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Pirates' Paul Skenes to donate $100 to Gary Sinise Foundation for every strikeout this season

Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Paul Skenes will embark on a noble mission this baseball season as he hopes to make it to the big leagues at some point this year.Skenes pledged to raise money for the Gary Sinise Foundation on Wednesday to help support military veterans and first responders. He hopes to raise $100,000 for his cause. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "Join me this season as I support the Gary Sinise Foundation in raising funds for our nation's veterans and first responders," he wrote on X."I am personally donating $100 for every strikeout I record this season," he added, as he advised his followers to join him and make a donation as well.Actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise started his foundation in 2011 after spending the previous decade volunteering with other organizations. In the past decade, the foundation has helped expand service efforts, providing the military, veteran and first responder communities with additional fundraising and outreach. 9 MLB STORYLINES TO FOLLOW FOR 2024 SEASON AS OPENING DAY ARRIVES Skenes is set to start the 2024 season in the minors at Triple-A Indianapolis. The Indians have yet to name a starter for their first game of the season, which takes place Friday on the road against the Louisville Bats.Indianapolis begins its home schedule on Tuesday against the Memphis Redbirds.It's unclear how long Skenes will be in the minors. He's one of a handful of highly touted prospects who came out of college in 2023.Skenes pitched for LSU. In 2023, he earned the National Pitcher of the Year award and the College World Series Most Outstanding Player. He's also romantically tied to LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne .Pittsburgh isn't expected to go far just yet, but Skenes will likely be able to bring more fans to PNC Park once the call-up is made. Fox News' Bradford Betz contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Australian soccer club with several transgender players dominates women's tournament, sparking outrage

An Australian soccer team caused controversy on social media earlier week as its club with five transgender soccer players dominated a women's preseason tournament. Flying Bats FC won the Beryl Ackroyd Cup final over the Macquarie Dragons 4-0 and were given a $1,000 prize, according to news.au.com. The club went undefeated over the course of the four-week tournament and had a 10-0 victory in one match.The club proudly supports the LGBTQIA+ community as seen in its social media bio. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "Sydney's premier LGBTQIA+ football (soccer) club for women & non-binary people. Est 1985. Fun, friendly, inclusive," its X profile reads.But not everyone was celebrating the victory, with some speaking out to Australia's The Daily Telegraph."Our girls are here to play for fun and expect to play in the female competition. They did not sign up for a mixed competition," one senior club official told The Daily Telegraph. "Some of the parents were so concerned they would not let their daughters play."It was so disheartening for them to see the huge difference in ability - they're killing it."Binary Australia spokesperson Kirralie Smith said the North West Sydney League was putting players at risk. Binary Australia is an advocacy group that maintains the "biological fact that sex is binary" and there are only two genders - male and female.The outrage continued online."Are you getting angry yet?" Sky Australia contributor Katherine Deves Morgan wrote on X. "Five blokes on the winning women's soccer team. Girls were threatened with fines if they forfeited. What a joke.""Been angry for years now - the unfairness is off the charts. I will say it again - keep women's sports female. It is not the place for any (failed) male athletes," tennis legend Martina Navratilova added. TENNIS GREAT MARTINA NAVRATILOVA MAKES PLEA TO 'KEEP WOMEN'S SPORTS FEMALE' Flying Bats FC president Jen Peden pushed back on criticism."Trans women belong in the women's competition because that is the gender with which they identify," Peden said, via news.au.com ."As a club, the Flying Bats FC stand strongly for inclusion, and pride ourselves on safe, respectful and fair play, the promotion of a supportive community for LGBTQIA+ players, officials and supporters, and the significant physical, social and mental health benefits that participation in sport brings, especially to marginalized members of the LGBTQIA+ community."We are a club that values our cisgender and transgender players equally. We strongly support the Australian Human Rights Commission's guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport."Trans women have played with the club for at least 20 years, at levels ranging from beginner to skilled, just like our cis women players. Our players are graded on ability, and placed in the team that is most appropriate for their skill and experience level, and we look forward to a respectful, competitive season across our eight teams in 2024."A Football NSW spokesperson maintained it was operating within the boundaries of the Australian Human Rights Commission's "Guidelines for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in sport," which states, "community players are permitted to participate in Football on the basis of the gender with which they identify." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

76ers' Kelly Oubre Jr curses at refs, coach Nick Nurse gets heated after controversial no-call on final play

The Philadelphia 76ers appeared to have the right to be angered at NBA officials after Wednesday night's 108-107 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.Sixers guard Kelly Oubre Jr. was attempting to drive on Clippers star Paul George with a few seconds left in the game. Oubre went up for a shot over George but missed. It appeared George had made contact with Oubre, but no foul call was made.Oubre was seen cursing at NBA officials after the no-call. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse had to be held back by staff members from getting into the officials' faces. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM It appeared they had a point.Referee Kevin Scott said in a pool report that George did make contact with Oubre on the final play."In real time the crew interpreted that play as the defender jumping vertically," Scott said. "However, in post-game video review we did observe some slight drift to his left by the defender George, and a foul should have been ruled." VIEW THE MOMENT ON X. Oubre would have gone to the foul line with a chance to win the game with 0.2 seconds remaining. DRAYMOND GREEN EJECTED LESS THAN 4 MINUTES INTO GAME AFTER JAWING AT OFFICIALS "I looked at it on our computer screen a couple times (and) I thought there was certainly contact," Nurse said. "Certainly as much as the last two or three that got called and-1s at the other end. And that's all. I just thought it was enough contact to call. But that's the way it goes sometimes."Oubre said he thought there was an imbalance of calls. He also apologized for confronting the officials."In the heat of the moment in an intense basketball game, of course, we're not perfect. The refs are not perfect," he said. "I want to apologize for losing my cool, because that's something I work on each and every day and trying to represent God in the best way that I can. And that wasn't it."The 76ers are in the midst of battling for a playoff spot. The loss put them at 39-34 overall and maintained the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference, which would put them in the play-in tournament.Philadelphia is two games behind the Indiana Pacers in the win column. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Opening day oopsies: Unforgettable MLB gaffes from games throughout history

