Report: Celtics could break up their core this offseason
The pressure may suddenly be on for the Boston Celtics this postseason.
Boston could potentially break up their core of star forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown this summer, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported this week on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back.” Mannix does add however that such a scenario may come to fruition only if a) the Celtics suffer an early playoff exit and b) if Boston can get Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo out of it.
Sam Amick says the Celtics could look at trading Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown for Giannis:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 10, 2026
“If they get bounced in the 2nd round… they're gonna look at the landscape.”
(via @RunItBackFDTV) pic.twitter.com/cIgAhhWJcT
The Celtics have recently been linked to Antetokounmpo, who is widely expected to (finally) get traded by the Bucks this summer. Thus, one of Brown or Tatum would effectively have to be included for salary-match purposes.
Brown, 29, and Tatum, 28, have been co-stars in Boston since 2017. They also already survived some past breakup rumors to lead the Celtics to a 2022 NBA Finals berth followed by a 2024 NBA championship.
But both players will now be making over $57 million each next season, and Tatum is still working his way back into form after a 2025 Achilles rupture (averaging 21.8 points per game on career-low shooting numbers of 41.1 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from three since returning). As such, the Celtics may have to make a difficult decision if a player of Antetokounmpo’s caliber becomes available this offseason.
Of course, the 31-year-old Antetokounmpo is older than both Celtics stars and is also making $58.5 million next season with a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. Meanwhile, Boston sits at 54-28 on the year (No. 2 in the East), and they even have some prominent analysts giving them a chance to win it all. With that in mind, there is a strong argument for Boston to simply retain their core for next season and upgrade around the fringes instead.
Mavericks may pull a shocker with their new GM hire
The Dallas Mavericks could be taking a page out of the book of Brad Stevens and the Boston Celtics.
Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd is “very interested” in becoming the team’s new general manager, Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated reported this week on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back.” Mannix added that Kidd is “very well-respected” in Dallas and is also “very well-liked by ownership.”
The Mavericks are looking for a new full-time GM after firing Nico Harrison last November (with Michael Finley and Matt Riccardi serving as Dallas’ co-interim GMs in the meantime). A couple of weeks ago, we heard that there were four particular candidates emerging for the Mavericks GM job.
As for Kidd, 53, he has served as Dallas’ head coach since 2021. Over that span, he has gone 204-204 (.500) but did lead the Mavericks to a Western Conference Finals berth in 2022 followed by an NBA Finals berth in 2024.
That said, Kidd clearly has longstanding interest in front-office work. He once made a power play to lead basketball operations with the Brooklyn Nets back in 2014 and later served as the de facto GM of the Milwaukee Bucks (eventually clashing with the team over personnel decisions).
The wild card for Dallas will be if this Hail Mary candidate can be lured in to serve as their new lead executive. But it is starting to look like a very real possibility that Kidd could potentially move from the Mavericks bench to the Mavericks front office, which would also create a frenzy leaguewide by opening up another NBA coaching job.
Colts seek to trade former Pro Bowl defensive back
The Indianapolis Colts and their top slot corner are heading for a breakup.
The Colts have mutually agreed to seek a trade for cornerback Kenny Moore II, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move comes with Moore entering the last season of his contract.
While Moore did not confirm that his time with Indianapolis is at an end, he did tell ESPN’s Stephen Holder that “it’s all love” with the Colts.
Moore has spent his entire career with the Colts after entering the league as an undrafted free agent. He developed into a steady part of the team’s secondary and was a consistent starter for the bulk of his career. He also received a Pro Bowl nod in 2021.
The Colts already have Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward at cornerback, with both on big contracts. That made Moore expendable, as his role has been reduced and the Colts would like to get that money off their books.
Moore, 30, played in 14 games last season, though only as a part-time starter. He had one interception and two forced fumbles for the Colts to go with six passes defended.
Jaylen Brown got roasted over his pitch to win MVP
Jaylen Brown is not seen as a frontrunner in the NBA MVP race, but that has not stopped him from making his case to win the award. Unfortunately for him, nobody is buying it.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne asked Brown in an interview if he thinks he should be the MVP this year. Brown’s response was not exactly convincing.
“Analytically, probably not, honestly,”Brown said. “But I put my blood, sweat, and tears into this season on the court, from a performance standpoint. Doing what my team needs me to do on both ends of the court, and also from a leadership standpoint, galvanizing guys, getting everyone on the same page in the midst of uncertainty to help keep us in contention at the top of the league. Analytics don’t quantify who I am and who my spirit is.”
