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Mike Vrabel makes unusual move amid Dianna Russini investigation

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Anyone who wants to ask New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel questions about his relationship with Dianna Russini will apparently be made to wait a while.

The Patriots are scheduled to hold their pre-draft news conference on Monday, but Vrabel will not be taking part, according to Mike Reiss of ESPN. While it is not necessarily unusual for someone other than the coach to conduct that press conference, it is noteworthy since Vrabel did take part last season.

Whether coincidental or not, Vrabel’s absence will be conspicuous in light of photos that emerged of him with Russini, The Athletic’s NFL reporter. Both Vrabel and Russini denied that there was any inappropriate relationship, but Russini is still being probed by her employer.

Both Vrabel and Russini are married, and Russini covers Vrabel and the Patriots professionally. All that led to questions about both personal and professional misconduct that have not yet been firmly answered.

Patriots executive Eliot Wolf will run the press conference instead. Vrabel likely will not have to face the media again until after the NFL Draft.

Kenyon Martin takes a shot at the Lakers and their ‘4 white boys’

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Kenyon Martin is not a believer in the Los Angeles Lakers heading into the playoffs.

The retired former NBA All-Star Martin made waves this week with his comments about the Lakers on Gilbert Arenas’ “Gil’s Arena” show. Martin believes that the Lakers are not going anywhere this year because they rely on too many white players.

“Y’all was gonna lose first round either way it go,” said Martin of the Lakers. “Y’all play four white boys, you ain’t gonna beat nobody. I wanna know what team has been successful with that many [white players] on one roster.”

Here is the full video of Martin’s remarks.

Martin was referring to Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Luke Kennard, and Jake LaRavia. Of course, the bigger problem for the Lakers right now is that Doncic and Reaves (who combined to average almost 60 points a game this season) are both in the middle of extended injury absences and might not play at all in the postseason.

Meanwhile, Martin’s suggestion that racial composition alone affects the quality of a team is a problematic take at best. But this is far from the first time that Martin has made some questionable comments related to race.

Former World Series manager Phil Garner dies at 76

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Former MLB player and manager Phil Garner has died at 76.

Garner died after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his family said in a statement. He “passed away peacefully” while surrounded by family.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, where Garner spent the most memorable portion of his playing career, paid tribute to the former second baseman with a tribute to a “beloved member of the Pirates family.”

Garner was a three-time All-Star during his playing career. A lifetime .260 hitter, he won a World Series with the Pirates in 1979, and also played for Oakland, Houston, San Francisco, and the Los Angeles Dodgers during his career.

Garner also had a successful 15-year career as a manager. He posted a lifetime 985-1054 record with the Brewers, Tigers, and Astros. He is best remembered for his time with Houston, where he led the team to a World Series appearance in 2005.

Chicago Sky add another player who feuded with Caitlin Clark

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The Chicago Sky are assembling quite the collection of Caitlin Clark opps.

Chicago is signing guard DiJonai Carrington in free agency, Alexa Philippou of ESPN reported on Sunday. Carrington is reportedly getting a one-year deal from the Sky.

The 28-year-old Carrington averaged 9.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game last season combined between the Dallas Wings and the Minnesota Lynx. She is also a former WNBA All-Defensive First Team selection as well as a former WNBA Most Improved Player Award winner (both of which she achieved in the 2024 season).

But Carrington is perhaps best known for her past feud with the Indiana Fever superstar Clark. During a playoff series against the Fever in 2024 (Clark’s rookie year), Carrington, who was then a member of the Connecticut Sun, sparked backlash by appearing to poke Clark in the eye intentionally.

Both players later denied that there was any intent behind the poke. But in any case, Carrington remains known for her physical brand of defense that many believe can sometimes cross the line into recklessness.

For the Sky, they already added another well-known Clark enemy in Jacy Sheldon a couple of days ago. They also previously employed Clark’s primary rival Angel Reese before trading Reese away in a blockbuster deal earlier in the month. Now Chicago is adding Carrington to the mix as well.

Major news emerges about Sophie Cunningham’s future

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Sophie Cunningham is staying right where she is.

The Indiana Fever announced on Sunday that they have re-signed their veteran guard Cunningham. Alexa Philippou of ESPN adds that Cunningham is getting a new one-year deal from the Fever.

“I have a feeling that this is going to be another special season,” Cunningham was quoted as saying in the wake of her new deal. “So I’m excited to get things started and to, of course, keep playing in front of the best fans in the WNBA. Let’s get spicy!”