Batter up!Today, baseball players and fans across the nation are gearing up for the first game of the regular season after spring training .Some AL and NL teams lack heavy hitters and All-Star pitching staffs. However, divisional matchups are looking strong for the 2024 MLB season .As baseball fans everywhere anticipate game time, we can't help but look back on some of the greatest opening day gaffes in history. HISTORICAL MLB OPENING DAY STATS FROM SELLOUTS TO RECORD HOLDERS The New York Mets lost their franchise debut to the St. Louis Cardinals on April 11, 1962.The new franchise played in St. Louis opening day and was defeated by the Cardinals 11-4. MLB OPENING DAY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST DAY OF BASEBALL SEASON On opening day in 1974, Nolan Ryan , former pitcher for the California Angels, walked 10 batters against the Chicago White Sox.However, Ryan, nicknamed "the Ryan Express," only gave up four hits and two runs on April 5, and the Angels beat the White Sox 8-2.In 1999, Ryan was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.On April 4, 2005, the opening day game between the Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres was a reminder to baseball fans everywhere that anything can happen at game time.The Rockies took the lead at Coors Field in Denver and scored seven runs against Woody Williams in the first five innings. MLB OPENING DAY: CRAB PIZZA, PICKLE-TOPPED HOT DOGS AND MORE NEW FOOD ITEMS COMING TO STADIUMS IN 2024 Left-hander Joe Kennedy started for the Rockies. When the Padres closed the gap to 7-6, Kennedy was replaced by left-hander Javier Lopez. Lopez quickly gave up a single, and right-hander Allan Simpson was called in.In the top of the sixth, the Padres scored five runs, taking the lead, 8-7. That same inning, the Rockies tied up the game, only to have the Padres retake the lead the next inning.The back and forth continued, but the Rockies won on opening day in 2005 by a final of 12-10.The Philadelphia Phillies have played 12 opening day games in extra innings. Two of them ended in a tie.In 1923, the Phillies tied the Brooklyn Robins, now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-5. The game went for 14 innings before it was called due to darkness. Back then, ballparks didn't have lights.Then, in 1924, the Phillies ended in a 6-6 tie against the Boston Braves. The game went 11 innings before being called due to lack of light.On opening day in 2012, the Cleveland Guardians and the Toronto Blue Jays went head-to-head at Progressive Field for 16 innings. The game is recorded as the longest running opening day game.The mound saw 14 different pitchers, including Ricky Romero and Jason Frasor for the Blue Jays and Chris Perez and Vinnie Pestano for the then-Indians, among others. Throughout the game, 540 total pitches were thrown, according to MLB.The game ran for 5 hours and 14 minutes, and concluded with a 7-4 loss for Cleveland.Former Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia ended the game with a three-run homerun.The Miami Marlins have an opening day record of 12-18 since the franchise began in 1993.In 2023, the Marlins lost to the New York Mets 5-3 on opening day. In 2024, they will play the Pittsburgh Pirates in Miami.The Miami also has the second-worst attendance record in the MLB and opening day has yet to sell out.On opening day in 2021, the Los Angeles Dodgers took on the Colorado Rockies in Denver.In the third inning, Cody Bellinger, a former Dodgers outfielder and first baseman, was at bat with Justin Turner waiting at first. Bellinger cracked a fly to left field and, thinking he had hit a home run, celebrated as he circled the bases.Turner wasn't so sure it was gone. He believed the ball was caught in the outfield, so he ran back to first, passing Bellinger on the way. The ball tipped off Raimel Tapia's glove and left the field for a home run. However, the damage was already done, and Bellinger was called out.

Kristin Juszczyk describes having 'imposter syndrome' as fashion designs took off

Kristin Juszczyk , the wife of Pro Bowler Kyle Juszczyk, was the talk of the NFL playoffs as Taylor Swift and Taylor Lautner were among those wearing her fashion designs, which eventually garnered her a license to sell her outfits.Juszczyk was asked about the "whirlwind of change" in a question on her Instagram Stories and admitted to having "imposter syndrome." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "I keep pinching myself to make sure I'm awake," she wrote. "All I've ever wanted was to be (an) entrepreneur and to start my own life."She showed off a picture of her iPhone lock screen showing the things that have been important to her. She said it was her lock screen for the last year."It's hard sometimes not to have imposter syndrome when you start to have success, so I struggle with that, but I'm trying to just keep my head down and focus on my main goal, which is to get this line off the ground! 49ERS CEO JED YORK READY AND WILLING TO PAY BROCK PURDY AHEAD OF LOOMING CONTRACT EXTENSION "Also I had to white out some things (because) those are hopefully coming soon."While Swift and Lautner wearing her designs seemed to be the height of her success so far, she has been designing for quite some time. She even partnered with State Farm, which allowed actor Kevin Miles to wear a Caitlin Clark-inspired design for the final regular-season home game of her career earlier this month.She appears to be poised to have another great nine months. Follow Fox News Digital's rget=_new href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSports_" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> sports coverage on X and subscribe to rget=_new href="https://www.foxnews.com/newsletters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Ex-NBA star dismisses Caitlin Clark's chances of scoring in BIG3

The BIG3 basketball league offered Caitlin Clark $5 million to play in this upcoming season once her time with Iowa was over - but not everyone appeared to be impressed.Kenyon Martin, a former NBA star who has played in the BIG3, said Wednesday he didn't think Clark would even be able to score a point if she was out on the floor."It's a step under prison ball. Could you imagine her getting stuck down on Reggie Evans?" the New Jersey Nets great said on Gilbert Arenas' podcast. "Just take for s----s and giggles this was a real thing, if she was able to participate and he put her out there. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "Could you imagine her being matched up and Reggie guarding her, for one. For two, this being 3-on-3, she can't hide nowhere. Guard Reggie Evans out that mother---er."Martin and Arenas agreed, "No, she will not score.""She would not score one... It's 3-on-3, she can't hide nowhere," Martin said. Clark has yet to comment on the offer, which TMZ Sports first reported.Ice Cube later confirmed the deal, even as he maintained it was meant to be private. MARCH MADNESS REFS FACE CRITICISM OVER CALLS IN IOWA-WEST VIRGINIA WOMEN'S TOURNEY GAME: '8 V 5 EVERYTIME' "We intended the offer to remain private while Caitlin Clark plays for the championship. But I won't deny what's now already out there: BIG3 made a historic offer to Caitlin Clark," the legendary hip-hop artist and business mogul said. "Why wouldn't we? Caitlin is a generational athlete who can achieve tremendous success in the BIG3. The skeptics laughed when we made Nancy Lieberman the first female coach of a men's pro team, and she won the championship in her first year. Then Lisa Leslie won it all in year two. With our offer, Caitlin Clark can make history and break down even more barriers for women athletes."Ice Cube went on to say that American female basketball players should not have to go overseas to earn money playing the sport they love."America's women athletes should not be forced to spend their off seasons playing in often dismal and dubious foreign countries just to make ends meet," he added. "And they should have more than just one professional option in the U.S. at a time when American pro sports leagues are being infiltrated by autocratic, anti-women regimes such as Qatar."Our pathbreaking offer to Caitlin Clark demonstrates that BIG3 now offers another choice for athletes." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

College basketball coach says top player looking at $250K-$300K in NIL money from larger schools to transfer