Jaylen Brown on whether he believes he's the MVP:
— Oh No He Didn't (@ohnohedidnt24) April 9, 2026
"Analytically probably not…the analytics don't quantify who I am and who my spirit is" pic.twitter.com/HM2xF5CHX9
That reasoning did not land, and Brown was mocked for what many saw as a desperate argument.
I’m using this quote if I do bad on an exam https://t.co/zmOzmT45su
— Pranav Sriraman (@PranavSriraman) April 9, 2026
This gotta be the worst mvp case of all time. https://t.co/LEZSYZknDi
— 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐲 (@_shayza) April 9, 2026
So am i eligible to be voted MVP? Cause in spirit i really am the best
— Nikola Nedeljković (@NoLimitsNBA) April 9, 2026
We’re taking personality and spirit into mvp now!
— Jacob (@jgutierrez357) April 9, 2026
Brown has been great all season. He is averaging 28.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game for the Celtics, and kept them near the top of the Eastern Conference even with Jayson Tatum missing the bulk of the season. However, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is still seen as the leader in the MVP race due to his scoring prowess on the league’s best team.
Whatever the case, Brown can take solace in the fact that at least one person seems to be backing him for MVP. He will not win, though, and he seems to know it.
Darvin Ham is being linked to 1 NBA head coaching job
Darvin Ham may soon be back as a frontman.
The Milwaukee Bucks lead assistant coach Ham has emerged as a candidate for the head coaching job of the New Orleans Pelicans, NBA writer Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson reported this week. Ham is reportedly viewed as a “strong motivator” as the Pelicans look to find a new full-time head coach.
New Orleans fired head coach Willie Green last November after a 2-10 start to the season. Assistant coach James Borrego then took over as the interim head coach of the Pelicans.
However, Borrego has gone just 24-44 (.353) during his time in charge of New Orleans. As such, Robinson adds that the Pelicans are “unlikely” to hire Borrego as their full-time coach after the season.
Ham, 52, served as head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers for two seasons from 2022-24, leading the team to a Western Conference Finals berth in 2023 and an NBA Cup victory later that year as well. After Ham was fired by the Lakers with an overall record of 90-74 (.549), he joined the Bucks as the lead assistant under their head coach Doc Rivers.
There was some talk that Ham could potentially be the successor to Rivers in Milwaukee. But with the Bucks in the middle of a dysfunctional 31-49 season, they may opt to start anew and bring in a new head coach from outside the organization (perhaps this veteran name who was recently linked to the job). That would leave Ham free to pursue opportunities elsewhere, including the head coaching job in New Orleans.
Eagles make intriguing trade for young wide receiver
The Philadelphia Eagles are adding some help at wide receiver with the future of AJ Brown still up in the air.
The Eagles acquired wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a future fifth- and sixth-round pick, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Wicks will also sign a one-year, $12 million contract with Philadelphia after the deal.
Wicks hardly profiles as a replacement for Brown if the star wide receiver is traded. He is, however, a useful player at the position who could provide some valuable depth and potentially grow into a bigger role if something opens up.
Wicks flashed significant potential in his first season, catching 39 passes for 581 yards and four touchdowns. His numbers have largely leveled off since then, though he still has 11 career touchdowns in 46 games.
Even though Wicks profiles as a depth option and not a lead one, this deal will add to speculation that Brown has played his last game with the Eagles. Trade rumors have swirled for much of the offseason and a deal is reportedly seen as “inevitable,” though the Eagles are maintaining a significant asking price.
Ichiro Suzuki statue has big problem
The Seattle Mariners on Friday unveiled a statue of Ichiro Suzuki, only it had a big problem.
The Mariners had announced last year that they would be building a statue of Ichiro to be unveiled during the 2026 season. The team retired Suzuki’s jersey number 51 last year, and this year, they unveiled a statue of him ahead of their game against the Houston Astros at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Wash.
As a cover for the statue was removed, the bat broke.
We have a malfunction pic.twitter.com/4Ga4vvaIu5
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) April 10, 2026
Though the mishap was embarrassing, the Mariners’ social media team rolled with it.
“Breaking: We’ve updated tonight’s Ichiro Replica Statue giveaway,” they wrote in a post on X.
