Wake Up, It’s Tee Time!
Basketball and soccer highlights from across the world fill today’s edition, but our feature story welcomes back golf for the first must-see event of 2024. The Players Championship tees off shortly, and that pesky 17th Island Green awaits. It’s contagious… I might hit the local links for a quick-9. Golf, brackets and more on the way this weekend.
Bubble Watch: Villanova (on the bubble) held off a valiant effort from lowly DePaul (3-28) in the Big East tournament last night. ‘Nova’s Justin Moore hit a go-ahead 3 with 8 seconds left, and they survived a scare from a 24-point underdog (58-57). Watch Highlights
Selection Sunday: 3 Days
Letter Rip!
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GOLF
The Island Awaits
50th Anniversary of The Players Championship Brings Golf’s 1st ‘Major’ Test of 2024
Golf’s unofficial fifth major gets ready to tee off today from TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Man, I’m giddy. Though it’s not one of the four official golf majors, it feels like one. Most of the sport’s biggest stars (144 total) are warming up and preparing for the Stadium Course, featuring the 17th Island Green and an unmatched $25 million purse — the largest on the PGA Tour. Since it’s a PGA-owned event, LIV Golf defectors like Jon Rahm and Brooks Koepka won’t be in the field.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler wields a hot putter as he aims to defend his title, but no golfer has won back-to-back at TPC Sawgrass in the tournament’s 50-year history. Recent champs also include Cameron Smith (2022), Justin Thomas (2021) and Rory McIlroy (2019). The weather looks pretty clear this weekend with only a few scattered showers on Friday night (post-round) and potentially Sunday afternoon. It’s been a long, six-month wait since golf’s last high-profile event — The Ryder Cup (Sept. 2023) — so let’s tee it up!
The Players Championship Odds (Top-10)
S. Scheffler (+550), R. McIlroy (+1400), X. Schauffele (+2000), V. Hovland (+2500), M. Homa (+2500), J. Thomas (+2500), W. Zalatoris (+2800), P. Cantlay (+2800), C. Morikawa (+2800), L. Aberg (+3500) | Full List of Odds
Round 1 Tee Times (Featured Groups)
8:13 AM: J. Day, S.W. Kim, M. Kuchar
8:24 AM: S. Burns, X. Schauffele, T. Fleetwood
8:35 AM: V. Hovland, R. McIlroy, J. Spieth
8:46 AM: L. Aberg, P. Cantlay, A. Scott
1:29 PM: H. Matsuyama, M. Fitzpatrick, M. Homa
1:40 PM: S. Scheffler, R. Fowler, J. Thomas
1:51 PM: W. Clark, C. Morikawa, B. Harman
2:02 PM: T. Finau, W. Zalatoris, S. Lowry
Coverage begins at 1:00 pm ET (Golf Channel / Peacock)
Read More
Golf Digest: 50 Fun Stats to Mark the 50th Anniversary of The Players Championship
Golfweek: Scottie Scheffler Says If Fans Are Upset Fields Aren’t Elite, ‘Look at the Guys That Left’
AP: Scheffler is Chasing History in The Players Championship. No One Has Ever Repeated as Champion
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NBA
NBA Playoff Picture
A Snapshot of the NBA Playoff Picture With 1 Month to Postseason
What’s up, NBA fans? A lot has changed since our last check-in on the NBA’s postseason race (pre-All-Star Weekend). The 76ers have fallen off a cliff without Joel Embiid, though his return is still possible. The Clippers have begun to collapse, too. The Celtics are running away with the East, and No. 1 seed is almost certain. Boston’s real test will come in the playoffs if they stay healthy. Out west? Three teams are in a dead heat for the No. 1 seed — Thunder, Nuggets, Timberwolves. Minnesota is battling through the loss of Karl-Anthony Towns, and the Nuggets (defending champs) look poised to challenge OKC for the top spot. A few teams have also been eliminated (officially). Let’s take a look:
Eastern Conference
1. Celtics (51-14)
2. Bucks (42-24)
3. Cavaliers (41-24)
4. Knicks (38-27)
5. Magic (37-28)
6. Pacers (37-29)
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7. 76ers (36-29)
8. Heat (35-29)
9. Bulls (31-34)
10. Hawks (29-35)
In the Hunt: Nets (26-39), Raptors (23-42)
Out: Hornets (16-49), Pistons (11-53), Wizards (11-54)
Western Conference
1. Thunder (45-20)
2. Nuggets (45-20)
3. Timberwolves (45-21)
4. Clippers (41-23)
5. Pelicans (39-25)
6. Suns (38-27)
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7. Kings (37-27)
8. Mavericks (37-28)
9. Lakers (36-30)
10. Warriors (34-30)
In the Hunt: Rockets (30-35), Jazz (28-37)
Out: Grizzlies (23-43), Blazers (18-46), Spurs (14-52)
Read More
NBA: 2024 NBA Playoff Standings & Bracket Outlook
The Athletic: Early NBA Playoff Race Predictions. Plus, Wizards’ Offseason Begins
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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The Last 8 Is Set
Champions League Last 8: Atletico Madrid Outlast Inter in PKs, Dortmund Ends PSV’s Dream Run
The last two matches of the Champions League Round of 16 took place yesterday afternoon, and two more of Europe’s elite are through to the quarterfinals. Borussia Dortmund punched out PSV Eindhoven (2-0, 3-1 Agg.) with an early goal from Jaden Sancho (3’) and a late knockout punch from Marco Reus (90+5’). Down in Madrid, Atletico overcame an early goal from Inter to survive a thrilling PK shootout. Antoine Griezman (35’) kept Atletico on life support before Memphis Depay (87’) knotted the aggregate score at 2-2. Penalties were needed, and they became the third Spanish side through to the last eight. The quarterfinal draw takes place tomorrow morning, so stay tuned.