Perhaps the biggest upset in the first round of the men's NCAA Tournament was No. 14 Oakland University taking down No. 3 Kentucky. And while Jack Gohlke got all the love in that game with his insane 3-point shooting to score 32 points, forward Trey Townsend led the team with 12 rebounds while draining 17 points for a double-double in the victory. Oakland head coach Greg Kampe says Townsend is called "Mr. Oakland," as he was a main reason why they made the tournament in the first place. But with one more year of eligibility, Kampe doesn't think he'll be finishing his collegiate career with the Golden Grizzlies. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "I don't think he will," Kampe said on OutKick's "Don't @ ME" with Dan Dakich."  "They call him 'Mr. Oakland' here, but one side of it, the only reason he's got another year is the COVID year. So, he gave us four years, he's got his degree, and I had a big conversation with him yesterday. "How can we beat [the tournament performance]? Well, we could if he'd come back. He's going to get offered so much money. I can't." NO. 14 OAKLAND STUNS NO. 3 KENTUCKY BEHIND STELLAR PERFORMANCE BY DIVISION II TRANSFER Thanks to name, image, likeness (NIL) deals, Townsend can enter the transfer portal and head to another program, and they'll pay to do so. Kampe knows around how much teams could entice him with, too. "He's looking at $250,000-300,000 is what I'm being told. It's going to be hard telling him to stay," he said. Townsend had his best season in 2023-24 points-wise, as he averaged 17.3 per game with 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists over 36.4 minutes. Kampe's relationship with his star player over the years - he said he's known him since he was 4 years old - will make the departure tough. "He's as close to having a son play for you as I could've had," Kampe said. "I had a son play football at LSU, I had a son play baseball at the University of Cincinnati, and I got a son that's a drummer in the music business out in L.A. So none of them were the basketball players that could've played for me."Townsend hasn't officially entered the transfer portal since Oakland's tournament run ended in the second round against No. 11 NC State , 79-73.  Follow Fox News Digital's  sports coverage on X , and subscribe to  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo shares gripe about March Madness: 'Absolute disgrace!'

Chris "Mad Dog" Russo will never hold back how he feels about something sports related, and it came on Wednesday with March Madness as the topic.  Russo's biggest gripe? The games starting way too late for him on the East Coast. "Give us a chance to watch the damn thing, will you please?" Russo said in his weekly "What are you mad about?" segment. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Russo's frustration with the NCAA Tournament scheduling is the fact that some Sweet 16 games start after 10 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday. Illinois vs. Iowa State and Creighton vs. Tennessee are both tipping off at 10:09 p.m. on Friday.  MARCH MADNESS: 5 BEST TEAMS LEFT IN NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT "College basketball's not big enough to go 12 consecutive hours, and have two-and-a-half-hour games, because they're looking at a replay with flagrant fouls, or if the ball was slapped out of bounds by somebody," Russo said.Russo even suggested that they will "add a half hour" because the games don't start on time. "Friday is Good Friday!" Russo said, animated. "Holy Thursday on Thursday! And I've gotta stay up until 1:45 in the morning to watch a two-hour-and-45-minute game?"That is an absolute disgrace!"The first Sweet 16 game will be played on Thursday, when No. 6 Clemson takes on No. 2 Arizona at 7:09 p.m. Then, No. 1 UConn will face No. 5 San Diego State at 7:39 p.m., followed by No. 1 UNC vs. No. 4 Alabama (9:39 p.m.) and Illinois and Iowa State's matchup. On Friday, the same time frames will be used across the other four games: No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 11 NC State, No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 5 Gonzaga, No. 1 Houston vs. No. 4 Duke and Creighton vs. Tennessee.  Follow Fox News Digital's  sports coverage on X , and subscribe to  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Los Angeles bill seeks reparations for families of people displaced due to building of Dodger Stadium

A bill introduced last week will seek reparations for the families of those who were displaced from their homes after Dodger Stadium was built on the land.Dodger Stadium opened in Chavez Ravine in 1962, and it is the third-oldest MLB stadium, behind only Fenway Park and Wrigley Field.When it opened, though, around 1,800 families, most of whom were Mexican American, were forced to move. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The bill says that those residents were told the site was going to be a new affordable housing complex, but that never came about."With this legislation, we are addressing the past, giving voice to this injustice, acknowledging the pain of those displaced, and offering reparative measures insuring we honor the legacy of the families and communities of Palo Alto, La Loma and Bishop," Assemblywoman Wendy Carillo said last week. "(We are) proposing various forms of compensation, including offering city-owned real estate comparable to the original Chavez Ravine landowners and providing fair market value compensation adjusted for inflation." DODGERS TO SIGN VETERAN CATCHER TO RECORD-BREAKING EXTENSION: REPORTS Assembly Bill 1950 reads : "Existing law provides that, whenever a program or project to be undertaken by a public entity will result in the displacement of a person, the displaced person, as defined, is entitled to payment for actual moving and related expenses as the public entity determines to be reasonable and necessary..."This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above."The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles after playing in Brooklyn from 1913 to 1957, after Robert Moses did not want a domed stadium to be built at what is now the site of Barclays Center. Then-Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley did not want to follow through with Moses' idea to have a stadium built where Citi Field currently stands, thus leading to both the Dodgers and Giants moving west. Follow Fox News Digital's  sports coverage on X , and subscribe to  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

MLB opening day: 2024 schedule, rule changes and everything you need to know about the upcoming season

Grab your peanuts and Cracker Jack. MLB opening day is here. This year, opening day falls on March 28. All 30 teams were scheduled for games that day, but two were postponed due to weather.Read on to find out when your team is playing, rule changes for the season and more.  HISTORICAL MLB OPENING DAY STATS FROM SELLOUTS TO RECORD HOLDERS  Opening day marks the start of a long season of baseball. This day marks the beginning of the MLB regular season. It typically occurs at the end of March or the beginning of April. In 2024, the MLB season started with a Dodgers-Padres matchup in Korea. Following that series, all 30 teams were scheduled to play March 28, 2024, for opening day. But the weather was not on the side of all the MLB teams. Due to rain, the games scheduled for opening day between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves and the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets have been postponed until Friday. Adjustments to schedules are not the only regular-season changes fans should be aware of. For 2024, a lot of rules changes are aimed at quickening the pace of the game. In 2024, the time between pitches will be reduced from 20 seconds to 18 seconds, according to a statement released by the MLB. If a new pitcher steps onto the warning track with less than two minutes remaining on the clock, the clock will reset to 2:00. In 2023, the clock was reset to 2:15, according to the MLB.  MLB OPENING DAY: CRAB PIZZA, PICKLE-TOPPED HOT DOGS AND MORE NEW FOOD ITEMS COMING TO STADIUMS IN 2024  The number of mound visits allowed will be reduced in 2024 from five per game to four. Another big change coming in 2024 is that a pitcher who warms up for an inning must pitch to at least one batter, according to the MLB. A more physical change made for the 2024 season is the widening of a runner's lane. Now, this area will include the dirt area located between the foul line and the infield grass. The MLB is split into two leagues, the American League and the National League. There are 15 teams in each league. Each league is divided into three divisions - East, Central and West.The teams that make up the AL East are the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays. The Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins are all part of AL Central. The AL West includes the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers. The Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals are all in the NL East. The Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals are all part of NL Central. Lastly, the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants play in the NL West.The 2023 World Series was won by the Texas Rangers, who beat the Arizona Diamondbacks for the title. The New York Yankees have the most titles of any team with 27. In fact, the Yankees were the last team to be back-to-back World Series winners. They won three titles in a row from 1998 to 2000. Following behind the Yankees are the St. Louis Cardinals with eleven wins, the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics, both with nine, and the San Francisco Giants with eight. 

