Bugaluu :: Sports

Team United States players celebrate after beating Canada in overtime in the men’s gold medal hockey game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
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David J. Phillip

In case you somehow hadn’t heard yet, Team USA pulled off a historic overtime victory over Team Canada to secure the country’s first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980.

Later that day, we got the reactions of most of the Utah Mammoth’s American players.

As always, Nate Schmidt was the most animated.

“It was amazing,” he said. “I’ve got goosebumps. It was so amazing. I was blessed, and I made sure to put on Sweet Home Alabama when I walked in this morning.”

He said he had some buddies in town visiting who skipped their flight home to be able to watch the end of the game.

Ian Cole was impressed by the Hughes family, whom he knows both through Michigan connections and from playing with Quinn on the Vancouver Canucks.

“For Quinn to score the OT winner (against Sweden in the quarterfinal) and then Jack to score (the OT winner in the gold medal game) … Couldn’t be happier for them and for the whole team.”

“Play Free Bird, baby,” added Nick DeSimone.

DeSimone recalls the inspiration he took from the 2010 Olympics — even though Team USA lost — as well as TJ Oshie’s shootout performance in 2014. This game is sure to influence plenty of young Americans to follow in those footsteps.

“(It’s) stuff you won’t forget,” he said. “It’s a core hockey memory for me, so for kids watching that today, maybe (it’s) another one for them.”

Schmidt echoed a similar sentiment.

“They said it a lot during the broadcast, talking about how the 1980 team inspired a generation of players, right? Me included. It gives me goosebumps thinking this is going to inspire the next generation of kids to understand that this is what the pinnacle looks like,” he said.

Logan Cooley, who has one medal of each color from the various international tournaments in which he has participated, talked about the closeness that USA Hockey players have with each other.

“Just like all the players were saying after they won, just the brotherhood (stands out). You know, it just seems like they came together so close, the way they battled for each other,” he said. “It was cool to see and unbelievable to cap it off with a gold medal.”

And speaking of young Americans who will be inspired by that game, Cooley is one of them.

“As a competitor, you want to be in those big games,” he said. “You want to be representing your country on a world stage like that. You know, it’s so fun watching, but I couldn’t imagine being able to play in a gold medal game (at) the Olympics. … I’m going to work as hard as I can to eventually make that team.”

Clayton Keller, the lone Mammoth representative on the team, has not yet returned to Utah, but he gave his thoughts postgame in an interview with KSL Sports.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “It’s a dream come true and to share it with this group of guys, it was just so much fun and I’m so lucky and blessed to be a part of this team and to have this experience — something we’ll remember for the rest of our lives.”

Team USA poses for a group photo after defeating Canada in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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Luca Bruno

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ve-got-goosebumps-utah-mammoth-013100533.html 

Real Action Freestyle (RAF) is back with a ridiculously stacked night of combat sports action, as RAF 06: “Cejudo vs. Faber” touches down in Tempe, Arizona this weekend Sat., Feb. 28, 2026. The event airs live on FOXNation, featuring a showdown between two former UFC Bantamweights — one being a former two-division champion and the other being a multi-time former title challenger.

Event: RAF 06: “Cejudo vs. Faber”
Date: Sat., Feb. 28, 2026
Location: Mullett Arena of Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona
Broadcast: FOXNation
Start Time: 8 p.m. ET

RAF 06 Main Event

155 lbs: Henry Cejudo vs. Urijah Faber

RAF 06 Co-Main Event

175 lbs: Arman Tsarukyan vs. Georgio Poullas

RAF 06 Main Card

165 lbs: David Carr vs. Bubba Jenkins – championship match
145 lbs: Andrew Alirez vs. Bryce Meredith
Unlimited: Stephen Buchanan vs. Givi Matcharashvili
120 lbs: Lucía Yépez vs. Everest Leydecker
175 lbs: Tajmuraz Salkazanov vs. Keegan O’Toole
175 lbs: Mahamedkhabib Kadzimahamedau (Kadik) vs. Evan Wick
190 lbs: Mahmoud Fawzy vs. Zahid Valencia
175 lbs: Aljamain Sterling vs. Benson Henderson
145 lbs: Beau Bartlett vs. Jordan Oliver
165 lbs: Clay Guida vs. Keelon (Mugzy) Jimison

In addition, the commentary team will be Kurt Angle, Chael Sonnen, Cyrus Fees, and Julianna Pena. Also, for clarification, 190 lbs is Cruiserweight.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/raf-06-card-start-time-013000146.html 

Dylan Sadiq at Mets Stadium

Dylan Sadiq/The College Cuber (2)

