ESPN issues apology after backlash from Rondale Moore mistake
After receiving backlash for a mistake that was made on the air by their graphics department on the death of Rondale Moore, ESPN issued an apology.
On SportsCenter Saturday night, while anchor Scott Van Pelt was paying tribute to the young NFL star, the wrong picture was posted in the background, sparking outrage among fans and NFL commentators nationwide.
As expected, ESPN did apologize for its mistake Sunday night on SportsCenter by anchor David Lloyd.
But the fallout of Moore’s death continues to be talked about and felt around the league as players continue to speak on his death.
Most current and former players have expressed outrage and disappointment that the NFL hasn’t done more to protect its players who suffer from mental health issues. This is the second player in the NFL within the last four months who has committed suicide.
The Dallas Cowboys’ Marshawn Kneeland was also struggling with his mental health when he died in November.
There are reports that Moore was upset about another injury and had spoken with several players, including his former Atlanta Falcons teammates, about it.
But it wasn’t enough to save his life, and now players are turning to the league, wondering if they plan to do anything to prevent another death. Rondale Moore was playing for the Minnesota Vikings at the time of his death.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: ESPN issues apology after backlash from Rondale Moore mistake
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/espn-issues-apology-backlash-rondale-204634176.html
Managing Madrid Podcast: Mbappe’s Positiong, Arda Güler..
AUDIO:
VIDEO:
On this episode of the Managing Madrid Podcast, Kiyan Sobhani answers questions about:
Raul, Bale, Benzema — RANKEDWhy Vinicius, Mbappe, and Bellingham struggle to play togetherArda Güler’s strugglesThe state of the Real Madrid fanbaseBrahim Diaz redundancyKylian Mbappe’s fitnessAnd more.
Did you enjoy this podcast? Get a ton of bonus content exclusively on Patreon.com/ManagingMadrid.
The site is run by a small team that works tirelessly around the clock to make it into what it is today. Your contributions will allow us to continue to have a real and full-time presence in keeping this website, and it’s podcasts, going.
Hosts this week:
Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo)
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/managing-madrid-podcast-mbappe-positiong-204403822.html
Arizona guard Anthony Dell’Orso makes Big 12’s weekly ‘Starting Five’
TUCSON, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 18: Anthony Dell’Orso #3 of the Arizona Wildcats reacts after scoring during the second half against the BYU Cougars at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena on February 18, 2026 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Patrick Mulligan/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The best week of Anthony Dell’Orso’s Arizona career has produced some much-deserved attention from the conference.
Dell’Orso was named to the Big 12’s weekly ‘Starting Five’ list after back-to-back monster performances off the bench for the Wildcats.
The 6-foot-6 senior guard scored 22 points in wins over BYU and at Houston, setting and tying his best scoring output with the UA. He made eight shots in each game, going 6 of 13 from 3-point range, and in Saturday’s win at Houston added a career-high four steals in 34 minutes.
Dell’Orso had been mired in a lengthy slump before the past week, with only 62 points and eight 3s in the first Big 12 games. But UA coach Tommy Lloyd never lost faith in him.
“Delly, he’s a spitfire,” Lloyd said in Houston. “I don’t know how many of you guys know Aussies, but he’s got some you know what to them. He has a little bit of that, and it wasn’t going his way for a good stretch there, and he hung with it. And our guys hung with him and our staff hung with him and I just told Delly, just hang in there, it’s coming. If there’s little adjustments we have to make we’ll see if we can figure them out, but we trust you and we believe in you and I don’t see any scenario where you don’t get opportunities.
“Our media was getting a little worried back home and I just kept telling them, guys, Delly is going to be at his best when we need him at his best. And I think you’ve seen that the last two games.”
Dell’Orso has been the leading scorer in both games since freshman forward Koa Peat had to sit with a strained leg muscle. He’s also been the main bench contributor with Tobe Awaka in the starting lineup and Dwayne Aristode sidelined with an illness.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/arizona-guard-anthony-dell-orso-204235137.html
Attempted rule change Patriots voted against unlikely to get 2026 ban
The NFL is unlikely to ban the tush push — an offensive tactic used in mass around the league, including by the New England Patriots — this offseason.