UFC's Dustin Poirier calls out Islam Makhachev ahead of potential title bout, reveals when he may retire

It sounds like Dustin Poirier's next fight will be for a title belt - it also could very well be his last.Before facing Benoit Saint Denis at UFC 299 , the 35-year-old had lost two of his previous three fights, including one for the UFC Lightweight Championship - he went to Miami as an underdog to the rising star in BSD.But Poirier turned back the clock for a second-round knockout, thus apparently extending his career just a bit. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM He's faced just about all the lightweight stars in the promotion - except the current champion in Islam Makhachev."It seems like he wants it. And I want it," Poirier said to Fox News Digital regarding a potential title bout with Makhachev. "I don't know how many fights I have left in me. I still feel great. I'm 35,000 years old. I still feel great, but fighting, we age in dog years. If I can get a chance to fight for that gold belt, that's what I want."Prior to Poirier speaking with Fox News Digital, Mahkachev said on MMA Junkie that he wanted to face Poirier for the belt, although Poirier "didn't deserve" the honor. Poirier's response?"I've done more in the sport than he has. How 'bout that?" UFC STAR DUSTIN POIRIER UNBOTHERED BY BUD LIGHT CONTROVERSY, 'PUMPED' FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH BRAND Many expect such a bout to occur this summer, likely at UFC 302, and Poirier hinted that that fight could be his 39th and final as a professional.Poirier has yet to win an undisputed title fight in his career, saying, "That's the only box I have unchecked."He also "want[s] to retire from the sport. I don't want the sport to retire me." Meaning, he wants to hang up the gloves while he still has something left in the tank."I would love to say for one night, I was the best in the world and be the undisputed world champion. That's the only thing I have left to do," Poirier says. "After this last one, I'm like, Mman, what else can I do?' In the sport of fighting, a lot of people say you're only as good as your last fight. And that was a great one for me, but I ain't gonna stop, bro. I gotta keep moving forward, I think."Unless he wins that long-coveted belt."Honestly, if I would win a UFC title, I would probably retire right there," he says. If that were the case, he would certainly get his wish - being the best in the world for one night and retiring on his own terms with plenty left.He admitted that he was unsure what he'd do if he lost such a fight: "A lot of stuff goes into those decision-making, especially something that serious."Of course, there runs a risk of, say, a Mike Tyson-type ending, where the Baddest Man on the Planet fought until his tires blew out.But no matter what happens, Poirier does seem content with even a bad ending in the Octagon."I want to be there for my family," he says. "This ain't good for you, what we do."Poirier is currently 30-8 in his pro career. Follow Fox News Digital's  sports coverage on X , and subscribe to  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

9 MLB storylines to follow for 2024 season as opening day arrives

Some of you reading this have called out of work to head to the ballpark for the first time in months, and while baseball's popularity has, for the most part, been at a standstill for a while, nothing tops opening day .Everyone (except the Dodgers and Padres, who played two regular-season games in Seoul ) is starting all over. Opening day signifies togetherness, hope and some good beer and hot dogs.Today begins the marathon that is the 162-game baseball season. Where else can you play Monday morning quarterback about your manager's decisions every single day?The 2024 season figures to be an interesting one. Here are nine of the top storylines to follow in this Major League Baseball season. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM The Los Angeles Dodgers committed to over $1 billion in contracts this offseason, with the big splash being the $700 million deal for Shohei Ohtani. They also gave Japanese import Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had not thrown a pitch in the majors, $325 million. They also traded for, and extended, Tyler Glasnow.While Ohtani won't pitch this season, he bolsters a lineup that includes Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. That's four MVP Awards in the top three spots of the lineup.The Dodgers are everyone's World Series favorite, but there's a reason they play the games. Speaking of Ohtani ... Ohtani is on record saying he has never bet on baseball, or sports, and that he is the victim of fraud by his former translator, Ippei Mizuhara.Major League Baseball is investigating, and let's just say Ohtani better be telling the truth. If he's not, we are just at the tip of the iceberg. Bauer is in the process of trying to clear his name from sexual assault allegations. He was hammered with a 324-game suspension for violating MLB's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. And that punishment was eventually reduced to 194 games, but he was still released by the Dodgers before the 2023 season began. He played professionally in Japan last year.He is playing in Mexico but is on the record saying he will play for the league minimum on an incentive-based deal.There are teams out there who could use some arms, but no one has acquired Bauer.Just to name a few (in no particular order): Juan Soto , Pete Alonso, Corbin Burnes, Paul Goldschmidt, Alex Bregman, Max Fried, Gleyber Torres and Shane Bieber. Mike Trout is 32 home runs away from 400 in his career, while Clayton Kershaw can become the 18th player with 3,000 strikeouts by fanning 66 more batters. LONGTIME ORIOLES OWNER PETER ANGELOS DIES AT 94 Trout's number will likely come down to the wire this season, but so will Kershaw's. He's recovering from an injury and not expected to return until at least the summer.Trout is widely considered the best player of this generation, and there's no doubt he will get a plaque in Cooperstown.However, after several injury-riddled seasons over the last few years, he finally looked human on the diamond last year.Trout put up career lows in just about every category, as he slashed .263/.367/.490 in just 82 games. He has not played in more than 140 games since 2016, although he did win the MVP when playing in 134 in 2019.It's not a good combination to be injured and put up worse stats. Trout did hit 40 home runs in 119 games in 2022, so 32 isn't totally out of reach even with one injury. But are we looking at the fall of an all-time great? Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. launched his own fraternity last year when he became the first player in MLB history to hit 40-plus home runs and steal 70-plus bases in a season.Now, he wants to create another group."Something I've never put on myself is limits," Acuña told GQ recently. "I can't promise you it'll be this year or next year, but I believe I can attain a 50-50 season."He was vocal about his goal to be in the 40-40 club once MLB increased the base sizes (he joined Jose Canseco, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez and Alfonso Soriano), so it should surprise nobody if he does that.The Oakland Athletics are doing their best to move to Las Vegas and join the Raiders as teams to defect from the Bay Area to Sin City. But it has not been smooth sailing. EX-MARLIN RESPONDS TO JAZZ CHISHOLM'S CRITICISM: 'YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW ME' The mayor of Las Vegas recently poured cold water on the idea, saying the team's plans "do not make sense" and the team should "figure out a way to stay in Oakland."The A's signed a binding agreement to purchase 49 acres for a new ballpark but had to switch their proposed land for the stadium after they found a new spot that required about $105 million less in public funding.The new proposed site is where the Tropicana stands. Bally's will reportedly tear down the Tropicana and replace it with a $1.5 billion stadium. However, Bally's would build a new hotel/casino across from the stadium once it was completed.The A's wanted to be in Las Vegas by 2027, but the lease for their ballpark in Oakland ends this year. So, they do not have a home for 2025 and 2026.We'll vote yes for the defending World Series champions here, as their offense was one of the best last year. They have two MVP candidates in Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, while boasting young talent in Evan Carter, who was a beast in the postseason without even qualifying as a rookie, and top prospect Wyatt Langford. And they also should get a healthy Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer during the season.Arizona, on the other hand, sneaked into the postseason at 84-78 and got hot at the right time. The Diamondbacks were carried by Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll last year, but they were just about league average in numerous categories. They added some potential pop in Joc Pederson and pitcher Jordan Montgomery. Follow Fox News Digital's  sports coverage on X , and subscribe to  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