Champions League (Round of 16)
Atletico Madrid def. Inter (2-1, 3-2 PKs)
*Atletico Madrid Advance on Aggregate (3-2)
*Dortmund Advance on Aggregate (3-1)
Quarterfinal Draw Incoming
After Wednesday’s matches, only eight teams remain in the Champions League quarterfinals — three from Spain, two each from England and Germany, and one from France. There will be no Cinderella story in this year’s tournament. Here’s a look at the remaining clubs before Friday’s draw (7:00 am ET) to determine the bracket for the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.
Champions League Last 8: Arsenal (ENG), Atletico Madrid (ESP), Barcelona (ESPN), Bayern (GER), Dortmund (GER), Manchester City (ENG), Paris Saint-Germain (FRA), Real Madrid (ESP)
Read More
Reuters: Atletico Knock Out Inter on Penalties to Reach Champions League Quarters
Guardian: Sancho & Reus Send Dortmund Past PSV Into Champions League Last Eight
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NFL
NFL Free Agency (Day 3)
Titans Acquire WR Calvin Ridley With Massive 4-Year, $92 Million Deal
Latest FA Signings (Last 24 Hours)
WR Calvin Ridley → Titans
Contract: 4 Years, $92 Million
LB Bobby Wagner → Commanders
Contract: 1 Year, $8.5 Million
QB Joe Flacco → Colts
Contract: 1 Year, $8.7 Million
LB Eric Kendricks → Cowboys
Contract: 1 Year, TBD
Other NFL Roster Moves
Chargers Release WR Mike Williams
Raiders Cut QB Jimmy Garoppolo, WR Hunter Renfrow
Jets Acquire Ravens RT Morgan Moses
Eagles Give Kicker Jake Elliot $24 Million
*Tied for Highest-Paid Kicker in NFL History
Read More
NFL: 2024 Free Agency Tracker: Latest Signings, Trades & Contracts
Yahoo! Sports: Patrick Mahomes Restructures Contract to Create $21.6 Million in Cap Space for Chiefs
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HIGHLIGHTS
NBA
*Denver Sweeps Miami in Season Series
Mavericks def. Warriors (109-99)
*Luka Doncic’s Triple-Double Streak Ends
Bulls def. Pacers (132-129, OT)
*DeMar DeRozan Notches 46, Passes Elgin Baylor & Dwyane Wade on All-Time Scoring List
NHL
Avalanche def. Canucks (4-3, OT)
*Colorado Rallies From 3 Goals Down
*Zach Hyman Nets Hat Trick
*Nashville Extends Point Streak to 13 Games
Concacaf Champions Cup
Inter Miami def. Nashville SC (3-1)
*Lionel Messi Scores as Miami Advances (5-3, Agg.)
NCAA Conference Tournaments
M-BIG12: Cincinnati Upsets #16 Kansas (72-52)
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NEWS
Louisville Basketball Coach Kenny Payne Fired After 2 Abysmal Seasons (CBS Sports)
Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole Out Until May With Ongoing Elbow Concerns (USA Today)
Nate Diaz & Jorge Masvidal Ditch MMA for Boxing Rematch on June 1 (ESPN)
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers on VP Shortlist for Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (B/R)
Atlanta Ownership Group Makes Formal Request for NHL Expansion Team (The Athletic)
Peyton Manning to Host NBC’s Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony Broadcast (SI)
Rory McIlroy, Citing Ratings Dip, Says Golf Merger Needs More Urgency (ESPN)
Padres Finalize Deal for White Sox Pitcher Dylan Cease (CBS Sports)
Eagles Deny Violating Tampering Rules With Saquon Barkley Signing (ESPN)
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SCHEDULE
Today’s Must-Watch List
PGA Tour
The Players (1:00 pm ET, Golf Channel)
Indian Wells (Quarterfinals)
W: #1 I. Swiatek vs. C. Wozniacki (3:15 pm ET)
W: #3 C. Gauff vs. Y. Yuan (6:00 pm ET)
M: #2 C. Alcaraz vs. #6 A. Zverev (6:00 pm ET)
M: #4 D. Medvedev vs. #7 H. Rune (9:00 pm ET)
*All Matches Streaming on Tennis Channel
NBA
Suns at Celtics (7:30 pm ET, TNT)
76ers at Bucks (8:00 pm ET, NBALP)
Mavericks at Thunder (10:00 pm ET, TNT)
NHL
Rangers at Lightning (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)
Panthers at Hurricanes (7:00 pm ET, ESPN+)
Golden Knights at Flames (9:00 pm ET, ESPN+)
NCAA Conference Tournaments
Men’s ACC Tournament (Schedule)
Men’s Big 12 Tournament (Schedule)
Men’s Big East Tournament (Schedule)
Men’s Big Ten Tournament (Schedule)
Men’s PAC-12 Tournament (Schedule)
Men’s SEC Tournament (Schedule)
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