$788.7 million, driven by strong growth in membership dues and in-club revenue, including strong uptake of dynamic personal training.
Net income increased by 15.8 per cent to US$88.1 million and adjusted EBITDA increased by 18.3 per cent to US$226.7 million.
Bahram Akradi, CEO, founder and chair, said: “Our first quarter results reflect strong execution and continued momentum across our business. Our growth strategy remains on track. We’re scheduled to open this year’s planned 12 to 14 new clubs, which are predominantly large-format, ground-up athletic country clubs.
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“Membership engagement continues to rise, our membership mix is improving and in-centre performance remains robust. Supported by a solid balance sheet, low leverage and strong cash generation, we are well positioned for continued growth.”
Life Time has already opened three clubs in Q2: Eagle – the company’s first club in Idaho – followed by two in Arizona: Paradise Valley and Ocotillo.
The 2026 clubs total approximately 1.2 million square feet – nearly double the size of previous annual development pipelines due to the addition of extra facilities. The new clubs all feature premium amenities, including large recovery and hydrotherapy areas with saunas, steamrooms and cold plunges; resort-style pools and social spaces; LifeSpa services and recovery treatments; boutique studios, including reformer Pilates; and co-working spaces.
Life Time Ocotillo has a major outdoor racquet and pool offering with 10 pickleball courts and six tennis courts.
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The market reaction was positive, with shares rising as investors responded favourably to stronger membership monetisation trends.
“I feel honoured by the opportunity to be captain of Tre Kronor for the third time in my career,” Ekman-Larsson said, via an English translation of Sweden’s national team’s Twitter account. “We have already now begun building a strong team spirit, and we will continue to build it every day during this championship.”
Ekman-Larsson also represented Sweden at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but was held pointless through five games. At the 2014 Winter Games, he had three assists in six games.
The 34-year-old will be joined in the leadership group by the Edmonton Oilers’ Mattias Ekholm and the Detroit Red Wings’ Lucas Raymond.
Ekman-Larsson is coming off a great year with the Maple Leafs, in which he had eight goals and 31 assists in 78 games.
San Francisco 49ers star tight end George Kittle is no stranger to taking defenders on in the middle of the field, but he found himself in a battle against a different kind of beast early Wednesday night.
Kittle, 32, took to social media to retell his tale against a ginormous spider.
“At 4 a.m. this morning, as I laid in a deep slumber, I was called to action by my wife, who had discovered a spider the size of a half-dollar in the bathroom. Without hesitation, I arose to combat the intruder,” Kittle posted to X.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle plays against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Jan. 5, 2025.(Mark J. Rebilas/Imagn Images)
Kittle, who has been rehabbing after tearing his right Achilles tendon during the playoffs, used his equipment to eliminate the threat.
“Claire handed me the slant board I’ve been using for rehab, and I immediately knew the spider had no chance. It took but 1 attempt to strike down my opponent. I received hugs and kisses for my bravery and fell back asleep with confidence. Have a day, gentlemen,” Kittle posted with a spider emoji.
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle and his wife Claire Kittle walk down the side of the court during the Golden State Valkyries game against the Indiana Fever at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Aug. 31, 2025.(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Kittle can only hope his successful and courageous takedown of the massive spider is how his rehab goes. The former Iowa star sustained the injury during the 49ers’ 23-19 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said last month that “there’s a chance” Kittle could play Week 1 during an appearance on the “Rich Eisen Show.”
George Kittle attends WrestleMania 42: Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026.(Rich Freeda/WWE)
If Kittle plays Week 1, it would be a huge boost to the 49ers’ offense. The seven-time Pro Bowler has been dynamic in his nine-year career.
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Last season, in 11 games, Kittle caught 57 passes for 628 yards and seven touchdowns. In his career, the two-time All-Pro has caught 595 passes for 8,008 yards and 52 touchdowns.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) sprints toward the goal line after hauling in a catch during the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sep. 14, 2023, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Addison burst down the sideline to complete the scoring play during Minnesota’s nationally televised road contest. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports.
