Reminder - we are still in March Madness.

Houston completed a valiant comeback against Duke to earn their trip to the national championship against Florida.

Cooper Flagg, the potential No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft if he decided to leave, missed a potential game-winning shot with less than eight seconds left, and the Cougars escaped with a 70-67 win.

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Duke led by as many as 12 in the first half, but Houston was able to cut it to six, as neither team got it quite going offensively.

But the second half was all Duke early on. As the Blue Devils got out to a game-high 14-point lead, Houston had a span where they missed seven of their eight shots.

After that, though, Houston went on an 10-0 run to cut it back down to six with just under five minutes to go, as Dke went on a seven-plus-minute stretch of not hitting a shot. But, the Wooden Award winner Flagg drained a three with just over three minutes to go to make it a nine-point game.

FORMER NBA STAR WHO WENT FIRST OVERALL SAYS COOPER FLAGG SHOULD RETURN TO DUKE

The Cougars were not out, though - in fact, they went on an 11-1 over the final 1:14 to end it.

Houston's Emanuel Sharp knocked down a three with 32.4 seconds left to cut their deficit to three points. Then, off the inbound, Duke turned the ball over, and Houston got a putback dunk to make it a one-point game.

Duke's Tyrese Proctor then missed a one-and-one, and an over-the-back foul on Flagg brought Houston to the line. J'Wan Roberts hit both to take the lead.

After Flagg missed a shot that would have given Duke a lead with less than 10 seconds left, Duke fouled, and L.J. Cryer knocked down both free throws to go up three points. Duke missed a final shot at the buzzer that would have sent them to overtime, sending Duke to the national title game.

Houston scored eight points in the final 33 seconds to Duke's zero to complete the wild comeback.

The two teams shared the longest winning streaks in the NCAA entering the contest - Houston's is now at 18, while Duke's was snapped at 15.

Flagg finished with a game-high 27 points, but his possible last shot in a Duke uniform will be one he'd like to soon forget.

Houston faces Florida on Friday night for the national title.

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Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryson Stott went the extra mile to help a friend make a special announcement. 

During the Phillies' game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park Saturday, Stott wore a unique piece of equipment for an in-game baby gender reveal. 

Stott wore a pink armband when he walked into the batter's box for the first time in Saturday's game. Phillies broadcaster Tom McCarthy announced the second baseman's friend, Ryan Stevens, would soon be a father to a baby girl.

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PHILLIES INFIELDER BRYSON STOTT'S CUSTOM BAT TAKES YOU BACK TO SCHOOL AT LITTLE LEAGUE CLASSIC

Stevens created Stott's custom cleats the past couple of years. Last year, Stott was profiled in BillyPenn.com. 

According to the story, Stevens has produced more than a dozen pairs of custom cleats for Scott since 2023.

Stevens has customized shoes for other Philadelphia professional athletes, including 76ers star Tyrese Maxey.

In February, Eagles safety Cooper DeJean wore a pair of custom shoes made by Stevens.

Stott finished Saturday's game with one hit in three plate appearances. The defending World Series champion Dodgers continued their strong start to the 2025 season, defeating the Phillies 3-1.

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The Florida Gators are heading to the national championship game for the first time since 2007.

Florida pulled off a 79-73 victory over Auburn in the Final Four Saturday night to clinch the first spot in the title game. 

The Gators await the winner of Duke vs. Houston. 

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Walter Clayton Jr. scored 34 points to lead Florida and had a driving layup with 2:24 left after Australian big man Alex Condon drew a charge against Johni Broome, the other All-American in the national semifinal who was dealing with an injured right elbow.

After a record 14 SEC teams made this NCAA Tournament, seven reached the Sweet 16. SEC teams also made up half of the Elite Eight and a Final Four filled with No. 1 seeds.

ODDSMAKER GIVES INSIGHT INTO HOW BETTORS HAVE FARED WITH MOSTLY UPSET-FREE MARCH MADNESS

The Gators will have a chance Monday night to win the SEC’s first title since Kentucky in 2012. Florida takes an 11-game winning streak into the title game at the Alamodome against either Duke or Houston.