NEED TO KNOW

Dylan Siddique, a 25-year-old artist and biomedical engineer, turned his Rubik’s Cube–inspired hobby into a full-time career creating interactive mosaics for sports fansHe built an 8-foot, 600-pound mosaic of Mets star Francisco Lindor using 700 spray-painted baseballs, finishing it on-site at Citi FieldThe project combined engineering, artistry and fan interaction, earning Siddique recognition for pushing the boundaries of large-scale, interactive art

Dylan Siddique didn’t just think outside the box — he built one out of 700 baseballs. The 25-year-old artist, known online as the College Cuber, transformed a pile of painted baseballs into an eight-foot-high mosaic of New York Mets star Francisco Lindor, now permanently displayed at Citi Field.

Since earning a biomedical engineering degree in 2022, Siddique has turned his hobby into a full-time career, creating mosaics and live performances for sports teams and fans across the country. With hundreds of thousands of cubes and bricks in his studio, he continues to push the boundaries of interactive art — one giant mosaic at a time.

A self-taught engineer from New Jersey, Siddique discovered his passion for large-scale mosaics during the pandemic. “I realized pixels on a screen are just tiny colored squares,” he says. “Rubik’s Cubes are physical colored squares — why not make real-life images?”

But translating that concept into a baseball mosaic presented an entirely new challenge.

“They literally sent 700 New York Mets baseballs to my house, and I spray-painted every single one a different color,” Siddique recalls. “And mind you, I do not do this. This is not part of my process. Anytime you try something new, you face a lot of unexpected challenges.”

Dylan Sadiq’s art at Mets Stadium

Dylan Sadiq/The College Cuber

The multi-month project involved figuring out how to make the paint stick, carefully drying each ball, and constructing a custom frame topped with turf. Then came the painstaking step of securing every baseball.

“It was like a big bed of nails,” he explains. “I screwed every single baseball onto the frame according to my design.”

The finished artwork was enormous — eight feet tall and weighing 600 pounds. It was too heavy to move, so Siddique had to finish it at Citi Field.

“I was just there at night, by myself,” he recalls. “It was a crazy experience. I finished the piece on site because I couldn’t lift it. Wherever it was going, I thought, ‘I’m just going to leave it right here.’ And now it’s hanging in the stadium, which is amazing.”

For Siddique, the project was about more than the final product — it was about the process. His interactive art often involves fans, turning live events into collaborative performances. “I’m not just the artist,” he says. “I’m the moderator, helping people create something they’ve never done before.”

The Mets were thrilled with the result. “Seeing the artwork up at Citi Field was surreal,” Siddique says. “It’s one thing to make it in a studio, but to have it on display for fans — that’s the dream.”

Read the original article on People

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/man-uses-700-baseballs-construct-013000675.html 

J.K. Dobbins predicted to head to NFC South as Broncos pursue other options at running back originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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For the second year in a row, veteran running back J.K. Dobbins is set to enter free agency under similar circumstances. 

Last year, he was coming off a solid season with the Los Angeles Chargers in which he rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns. But toward the end of the season, he missed four games with a knee injury and the Chargers’ rushing attack suffered. 

The Chargers kept him on the back burner when the new league year started, but decided to give a big contract to Najee Harris before using their first-round pick on Omarion Hampton. 

As predicted by Nick Kosmider of The Athletic, the Broncos will take the same approach this year, keeping Dobbins as a fallback option but looking around at other players first. 

J.K. Dobbins predicted to play for a new team in 2026

Dobbins waited for some time before a deal came, signing with the Broncos. He will likely find himself in the same situation this year, waiting for a team to take a chance on his lengthy injury history. 

Moe Moton of Bleacher Report figures that team to end up being the Atlanta Falcons. 

“J.K. Dobbins has yet to play through a full NFL season because of injuries. After his 2020 rookie campaign, he’s missed at least four games every year. 

Last year with the Denver Broncos, Dobbins suffered a foot injury that derailed his season. He registered 153 carries for a team-leading 772 yards and four touchdowns in only 10 games before going down.

Dobbins could fill the No. 2 spot in the Atlanta Falcons’ backfield if they lose Tyler Allgeier and/or are looking for a ball-carrier to complement Bijan Robinson.

Robinson has finished in the top three leaguewide in touches in back-to-back seasons. The Falcons will need someone to spell him if Allgeier signs elsewhere in free agency. As an undrafted rookie, Nathan Carter is still unproven with only nine carries for 60 yards.

Dobbins should endure less wear and tear playing behind Robinson, which could increase his chances of playing through a full campaign”, wrote Moton. 

