It is the worst-case scenario for Boston, and what was feared from the moment Jayson Tatum collapsed to the floor, grabbing his ankle late in the Game 4 loss to the Knicks.
Tatum has a ruptured Achilles tendon and underwent surgery to repair it on Tuesday, the team announced.
Jayson Tatum today underwent successful surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon. No timetable is currently available for his return, but he is expected to make a full recovery. Further updates will be provided when appropriate. pic.twitter.com/TTXziFtMQB
Obviously, Tatum is out for the rest of these playoffs, and he will likely miss most, if not all, of the 2025-26 season as well.
The injury came with just 2:58 left in the fourth quarter. Tatum — who had a game-high 42 points and had driven Boston's offense most of the night — took a hard step to go after a loose ball, then collapsed to the ground with a non-contact injury, grabbing his ankle.
Jayson Tatum was helped off the court late in Game 4 after an apparent leg injury on this play. pic.twitter.com/UF8D4mxqlo
"The fact that he had to be carried off… he's the type of guy that gets right up," Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said.
Tatum, a six-time All-Star, took a step forward this season, averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6 assists a game, shooting 34.3% from 3. He is expected to finish fourth in MVP voting and make First Team All-NBA. He was at the heart of the Celtics' 2024 NBA title, then joined USA Basketball last summer to win gold at the Paris Olympics.
Tatum's injury also brings some of the salary cap challenges the Celtics face into focus.
Boston has $227.8 million in salary on the books for next season, a number that is already $20 million over the dreaded second apron with five roster spots to fill, plus dealing with potential free agents Al Horford and Luke Kornet. There was already speculation heading into this summer that the Celtics would have to lose a rotation player to keep their payroll within reason, but if this team struggles without Tatum next season and looks middle of the pack in the East, might they move on from a player like Derrick White at $28 million? Or Kristaps Porzingis at $31 million?
The Winnipeg Jets currently trail their second-round series to the Dallas Stars, 2-1 and are looking to regain home-ice advantage with a win in Game 4.
The Jets were once again defeated on the road in Game 3. They imploded in the third period, allowing five goals for the fourth consecutive road playoff game. The game brought its own bit of controversy, but ultimately, the Jets did not do enough to warrant a victory.
Tonight, things will become increasingly difficult. The Stars will welcome Miro Heiskanen back into their lineup and have elected to run 11 forwards and seven defensemen. It'll be Heiskanen's first game since Jan. 28 after suffering a lower-body injury.
Despite his absence, the Stars have still won a plethora of hockey games and are in a great spot. While he was gone, the Stars ranked 31st in the NHL in 5-on-5 shots and expected goals against. They rank second and third-worst respectively by those metrics in the playoffs. His addition will help sure up their backend.
It's been a struggle for Connor Hellebuyck on the road, but also for Mark Scheifele. When away from the Canada Life Centre, HC Scott Arniel can't move Scheifele away from the opponent's top defensive line because he doesn't have last change. The only opportunity for him to provide Scheifele with a matchup advantage is on icing calls. In three road games, the 32-year-old is yet to record a point.
Despite that, the Jets need more from their 39 regular-season goal scorer.
The Jets have received inconsistent play from each line throughout the playoffs, but they still remain just one game shy of tying the series. If they are provided with consistency in their middle six, the top line should be able to feed off of it and cause damage offensively.
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Shane Pinto is eligible for a contract extension this summer. As with every deal, the Ottawa Senators would like to be sure they're getting what they pay for.
But identifying the height of Pinto's ceiling as an NHL player isn't an easy task. On one hand, he's been an NHL regular for four seasons. On the other, between injury and suspension, he's missed 118 of a possible 328 games.
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If the Senators believe Pinto has already reached his full NHL potential as a classic third-line defensive center who can chip in with secondary offense, then there's really no rush to get something done. Pinto already makes $3.7 million, which is at least in the vicinity of fair market value for a player like that.
But if the Senators think he can and will be more than that in the future, then it's in their best interest to buy low right now and get an extension done long-term.
At the moment, the Senators believe they're set at centre with Tim Stützle and Dylan Cozens anchoring the top two lines.
But Pinto is the perfect plan B if Cozens isn’t what they hope he'll be. And that’s not based on random negative thinking. That’s based on the long-suffering Buffalo Sabres watching Cozens for four and a half seasons and then being willing to trade the 24-year-old for Josh Norris, one of the most injury-prone (and well-paid) players in Senators history.
Cozens will get every chance to fully establish himself in the number two slot next season, primarily because he has five years and $35.5 million left on his contract. Cozens has done some nice things in his early days as a Senator and finished the year with 16 points in 21 games.
But he also had some stretches where he wasn't noticeable, and the defensive side of his game was hit and miss. Some of that can be blamed on coming to a new team and a lack of familiarity with the system, but it's already easy to see he's not quite in Pinto's class on the defensive side of the puck.
Offensively, at least in the past couple of years, there hasn't been much to separate them. Cozens finished with 47 points for a second straight year. Meanwhile, despite missing 12 games, Pinto finished with 37 points—just 10 shy of Cozens. Cozens also had the advantage of over 200 power-play minutes, 122 more than Pinto.
When asked about his power play minutes, Pinto didn’t deny he'd like to see more action.
"I'm a competitive guy," Pinto said. "I don't think you get here without wanting to be the best. Obviously, I want to be on the power play, but yeah, that's out of my control. I think that's the thing I learned—sometimes you can't control some of the things that happen to you.