Cunningham, 29, became a fan favorite last year during her first season in Indiana. While she only averaged 8.6 points and 1.2 assists per game, Cunningham turned herself into something of a household name after defending superstar teammate Caitlin Clark during a game.

The seven-year WNBA veteran Cunningham has also since raised her profile with her popular podcast “Show Me Something.” On that podcast, Cunningham has managed to get herself fined multiple times by the WNBA for her outspoken comments.

Now Cunningham is set to run it back in 2026 on a Fever team that just re-signed Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull and added Monique Billings and Tyasha Harris to complement their core of Clark and Aliyah Boston. It has been a big month of April as well for Cunningham, who just shared the photos that she posed for in this year’s SI Swimsuit edition.

Top transfer Flory Bigunda makes his college decision

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Flory Bigunda, the top transfer in the portal, has decided on his new school.

Bigunda has committed to Louisville, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. Oregon guard Jackson Shelstad, another top transfer, will also be going to the Cardinals.

Bidunga spent his first two seasons of college basketball at Kansas. He is coming off a breakout season in which he averaged 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. The decision to head to Louisville brings him closer to where he played in high school, as he was Indiana’s Mr. Basketball while playing for Kokomo High School.

Shelstad averaged 15.6 points per game as a junior for Oregon last season and was also coveted by a number of teams in the portal.

Louisville is clearly prepared to spend big and try to build a contender for coach Pat Kelsey. The program has seen a resurgence over the last two seasons, and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2026 for the first time since 2017. Expectations will be even higher next year as they continue to add to their roster.

Sergio Garcia warned for smashing his club against tee box

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Sergio Garcia had a bit of a meltdown on No. 2 Sunday at The Masters.

Garcia received a code of conduct warning after smashing his driver against the tee box in frustration after hitting his tee shot into a bunker at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. He proceeded to take a swing at the tee box, and he also smashed the driver against a cooler, breaking the head off.

Since Garcia’s driver was damaged from abuse, he was not allowed to replace it for the rest of the round. Amazingly, this is the second time in less than a year he has had to essentially play an entire round without it because he lost his temper.

Despite the poor start, Garcia was able to save par on the hole. It did little for his overall score, as he was at +5 through three rounds, leaving him tied for 48th overall in a field of 54.

Under the official code of conduct, Garcia would receive a two-shot penalty for a second violation, and automatic disqualification for a third.

North Carolina got roasted for its Michael Malone post

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The North Carolina Tar Heels are getting roasted on social media for a post that may have hyped up new head coach Michael Malone a bit too much.

The Tar Heels have been eager to tout their new head coach’s credentials since announcing Malone’s hiring last week. On Saturday, their X account posted a graphic touting Malone’s history of player development at the NBA level.

The graphic included a number of NBA stars, including LeBron James, Steph Curry, Chris Paul, and Nikola Jokic.

To most, the graphic is giving Malone a little too much credit. He was an assistant coach for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2005-2010, and joined once James had already established himself as a star. Paul was already an All-NBA selection by the time Malone joined the Charlotte Hornets as an assistant in 2010, and he spent just one year there. He only spent two seasons with the Warriors before Curry blossomed into the greatest shooter ever.

Malone can have some credit for Jokic, as his first season as coach coincided with Jokic’s first year in the NBA. Despite that, few were willing to give Malone much credit for Jokic becoming what he did.

Malone is an NBA champion who consistently coached successful teams at the highest level. The Tar Heels really didn’t have to sell him this hard. Plus, with what they are paying him, the Tar Heels have already heaped enough pressure on their new head coach.

Kings make decision on coach Doug Christie

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The Sacramento Kings have reportedly already made a decision on the future of head coach Doug Christie.

The Kings have no plans to fire Christie and intend to bring him back for another season, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. While the team has fallen well short of internal expectations, the organization does not pin it on the coach.

The Kings privately admit that their roster was not good enough, which is not squarely on Christie’s shoulders. In addition, the team acknowledged that injuries derailed the team’s season, and feels that Christie did not get a fair chance to prove himself with a full squad.

Christie was a popular player for the Kings from 2000-2005. He replaced Mike Brown, first as interim coach in 2024 and then permanently after the 2024-25 season.

The Kings sit at 22-59 with one game to go in their season. They will be hoping for good luck in the lottery to accelerate their rebuild and make their recent tanking worth the trouble. Christie might need it to help secure his job long-term.

Travis Hunter responds to reports about his likely position

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Jacksonville Jaguars two-way player Travis Hunter has some questions about recent reports about his planned role for 2026.