Earlier this week, the NFL confirmed that the Minnesota Vikings would spend the week before Thanksgiving in Mexico City, taking on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football. That initial leak was accurate, and a few more arrived Wednesday night into Thursday morning.
Minnesota’s 2026 schedule picture is starting to take shape before the official NFL release.
The leaks will be confirmed by the full schedule release on Thursday night.
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Three Vikings Matchups Surface Before Full Schedule Release
In the meantime, here’s a look at the latest leaks.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) shares a postgame moment with Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) following an NFC North matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Nov. 16, 2025. The two players met near midfield after the divisional contest wrapped up between longtime rivals in front of a packed Sunday crowd. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Vikings at Bears in Week 2
An account called VikingzFanPage on Twitter (X), which has an excellent track record with premature schedule leaks, tweeted Thursday morning, “Schedule leak: The Minnesota Vikings will travel to Chicago in week 2 to take on the Bears, per source.”
Vikings games at Soldier Field are infamous for wackiness, so Minnesota will get this one out of the way early and avoid cold temperatures.
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The Bears also unexpectedly won the NFC North in 2025, hoping to prove to the world that the feat was not accidental. Oddly, Chicago won several close games, always seeming to go down to the wire, and usually when that happens, the same club regresses the following season. Stay tuned.
Vikings at Jets in Week 17
On Wednesday night, the same account that accurately leaked the Vikings at 49ers in Mexico City, tweeted, “NFL SCHEDULE LEAK. Vikings at Jets – Week 17 1pm (Jan 3).”
New York fired up a terrible season in 2025 but opted to retain rookie head coach Aaron Glenn, who basically fired his whole coaching staff four months ago. The Jets’ foremost offseason solution? Trading for Geno Smith at quarterback, followed by drafting Clemson’s Cade Klubnik in Round 4 last month.
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By the time Minnesota faces New York near the end of the season, there’s a decent chance that the Jets will hand the baton to Klubnik to let it rip.
It’s also worth noting that when the full schedule is in plain view, this contest may be considered one of the Vikings’ “easiest” games, as the rest won’t quite feature matchups against green passers like Klubnik.
Bleacher Report‘s Brent Sobleski gave the Jets’ offseason an ‘A’ grade this week, explaining, “The New York Jets have the same problem today as they did a year ago, though the situation is vastly improved around the quarterback position.”
“A massive influx of talent entered the Jets roster this offseason, to the point where the team can compete with almost anyone if Geno Smith doesn’t experience another meltdown, as he did last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Setting quarterback aside, New York overhauled last year’s 25th-ranked defense to give the team an identity.”
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The 2026 campaign could be a make-or-break year for Glenn, believe it or not.
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn reacts on the sideline during first-quarter action against the New England Patriots at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Dec. 28, 2025. Glenn showed visible frustration as the Jets attempted to regroup early in the regular-season matchup during a tense afternoon between AFC East opponents. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
Sobleski added, “Demario Davis, T’Vondre Sweat, Joseph Ossai, Kingsley Enagbare, Nashon Wright, Dane Belton and Minkah Fitzpatrick were added either through free agency or trade. During the draft, the team selected the class’ best pure pass-rusher, David Bailey, and its most competitive cornerback in DeAngelo Ponds.”
“On the other side of the ball, general manager Darren Mougey should have made life easier on Smith after adding the class’ top tight end, Kenyon Sadiq, and an outstanding YAC creator in wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. All of the pieces aren’t in place, but the Jets are clearly better than they were when the offseason began.”
Bears at Vikings to Close Out Regular Season
Finally, this used to be a mainstay of Vikings football — finishing the season at home against the Bears. It was actually customary during the Mike Zimmer era, and the game was often meaningless, with the fates of one or both teams already sealed by Week 18.
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This go-round may be different, as the Vikings and Bears feature playoff-caliber rosters, at least on paper.
Until 2026, Minnesota had finished the season on the road in three of the last four seasons. Taking on the Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium corrects the record a bit.