LeBron James says watching son, Bronny, play at USC gives him 'anxiety'

LeBron James didn't hold back his thoughts about college basketball, and specifically his son, Bronny James, playing at USC. On the latest episode of the "Mind the Game" podcast with co-host JJ Redick, James revealed that he has anxiety watching his son play this season, his freshman year with the Trojans. " The NBA is the best league in the world," the Los Angeles Lakers superstar said. "That's why it's hard to watch my son play college basketball. ... It is hard watching a 40-minute college basketball game. It's hard. I get more anxiety and I sweat more watching college basketball, especially my son now, than I've ever done in my life." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM James never played college basketball, making the jump from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, to the NBA as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The college game is certainly different from the NBA, but James shared his gripes with the lower level, and they're pretty in depth.  LAKERS-WARRIORS GAME SEES 'BIZARRE' FINISH AFTER CLOCK MALFUNCTIONS AND REPLAY REVIEWS "I've never understood why a coach will throw the ball into the post with his big with no business with the ball in the post," he explained. "The only time the ball should go into the post with the big is if he, automatically, as soon as he catches it, flattens the defense, and he goes right back to the DHO (dribble hand off) uphill, roll - if he's not a pocket passer, you can't throw it low, throw it to the rim - or it's his job is to just shrink the defense cause his role is so dynamic. "I watch college games and I see guys throw the ball in the post to guys, and they'll turn around and shoot a jump shot or a running left-handed jump hook."Bronny dealt with a cardiac arrest before the start of the season, which was a scary moment for the James family. He was able to recover and play in 25 games this season for a Trojans squad that struggled. He missed the first eight games. He averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 19.4 minutes per game for USC. The biggest question now for Bronny is whether he will enter the 2024 NBA Draft with the Trojans' season over. "It's up to him," LeBron said during NBA All-Star Weekend. "It's up to the kid. Obviously, we gonna go through the whole process. He's still in season now, has the Pac-12 tournament coming up. ... We gonna weigh our options, and we gonna let the kid make the decision."The elder James has noted wanting to play with his son in the league, and the Lakers have shown interest in potentially drafting Bronny to keep LeBron in Los Angeles.  Follow Fox News Digital's rget=_new href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSports_" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> sports coverage on X , and subscribe to rget=_new href="https://www.foxnews.com/newsletters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Legendary college football coach Nick Saban unveils major lifestyle changes since retiring

Nick Saban has maintained a busy schedule for the past few decades. But earlier this year, the seven-time college football national champion decided to step away from the sidelines .Shortly after Saban's retirement, Alabama announced that Kalen DeBoer would leave the Washington Huskies and take the head coaching role in Tusccaloossa. Saban is expected to remain involved in Alabama's football program in a "supportive" capacity. But, his schedule will certainly no longer be completely filled with the responsibilities that come with being a head coach."I want to bring the least amount of attention to me being around here as possible," Saban told ESPN. "So I want to be supportive. I want to be helpful, but I don't want to be looking over anybody's shoulder." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Saban will also step into his new role as a panelist on ESPN's "College GameDay" later this year. But for now, he appears to be enjoying his more laid back lifestyle. NICK SABAN REVEALS CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO ALABAMA RETIREMENT He recently opened up about the biggest adjustments he's faced since he stopped coaching."The biggest change for me as a person is that I lived my whole life for the last 50 years being in a hurry," Saban told ESPN. "It was, 'Hurry up to go here. Hurry up to go there. Don't be late for this meeting. You've got another meeting in an hour. What are you going to say to the staff? What are you going to say to the team?'"Saban added that when he was leading football programs , it was difficult for him to relax even when he was on vacation."I mean, it was just deadline after deadline after deadline. Even when I was driving to the lake to go on vacation, I'd be in a hurry, and for what? But that's just how you were built."But, Saban seems to be finding ways to unplug during his newfound downtime."He's actually texting and reading his own emails and sent his first-ever email," Saban's wife Terry told ESPN. "He even took his first trip to the pharmacy to pick up his first prescription. He's actually quite proud of himself." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Draymond Green ejected less than 4 minutes into game after jawing at officials

Draymond Green was ejected on Wednesday just less than four minutes into the Golden State Warriors' game in Orlando.Green, who had previously served two suspensions earlier this season, received two technical fouls after arguing with an official, prompting the automatic boot. Magic's Paolo Banchero recorded an and-one to make it a 6-6 game in central Florida, but apparently, Green wasn't a fan of something that happened on the floor - it's unclear what he was arguing. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Green was then called for one technical, but he never stopped talking, even with teammates and coaches trying to bring him back to the bench. After he was seen calling the ref a "p---- ass," he got T'd up again.He was walking back toward the locker room before the second tech even was called, so it seemed he knew he crossed a line. VIEW MOMENT ON X The ejection comes the day following Green getting called for a hard foul on Patty Mills, where Green shedded a pick but seemed to bring his arm near Mills' neck area, which caused Mills to fall to the court. EX-NBA PLAYERS RIP ESPN HOST FOR SUGGESTING UCONN COULD MAKE NBA PLAYOFFS: 'FULL OF S---' This was Green's fourth ejection of the year and the 19th of his career - but it was his first since the one that prompted an indefinite suspension in December. He was suspended five games earlier in the year after putting Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert in a chokehold. Green has had multiple outbursts that have resulted in physical altercations within the last year-and-a-half. Green punched his then-teammate Jordan Poole in the face during training camp prior to the 2022-23 season and was suspended for one game during the 2023 playoffs for stomping on the chest of Sacramento Kings forward Domantas Sabonis. The NBA even gave Green a list of criteria to meet before he could return from the suspension. In all, he missed 15 games.Golden State is 37-34 and sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference, which currently has them in the play-in tournament and would need to win two road games. They are ahead by just one game in the standings. Follow Fox News Digital's  rget=_new href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSports_" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> sports coverage on X , and subscribe to rget=_new href="https://www.foxnews.com/newsletters" target="_blank" rel="noopener">  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Broncos coach Sean Payton gives blunt 1-word response when asked if it was difficult to release Russell Wilson