Breaking: We’ve updated tonight’s Ichiro Replica Statue giveaway. pic.twitter.com/EcFfkaAUd6
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) April 10, 2026
Their post showed a photo of Ichiro holding a broken bat. If they produced some bobblehead versions of that statue, it would probably become quite the collectible.
Ichiro came over to MLB from Japan for the 2001 season. He made an immediate impact and won both AL MVP and AL Rookie of the Year that season. He played 14 of his MLB seasons with the Mariners, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025. Even his election to the Hall of Fame came with a complication.
Joe Buck addresses his future at ESPN
Joe Buck is heading into the last year of his contract with ESPN, but that does not mean he is looking to go elsewhere.
In an interview with Richard Deitsch of Sports Business Journal, Buck made it clear that he wants to end his career at ESPN and has no interest in working anywhere else.
“If you reached through my computer screen right now and handed me a contract to continue my time at ESPN, I would sign it without even looking at it,” Buck said. “I’ve loved every second of it and I am hopeful that I’m at ESPN for the rest of my career. That’s as plain as I can say it and as honest as I can say it and maybe it’s stupid of me to say. If something gets thrown at me and I have to shift, I’ll shift. But I would be hopeful to stay right where I am until I’m finished.”
Buck had spent his entire career with FOX up until 2022, when he jumped to ESPN along with broadcast partner Troy Aikman. The two essentially seem to be a package deal at this point, and there is no indication that Aikman plans to walk away from the network anytime soon.
ESPN spent a long time trying to find a top play-by-play pairing for their NFL coverage, and finally got it right with Buck and Aikman. They might as well get this sorted out quickly, especially with the two set to call the Super Bowl for the network next year.
Person who took photos of Mike Vrabel, Dianna Russini wanted four figures
The photos of Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini that were published this week were pretty surprising. More and more details surrounding the matter are emerging.
Page Six, which is part of the New York Post, published photos on Tuesday that showed Vrabel and Russini together at a hotel in Arizona. The hotel where they were photographed is the Ambiente in Sedona, Arizona, which regards itself as a hotel for romantic getaways. Both the New England Patriots head coach Vrabel and the prominent NFL reporter Russini said the photos were not an accurate depiction of what was taking place. They say the photos made things look romantic, but that the two were at the hotel as part of a small group and had friends there.
Front Office Sports has since published an article about the story behind the story. They say the person who took the photos shopped them to various outlets, including TMZ. The photographer was apparently seeking an amount in the “four figures” for the photos.
TMZ passed on the story, and apparently didn’t realize the woman with whom Vrabel was photographed was Russini. TMZ reporter Michael J. Babcock wrote in a post on X that they were debating the ethics of publishing a story about a person possibly cheating on their wife. He added that the photos were not presented as involving Russini.
I've turned down countless cheating stories over the years.
— michael j. babcock (@mikejbabcock) April 10, 2026
Re: Vrabel photos, we saw them. They weren't presented as Vrabel and Russini. It was Vrabel with "a woman who isn't his wife."
That warrants further conversation, and I stand by that.
We later figured out it was Russini,…
Their debate became moot once Page Six published the story.
The fact that Russini was the woman in the photos makes it a news story beyond just someone possibly cheating on a spouse. An NFL coach possibly having a romantic relationship with an NFL reporter changes the conversation and makes it a significant news story.
Both Vrabel and Russini are married to other people and have children.
Roger Goodell calls out Kyle Shanahan’s complaints about playing overseas
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is not feeling particularly sympathetic toward San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s complaints about the team’s international games in 2026.
Shanahan recently said he did not see any benefits to the team having to play in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams to open the NFL season. The 49ers coach admitted the league’s response would be to tell the team to deal with it, and that is exactly what Goodell did when speaking to media in Australia.
“His job is to win. His job is to play,” Goodell said. “I understand coaches like to play at 1:00, 4:00, don’t get in the way of that. We’re going to make it a great experience for the team. That’s one of the things we focus on.
“I have a (jet lag) app for him which I’m going to send to him. I have not felt any jet lag at all.”
Roger Goodell on #49ers HC Kyle Shanahan not being a fan of playing in Australia:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) April 10, 2026
“His job is to win. His job is to play. … We’ll make it a great experience for the team.”
Goodell added he can send Shanahan an app to help with jet lag.