NFL Network recently reported that the Jaguars intend to use Hunter as a full-time cornerback and part-time receiver in 2026. On Sunday, Hunter responded by seemingly calling that report into question on X.

“Now who told you this?” Hunter wrote.

Hunter has always been adamant that he wants to play on both sides of the ball in the NFL. Most believe, however, that managing that sort of workload would be unrealistic and that Hunter will eventually have to prioritize one position over the other. Those sentiments only grew stronger when his rookie season was cut short by injury, with the Jaguars stating they intended to assess his usage.

Hunter, 22, played in seven games last season before going down for the season. He caught 28 passes for 298 yards and a touchdown on offense, and had 15 total tackles on defense. Notably, he played 324 snaps on offense last season compared to just 162 on defense.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar hospitalized after taking puck to face

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Colorado Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was hospitalized after a bizarre incident that saw him take a puck to the face during Saturday’s game.

Bednar was struck by an attempted clearance while on the bench early in the third period during Colorado’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Ball Arena in Denver, Co. The puck went over the boards and hit Bednar directly in the head.

Another view showed Bednar reeling after the puck seemingly hit him just below his right eye.

After the game, a team spokesperson said Bednar was “fully alert and fully conscious,” but was transported to a hospital as a precaution to have a CT scan taken, via Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post.

Taking a puck to the face is no joke. Bednar might be at an even greater disadvantage, as he had no reason to be concerned about getting hit and obviously was not wearing a helmet or facemask like many players do.

The Avalanche have already secured their place in the NHL Playoffs and will be the top seed in the Western Conference. Bednar will presumably hope he can be back behind the bench for the start of the postseason.

Rory McIlroy’s comments before Masters Saturday did not age well

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Rory McIlroy had an ace up his sleeve heading into this weekend’s Masters Tournament. But he may have already used up all of that magic.

The Northern Irishman completely dominated the opening two days of this year’s competition at Augusta National in Georgia. He posted scores of 67 and 65 through Friday, which gave him a record-setting 6-shot lead midway through this year’s Masters.

McIlroy spoke to reporters on Friday night and shared the secret behind his success: familiarity.

“I think just spending time here,” McIlroy told the media, via Sports Illustrated Bob Harig. “Between the Players and starting (the Masters) on Thursday,  I’ve been on this golf course, geez, like Monday, Tuesday last week, then Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. I was up here for a day the week before as well.

“I’ve been on this golf course so much the last three weeks, and that’s been a combination of practice and chipping and putting around greens, and then just playing one ball and shooting scores and ending up in weird places that you maybe never find yourself and just trying to figure it out.”

McIlroy even flexed that he had a “couple of days” when he dropped his daughter Poppy off at school in Florida before taking his private jet to Augusta for a round. He was able to fly back home to his Palm Beach Gardens mansion before dinnertime.

The reigning Masters champion may have jinxed himself. McIlroy’s swing was all over the place Saturday during his third round of play. His 6-stroke edge evaporated after a 73 (+1) performance, allowing American Cameron Young to match him for the co-lead heading into the final day of the tournament.

Despite his poor performance, McIlroy expressed full confidence that he could still pull out a win and become just the fourth back-to-back Masters winner ever. Several fans, however, seem to be hoping for a different outcome.

UFC star got knocked out after showing ‘mercy’ to opponent who blew out his knee

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UFC veteran Jiri Prochazka learned the hard way that there’s nothing more dangerous than a wounded animal.

Prochazka (32-6-1) looked like he was being gifted a victory Saturday against Carlos Ulberg (15-1-0) in the main event of UFC 327 at Kaseya Center in Miami, Fla. Ulberg visibly injured his leg in the first round while the two were on their feet in the middle of the ring.

Watch Ulberg’s right leg ripple as the two were exchanging blows.

Instead of pouncing on his injured opponent, Prochazka proceeded to toy with Ulberg throughout the round. That left an opportunity for Ulberg to clock Prochazka with a wicked left hook that rocked the Czech fighter.

Ulberg won the vacant light heavyweight championship with the TKO of Prochazka, who was a sullen figure as he spoke to Joe Rogan after the match.

“F–k. I felt, like, mercy, you know?” said Prochazka as he looked stunned by the result.

“In that fight, I felt so sorry for him. Man, this is one of the biggest lessons in my life, man. I still can’t understand. That fight was won. I had it, it was in my hand. I just left him because I saw his injury, f–k man. … Life is about that, learn and be better.”