Auburn (32-6), in its second Final Four with coach Bruce Pearl, was the tournament's top overall seed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Dallas Mavericks minority owner and "Shark Tank" host Mark Cuban gave his take on transgender athletes in women's sports this week. 

During an interview on "The Stephen A. Smith Show" Friday, Cuban suggested trans inclusion should not be "pushed down people's throats." 

"To make it a national issue so that if you weren’t supporting the fewer than 10 trans athletes in the NCAA, then you weren’t a good person. People just aren’t ready for that yet. You've got to meet people where they are," Cuban said. "It takes time, you can’t just force it down people’s throats."

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Cuban also suggested people affected by transgender inclusion policies in sports should not be used in political campaigns. 

"Instead of trying to get where the people who are being disadvantaged and being discriminated against are helped, they wanted to make it a campaign issue," Cuban said. "Focus on helping the people, not using them to campaign."

A national exit poll conducted by the Concerned Women for America legislative action committee found that 70% of moderate voters saw the issue of "Donald Trump’s opposition to transgender boys and men playing girls' and women’s sports and of transgender boys and men using girls' and women’s bathrooms" as important to them. 

WHO IS STEPHANIE TURNER? WOMEN'S FENCER WHO KNELT TO PROTEST TRANS OPPONENT AND IGNITED GLOBAL AWARENESS

Additionally, 6% said it was the most important issue of all, while 44% said it was "very important."

Cuban also suggested he supports women athletes who choose not to compete against transgender competitors, saying the decision of whether to compete against trans athletes should be left up to the athletes themselves. 

"My attitude is if there’s a trans athlete, no matter what side, you let the opponent — whether it’s an individual sport or a team sport — you let them decide if they want to compete against them or not," Cuban said. 

Cuban, a staunch supporter of former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris and an impassioned critic of President Donald Trump, is one of the many prominent left-wing figures who have spoken out against the Democratic Party's stance on trans athlete inclusion. 

Smith has repeatedly called out the Democratic Party for its stance on trans athletes, suggesting it played heavily into its defeat in the November election. 

HBO host Bill Maher has also criticized Democratic support for trans inclusion in women's sports. Even Democratic lawmakers like Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass, and former Montana Sen. Jon Tester have spoken out against the party's current stance. 

A  New York Times/Ipsos survey found the vast majority of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, don't think transgender athletes should be permitted to compete in women's sports. Of the 2,128 people who participated, 79% said biological males who identify as women should not be allowed to participate in women's sports. 

Of the 1,025 people who identified as Democrats or leaning Democrat, 67% said that transgender athletes should not be allowed to compete against women. 

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The Tennessee Titans may have just revealed to everyone who they are taking with the first overall pick.

Cam Ward has long been considered the favorite to be the top selection, and it seems like that will be the case.

The Titans were scheduled to have a private workout with Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who, at one point, was considered ahead of Ward.

But Ward has separated himself in recent weeks from the pack, and there is speculation Sanders is even falling on draft boards. Jaxson Dart is widely considered the third-best QB in the draft.

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The Titans and Sanders agreed to cancel that private workout after the team attended his pro day, according to Jim Wyatt of the team's official website.

Wyatt noted the Titans have had eyes on Sanders for a long time, watching four years of game film. The team, Wyatt said, also thought he was "very impressive" at his pro day.

So, maybe they were convinced to take Sanders after his pro day, but considering what's transpired, that doesn't appear to be the case.

Sanders and Travis Hunter, both likely top five picks, played major roles in turning the Buffaloes football program around after transferring there from Jackson State to follow Sanders' father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.

With his superstardom on both sides of the ball, Hunter won the Heisman Trophy. Sanders owns the all-time FBS record for completion percentage at 71.8%. He led the Big 12 with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns with a 74% completion percentage.

The speculation is that the New York Giants, who own the third overall pick, are big fans of Sanders. Sanders was given a pair of Giants cleats ahead of the Alamo Bowl when the Giants had the No. 1 pick, but they beat the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17 to drop in the draft.