That is a very sensible assessment. Dobbins was effective in Denver, but he’s going to be best suited as a team’s No. 2 running back going forward. The Broncos need to properly develop RJ Harvey, which makes re-signing Dobbins a gamble. The team needs to know it can lean primarily on one of those guys if need be, and Harvey just isn’t that kind of back. Dobbins has already shown he can’t handle that kind of load. 

MORE:Broncos must avoid these 5 free agents at major positions of need

This means the Broncos’ best move is to look at the plethora of running backs available this offseason, namely Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne and Tyler Allgeier. If all of those options fall through by way of signing elsewhere, then the Broncos will have to turn to plan B or plan C and strongly consider bringing Dobbins back in 2026. 

More Broncos Content

Broncos could snag second-best running back in class with first-round pick

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Broncos predicted to ship Riley Moss to AFC North team for Day 2 draft pick

Broncos would have to kick tires on Alvin Kamara if this predicted trade is available

Cowboys may have just helped Broncos answer one of their biggest questions in free agency

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/j-k-dobbins-predicted-head-012936777.html 

Jahkeem Stewart in action against Michigan State last season. (Luke Hales / Getty Images)

With spring football practice approaching, reporters met with USC’s staff to talk about the Trojans. We gave you our first 15 thoughts out of those interviews in this week’s Times of Troy newsletter.

(You can subscribe to the Times of Troy here for that news in your inbox every Monday morning.)

But there’s still more to share. Here are 10 more notes, quotes and things to know ahead of spring football …

1. “Everybody thinks he’s the No.1 player in the country for a reason,” defensive line coach Shaun Nua said of freshman Luke Wafle. “He has the potential, the mentality, the character. It’s our job to make sure we maximize that on a consistent basis.” 

2. The most encouraging development on USC’s defensive front? “Depth is the greatest friend you can have,” Nua said. He’ll certainly have more of it this season. Assuming his freshmen up front settle in quickly. Wafle is sure to play, while freshman defensive tackles Jameion Wingfield and Tomhuini Topui look primed for early roles. That’s in addition to Jahkeem Stewart, an All-American as a freshman, and fellow rising sophomore Floyd Boucard, who was a standout in stretches last season. 

3. Skyler Jones, USC’s new defensive tackles coach, got his break in college football because of Eric Henderson. Now, with Henderson back in the NFL, Jones got promoted in his place at USC. Jones said he cried when coach Lincoln Riley told him the good news. He’ll be a critical figure in improving USC’s interior, and in developing Stewart. It’s a huge opportunity, but I think Jones is capable of continuing Henderson’s work. “Dawgwork is alive,” Jones said. “Dawgwork isn’t going anywhere.”

Read more:15 notes, quotes and things to know ahead of USC spring football

4. Of all the new coaching hires, Mike Ekeler impressed me most. Ekeler said he left Nebraska because he already built a strong foundation for the Cornhuskers’ special teams, which he said were now “on cruise control.” He didn’t like the feeling of being comfortable, he said. He wanted a challenge — and he’ll get a double dose with USC’s linebackers and special teams units. Last season, Nebraska was great on kick return while also blocking five kicks. The Trojans had a good kicker … but that’s about all the nice things you can say about the special teams. 

5. According to Ekeler, even “Ray Charles could see we have a talented linebacker room here.” If that’s true, we haven’t seen that talent harnessed yet. USC is putting a lot of faith in the untapped potential of Desman Stephens and Jadyn Walker, who both have very particular skill sets for defensive coordinator Gary Patterson to utilize. But Ekeler is convincing: “Over 30 linebackers that I’ve coached have gone to the NFL,” he said. “We’ve got guys in our room with that ability. Now it’s just about getting that out of them.”

6. Another great quote from Ekeler, who was asked about the perception that Riley can’t have a good defense: “Anybody who says that Lincoln Riley doesn’t care about defense, I’d have to check their oil.”

Jontez Williams returns an interception for Iowa State last season. (Justin Hayworth / Associated Press)

7. Safe to say that Jontez Williams will open spring as USC’s CB1. Cornerbacks coach Trovon Reed said he saw the Iowa State transfer as “the best all-around player in the portal.” That’s high praise, but USC made Williams its top target this offseason for a reason. It’s been a while since USC had a true shutdown corner. 

8. The other cornerback spot is wide open. I didn’t get the impression that Chasen Johnson, who was expected to fill a starting spot last season, is assured to play opposite Williams in the fall. There’s Marcelles Williams as well as RJ Sermons, who would’ve been one of the top recruits in this year’s class if he hadn’t reclassified. Prophet Brown also could play outside if he doesn’t play in the slot. 