“I have not felt any jet lag at all. I… https://t.co/06SntweKjs pic.twitter.com/Yyfe8KMlmm
It’s fair to say that no coach loves playing internationally, but Shanahan has been more vocal than most in his complaints. He even suggested the Rams got the game moved to Australia to prevent their home stadium from being taken over by Niners fans.
The 49ers have played internationally three times before, but only once under Shanahan. That was a 38-10 win over the Arizona Cardinals in Mexico City in 2022.
Scottie Pippen’s son has announced his college decision
Justin Pippen, the son of NBA legend Scottie Pippen, has made a decision on where he plans to continue his college career.
Pippen is committing to transfer to Ohio State, according to Pete Thamel of ESPN. The sophomore is coming off a breakout season with the Cal Golden Bears.
NEWS: Cal guard Justin Pippen is committing to transfer to Ohio State, per his agents at WME Basketball. He’s a sophomore who averaged 14.2 points per game this year and had 4.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds. He’s the son of NBA Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen. pic.twitter.com/zsqVEp2Mlp
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) April 10, 2026
This will be Pippen’s second trip to the Big Ten. He played 28 games for the Michigan Wolverines in 2024-25 before transferring to Cal, meaning he will have played on both sides of the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry in basketball.
Pippen emerged as a legitimate player for Cal last season. He averaged 14.2 points per game for the Golden Bears, tying him for second on the team in scoring. The team went 22-12 and reached the second round of the NIT.
Justin Pippen is the sixth of Pippen’s seven children and his youngest son. He was originally a four-star recruit and the first prospect Dusty May landed after becoming Michigan’s new head coach.
Jordan Spieth drilled a fan with his tee shot
Jordan Spieth had to make it up to a patron at The Masters on Friday after drilling them with his tee shot.
Spieth’s tee shot on the ninth hole at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. veered off course and into the gallery. However, he got a fortuitous bounce when his ball seemingly bounced off a patron’s hand and back onto the fairway.
Jordan Spieth's tee shot ended up in the fairway after it bounced off a patron 😳
— ESPN (@espn) April 10, 2026
Spieth went to check on him and gave him a signed glove 🤝 pic.twitter.com/i42qPCJymA
Spieth later gave the patron an autographed glove for his troubles. It was probably a thank you as much as it was an apology, considering the fan inadvertently saved Spieth from a worse outcome.
Spieth wound up getting par on the hole, which no doubt would have been impossible if not for the fortunate deflection.
The 2015 Masters champion entered play Friday after breaking even with a 72 on the first day of the tournament. Longtime fans will know seeing him drill fans with shots is not necessarily anything new or unusual.
Doc Rivers addresses his cringeworthy pregame speech
Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers tried to defend a line from a cringeworthy pregame speech he made that got him widely mocked.
Rivers was criticized for telling his players to “look at my resume and Google me” prior to a March 2 game. In an appearance on FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” Rivers confirmed that the exchange happened, but claimed that the way it was reported took it out of context.
“That was taken so out of context,” Rivers said. “I had a guy that kept talking about his stats. I was basically saying the same thing. Well, I have stats, too. That’s what the reference was, from the Indiana coach (Curt Cignetti).”
"That was taken so out of context… I had a guy that kept talking about his stats. I was basically saying the same thing, 'Well, I have stats too.'"
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) April 10, 2026
Bucks head coach Doc Rivers clarifies what he meant when he said "Check my resume"
(via @RunItBackFDTV)pic.twitter.com/WtfEwPcr1e
Rivers trying to mimic Cignetti is forgivable. Cignetti’s use of “Google me,” however, came when he was a new and unknown hire at Indiana. More importantly, he proved he was able to back it up by pulling off an incredible turnaround job in two seasons.
In contrast, Rivers has something of a reputation for being an underachiever. Despite regularly coaching teams to the playoffs, his 2008 title with the Boston Celtics remains the only championship of his coaching career.
The context does add a bit to Rivers’ argument, but not much. At this point it’s fairly easy to see why he has supposedly lost the Milwaukee locker room, and his days with the organization are probably numbered.
Aces’ Jackie Young becomes WNBA’s first million-dollar player
Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young has agreed to a one-year contract worth $1.19 million, becoming the first player in WNBA history to sign a seven-figure deal.
The agreement, reached during the 2026 free agency period, keeps the 28-year-old with the defending champions after she opted against meetings with other teams.