The tush push is a strategy used by teams attempting a quarterback sneak, where two players lined up behind the quarterback push the rear of the quarterback to strive for a first down. The tush push allows teammates to shove the quarterback for extra yards, including when forward movement ceases, to obtain a fresh set of downs.
The play, popularized by the Philadelphia Eagles, became controversial following Super Bowl LIX in 2025. The Green Bay Packers submitted a proposal to ban the play that offseason. The Patriots successfully voted against banning the tush push. The appeal to eradicate the style of quarterback sneak was not upheld before the start of last season.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, NFL competition committee co-chairman Rich McKay “is not anticipating an attempt to ban the tush push” in 2026.
The Patriots will have the opportunity to either raise a proposal to, or vote to have the tush push banned beginning in the 2026 season. Clubs convene at the Annual League Meeting from March 29-April 1, as well as the Spring League meeting from May 19-20, where NFL owners propose rule changes to be voted on.
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This article originally appeared on Patriots Wire: Attempted rule change Patriots voted against unlikely to get 2026 ban
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/attempted-rule-change-patriots-voted-204128929.html
📝Confirmed squad: Atleti's call-ups for the return leg
📝Confirmed squad: Atleti’s call-ups for the return leg
The Riyadh Air Metropolitano is dressed to the nines this Tuesday (14:45 ARG) to decide one of the most open ties of the Champions League playoffs. After the thrilling 3-3 draw in Belgium, Atlético de Madrid and Club Brugge are playing for a spot in the round of 16 on a night of high tension.
Diego Simeone’s team arrives with boosted morale after defeating Espanyol 4-2 in the league, supported by an offensive duo that excites: Julián Álvarez and Ademola Lookman, who are showing increasing chemistry. Meanwhile, Brugge relies on the experience of Simon Mignolet in goal and the instincts of Christos Tzolis, who was the red-and-white executioner in the first match.
Without the advantage of the away goal, the equation is clear: whoever wins in Madrid will be among the top 16 in Europe.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/confirmed-squad-atletis-call-ups-204100363.html
Charles Bediako asks Alabama Supreme Court to let him play amid latest appeal with season winding down
Charles Bediako isn’t giving up on his quest to play for No. 17 Alabama again this season.
Bediako officially asked the Alabama Supreme Court to give him “interim injunctive relief” so that he can play the rest of the season with the Crimson Tide, just weeks after a judge ruled he was ineligible to continue playing with the program.
Bediako had already filed an appeal to that ruling with the state’s supreme court. But Monday’s request asks that the court allow him to continue to play with the team, as the season is now almost over and his request would “become moot without interim relief.” Bediako has been helping the Crimson Tide as a scout team member ever since he was deemed ineligible.
“We understand that Charles is pursuing an appeal in his case against the NCAA, and ultimately, he must do what he considers to be in his best interest,” Alabama said in a statement, via ESPN. “The University continues to support Charles as he works toward completing his degree.”
The Crimson Tide hold a 20-7 record and sit in second in the SEC standings entering Wednesday’s game against Mississippi State. They have four games left in the regular season, which will end with a rivalry matchup against Auburn on March 7.
Charles Bediako’s saga continues
Bediako filed a lawsuit against the NCAA earlier this year in order to return to Alabama, where he had last played during the 2022-23 campaign. Bediako entered the NBA Draft after that season, but was not selected. He then spent the last few seasons in the G League, and he even played in six games for the Motor City Cruise this season.
Bediako was granted a temporary restraining order in January, which allowed him to start playing with Alabama again after the NCAA had initially denied the request. Bediako ended up appearing in five games with the Crimson Tide, and averaged 10 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per contest over that span. Alabama went 3-2 with him.
But then earlier this month, A Tuscaloosa judge overruled the temporary restraining order that Bediako was granted. The judge who had originally granted that order to allow him to play was actually removed from the case after revelations that he was an active donor to Alabama athletics. The new ruling then made him ineligible once more, and Alabama has been playing without him ever since.