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As he continues playing for a national championship, Cooper Flagg has added another honor to his résumé. 

The Duke superstar was named this year's recipient of the Wooden Award, given to the best college basketball player in the country.

Flagg becomes just the fourth freshman in history to win the award, joining Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson.

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Flagg received the nod over Johni Broome, Walter Clayton Jr., Mark Sears and Braden Smith.

This season, Flagg is averaging 18.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Despite returning from an ankle injury sustained in the ACC tournament, he is putting up 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists in the NCAA Tournament.

Flagg has helped carry Duke to the Final Four, and the Blue Devils are the favorite to win it all.

FORMER NBA STAR WHO WENT FIRST OVERALL SAYS COOPER FLAGG SHOULD RETURN TO DUKE

It will not be an easy task because the Final Four features four No. 1 seeds for just the second time in tournament history.

The Blue Devils will take on Houston at 8:49 p.m. ET Saturday after Florida and Auburn meet in San Antonio.

Flagg is the favorite to be the first overall pick this summer if he enters the NBA Draft. Flagg has said he wants to remain at Duke.

"S---, I want to come back next year," the freshman said in February. "I still feel like a kid. This is the only way I’ve ever known college. That’s how I see it. I really wouldn’t know how kids felt before, and if this feels different, if this feels more like being a professional. I mean, it’s the same thing for kids in high school, too, getting paid a lot of money. I don’t know. I feel pretty normal."

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The voters have spoken. 

USC women's basketball star JuJu Watkins was selected as the 2025 winner of the John R. Wooden Award Saturday, beating out UConn star Paige Bueckers. 

The other finalists were Lauren Betts of UCLA, Hannah Hidalgo of Notre Dame and Madison Booker of Texas.

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Watkins earned the award as a sophomore, becoming just the third underclassman to do so since the award was established in the 2003-04 season. 

WHO IS JUJU WATKINS? MEDIA-HYPED TEEN TRYING TO BREAK CAITLIN CLARK'S PRIZED RECORD

Watkins was one of the most dominant players in the NCAA tournament before tearing her ACL in the second round. She is fourth in the nation in scoring with 23.9 points per game, along with 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.8 blocks in 33.8 minutes per game.

Watkins was also on pace to potentially break Caitlin Clark's all-time NCAA scoring record before the ACL tear.

Bueckers, a senior, is still playing in the NCAA Tournament and will have a chance to win the championship after dominating UCLA 85-51 in the Final Four Friday. 

UCONN STAR PAIGE BUECKERS SAYS EMBRACING CHRISTIANITY IS BECOMING MORE COMMON IN WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

She will try to lead her team to victory over Dawn Staley's defending champion South Carolina squad.

Bueckers averaged 20 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists this season. 

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The last person a 13-year-old was with before he died has been arrested on a separate sexual assault charge, according to the teen's family

Oscar Omar Hernandez was found dead in a ditch earlier this week in Ventura County near Los Angeles, and his family says he was last seen with his youth soccer coach.

On Wednesday, the same day Hernandez's body was found, Los Angeles police arrested the coach on an unrelated sexual assault charge from a case in February 2024.

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Hernandez's body was found roughly 70 miles away from his home. According to KTLA in Los Angeles, the family called Hernandez over the weekend, but his phone was answered by the coach, who said Hernandez's hands were covered with paint, and he couldn't answer the phone.

The family had video chatted with Hernandez earlier in the day.

The teen had gone to the coach's house to help paint their team's soccer jerseys, his mother, Gladys Maribel Bautista, told Fox 11. The family reported him missing Sunday after he never returned home, and his body was found three days later.

The coach is now considered a person of interest in the case and has reportedly been questioned.

The coach is not considered a suspect, nor has his identity been released because police have not publicly confirmed he's the same person being questioned regarding the teen's death.

Hernandez's sister, Alejandra, told Fox 11 the coach "even helped us look for Oscar."

"We never thought he would harm him," she said.

Hernandez and his family moved to California from Honduras three years ago.