Drafted first overall in 2019 out of Notre Dame, Young has spent her entire career in Las Vegas. A four-time All-Star and two-time All-WNBA selection, she played a key role in the Aces’ three championships over four seasons, including the 2025 title.
In 2025, she averaged 16.5 points, 5.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game. Young also boasts two Olympic gold medals and a 2018 national championship with Notre Dame.
The deal comes after ratification of a new seven-year collective bargaining agreement that significantly boosts player salaries.
“This marks the beginning of a bold new era of the WNBA — one made possible by the passion and dedication of the players, team owners, fans, investors, partners and the entire WNBA family,” WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said, via the Daily Mail.
The agreement solidifies Las Vegas’ core alongside four-time MVP A’ja Wilson and six-time All-Star Chelsea Gray.
Tigers’ Parker Meadows hospitalized after terrifying outfield collision
Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows was transported to a Minneapolis hospital for overnight observation after a frightening head-to-head collision with teammate Riley Greene during Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
The incident unfolded in the eighth inning of the Tigers’ 3-1 loss, as both outfielders converged on a shallow fly ball hit by Josh Bell into the left-center gap.
Greene, the left fielder, made the catch, but Meadows appeared to slow down at the last moment, resulting in their heads colliding at full speed. Meadows fell to the ground, landing on his back in a daze with blood visible on his face after biting the inside of his mouth. He remained down for several minutes before being assisted to a cart and removed from the field.
Manager A.J. Hinch expressed concern, noting that Meadows was “pretty out of it” and that the team would evaluate him thoroughly.
Postgame updates confirmed Meadows was diagnosed with a concussion. He left the stadium on a stretcher, fully conscious, with his left arm in a sling.
Greene, who stayed in the game, later described feeling terrible about the play and hoped his friend and teammate would recover.
“It’s a terrible feeling. I still feel terrible,” Greene said after the game, via ESPN. “He hit my head. I don’t know where I hit him, to be honest, but I just really hope he’s OK.”
Meadows, a 26-year-old who had started most games in center field this season, is expected to be monitored closely in the coming days.
FC Cincinnati attempting to lure Neymar to MLS
FC Cincinnati has initiated preliminary discussions with representatives of Brazilian superstar Neymar regarding a potential move to the MLS.
The club is gauging the 34-year-old forward’s interest and the financial requirements for what would be a high-profile signing, though ESPN reports that talks remain in their earliest stages and internal evaluations are ongoing.
Neymar, who returned to his boyhood club Santos after a stint with Al-Hilal, is under contract through the end of 2026 following a recent extension.
Limited to a handful of appearances this season due to a knee injury that required a procedure, he has contributed three goals and assists while aiming to prove his fitness ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has indicated Neymar could feature if fully fit, despite his absence from recent national team call-ups.
The Ohio-based side, currently sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference, views itself as an attractive destination for global talent, bolstered by strong finances and modern facilities.
Any final decision on Neymar’s future is likely to wait until after the World Cup. Should the move materialize, it would align with MLS’s strategy of securing star power to boost visibility ahead of upcoming media rights negotiations.
Oilers fan gives birth at Rogers Place mid-game
An Edmonton Oilers fan experienced an unforgettable night at Rogers Place over the weekend, when she went into labor and gave birth during the team’s home game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
The incident unfolded on the arena’s seventh floor as the second period progressed, prompting immediate attention from medical personnel on site.
Sportsnet play-by-play announcer Jack Michaels shared the developing news live on the broadcast.
“Breaking news: We have word that someone has gone into labor here tonight,” Michaels said. “There’s a baby being born on the seventh floor at Rogers Place as we speak. So someone’s going to have a great story to tell.
“It would be nice to have the mother join us on ‘After Hours’ to describe what’s happened, but that could be asking a bit much.”
The Golden Knights went on to defeat the Oilers 5-1, though the on-ice result was overshadowed by the extraordinary event unfolding within the venue.
Arena officials have not released further details regarding the mother or newborn’s condition.
DOJ launches antitrust probe into NFL over TV deals
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened an antitrust investigation into the NFL regarding its television and media rights agreements.
The probe focuses on whether the league’s practices have become anticompetitive, potentially limiting consumer access to games and driving up costs amid the growing shift from traditional broadcasting to streaming services.