Ulberg confirmed after the fight that he “blew out” his knee and would most likely need surgery. He’ll at least go into his rehab riding the high of a win over one of UFC’s most seasoned light heavyweights.

Prochazka aside, the next biggest loser in all this is the UFC. Prochazka, the crowd favorite during the match, looked poised to take the belt and begin a new light heavyweight title reign. Instead, the lesser-known Ulberg took him out before having to undergo what is expected to be a lengthy recovery himself.

Texas lands elite scorer in transfer portal

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The Texas Longhorns are adding some scoring punch heading into next season.

Incoming sophomore guard Isaiah Johnson is transferring to Texas, according to a report from On3’s Joe Tipton. Johnson later confirmed the news on his personal Instagram account, posting several photos of himself in the school’s familiar burnt orange uniform.

“Hook ‘Em,” Johnson captioned his post.

Johnson joins a Texas squad coming off a surprising run to the Sweet 16 as an 11-seed in the recently concluded NCAA Tournament.

The Los Angeles native went from unranked prospect to one of the most impactful freshman guards in the country last season. He averaged 16.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.0 assists across 32 games for Colorado. He came off the bench for the first 17 games of the campaign before Buffaloes coach Tad Boyle inserted him into the starting lineup.

The Longhorns are losing two of their top three scorers, with Dailyn Swain declaring for the NBA draft and Tramon Mark graduating. TCU star forward David Punch is also expected to make the move to Austin soon, potentially giving Texas a considerable one-two punch off the transfer portal.

Willson Contreras had emotional message in return to St. Louis

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Willson Contreras has nothing but love for his former fan base.

The Boston Red Sox first baseman returned to Busch Stadium this weekend for the first time since the St. Louis Cardinals traded Contreras in December. Contreras had a major impact in Saturday’s interconference clash, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a game-high 3 RBIs in the 7-1 Red Sox victory.

Contreras hit a 2-run double in the top of the 4th inning to give his team a 2-0 lead, and Boston never looked back.

After the game, the fiery Contreras showed his softer side by showing appreciation for the fans who cheered for him over the past three seasons.

“I’ll be honest. This is the first time that I got emotional. … I wasn’t expecting that good of an ovation,” Contreras told Ken Rosenthal.

“That melted my heart. I have really good memories here, I have very good friends on the other side.”

Contreras received a huge ovation from the fans as he squared up for his first at-bat. He ended up getting hit by a 91.2 sinker on the first pitch he saw.

Earlier this week, Contreras went into a rage after a similar HBP against the Milwaukee Brewers. However, the same thing had zero effect on him on Saturday night. Nothing was going to ruin the vibes for him in his return to St. Louis.

Contreras played for the Cardinals from 2023 to 2025. He batted .261 with 55 home runs, 183 RBIs, and an .817 OPS across three seasons. He transitioned from catcher to first baseman in his final year in St. Louis.

14-year NFL veteran arrested for DUI

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Longtime NFL wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. has been arrested for DUI.

The 14-year veteran was charged with driving while intoxicated in Tarrant County, Texas. The Euless Police Department arrested Ginn on Saturday afternoon. He was later released after posting $1,000 bail, per a report from WSYX’s Kierstin Lindkvist.

The police encounter occurred just a day before Ginn was supposed to coach the Columbus Aviators for their third game of the season. He was hired as the UFL team’s head coach in December.

“We are aware of an incident involving Head Coach Ted Ginn Jr. over the weekend and are in the process of gathering more information,” said UFL president & CEO Russ Brandon, via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “Offensive coordinator Todd Haley will handle the head coaching duties for the Aviators game on Sunday.”

Ginn, an Arkansas product, was drafted 9th overall by the Miami Dolphins in 2007.

While Ginn never became the first-option wideout many envisioned, he was able to carve out a career spanning well over a decade. He also played for the San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and had two stints with the Carolina Panthers.

Jaylen Warren shares his blunt take on Aaron Rodgers’ uncertain future

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Aaron Rodgers remains a mystery in the NFL offseason. His future with the Pittsburgh Steelers and in the NFL, for that matter, has largely been uncertain since the AFC North franchise was eliminated by the Houston Texans in the playoffs.

Steelers running back Jaylen Warren is fine with whichever direction Rodgers takes.

“You know, I’m not really expecting anything,” Warren said during Friday’s appearance on Good Morning Football, via Bobby Kownack of NFL.com. “Whatever happens, happens. I’m rocking with whoever’s at the quarterback position. But if he comes back, great. If he doesn’t, then we’ll miss him.”