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A UFC fighter played hero in his Phoenix neighborhood late Friday night by apprehending the driver of a vehicle that crashed into a neighbor's home.

Henry Cejudo said he saw a car "probably going 80 to 100 miles an hour" and heard a loud boom. He then saw the car had crashed into his neighbor's home.

After hearing the crash, Cejudo saw the driver leave the car after a bit of a struggle and tried to get him to stop.

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The owner of the home did the same. But when the driver "cold-cocked" the neighbor, "that's when I had to step in," Cejudo told MMA Junkie.

From there, it was easy for the former flyweight and bantamweight champion and his neighborhood wrecking crew.

"Pretty much all my neighbors came in to fight the situation. I ended up lifting him, dropping him, slapped him around a little bit and just pretty much controlled him," he said.

"He wasn't that tough."

EX-UFC FIGHTER IMPLORES TRUMP TO PARDON FORMER CHAMPION WHO SHOT AT ALLEGED CHILD MOLESTER

The driver, a 22-year-old man, now faces charges of driving under the influence and assault, according to ABC15 in Arizona.

Cejudo said the situation could have been much worse.

"If someone was standing in there, they would be dead. All these kids are lucky to be alive," Cejudo said.

Cejudo said a block party was held on the street earlier in the day.

"If it was a couple hours earlier, someone would be seriously injured," Cejudo said.

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President Donald Trump has advanced to Sunday's final round of a Florida golf tournament, the Senior Club Championship, after winning in the second round Saturday, the White House announced. 

"The president won his second-round matchup of the senior club championship today in Jupiter, Fla., and advances to the championship round on Sunday," the statement said. 

Trump will look to win his second golf championship in a month. In early March, he won the Golf Club Championship at his club in Palm Beach County, Florida. 

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Trump suggested that tournament would be his last in a Truth Social post, but it turns out it wasn't. 

"I just won the Golf Club Championship, probably my last, at Trump International Golf Club, in Palm Beach County, Florida. Such a great honor! The Awards dinner is tonight, at the Club," the March 5 post said.

BRYSON DECHAMBEAU LAUDS TRUMP AS ‘GREAT AMBASSADOR FOR THE GAME’ AS PGA TOUR, LIV GOLF TALKS CONTINUE

Trump played in the Senior Club Championship this weekend after a week in which he imposed a series of tariffs on other countries as part of his "Liberation Day" agenda. 

Trump imposed a 10% baseline tariff on all imported goods into the United States while some countries were slapped with higher rates.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social Saturday morning, wrote that his plan is already working with trillions of dollars pouring into the U.S. economy and encouraged Americans to "hang tough" after stock market declines.

"We are bringing back jobs and businesses like never before. Already, more than FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS OF INVESTMENT, and rising fast! THIS IS AN ECONOMIC REVOLUTION, AND WE WILL WIN," Trump wrote. 

"HANG TOUGH, it won’t be easy, but the end result will be historic. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"

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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders is not only confident that two of his players will be top 10 picks in the NFL Draft later this month. He says they should be the first two picks announced. 

Colorado’s pro day Friday welcomed evaluators from all 32 NFL teams to watch quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter showcase their talents ahead of the draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, April 24. 

According to ESPN, Sanders and Hunter did not participate in most position drills or physical testing. 

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But Sanders had a nearly hour-long throwing session that included Hunter. For coach Sanders, it was more than enough to prove both players should be the first and second picks in the draft. 

"I think we have the most qualified guys in the draft," he said, via Titans reporter Jim Wyatt. "They are not a risk. Shedeur has been doing it year after year after year after year. Shedeur has led college football in this, this, this and this. And Travis, ain't nobody like Travis. 

"So, the surest bets in this draft — and I'm not a betting man, I'm a Godly man — are those two young men. And I didn't stutter or stammer when I said that, did I?

"All right, mic drop. Let's go."

DEION SANDERS WALKS BACK COMMENTS ON SON SHEDEUR SANDERS' LANDING SPOT IN NFL DRAFT

The Tennessee Titans have the first pick in this year’s draft, and most forecasters have them selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward. But the Titans seemed impressed Friday with both Colorado star players. 

