ti Page 18 - Sports News, Headlines & Highlights

Newcomer Joey Wiemer helps Nationals roll past Cubs
Joey Wiemer, Jacob Young and Brady House homered and the bullpen provided 5 1/3 innings of one-run relief to boost the visiting Washington Nationals to a 10-4 Opening Day victory against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.,Wiemer went 3-for-3 to spark a 11-hit attack in his club debut, which also marked t...

No softy, Michigan State's unapologetic Tom Izzo doesn't 'give a damn' about critics
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Tom Izzo rants and raves, delivers corrective messaging to players nostril-to-nostril, and the Michigan State Spartans are in the Sweet 16 for the 17th time despite a sideline demeanor critics might find less than endearing. ,Go ahead and write those feelings on his dry-erase boa...

Skater Ilia Malinin takes big lead after Worlds short program
Ilia Malinin, a heavy favorite who didn't medal in men's figure skating at the Milan Cortina Olympics, skated a personal best in the short program to take a big lead at the World Championships in Prague on Thursday.,In his first competition since the Olympics last month, Malinin registered 111.29 po...

Retirement not for St. John's coach Rick Pitino; planning to 'stay as long as I can'
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- St. John's coach Rick Pitino might not have plans for his 74th birthday in September, but he'll sooner consider putting them on his calendar than weigh the prospect of retirement. ,Pitino has St. John's back in the Sweet 16 with a shot at No. 1 seed Duke in the East Region semifi...

Tom Brady on comeback: NFL didn't 'like that idea very much'
Tom Brady toyed with the idea of a potential comeback, going so far as to ask the NFL if it were permissible for a minority owner of a team to play in a league game.,Per NFL rules, a player can't also be an owner.,"I actually have inquired, and they don't like that idea very much," Brady told CNBC. ...
Three Sweet 16 Teams To Avoid Betting in March Madness This Weekend
Looking for an edge in the Sweet 16? Here are three teams to avoid betting, including Arizona, Iowa State, and Alabama matchups....
NBA Betting Picks: Best Bets for Thursday’s Slate
Get the best NBA betting picks for today’s slate, including Knicks vs Hornets, Pelicans vs Pistons, and Kings vs Magic with expert analysis and odds....
Why the Nebraska Cornhuskers Have the Edge Against Iowa in Sweet 16
Nebraska and Iowa meet after buzzer-beater wins. Here’s a full breakdown and why the Cornhuskers’ defense gives them the edge in this matchup....
Ranking the Remaining No. 1 Seeds in March Madness Before Sweet 16
With Florida eliminated, Arizona, Michigan, and Duke remain as No. 1 seeds. Here’s a breakdown and power ranking of the top contenders in March Madness....

Blue Jays, downplaying 'defending' status, open against A's
The Toronto Blue Jays might have been a surprise last season when they came close to winning the World Series.,Another successful season, however, would be no surprise. This year they will carry the burden of high expectations into their 50th anniversary season, which will open Friday night against ...

Jaylen Brown (31), Celtics halt Thunder's 12-game win streak
Jaylen Brown had 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to help the Boston Celtics end the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder's 12-game winning streak with a 119-109 victory Wednesday in a game that featured the last two NBA champions., ,Jayson Tatum added 19 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists f...

Reds place LHP Nick Lodolo (blister) on IL to begin season
Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo will open the season in the injured list because of a blister issue, while right-hander Jose Franco was recalled Wednesday after he had been optioned to Triple-A.,Lodolo, 28, had been dealing with a blister on his left index finger after he delivered a 7.24 ER...

Final World Cup ticketing phase is first-come, first-served
Fans looking for one last opportunity to get tickets to this summer's FIFA World Cup in North America will get their chance on April 1.,And that's no joke.,FIFA announced Wednesday that a fourth and final phase of ticket sales will take place starting at 11 a.m. ET on April 1 and will remain open th...

Kansas' Bill Self says no decision on retirement yet
Kansas coach Bill Self said he has made no decision about retirement, despite persistent rumors that say otherwise.,Self, who just completed his 23rd season with the Jayhawks, told the Kansas City Star on Wednesday that any reports of his imminent retirement are false.,"No news. All b.s. Bad info," ...

Report: Revs acquire F Marcos Zambrano on loan from RSL
The New England Revolution are acquiring forward Marcos Zambrano on loan from Real Salt Lake, The Athletic reported on Wednesday.,The deal includes a purchase option for Zambrano, who was part of the U.S. squad coached by Revolution head coach Marko Mitrovic at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup. ,Zambran...

Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers massive MVP, World Series favorites
The Los Angeles Dodgers hit Opening Day 2026 as massive favorites to accomplish a feat not seen in Major League Baseball in more than a quarter century.,The two-time defending world champions are attempting to become the first team to three-peat since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. Ironically, it's...

Orioles, Twins hope new managers lead to contending seasons
There'll be a double dose of managerial debuts when the Minnesota Twins visit the Baltimore Orioles for Thursday's opener.,Derek Shelton will be in his first game in charge of the Twins. New Orioles skipper Craig Albernaz is in his first managerial role.,Shelton was fired by Pittsburgh last May and ...

Cubs embrace expectations as Nationals visit for Opening Day
After ending a four-year playoff drought last season, the Chicago Cubs enter 2026 with added expectations.,In manager Craig Counsell's mind, that also should increase the clubhouse's penchant for staying in the moment.,"It's not easy to get to a place like this. It's not easy to get to a roster like...
Best NBA Bets Today: Wednesday Predictions and Player Props
NBA betting picks for Wednesday, including Celtics vs Thunder, Hawks vs Pistons, and Bucks vs Blazers with spreads and props....
How MLB Is Getting Opening Day Wrong in a Crucial 2026 Season
MLB Opening Day draws criticism over streaming decisions and scheduling issues, leaving fans frustrated in a crucial season for baseball....