Concerns have centered on the fragmentation of NFL content across multiple platforms. While the league maintains that the vast majority of its games remain available on free over-the-air television—particularly within each team’s local market—many high-profile matchups now require paid subscriptions. These include Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video, certain holiday games on Netflix, and additional contests streamed exclusively on services such as ESPN+ and Peacock.
“With over 87% of our games on free, broadcast television, including 100% of games in the markets of the competing teams, the NFL has for decades put our fans front and center in how we distribute our content,” a league spokesperson told The Athletic. “The 2025 season was our most-viewed since 1989 and reflects the strength of the NFL distribution model and its wide availability to all fans.”
Industry analysts estimate that accessing every game in a season could require a combination of cable packages and streaming subscriptions costing hundreds or even over a thousand dollars annually.
The investigation comes as lawmakers and regulators question the continued relevance of the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. That law provides the NFL with a limited antitrust exemption permitting teams to collectively negotiate and sell broadcast rights.
Originally crafted for an era dominated by major networks, critics argue the exemption may no longer adequately protect viewers in today’s digital media environment.
The NFL has defended its approach, emphasizing strong overall viewership numbers and broad availability of games. The Department of Justice has not released specific details about the scope of its inquiry.
Any potential challenge to the league’s longstanding media practices could significantly influence how professional football content is distributed and consumed in the years ahead.
Video shows Shohei Ohtani loudly cursing in English during game
Shohei Ohtani has apparently learned a thing or two about the English language.
Video went viral from a game earlier this week between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays of Ohtani dropping a loud expletive in English. On Tuesday at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ont., Ohtani was at the plate when he was inadvertently struck by Toronto catcher Brandon Valenzuela on a pickoff throw behind the runner at first base.
Valenzuela appeared to make accidental contact with Ohtani’s funny bone. That resulted in a very pained reaction from Ohtani as he went up the first-base line to try to walk it off.
About ten seconds after being struck, Ohtani let loose an incredibly loud “F–K!!!” A fan-shot video from the stands showed the unexpected moment in its entirety (take a look at the link here).
The 31-year-old Ohtani is a native of Japan but has played in Major League Baseball since 2018. He still uses a translator though and currently employs Will Ireton, who took over back in 2024 for Ohtani’s disgraced former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.
But Ohtani has notably given (small) public speeches in English after each of the Dodgers’ World Series victories in the last two years. Now it is clear that Ohtani knows his way around the curse words in English as well.
Angel Reese’s brother Julian gets a flagrant foul for elbowing opponent in face
Julian Reese got himself into some trouble during Thursday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls.
The Washington Wizards forward Reese was called for a flagrant foul after an unsightly sequence involving Bulls guard Yuki Kawamura. During the third quarter at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Reese received a pass in the paint from Wizards teammate Leaky Black.
While Reese was going up for the shot attempt, he elbowed Kawamura in the face. Kawamura was down on the ground in pain for several seconds, and Reese was hit with a flagrant 1 foul upon an official review. Check out the video of the full sequence.
Yuki Kawamura receives an elbow to the face (near the eye) from Julian Reese (with replays)
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 10, 2026
Upon review, it was upgraded to a flagrant-1, and Yuki converts both free throws to give him 3 points.
This is the 3rd offensive foul Yuki draw tonight pic.twitter.com/f73ukYMqvF
Reese also had another curious moment during the fourth quarter of the game against Chicago. While attempting to save a loose ball from going out of bounds, Reese fired the ball at Bulls forward Leonard Miller, who was down on the court in a prone position after seemingly getting injured. For that incident, Reese picked up a technical foul.
Rob Dillingham with the steal and the full court passs to Yuki Kawamura for the fastbreak layup.
— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) April 10, 2026
First field goal of the night for Yuki (5 points)
Later on, Julian Reese throws the ball on Leonard Miller, who was on the floor, as Rease was trying to save the ball. He receives… pic.twitter.com/4ugbq1oCw0
The 22-year-old Reese is the younger brother of WNBA star Angel Reese. Julian is on a two-way contract with the Wizards and has received some extended run in recent weeks, averaging 11.4 points and 11.7 rebounds over 30.7 minutes per game for Washington.
Julian was also involved in an incident last month in which he received a technical foul after bringing an opponent to the ground off a free-throw-line box-out (though the technical would later be rescinded). But Julian was not as lucky on Thursday night with his flagrant foul followed by a technical foul as the Wizards went on to lose to the Bulls by a 119-108 final score.