"Shedeur threw the ball well, and we got to see him out there with Travis," Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi said, via the team website. 

"And Travis, everything you see on film – he is one of the twitchiest athletes I've ever seen. He's impressive. It was good to see Shedeur go through the whole workout and the two-minute drill after. It just confirms a lot of stuff you saw on tape. He can drive the deep ball. You saw that here today."

The Cleveland Browns could take Hunter with the No. 2 pick, opening the door for the New York Giants to draft Sanders at No. 3.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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If Cooper Flagg declares for the NBA Draft, he would immediately become the favorite to be the first overall pick.

However, Flagg has said he wants to return, and a past top selection wants him to do just that.

Larry Johnson, the first overall pick of the 1991 NBA Draft, said Flagg should stay "one more year" at Duke.

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"It's tough to turn down that money when you know you're going to be No. 1, but he's at a great program, Duke," Johnson told TMZ Sports. 

"To go back to Duke and spend one more year, just get them skills together a little bit more. I think that would be a pretty good idea. But, again, knowing you're gonna be No. 1 coming out as a freshman, that'd be hard to turn down."

Johnson also dismissed the idea Flagg would be risking an injury if he stayed at college, which could affect his draft stock.

"You can get hurt doing anything," he said.

Johnson had an opportunity to go out on a high note. He was on his way to the NBA after winning the national championship with UNLV in 1990, but he returned for one more year.

ODDSMAKER GIVES INSIGHT INTO HOW BETTORS HAVE FARED WITH MOSTLY UPSET-FREE MARCH MADNESS

Returning for his senior year didn't alter his path much. He still went first overall to the Charlotte Hornets the next season.

Despite his Rebels losing in the Final Four in his final season with the team, Johhson had no regrets. 

"Heck no," he said.

In February, Flagg said he "want[ed] to come back" to Duke.

"I want to come back next year," the freshman said. "I still feel like a kid. This is the only way I’ve ever known college. That’s how I see it. I really wouldn’t know how kids felt before, and if this feels different, if this feels more like being a professional. I mean, it’s the same thing for kids in high school, too, getting paid a lot of money. I don’t know. I feel pretty normal."

Flagg and the Blue Devils will take on Houston in Saturday's Final Four at 8:49 p.m. ET in San Antonio.

Flagg, who returned from an ankle injury he sustained in the ACC tournament, is averaging 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists in the tournament, numbers similar to what he posted during the regular season.

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A video of women's disc golfer Abigail Wilson refusing to face a transgender opponent went viral on Friday, prompting praise from women's sports rights activists.

The incident came just days after Fox News Digital reported that women's fencer Stephanie Turner had refused to face a transgender opponent at a competition in Maryland, prompting global awareness and criticism against USA Fencing. 

Wilson's refusal to face the trans athlete came on Friday in Nashville, Tennessee, at the MVP Music City Open, which is an event that is officially sanctioned by the Disc Golf Pro Tour and the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA). When her name was called to step up to compete, she walked up to the tee box, wound up her toss, and flung her arm forward, but didn't let go of the disc. Then she turned around to explain why. 

"Females must be protected in our division!" Wilson yelled to the crowd. "This is unfair. I refuse to play!" 

Wilson then took her belongings and walked away. 

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Later on Friday, she shared the footage of her protest in an Instagram video. 

"Today I refused to play at the Music City Open. Females deserve to have their gender protected division be protected. This is unfair. I have worked so hard to get to this point to play on the DGPT, but the sacrifice of my career and my hard work is worth it if it means I can make a difference for other women, daughters, nieces, and the future of our sport. If you feel how wrong it is to have biological males be competing in female protected divisions in sports, now is the time to speak up and stand your ground," she wrote in the caption.

WHO IS STEPHANIE TURNER? WOMEN'S FENCER WHO KNELT TO PROTEST TRANS OPPONENT AND IGNITED GLOBAL AWARENESS

"I took this stand today because I was having anxiety about playing with the openly trans player on tour because of the planned protests for this year and the threats of violence at the event last year. After speaking with a member of the DGPT staff yesterday they made it clear they would be unwilling to change me to an earlier tee time when regarding my fears of safety on the course. 