9. Don’t be surprised if freshman corner Elbert “Rock” Hill is a serious contributor by season’s end. Reed said the “sky is the limit” for the four-star freshman, who could play any number of positions in Patterson’s defensive backfield. “Wherever we can get him on the field fastest, that’s where he’ll be,” Reed said. 

10. Safety Christian Pierce is out after offseason surgery. Safety is a critical spot in Patterson’s scheme, and Pierce is one of the most important players on the team. It’d be unfortunate if he had to sit out spring, but I’m bullish on Pierce having a big year regardless. 

Sign up for more USC news with Times of Troy. In your inbox every Monday morning.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/10-more-notes-quotes-things-012622685.html 

Enterprise guard Nancy Platt (2) celebrates a basket from one of her teammates late in the fourth quarter during a quarterfinals game against Draper American Preparatory Academy in the 2A girls basketball state tournament held at the UCCU Center in Orem on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026.
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Isaac Hale, Deseret News

Here’s a recap of Monday’s 2A quarterfinals at UVU, with No. 3 Enterprise advancing to the semis. This story will be updated.

Enterprise 57, Draper APA 46

You give yourself a good shot at winning a basketball game when you pull in 56 rebounds.

No. 3 Enterprise had to fight for it, but it dominated the boards en route to a 57-49 quarterfinal win over Draper APA. The Wolves pulled in 22 offensive rebounds as well.

“One thing we said at the very beginning of the year is, ‘Our goal is to beat the rebounding margin, especially on the offensive end,’” Enterprise head coach Lance Jones said. “That is one of the things we really focused on and told our girls: ‘If we can win the defensive and the offensive rebounding margin, we’re going to beat a lot of teams.”

Despite the heavily lopsided rebounding battle, it was close through nearly all 32 minutes of the quarterfinal.

Enterprise held a slim five-point lead at halftime, but a 17-point third quarter from Draper APA helped close the gap. It did so with its outside shot as the Eagles connected on three consecutive 3-pointers out of the half.

The Eagles’ offense was led by Lexi LeRoy‘s 12 points, while Kate LeRoy added 11 points on three 3-pointers.

Meanwhile, the outside shot was not there for Enterprise — that is, until Eliza Balajadia connected from outside to energize the offense.

“The shot Balajadia hit just really sent the girls momentum,” Jones said. “With the size that we have, our guards know that they’re going to start collapsing. It’s going to open up. It doesn’t always come in the first half, but if they just keep feeding the post, then it’s going to come to them in the second half.”

Draper APA still managed to build its largest lead of the evening with a four-point advantage in the fourth quarter.

With the season on the line, Enterprise relied on its rebounding and rallied for an 11-0 run to close the game.

Jaycee Barlow, Hadlee Holt and Bentlee Rogers were massive for Enterprise as they all combined for 46 points and 38 rebounds.

“That’s a good Draper team,” Jones said. “They play hard, they play fast, and that was one of the things that we were really concerned about is, ‘Can we stay with their speed?’ We’ve got the size. We just were concerned with their speed, and then in the fourth quarter, we were both gassed, but luckily we were able to pull it out.”

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/high-school-girls-basketball-monday-012447536.html 

When Manchester United were looking for a saviour this season, they opted not to revert to their greatest supersub. They may not have Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the dugout but they seem to have his successor in spirit on the pitch. Benjamin Sesko is yet to start a game under Michael Carrick but he has come off the bench to score three times, all significant goals, delivering an extra five points.

First, the winner against Fulham, then an equaliser at West Ham, now a decider at Everton. It was early by Sesko’s standards – in the 71st minute, rather than injury time, when Jordan Pickford denied him a second – but it felt further evidence of Carrick’s nous. United had looked blunt before his arrival, lacking inspiration and a focal point in attack. Sesko is the only pure No 9 in the squad and, once again, he illustrated the merits of a penalty-box presence. In time, Carrick may have an issue if he can keep naming Sesko on the bench. For now, their alliance is benefiting both. Carrick said: “I have got a really good relationship with Ben. He has taken some huge steps recently.”

In a game low on drama, the goal came from a sweeping move. Everton, who had been the more positive in the second half, may regret committing too many men forward, leaving themselves open to the counter-attack which, whether under Carrick or Solskjaer, tends to be United’s most potent weapon.

Manchester United have won five of their six games under Carrick (AP)

Sesko was involved twice in a move that involved their three big summer signings. He laid the ball off to Matheus Cunha, who sprayed a diagonal pass to release Bryan Mbeumo. He was confronted only by Michael Keane and squared the ball for Sesko, who had run 70 yards to slide in a shot. “It was a ruthless finish,” said Carrick. “I like the way he put it away with real confidence.” It was the Slovenian’s eighth goal for United. He only had two in 17 games when Ruben Amorim was sacked.