Before the 2022 season began, Russell Wilson inked a five-year, $245 million extension with the Denver Broncos that was set to go into effect this season, but he was released by the team before that extension began.When free agency opened up earlier this month, the Broncos released Wilson, and a few days later, he found a new home in Pittsburgh with the Steelers .Denver still needs to fork up $39 million for Wilson this season alone (they've already paid $85 million of the $124 million he was guaranteed at signing). His release also resulted in a dead cap hit of $85 million for the next two years. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Normally, all those factors would halt teams from releasing a player, but the Broncos felt it was necessary, even with the money owed.Broncos head coach Sean Payton was asked if it was "difficult" to let him go because of the dead cap hit and other money owed to him - and he was extremely blunt ."No." The Broncos acquired Wilson in a blockbuster trade from the Seattle Seahawks before the start of the 2022 season. Denver gave up multiple draft picks along with Noah Fant, Shelby Harris and Drew Lock in the deal.The Broncos hired Payton to replace Nathaniel Hackett after they went 5-12 in the 2022 season, but Wilson eventually lost his job to Jarrett Stidham despite having a crucial win over the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs .Wilson played in 15 games during the 2023 season. He had 3,070 passing yards, 26 touchdown passes and eight interceptions.The Steelers made a surprising move in trading for Justin Fields, as well. The team has reportedly said Fields will back up Wilson, but many don't believe that will be the case for long, if at all . Fox News' Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital's  sports coverage on X , and subscribe to  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

49ers CEO Jed York ready and willing to pay Brock Purdy ahead of looming contract extension

Brock Purdy has allowed the San Francisco 49ers to do some pretty amazing stuff both on the field and with their roster. But "Mr. Irrelevant" will soon get his payday, and 49ers CEO Jed York has no problem with that. "It's a good problem when your quarterback is one of the highest-paid guys on your team and in the league," York told reporters Tuesday at the NFL owners meetings, via The Mercury News.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM York spoke at length about relying on building the roster in the draft as opposed to free agency, a system that worked well for the 49ers when they used the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to sign Purdy to a rookie deal that will pay him just under $1 million this season. Purdy has led the 49ers to back-to-back NFC Championships and a Super Bowl. His unexpected success will likely mean a big contract when he's eligible for an extension at the end of the 2024 season - and York knows it. 49ERS' JED YORK EXPLAINS WHY HE VOTED AGAINST NEW NFL KICKOFF RULE "It's what the market is. Brock is going to ask for something that no one has ever asked for before," he said. "I don't know how many players are making over $40 million (annually) as a quarterback right now."In his first full year as starting quarterback, Purdy threw for 4,280 yards and 31 touchdowns with two more on the ground.York used the Niners five-year, $137.5 million contract with Jimmy Garoppolo in 2018, which made him the highest-paid player in the league at the time, as an example of their willingness to ensure the quarterback situation is secured. "To me, the quarterback is the most important position not just in football, but all of sports, and those guys should be paid a lot of money." Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Eagles' Saquon Barkley admits dad would still cheer for Jets over Philly in Super Bowl matchup

Saquon Barkley's move to the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles was a shocking reality for most New York Giants fans. But one fan, arguably Barkley's biggest, is likely unfazed by the decision. During Wednesday's appearance on the "New Heights" podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, Barkley revealed his father, Alibay Barkley, would undoubtedly root for his New York Jets if they were to ever face the Eagles in a Super Bowl. Barkley didn't hesitate when asked who his father, a New York native, would root for, adding his father was born the same year the Jets won their first and only Super Bowl with Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Barkley admitted his father would root for him to have "a good game," but when pressed further, he said his father never even wore his Giants jersey.  "He doesn't even wear my jersey," Barkley said. "I'm serious. He doesn't wear my jersey. He wears - I got him a Joe Namath Jets jersey. He wears that jersey."He's never [seen] the Jets win a Super Bowl. I'm pretty sure my dad would - I would hope he would probably switch up. But if I had to take a guess, I think he would probably cheer for the Jets to win the Super Bowl, which is sad to say out loud."   SAQUON BARKLEY TRIES RECRUITING JASON KELCE BACK TO EAGLES: 'YOU DON'T HAVE TO WATCH' Considering his allegiance to the Jets, Alibay Barkley might be the only supporter who was not upset by the two-time Pro Bowler's move to the Eagles.  Barkley signed a three-year deal for $26 million guaranteed with the Eagles earlier this month after six years with the Giants. The deal had its critics, most notably Giants legend Tiki Barber, who said the running back was "dead to me" after news broke.  During the podcast, Barkley revisited the issue. He said while he understood fans' position, he was surprised by Barber, who should've understood the "business side" of his decision. "I love seeing NFL guys. I love seeing OGs. I love seeing you guys. You have a platform. This is a place where you know ball, you can talk, you can educate fans. Maybe use that time to show, 'Maybe this is why Saquon is going to Philly.'"I'm not saying you got to have loyalty to me because I don't care for that, to be honest, but you are an ex-NFL player, an ex-NFL athlete. Don't feed into the BS. Let fans do that. They're supposed to do that. They're emotional."Barkley played in 14 games last season, missing three because of a high ankle sprain. He ran for 962 yards and six touchdowns and had 41 catches, including four touchdowns. The Giants used the franchise tag last season on Barkley and eventually worked out a one-year, $10.1 million contract before the start of training camp. A franchise tag this year would have cost the team $12.2 million if he accepted the offer. The Associated Press contributed to this report.  Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X , and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Ex-Patriots receiver accuses Wes Welker of 'making up stories' about Bill Belichick and Aaron Hernandez

The new documentary on the New England Patriots dynasty has garnered some viral moments on social media, including Aaron Hernandez's presence with the team.Hernandez, of course, was well on his way to becoming one of the best tight ends in the NFL until he was arrested and eventually found guilty of murder. Hernandez killed himself in jail in 2017 shortly after being acquitted of a double-murder in Florida.But in the documentary, at least according to Julian Edelman, Wes Welker made it seem like Hernandez was able to do whatever he wanted in practices - a far cry from the typical Belichick mold. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM But Edelman says that could not be further from the truth."Welker's out here saying like Aaron Hernandez got away with murder - figuratively speaking - at practice; that's not even true," Edelman said on his "Games With Names" podcast. "Welker painted the picture he [Hernandez] was like the king, like he got to do anything. I remember Bill 'motherf--king' Aaron all the time. "Come on, Welk. Trying to make up stories. We know you don't like Bill."That last part isn't exactly speculation from Edelman. In Boston, it's rather well-known that Welker's relationship with Belichick did grow rather tenuous toward the end (as did Belichick's with Tom Brady ).  EX-JAGUARS EMPLOYEE WHO HACKED INTO SCOREBOARD SENTENCED TO 220 YEARS IN JAIL FOR CHILD SEX ABUSE MATERIAL In fact, once he went to the Denver Broncos, Welker highlighted the difficulties of playing for Belichick."It was just kind of hard," Welker said at the time . "One of those deals where you have to endure him, put up with him... But he does it to everybody, it's the way he is. When I'm answering questions from the Denver media, I'm not worried about what the Broncos' people are going to think," Welker explained. "I'm worried about what Belichick will think. Isn't that crazy?"The documentary, "The Dynasty," is streaming on AppleTV+. Follow Fox News Digital's  sports coverage on X , and subscribe to  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Bill Belichick's son, Steve, roasts his father with joke at press conference

