Alex Ovechkin moved three goals away from breaking Wayne Gretzky's NHL record after scoring the 892nd of his career in the the Capitals' game at Carolina on Wednesday night.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick is dreaming of winning a treble after his side beat Atlético Madrid 1-0 on Wednesday to set up a Clásico showdown against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.
Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone maintained that his team has "competed well" throughout the season despite recent eliminations from the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola labelled Jack Grealish "an incredible human being" after the midfielder dedicated his goal against Leicester City to his brother on the 25th anniversary of his passing.
New Villanova coach Kevin Willard said he's aware of the criticism he has received since leaving Maryland but said, "I just think it's time that everyone moved on."
"The values of diversity and inclusion are central to the culture of the NBA, WNBA, and our other leagues and will remain core to our business and our workplace," the email said.
Other American sports organizations have taken steps to distance themselves from DEI.
MLB has removed "diversity" references from its careers page entirely.
The General Services Administration announced changes in February to the Federal Acquisition Regulations meant to align with the president's executive order aimed at restoring merito and ending discrimination in the public and private sectors. The move reverses previous Biden administration executive orders that made it mandatory to consider DEI when reviewing contract proposals.
Under Trump, language associated with DEI principles was also ordered removed from any federal acquisition, contracting, grant or financial assistance procedures.
After the New York Yankees set an MLB record with 18 home runs in their first four games, several of which were hit with torpedo bats, one pitcher wants to level the playing field.
"Let them use whatever bat they want. Let’s just allow pitchers to use whatever hitters have in the on deck circle," Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm posted on X this week. "And not check us like we are criminals every time we walk on or off the field. I’m just a pitcher but I’m assuming better grip helps ya swing harder…"
Umpires check pitchers before they enter games and between innings for substances. The inspections have led to several ejections, and, in turn, 10-game suspensions. "Spider Tack" became a popular fad, but pitchers have often used a combination of their own sweat and rosin to create stickiness.
Strahm added that "some of that stuff was a bit much," but added, "just whatever a hitter can use to grip a bat better we can use too."
The torpedo bats have a barrel in a different location. Instead of being at the end of the bat, the barrel is closer to the handle, which gives the bat a bowling pin shape. Some players make contact with the ball more on the label instead of the traditional barrel of the bat. The torpedo bats move the barrel to the label, so when they make contact they barrel up the baseball more.
The uniquely shaped bats dominated conversation among players and fans this weekend after the Yankees’ offensive eruption.
"I think it’s terrible," Brewers relief ace Trevor Megill told the New York Post of the bats, which are legal. "We’ll see what the data says. I’ve never seen anything like it before. I feel like it’s something used in slo-pitch softball. It’s genius: Put the mass all in one spot. It might be bush [league]. It might not be. But it’s the Yankees, so they’ll let it slide."
The Yankees are not the only team using the bats. The MLB social media account posted a brief explainer to X about the torpedo bat and highlighted four players from four teams who use them — Francisco Lindor, Yandy Diaz, Anthony Volpe and Ryan Jeffers.
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz decided to try a torpedo bat in the Reds’ game Monday against the Texas Rangers after watching the Yankees' offensive onslaught. He went 4-for-5 with two home runs, a double and seven RBIs in the Reds’ 14-3 win over the Rangers.
MLB Rule 3.02 states, "The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood." The rule also says "experimental" bats can’t be used "until the manufacturer has secured approval from Major League Baseball of his design and methods of manufacture."
Fox News' Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.
Sacramento State plans to file an application with the NCAA this week to transition from the FCS to the FBS in football as an independent, sources told ESPN.
Joel Embiid will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee next week, the 76ers announced Wednesday afternoon. The decision was made, according to the brief statement by the team, after “consultations with medical experts” and “further updates will be provided following the procedure.” The idea behind the procedure is to reduce Embiid’s symptoms and make...