And United have been transformed since then. They took their haul under Carrick to 16 points from a possible 18, a charge that is putting them on a path towards the Champions League. A distinctly mundane match nevertheless produced a fine result for United.

Arguably, they undid some of the damage done on one of Amorim’s most ignominious nights. In November, his United were clueless when confronted with the 10 men of Everton and lost at Old Trafford. The rematch was different and not just because Idrissa Gueye completed the evening without slapping a teammate. Unlike Amorim, Carrick found a way. Successful substitutions have been a theme of his reign, and not just those involving Sesko.

For one of his predecessors, it was a frustrating reunion. David Moyes has now seen Everton go seven games without a win at Hill Dickinson Stadium. They are yet to record a win over elite opposition at their deluxe ground, and when they were looking more ambitious than United, they conceded.

Cunha and Mbeumo combined to set up Sesko on the break (Action Images via Reuters)

They had rarely threatened to in the preceding hour. They almost struck early, when James Tarkowski cleared Amad Diallo’s fourth-minute shot off the line, though Pickford had taken some of the sting out of it. Thereafter, Diogo Dalot thudded a long-range half-volley into the advertising hoardings while, after the break, Mbeumo blazed a shot over from an acute angle.

If the first half had seemed mostly a contest to give the ball away, United could savour the earthy qualities that earned them a result. “I’m delighted with the result and spirit, the boys digging deep and sacrificing for each other,” said Carrick. He played his own part. They had too little threat on either flank, so he removed Amad, brought on Sesko and recalibrated his side.

Moyes, of course, did not have a £73m striker in reserve, or in the team, for that matter. “The quality you are talking about costs big money,” he lamented.

The cheaper striker he does have, Thierno Barry, could have scored inside 10 seconds, albeit without knowing much about it, when Senne Lammens slammed a clearance into him. After that, the Belgian impressed rather more. “Senne was outstanding tonight,” said Carrick. “As a goalkeeper, you couldn’t hope for much more: safe hands, calm, composed, an exemplary performance.”

Senne Lammens faced an aerial bombardment from Everton but stood tall to keep his first away clean sheet (Getty Images)

Lammens held on to James Garner’s well-struck free kick, saved from Harrison Armstrong less than 30 seconds into the second half and, as Everton chased an equaliser, tipped away Keane’s thunderbolt from distance and thwarted the replacement, Tyrique George, in injury time. “Their goalie was bloody brilliant,” said Moyes, who nominated Lammens as his man of the match. Everton had directed a series of corners under the bar. They had not realised Lammens would deal with them so well, Moyes reflected ruefully.

With three summer signings combining for the goal, a fourth excelling in goal, it felt like a triumph for United’s recruitment. Of players and, more recently, a head coach.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/man-united-transformed-under-michael-220932749.html 

Antoine Griezmann in advanced talks to leave Atletico Madrid for MLS side

Atletico Madrid have called on Antoine Griezmann more and more as the season has gone on, but have been given a firm reminder that they must prepare for life without him. The French legend is reportedly in advanced talks to leave the club, most likely in the summer.

Griezmann is undoubtedly in the twilight of his career at the Metropolitano, and there was some suggestion that he could leave last summer. However he penned a two-year contract extension, in theory tying him to Atletico Madrid until 2027. Meanwhile he has always expressed a desire to finish his career in the United States, and it seems a question of when rather than if.

Orlando City in advanced talks with Griezmann

Image via RTVE

According to The Athletic, Orlando City are in advanced talks with Griezmann over a move. They are one of four clubs in MLS that are interested in signing him, but Orlando have priority, as they acquired his ‘discovery rights’. They are keen to bring him in before the end of the MLS transfer window (26th of March), but the 34-year-old’s camp say he is unlikely to move before the end of the European season.

There is no agreement yet in place, and negotiations between Atletico and Orlando have not yet taken place either. Los Colchoneros are expected to take into account Griezmann’s wishes in any negotiations though.

Griezmann: Quality that never seems to grow old

Although his legs are not what they once were, Griezmann continues to prove his worth to Atletico, with 12 goals and two assists in his 35 appearances, averaging a goal contribution every 111 minutes. Diego Simeone continues to praise their record goalscorer whenever asked about him, and his faith remains evident, given he started Griezmann in their Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona, where he starred in a 4-0 win in the first leg.

​https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/antoine-griezmann-advanced-talks-leave-012000513.html