Steve Belichick, the new defensive coordinator of the Washington Huskies, had a hilarious comment about his father, legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick , during a press conference Wednesday. Steve joined the Huskies, who played in the national championship game last season, to add new life to the defense. This comes after a regime change in New England, where his father and the Patriots parted ways after over two decades of championship football. The elder Belichick was considered a top coaching candidate in the NFL but didn't land a job. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM So, when asked about similarities between father and son during the press conference, Steve decided to throw a joking jab at his father."I got a job, and he doesn't," Belichick said as the crowd laughed. "He knows that." VIEW THE MOMENT ON X All jokes aside, Steve said, "I look up to my dad. He's a mentor to me. But I'm myself." BILL BELICHICK'S SON REVEALS FATHER'S INTENTIONS AFTER NOT LANDING HEAD COACHING JOB The college game is new to Steve. He started his coaching career on his father's staff with the Patriots in 2012. He worked up the ranks, serving as a defensive position coach. Not only is this his first time as defensive coordinator - he has called defensive plays with the Patriots in the past - recruiting will be new to him too."Excited to get on the field and work with these guys and work with these kids, recruit kids and just going to be myself. Not going to try to be him," he said. Steve said last month his father could pursue a TV job for the 2024 NFL season. "He's definitely pursuing some other stuff, whether it's TV or a regular on 'Green Light' or whatever it may be," Steve told former NFL lineman Chris Long on Long's "Green Light" podcast. "I think he's good, you know. Let the stuff roll off your back and move forward. He doesn't dwell unless we lost the game and need to get on some guys, but eventually you've got to turn the page. Honestly, I wasn't too involved in any of that stuff. He did his thing, I did my thing. And that was kind of that." Follow Fox News Digital's  sports coverage on X , and subscribe to  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo rips NFL over season-opener's streaming exclusivity: 'I want to watch the game normal'

The NFL's relationship with streaming platforms is once again in the National Radio Hall of Famer and ESPN contributor Chris "Mad Dog" Russo's crosshairs.During one of his routine appearances on ESPN's "First Take," Russo unleashed on the league's decision to place its historic game in São Paulo, Brazil, on the Peacock streaming service. The season opening game is scheduled to take place on Sept. 6 and will mark the first-ever NFL game in Brazil .The league previously announced the Philadelphia Eagles will travel to Brazil for the game to play a team that has yet to be revealed. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "So, the Eagle fan, who busts his butt to go to The Linc (Lincoln Financial Field) to see game after game and spends a fortune to do it, he's not gonna fly to Brazil; he may not have Peacock," Russo began. "So, he's gonna miss the first game of the year so the NFL can make more money? I mean, really. I mean - it's bad enough they're on Amazon. "It's bad enough they go play in Europe. It's bad enough they put extra millions of teams in, and they got an Amazon playoff game this year too, which drives me crazy. They got to play the first opening game of the year with the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo on Peacock? I mean, come on." NFL COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL ADDRESSES POSSIBILITY OF STREAMING SUPER BOWL Russo also expressed his lack of interest in finding and becoming a subscriber of the streaming service."It's hard to get Peacock. I don't want to get Peacock! I want to watch the game normal. Give me (Joe) Buck and (Troy) Aikman. Give me the CBS crew. (Tom) Brady's gonna do it. Give me something. Don't put the Eagles 9,000 miles away and then put them on a cable thing on Peacock, which you've gotta subscribe to, so NBC can make more money."The Eagles are expected to give up a home game in exchange for playing at Corinthians Arena in Brazil to kickoff of the NFL's 2024 season. Philly's scheduled home games with either the Green Bay Packers or Cleveland Browns will likely be forfeited in order to accommodate for the game in São Paulo.Although Russo is not happy with the idea of the highly-anticipated game landing on a streaming service, NBC Sports leadership expressed excitement about the opportunity to showcase the historic contest."It's exciting for Peacock to exclusively showcase the NFL's first-ever regular-season game in Brazil as part of NBC Sports' unprecedented presentation of three primetime games on the NFL's opening weekend," NBC Sports president Rick Cordella said in a press release.Earlier this year, the NFL exclusively streamed the wild-card round playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins on the NBCUniversal-owned streaming service Peacock - much to Russo's displeasure."The answers that they give you, 'Well, our younger audience; we all have sorts of surveys that indicate that they're going to streaming. And the Dolphins-Chiefs game this year, the younger audience attendance was superb, so essentially, we also have to go to streaming for our business model.' Now, hold on," Russo said on "First Take."Chiefs player Charles Omenihu also appeared to take issue with the game only being available on the streaming service. "Us playing on peacock ONLY is insane I won't lie," the defensive end wrote on X, the company formerly known as Twitter, in January. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Former Syracuse basketball player, who was alleged 'mule' for Sean 'Diddy' Combs, arrested on drug charges

The latest raid on the home of rapper and producer Sean "Diddy" Combs has crossed into the sports world.A former Syracuse basketball player , who is accused of working as a "mule" for Combs, was arrested on Monday in Miami on drug charges.Brendan Paul, 25, was charged with possession of cocaine and possession of a controlled substance. The suit said Paul was Diddy's "mule" and claimed the ex-basketball player would acquire guns and drugs for the rapper. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Diddy's Los Angeles home was raided Monday by Homeland Security officials, Fox News Digital confirmed. Agents were also seen at his home in Miami.A U.S. official confirmed to Fox News that the raids on Diddy's homes are connected to a federal human trafficking investigation. It's unclear if the rapper is the target of the federal agents' investigation.In November, Diddy's ex-wife, music star Cassie, sued the musician over allegations of rape and abuse. She accused Diddy of raping her in her own home, enduring "over a decade" of his "violent behavior and disturbed demands" and forcing her to have sex with male prostitutes while he watched and filmed.  UFC STAR DUSTIN POIRIER UNBOTHERED BY BUD LIGHT CONTROVERSY, 'PUMPED' FOR PARTNERSHIP WITH BRAND One day after she filed the claim, Sean and Cassie came to an amicable resolution, and she dropped the lawsuit.Paul recently worked in studios alongside Diddy for his latest release, "The Love Album: Off the Grid," according to a Facebook post .He played in just 17 games with the Orange in his freshman and sophomore seasons as a walk-on before transferring to Fairmont State University, where he played in 35 games.Diddy founded Bad Boy Entertainment in 1993 and produced some of the best rap talents of the 1990s, including The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, Mase, 112 and Craig Mack. The company long-rivaled "Death Row Records," which led to the infamous East Coast-West Coast rap rivalry that inevitably resulted in the murders of both Tupac Shakur and B.I.G. in a six-month span - both remain unsolved. Fox News' Tracy Wright and Brooke Curto contributed to this report. Follow Fox News Digital's  sports coverage on X , and subscribe to  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