The NCAA praised the decision, and said that “common sense won a round.” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey argued against granting Bediako eligibility in an affidavit, too, saying that it could fuel “disruption in college sports.”
Bediako is one of just several former professional players trying to make their way into the college ranks again. Baylor signed former NBA Draft pick James Nnaji in December, though he never played in an NBA game and instead was with FC Barcelona since 2020. Two other G League players are set to play for programs next season, too.
“There’s a reason … there’s a lot of G League players trying to come back to college,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said after Bediako was ruled ineligible again. “The money’s a lot better. The development is a lot better. You get a full-time dietician, full-time strength coach, you’re not traveling on commercial flights, spending all your time in airports, not being able to develop.
“Charles actually has lost weight since he went to the G League. His development wasn’t what you would think being a pro. You’re more of a professional able to focus on getting your body right in college. He’s here. He’s in school. We’re going to help him try to gain weight back he’s lost since he was in the G League. We’re going to continue to help his basketball development. We’re going to continue to help his development as a student, as a student-athlete.”
Ronda Rousey prepared to be Dana White’s 'most favorite adversary'
Ronda
Rousey is ready to go head-to-head against the
UFC as she promotes her comeback fight.
The former UFC bantamweight queen will compete for the first time
since 2016 when she faces Gina Carano
under the Most Valuable Promotions banner in a featherweight bout
televised on Netflix on May 16. The fight has generated plenty of
attention since it was announced last week, and a lot of that has
to do with Rousey, who remains the biggest star in women’s MMA
history.
For Rousey, however, at least part of the narrative centers around
her showdown with Carano providing some competition for the
UFC.
“It’s a dream fight and a superfight and everything, but I feel
like the story and everything behind it is not just this fight,”
Rousey said in a video released by MVP on Monday.. “A lot of it is MVP
vs. UFC. That’s where I’m gonna f—-ing go real hard in the
trenches.
“We’re helping [the UFC] because they’re suffering from a lack of
competition. They can’t just make a class-action lawsuit every
couple years the cost of doing business. I’m really trying to help
Dana out. If anyone has been groomed to be his apprentice, it’s
been me. I think I’d be the most favorite adversary he’s ever
had.”
‘I’m Happy for Both of Them’
Rousey recently revealed that she initially reached out to White
regarding the Carano fight, but the booking ultimately didn’t come
to fruition under the UFC banner. At Saturday’s UFC Houston press
conference, White confirmed that those discussions did indeed take
place.
“Her and I have been talking about this since last year,” White
said. “It just didn’t work out. But I’m happy for her.
“Listen, me and Gina are in a really good place, we weren’t at one
point. I’m happy for both of them.”
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ronda-rousey-prepared-dana-white-204017138.html
£100m midfielder confirms he's ready to join Liverpool
£100m midfielder confirms he’s ready to join Liverpool
£100m midfielder just confirmed he’s absolutely ready to join Liverpool.
Because of the club’s midfield situation, the Reds are going to be looking out for potential midfield arrivals in the transfer market this summer.
Curtis Jones could be on the move as he enters his final year under contract. There is also uncertainty surrounding the futures of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch.
All have a contract until the end of the 2027/28 season but all have also been negotiating for a renewal for over six months no to no avail.
There has been no progress made yet, anyway. The former two have also been linked with moves elsewhere. Mac Allister is on the radar of Manchester United and Real Madrid. Szoboszlai is also courted by the Spanish giants.
This means Liverpool have to think about their midfield in a very strategic manner.
At the same time, it’s also quite evident that right now Liverpool’s midfield is an issue on the pitch. Szoboszlai has been great but apart from his Arne Slot’s team lack energy.
The Nottingham Forest game was more evidence of this.
Liverpool’s opponent played them off the park. Even though Forest had played midweek and should have been more tired and lethargic, it was the Reds who looked miles off the pace.
The midfield was completely overrun at times and it required clever concentration from Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk to aver the danger and onslaught on Liverpool’s goal.
One of the players who contributed a lot to making Liverpool’s midfield porous, or at least exploiting the gaps was Elliot Anderson.