"They assured me that there would be bag checks, police, and security at the event. Upon arriving this morning there was no security or police presence, I was also allowed entry even though I did not have my credentials. There were zero security precautions."

Wilson added that she believes the decision will end her disc golfing career. 

"Today I most likely ended my career and that is okay because this is bigger than me."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the CEO and Tour Director of the Disc Golf Pro Tour Jeff Spring for comment.

The Professional Disc Golf Association rules state that transgender players who were assigned male at birth are eligible to compete in the women's category after undergoing continuous hormone therapy for at least 24 months and maintaining a certain testosterone level, verified through multiple blood tests. Eligibility can also be achieved through gender-affirming surgery, with the same requirements for testosterone levels post-surgery.

The trans competitor who prompted Wilson's protest, Natalie Ryan, first garnered attention in September 2022 after winning the women's division at the Discraft Great Lakes Open, and achieving a rank as one of the world’s top five female-classified disc golfers.

Ryan identifies as openly transgender, according to the athlete's Instagram page. 

The Music City Open marked Ryan's return to the sport after recovering from "very invasive surgery," the athlete revealed in a post on Thursday. 

At the 2024 Music City Open, the event had to be paused after a terroristic threat, which was targeted at Ryan, the organization released in a statement. 

"A call came into the event site stating there would be a threat of potential violence against a competitor at this weekend’s tournament," a tour statement read. 

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Ray Seals' path to the NFL was improbable. But the former semipro football player reached the highest level of professional football. 

Seals' journey in life came to an end this week. Social media user Nini Marie and Syracuse.com confirmed Seals' death. He was 59. 

His cause of death was not immediately released.

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Seals' football story began at Henninger High School in Syracuse, New York. Instead of making the leap to the college football ranks, Seals' journey took him to the semipros.

Seals' high school coach, Bob Campese, remembered the former defensive lineman as a "happy-go-lucky" person.

SAINTS ANNOUNCE DEATH OF LONGTIME EQUIPMENT MANAGER DAN SIMMONS: 'HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED'

"(He was) a happy-go-lucky, big, kind-hearted guy who was a tremendous athlete, probably as good or better than any athlete that ever came out of here, really," Campese said, via Syracuse.com. "We had some good ones. But Ray might have been at the top."

Despite never playing a snap in college football, Seals signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1988. By 1991, he was consistently in the Bucs' starting lineup. He also had stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers.

Seals was inducted into the Greater Syracuse Hall of Fame in 2016, according to the bio provided by the hall.

Seals started playing for the semipro Syracuse Express in 1987.

Ray Perkins, who coached at Alabama before leaving to accept the head coaching job with the Buccaneers, is largely credited with giving Seals a chance to play in the NFL.

"We were all behind him. We were rooting for him like you couldn’t believe, to have that opportunity to make it," Seals' former Express teammate, Garry Acchione, said. "I never had a doubt in my mind that he was good enough to play in the NFL. I mean, we all knew it. It’s just, ‘OK, how do you get him there? How does he get the opportunity?’ 

"Because, back then, I mean, he didn’t come out of college. You’re not going to just walk onto a pro team and make it."

Seals, who played for the Steelers from 1994-95, recorded a sack in the Super Bowl at the end of the 1995 season.

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Lamar Jackson have found themselves in a peculiar legal battle.

Dale Jr., of course, became one of the faces of NASCAR while driving the No. 8 car. Jackson has worn that same number throughout his football career and has won two MVPs with it.

Well, back in 2019, Jackson filed trademark registrations for "ERA 8" and "ERA 8 BY LAMAR JACKSON."

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Dale Jr., however, is now attempting to trademark the number itself, stylized in the fashion it was on his car. He filed the application last December.

But Jackson argues that Earnhardt's application conflicts with his own trademarks.