5 Opening Day parties happening across the country in 2024

MLB Opening Day is here.Many cities hosting the occasion take the opportunity to hold tailgates, parades and parties for fans before and sometimes even after the game.If the team you're a fan of is traveling for opening day this year, many bars and restaurants in the team's home city host watch parties of the big game for fans to attend. Also, for teams not hosting Opening Day, several have huge celebrations prior to their own home opener instead.  MLB OPENING DAY: CRAB PIZZA, PICKLE-TOPPED HOT DOGS AND MORE NEW FOOD ITEMS COMING TO STADIUMS IN 2024  Take a look at how these five teams are celebrating Opening Day this year.  The Cincinnati Reds will be hosting the Washington Nationals on Opening Day this year. Before fans head into the Great American Ball Park for the game, they can enjoy the 2024 Findlay Market Opening Day Parade, which kicks off at noon. This is a very popular event in the city. Last year, there were an estimated 130,000 in attendance, according to the event's website. There will also be a block party kicking off just prior to that at 11 a.m. The block party will have plenty of food, beverages and entertainment for the whole family. The Houston Astros are hosting the New York Yankees this year. Before the game is the Opening Day Street Fest. This event will be held from noon to 3 p.m. You'll find live music, face painters, photo booths, inflatables, balloon displays, food trucks, yard games and more.  MLB OPENING DAY: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST DAY OF BASEBALL SEASON  You don't have to pay for admission to this event, but you must have a March 28 game ticket in order to attend. On March 28, the Kansas City Royals will host the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Arrive at the game early in order to earn yourself a free bobblehead, which will be given out to the first 30,000 fans who arrive. Before the game begins, fans can enjoy a pre-game concert by Lost Wax. The Miami Marlins will host the Pittsburgh Pirates at loanDepot park on Opening Day.Marlins fans can show their pride in a fan parade to the ballpark before the game kicks off. If you want to participate in the parade, make sure to come dressed in your best Marlins gear, and meet with fellow fans at Domino Park at 1 p.m. Thursday. MLB STADIUMS ACROSS THE US: HOW MANY BALLPARKS HAVE YOU VISITED?  If you are one of the first 30,000 fans to arrive at the park, you'll receive a free rally towel. Padres fans will feel on top of the world during their pre-game and post-game celebrations. 5 O'Clock Somewhere Rooftop Bar, part of the Margaritaville Hotel, will be hosting pre-game and post-game celebrations on opening day. Admission to attend this event is free, but you do have to reserve your spot. March 28 is just the start of a full weekend of fun in San Diego. The Party in the Park event is on Friday, with live entertainment and $5 drinks, as well as live musical performance from the Padres House Band on Saturday. 

Chiefs' Travis Kelce reveals offseason weight gain in drinking debate with brother Jason Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is apparently carrying around a little extra weight this offseason. The three-time Super Bowl winner revealed during the "New Heights" podcast on Wednesday that he's been putting on some extra pounds this offseason when a debate about his drinking abilities vs. brother Jason Kelce began. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who appeared as this week's guest, initiated the conversation when he asked Travis and Jason which brother could out-drink the other.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM "I can definitely drink more volume. I don't even think that's a question," Jason said.  "What? You think you could drink - you're already down to 260," Travis rebutted. "We're the same weight class now." Jason corrected his brother that his post-NFL career weight is around 283 pounds, but Travis reminded him that his offseason weight makes him a fair opponent.  FORMER CHIEFS CHEERLEADER KRYSTAL ANDERSON, 40, DIES 'UNEXPECTEDLY' AFTER CHILDBIRTH "All right, still - it's March. We're in the same weight class right now," he said. A brotherly back-and-forth ensured, but a winner was not settled on. Travis' admission comes as the NFL star was recently spotted vacationing in the Bahamas with 14-time Grammy Award-winning girlfriend Taylor Swift, enjoying some much-needed downtime after the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII last month. After the couple celebrated the big win in Las Vegas, Kelce was seen supporting Swift on her Eras Tour in Sydney and Singapore. Follow Fox News Digital's rget=_new href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSports_" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> sports coverage on X , and subscribe to rget=_new href="https://www.foxnews.com/newsletters" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

Saquon Barkley tries recruiting Jason Kelce back to Eagles: 'You don't have to watch'

Is Saquon Barkley trying to get Jason Kelce to reconsider his retirement from the Philadelphia Eagles? During the latest episode of the "New Heights" podcast with the Kelce brothers, Barkley made a special guest appearance because, of course, he joined the Eagles this offseason - just days after Jason announced he's retiring . With Barkley on board, Jason had admitted in a previous episode that he knew something big like this was going to happen and he'd feel like he was missing something special on the field. However, he said he's content with his decision and will be cheering his now-former team on throughout the 2024 season.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM But Barkley did his best recruiting tactic when he had the chance on the show. "I'm like a kid in a candy store," Barkley told Jason and Travis Kelce. "I'm happy, I got a fresh start. I can't wait to meet everybody and just go out there and play ball.""Dude, it's gonna be so fun to watch. It's gonna be so fun to be a part of. It's gonna be great," Jason responded. JASON KELCE EXPRESSES RETIREMENT REGRET AFTER EAGLES GET SAQUON BARKLEY: 'I WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS SO BAD' That's when Barkley found the window to drop a slick comment to the future Hall of Fame center. "You don't got to watch it, you know?" Barkley said with a smile. But Jason doubled down. "I'm not gonna come back, I'm not doing it," he said laughing. "So don't ask."While Kelce is sticking to his decision after leading the Eagles' offensive line for 13 seasons, where he won a Super Bowl, Barkley enters a new chapter with the "enemy," if you're talking to New York Giants fans. Barkley admitted the Houston Texans had the first initial interest in him, but it quickly became clear that Philly wanted him in their building. When the deal got done - three years with a max value of $46.76 million and an average annual value of $12.583 million - Barkley couldn't have been happier. "Being in there for less than four hours, you can just feel the energy," Barkley explained when he entered the Eagles' training facility to make his deal official.  Follow Fox News Digital's  sports coverage on X , and subscribe to  the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter .

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