Full Leaks So Far
Via “credible leaks,” this is what we know about Minnesota’s schedule as of 8:45 am CST on May 14:
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray speaks with reporters after joining the franchise during 2026 NFL free agency in Eagan on March 12, 2026. Murray addressed expectations for his transition to Minnesota while discussing the roster, coaching staff, and opportunity to lead the Vikings entering the upcoming NFL season as the team’s new starting quarterback. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Oddsmakers expect Minnesota to win eight or nine games in 2026.
VikingsTerritory will report the full schedule as it becomes more official on Thursday. Per strength of schedule, Minnesota ranks near the middle of the pack this season.
Another rumor includes the Vikings hosting the Miami Dolphins in Week 4 and the bye during Week 6.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
It’s a logjam at the top of the UFL standings entering Week 8, with three teams at 5-2 and three at 3-4 with three games left to play. UFL Week 8 kicks off with the Orlando Storm (5-2) visiting the Dallas Renegades (3-4) on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET. Saturday sees the defending league champions D.C. Defenders (5-2) heading to Louisville to face the Kings (3-4) at noon ET and the St. Louis Battlehawks (5-2) hosting the Houston Gamblers (2-5) at 3 p.m ET. Week 8 UFL wraps up Sunday at 1 p.m. ET with the Columbus Aviators (2-5) at the Birmingham Stallions (3-4).
If you have an interested in wagering on UFL games, you have to see what SportsLine football expert Emory Hunt has to say about betting on the UFL Week 8 slate. Born and raised in New Orleans, Hunt played running back at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and coached high school football before starting Football Gameplan, an in-depth analysis site. Over the past three seasons, Hunt is 132-111-2 on NFL bets. Here’s a look at his picks for Week 8 of the UFL season.
It has been an unprecedented slide for the Dallas Renegades, who at one point looked like the best team in the UFL, armed with what appeared to be the league’s MVP in QB Austin Reed. Since Week 4, it has been all downhill for both Reed and the Renegades. Orlando still found a way to win an ugly game last week against Houston but didn’t play particularly well offensively. Look for this to be the get-right spot for its offensive attack, as the Storm defense can feast on a Renegades offense that’s in a free-fall. Those struggles are why I’m also leaning Under 45.5 on the total.
D.C. -5.5 vs. Louisville
The Kings were 10-point underdogs last weekend and won outright in D.C. What happened after QB Chandler Rogers took a hellacious hit was impressive; he and the Kings offense were “lights out” after that. If their offense can match their defensive effort each game, this team will be tough down the stretch of the regular season. The Defenders must find consistency in their approach week to week. This number feels more manageable, and I expect the rematch will have them much more focused this time around. I’m leaning to the Over on the total of 45.5.
St. Louis -7.5 vs. Houston
Battlehawks coach Ricky Proehl might be the front-runner for Coach of the Year because his team just finds ways to win each and every week. And not only do they win, but for the most part they are dominant in doing so. This team will be a tough matchup for the Gamblers because of its high level of discipline. I really like how inspired they play on both sides of the ball. Being at home elevates the Battlehawks’ performance against Houston, but I’m leaning toward the Under at 44.5 points.
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Birmingham -3 vs. Columbus
Since Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over as the Stallions’ starting QB, the team hasn’t just been fun to watch, but the offense has also improved significantly. A better offense has also helped the Stallions on defense. They have been much more opportunistic in that regard. Columbus has improved collectively, but the challenge is sustaining that success on both sides of the ball. They’ll start well but have bouts of inconsistent play, which ultimately dooms them. The Stallions offense has me leaning Over 45.5.
Fans gathered at Enghelab Square in Tehran on Wednesday night to attend a farewell ceremony for the Iranian men’s football team before their departure for the World Cup. Both FIFA and US officials say Iranian players will be allowed into the United States despite Donald Trump’s travel ban. Major questions still remain, as August Hakansson explains.
San Diego State enters its third season under HC Sean Lewis and its 1st year in the new-look Pac-12. 
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