In a notice of oposition, Jackson says that he is widely associated with the No. 8 "due to his notoriety and fame, along with his promotion of this number in his trademarks and in media coverage" and that he could be "damaged" by Earnhardt Jr.'s registration. 

FALCONS LEGEND JULIO JONES ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT FROM NFL AFTER 13 SEASONS

The quarterback also said that the driver's registration "falsely suggests a connection" between the two.

"[Jackson] has expended considerable time, effort, and expense in promoting, advertising, and popularizing the number 8 in connection with his personality and fame, as well as with the trademark applications and registrations referenced above, with the result that the relevant purchasing public has come to know, rely upon, and recognize [Jackson's] trademarks as very strong indicators of the source of [Jackson's] products provided in connection with his marks," the filing reads. [Jackson] has established valuable goodwill in his registrations and applications featuring the number 8"

Thus, the quarterback has "respectfully [requested" that Earnhardt Jr.'s application be "refused registration."

In his NASCAR career, Dale Jr. won two Daytona 500s and back-to-back Xfinity Series, then known as the Busch Series, to close out the 1990s.

This is not Jackson's first time defending his trademark. He found himself in a similar battle with Troy Aikman last year, who tried to trademark the word "eight."

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Aaron Judge continued his scalding start to the season during the New York Yankees' 9-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park Friday.

Judge, 32, marked his 1,000th game by hitting his sixth home run of the season in the seventh inning off relief pitcher Tim Mayza to make the score 9-1. 

Judge’s seventh-inning blast was the 321st of his career, matching Babe Ruth's total in his first 1,000 games with the Yankees. 

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The Yankees captain has won the AL MVP two of the last three seasons and picked up right he left off to start the 2025 campaign. Last season, Judge hit .322 with 58 home runs and 144 RBIs. 

Through seven games this season, Judge has a .379 batting average with six home runs and 17 RBIs. 

BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER FERGIE JENKINS BELIEVES TORPEDO BATS COULD LEAD TO HIGHER BATTING AVERAGES

Judge has hit more home runs than the Tampa Bay Rays, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins so far this season. 

Judge wasn’t the only Yankees hitter who had a strong game against the Pirates. Third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera was 3-for-4 with 4 RBIs. Shortstop Anthony Volpe had three hits in the win.

Max Fried collected his first win of the season and his first win with the Yankees after pitching 5⅔ innings and giving up just one run on six hits while striking out six batters. Fried signed the most lucrative contract for a left-handed pitcher in MLB history with the Yankees in the offseason, an eight-year, $218 million deal. 

Judge and the Yankees (5-2) take on the Pirates (2-6) in the second game of a three-game series Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET. Marcus Stroman will start for the Yankees, and Bailey Falter will take the mound for the Pirates. 

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FBI Director Kash Patel sat alongside the great Wayne Gretzky at Capital One Arena on Friday night where the pair, joined by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, witnessed a historic night in hockey history. 

Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin scored the 894th goal of his career in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks to tie Gretzky’s record. The goal came in the first few minutes of the third period on a Capitals’ power play. 

Teammates poured onto the ice to surround Ovechkin. 

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In the stands, Patel and Gretzky celebrated.

"Congrats to The Great One Wayne Gretzky and huge props to #8 @ovi8," Patel said in a post on X. He shared a photo inside the locker room shaking Ovechkin’s hand. "The greatest game on earth, honored to be with them on this record tying night… 894 goals #Legends @NHL." 

Ovechkin is one goal away from passing Gretzky – an opportunity he had Friday night, but refused to take. 

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"He wants to break the record with a goaltender in the crease, which I appreciate," head coach Spencer Carbery said. "He told me that on the bench, and I just wanted to confirm that he didn’t want to go out. And it’s hard for us as coaches, because I just wanted to make sure in that moment: hat trick, at home. And he didn’t want to go out and score on an empty net to break the record."

He added, "We have six games left, and he wants to break the record and have that moment where he’s shooting the puck past a goalie."

Ovechkin’s next opportunity will come Sunday against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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Atlanta Falcons great Julio Jones announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons on Friday. 