Warren, who had a career-high 958 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns on 211 carries in 2025, is entering his fourth season with the Steelers, and, like most Pittsburgh supporters, he wants clarity at the team’s QB position. 

Even if Rodgers ultimately decides to give it another go with the Steelers, that doesn’t clear things up about the team’s long-term outlook under center. The future Pro Football Hall of Fame signal-caller passed for 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns against 7 interceptions on a 65.7% completion rate in 2025.

Rodgers turned 42 years old in December. Pittsburgh currently has Mason Rudolph and Will Howard in its quarterback room, and neither is much to write home about.

Caitlin Clark reacts to significant news about her Fever teammate

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Caitlin Clark is feeling great after the Indiana Fever’s latest move.

On Saturday, the Fever announced they had signed guard Lexie Hull to a new contract, ensuring continuity in the backcourt partnership between Clark and the former Stanford Cardinal star. 

The two also shared a video on social media to celebrate Hull’s deal.

Lip-syncing to Diamond Dondada’s “She’s Back,” Clark and Hull celebrated the news in a TikTok clip that has since gone viral.

@lexiehulll

🤫🤫🤫

♬ original sound – lexiehull

The 26-year-old Hull has been with the Fever since 2022, when Indiana selected her sixth overall in the first round of that year’s WNBA draft. During the 2025 WNBA season, she averaged career highs of 7.2 points and 4.3 rebounds across 44 games, including 33 starts. Indiana needed her more than that season did, as the team missed Clark for several games due to injuries.

Clark, on the other hand, averaged 16.5 points, 8.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds, but appeared in only 13 games.

Still, the Fever won 24 games in 2025 and even won a playoff series before pushing eventual WNBA champions Las Vegas Aces to the edge in a 3-2 semifinals series loss.

With Hull back and Clark healthy again, the Fever have reason to hope that the 2026 season will be even better for them.

Shane Lowry has amazing 4-word reaction to hitting another Masters hole-in-one

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It sounded like just another day in the Masters office on Saturday for Shane Lowry.

The Irishman once again wowed the gallery at Augusta National with a hole-in-one on the 6th hole. He executed a perfect swing with his 7 iron to record an ace on the 190-yard par 3, becoming just the 7th Masters competitor ever to do so.

Lowry had the crowd pumping their fists and raising their hands in awe. Even fellow player Harris English, standing on the 16th green nearby, had to bow down to the Masters’ new hole-in-one king.

Lowry also had a hole-in-one on the 16th back in 2016, making him the first golfer in Masters history to notch two hole-in-ones at the prestigious tournament.

Asked about his single-stroke prowess at Augusta, Lowry had the perfect response ready.

“Maybe I’m just good,” Lowry said cheekily during his post-round press conference, via the Palm Beach Post’s Tom D’Angelo.

Every single golfer who qualifies for the Masters is “good.” Carding two hole-in-ones at Augusta is simply legendary.

Lowry scored a 68 in his third round, aided in part by his 6th hole ace. The strong Saturday performance dropped his total to -9, just two strokes behind leaders Rory McIlroy and Cameron Young.

The 39-year-old has been particularly prolific at racking up the hole-in-ones throughout his career. Perhaps he could score another one Sunday en route to his first-ever Masters win.

Fans blast Rory McIlroy over his comments after losing Masters lead

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The first two rounds of the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., felt like nothing more than part of a ceremony for an eventual Rory McIlroy coronation.

The Northern Irishman held a six-shot lead through 36 holes. 

That lead has now completely evaporated following a brutal Saturday from McIlroy, paired with an awesome third-round performance by Cameron Young.

Still, McIlroy seemed confident that he would pull through and get the job done on Sunday.

“I’d like to think that I’ll play a little bit freer and I’ll play like I’ve already got a Green Jacket, which I do,” the reigning Masters champion said, via Golf Channel.

“Sometimes I just have to remind myself of that, but I think as well that the stakes in terms of, the pairing will be just a little bit easier. The atmosphere out there will be a little bit easier. Yeah, I’m not worried about that at all.”

Many fans, however, are not feeling the aura McIlroy tried to project with that statement.

After firing 67 and 65 in the first two rounds, McIlroy struggled to sustain his form. He carded a 1-over 73 in the third round, while Young had a 7-under 65 to tie McIlroy for the lead heading into Sunday.

Whether he admits it or not, McIlroy will be under tremendous pressure to deliver and avoid a collapse as he looks to secure his second Green Jacket.

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