He is someone who Liverpool have on their radar, and the game at the weekend was a good litmus test for his ability.
Anderson didn’t disappoint. His performance confirmed that he’s absolutely ready to join Liverpool and he is also exactly what the Reds need.
Anderson won the most duels (9) in the game and made the most recoveries (12). At the same time he also won four tackles, more than anyone in midfield and made 7 passes into the final third.
Anderson was simply brilliant in the way he covered so much ground and pretty much dominated Liverpool’s midfield.
The Telegraph have reported Nottingham Forest want £100m or potentially even more than that for his services.
Liverpool have spent a lot of money in the last year or so, but that is an expense they still somehow have to afford. Anderson confirmed he would transform the club’s fortunes.
Imagine how different that game would have been if he was wearing the Liver Bird on his chest.
Bring him to Anfield. Now.
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/100m-midfielder-confirms-hes-ready-204000182.html
Polls Are Out, And Duke Is Back To #1
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 16: Nate Kingz #4 of the Syracuse Orange shoots the ball over Darren Harris #8 and Caleb Foster #1 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first half of a basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 16, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The most Shane Battier line of all time was when he was a senior we think, and Duke briefly dropped out of first place in the ACC, where he had been almost his entire career in Durham. When Duke returned to the top, someone asked him how it felt, and Battier smiled and said, “normal.”
That’s why we don’t talk about polls a lot, because Duke is almost always ranked and it’s more of a story when they’re not…or when they get to the top.
The new polls came out Monday and as expected after knocking off Michigan on Saturday, Duke has indeed ascended to #1.
The top four teams are the NCAA’s current #1 seeds as announced Saturday – Duke, followed by Arizona, Michigan and Iowa State.
Houston is #5, UConn #6, Florida #7, Purdue #8, Gonzaga is up to #9 and Illinois rounds out the Top Ten.
Virginia is very close to that level, just missing the Top Ten by 11 votes, and UNC is #18.
Interestingly, Duke has beaten the #3, #7, #13 (Michigan State), #14 (Kansas), #20 (Arkansas) and #24 (Louisville) twice. #16 (Texas Tech) beat the Blue Devils by 1, while #18 UNC won at the buzzer by 3.
Duke will face #11 Virginia in Cameron on Saturday, which will mean Duke will have faced 9 of the Top 25 teams, or 36% of that elite group. That goes up to 40% if you count Louisville twice and 44% if you count Tennessee in the exhibition season. Against those teams, the Blue Devils are 10-2, and, counting Tennessee again, 11-2.
Not bad. Not bad at all.
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https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/polls-duke-back-1-203937471.html
DBR Bites #146 – Preparing For The Irish
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 16: Nikolas Khamenia #14 of the Duke Blue Devils watches his shot over Kiyan Anthony #7 of the Syracuse Orange during the second half of a basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on February 16, 2026 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There is no rest for the weary and no time to bask in the glow of that stirring weekend win over Michigan. Jon Scheyer and the guys are in the Midwest as they get ready for an ACC clash with Notre Dame.
The Irish have been bit pretty hard by the injury bug but still have some players who can make life miserable for the opposition, especially if they get hot from 3-point land. In their latest episode, the Duke Basketball Roundup breaks down everything you need to know about Notre Dame.
After the break, Jason and Donald also dive into the weekend early bracket reveal by the NCAA selection committee. What does it tell us about Duke’s potential path to the Final Four and what the committee thinks of the ACC this season?
Make sure you’re following us! Head to our Linktree to get all our available social media and links to follow and subscribe to the show. That includes our affiliate partnerships, from Homefield Apparel (use the code DBRPODCAST to save 15% off your first order) and Fanatics to the NBA Store, NFL Shop, and even Fubo TV. And…we have some more coming! Save some cash on the latest gear or follow the Blue Devils on the go by hitting those affiliate links and it helps support the show as well. We are now on YouTube! Subscribe there, rate, and review our episodes on there and everywhere you get your podcasts. Also, follow us on Bluesky @DukeRoundup!
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https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/dbr-bites-146-preparing-irish-203858181.html
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