Jones, 36, is the Falcons' franchise leader in receptions (848) and receiving yards (12,896) and is second to only Roddy White in touchdowns (60). 

"I’m announcing my retirement. I started when I was 8 years old from Foley, Alabama. It was an amazing ride," Jones wrote in a statement.

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"I’d like to thank my family through this whole process as my support system. With them, none of this could have been possible."

Jones was drafted with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Falcons out of Alabama. He played 10 seasons with the Falcons and was named to the Pro-Bowl seven times and was an All-Pro selection five times. 

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Jones spent one season each with the Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Philadelphia Eagles following his 10-year run with the Falcons. Jones last played in 2023 with the Eagles and didn’t play in 2024. 

Jones caught 914 passes for 13,703 yards and 66 touchdowns across his NFL career. 

"I’m making this announcement today because of the city of Atlanta," Jones said in his statement. "Thank you man, I appreciate y’all. It’s nothing but love. I’m doing this on 404 day — it was a hell of a ride. ... This was for the city, man, I appreciate you all."

"Also want to thank the other ball clubs out there as well, organizations. Tennessee, thank you for the opportunity. Tampa, thank you for the opportunity. Eagles, thank you for the opportunity."

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Dean Wells, who played for nearly a decade in the NFL following a standout career at the University of Kentucky, died Thursday following a two-year battle with cancer. He was 54. 

Wells spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Seattle Seahawks after he was selected in the fourth round of the 1993 draft. He signed with the Carolina Panthers in 1999, where he played for another three seasons before officially retiring in 2001. 

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The Panthers announced Wells’ passing on the team website Friday. 

Wells first opened up about his cancer diagnosis in an interview with On3.com in April 2024. He said he had been diagnosed the previous year with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL).

"There’s mental toughness that comes into it. You have to have a positive attitude that you can beat it. I’ve done everything that I can with that. It’s like the chemo either works or it doesn’t. You just don’t have a lot of control over it. You wish you had more control," he said at the time. 

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According to the Mayo Clinic, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow in which "the disease progresses rapidly and creates immature blood cells, rather than mature ones."

Wells finished his pro career with 529 tackles, 2.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, and three interceptions. It followed a standout career at Kentucky where Wells still holds the records for most sacks in a game (5) and the single-season sack record (10). 

"Condolences to family & friends of Dean Wells, who has passed away," the university said in a statement on social media. 

"A 3-year starter, he set a UK single-game record with 5 sacks vs. Indiana and went on to a 9-year NFL career. After NFL retirement, he returned to hometown Louisville and was a staunch supporter of the Wildcats."

Wells is survived by his wife, Lisa, and their two sons. 

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Korn Ferry Tour veteran Ryan McCormick used an unconventional method to try and calm his temper during the second round of the Club Car Championship on Friday. 

McCormick, who competed on the PGA Tour last year but was relegated back to the developmental this year, has admittedly had issues keeping his composure on the golf course. This week at The Landings Golf & Athletic Club in Georgia, he decided to test out some new anger management tools. 

And so, he taped his mouth shut. 

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"Been having not-so-fun time this year on the golf course. Pretty angry and mad," he said in a video shared by the tour on social media. "I figured I've tried a lot of things, and I just figured I'd shut myself up. So, I put tape over my mouth."

"Just too angry on the golf course. I've run out of ideas, and I thought about the tape thing a couple of weeks ago," he added with a laugh. "So, just unfortunately, it came down to that today. I was hoping maybe it would help me. Can't say that it did or didn't."

McCormick said the idea stemmed from his desire to create a better environment for his playing partners, which he admitted was "not fair." 

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One major hurdle to his latest "solution" was how he would then communicate with his caddie. McCormick’s answer to that was the old fashion method: pen and paper. 

"Mostly just writing down the numbers," he said. "I would just point and ask him for a read sometimes. It made things a lot simpler, I’ll tell you that."

While the jury might be out on how the tape helped his frustrations, it certainly didn’t impact his game positively. 

McCormick shot a 72 and missed the cut by a few strokes. He entered the tournament at No. 126 on the points list and will likely drop further after Friday’s performance. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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