"At first I was a little bit bummed, but I had to play a different role for our team to win, and I tried to embrace that. Hopefully, in the future, they see me as a little bit more of an offensive guy. But like I said, I got put into a role this year where I tried to do my best to embrace it. It's going to be a new year next year, and we'll kind of see where it goes."
If all things were equal (spoiler: they're not), Pinto might enter training camp in September with a chance to battle Cozens for the number two role. For now, he's the plan B and provides excellent depth in the event of injury. And there's likely to be a premium that needs to be paid for that. The Senators now have to figure out what that’s worth, and whether an extension can wait or not.
As for Pinto, he's all for considering something long-term.
"Yeah, obviously, I love being here, love the boys. We're building something special. And I wouldn't be opposed to staying here for a long time."
The Vancouver Canucks parted ways with Rick Tocchet earlier in their offseason. Now, several reports indicate two frontrunners for the vacant position.
Thomas Drance and I both reporting, Adam Foote is still very much in the mix in the Canucks head coaching job.
Manny Malhotra and Adam Foote are the two candidates still in the running for the head coaching position. Malhotra has been an NHL assistant coach for both the Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs. This season, he was the head coach for the Canucks AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks.
On the other hand, Foote is a former Avalanche defender who was on staff with Tocchet. Before that, he coached in the WHL as the head coach for the Kelowna Rockets.
According to one of these reports, Malhotra is the Canucks' "slight favorite." However, the team has not announced anything at the time of this writing.
📷 Patrick Johnston on Bluesky
Echoing and extending on what Dhali and Drancer have put together: sounds like Canucks' head coaching job is coming down to Adam Foote or Manny Malhtora, with Malhotra the slight favourite.
The fluidity of these situations is not surprising. Much thought needs to be given to the individual tasked with running your team, and management must take extreme care in choosing the right individual.
Both candidates make sense for different (but similar) reasons. Malhotra is familiar with the AHL team and has more experience as a coach, while Foote is more familiar with the players' strengths and weaknesses with the NHL team.
Nevertheless, this story will be interesting to follow, especially for long-time Avalanche fans.
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Kagiso Rabada will lead a South African pace bowling attack weakened by injury in the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord’s in London from June 11 to 15.
NEW YORK (AP) — Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson were reinstated by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday, making both eligible for the sport’s Hall of Fame after their careers were tarnished by sports gambling scandals.
Rose’s permanent ban was lifted eight months after his death and comes a day before the Cincinnati Reds will honor baseball’s career hits leader with Pete Rose Night.
Manfred announced Tuesday that he was changing the league’s policy on permanent ineligibility, saying bans would expire after death.
Under the Hall of Fame’s current rules, it appears the earliest Rose or Jackson could be inducted would be in 2028.
Rose agreed to a permanent ban on Aug. 23, 1989, following an investigation commissioned by Major League Baseball concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Reds as a player and manager of the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule.
Rose first applied for reinstatement in September 1997, but Commissioner Bud Selig never ruled on the request. Manfred in 2015 rejected a petition for reinstatement, saying “Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life.”
Rose died Sept. 30 at age 83, and a new petition was filed Jan. 8 by Jeffrey Lenkov, a lawyer who represented Rose. Lenkov and Rose’s daughter Fawn had met with Manfred on Dec. 17.
A 17-time All-Star during a playing career from 1963-86, Rose holds record for hits (4,256), games (3,562), at-bats (14,053), plate appearances (15,890) and singles (3,215). He was the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year, 1973 MVP and 1975 World Series MVP. A three-time NL batting champion, he broke the prior hits record of 4,191 set by Ty Cobb from 1905-28.
Jackson was a .356 career hitter who was among the eight Chicago Black Sox banned for throwing the 1919 World Series. Jackson twice appeared on a BBWAA ballot before the Hall’s rules change, receiving 0.9% in 1936 and 1% of a nominating vote in 1940.
What else needs to happen for Rose or Jackson to reach the Hall of Fame?
Under a rule adopted by the Hall’s board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can’t be considered for election to the Hall.
Rose’s reinstatement occurred too late for him to be considered for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. If not on the permanently banned list, Rose would have been eligible on the ballots each from 1992 through 2006. He was written in on 41 votes in 1992 and on 243 of 7,232 ballots (3.4%) over the 15 years, votes that were not counted.
Without the ban, both players appear to be eligible for the Hall’s Classic Baseball Era, which next meets to consider players in December 2027 and considers those whose greatest contributions to the sport were before 1980.
A 10-person historical overview committee selects the ballot candidates with the approval of the Hall’s board and the ballot is considered by 16 members at the winter meetings, with a 75% or higher vote needed. The committee members include Hall of Fame members, team executives and media/historians.
Among the players in the 2028 class eligible for the BBWAA ballot are Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.
Did Trump help get Rose reinstated?
Rose’s supporters have included U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he intends to pardon Rose posthumously. Manfred discussed Rose with Trump when the pair met in April, but he hasn’t disclosed specifics of their conversation.
It’s not clear what a presidential pardon for Rose would entail. Rose entered guilty pleas on April 20, 1990, to two counts of filing false tax returns, admitting he failed to report $354,968 during a four-year period. Rose was sentenced on July 19, 1990, by U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel in Cincinnati to five months in prison. He also was fined $50,000 and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service as a gym teacher’s assistant with inner-city youths in Cincinnati as part of a one-year probation period. The first three months of the probation were to be spent at the halfway house. Rose repaid the Internal Revenue Service $366,042.
Last year, the Anaheim Ducks surprised the NHL draft floor in Las Vegas when they selected Oshawa Generals right winger Beckett Sennecke third overall.
Sennecke himself was visibly (and famously) surprised, and while I can't say I predicted him going in the top five, some scouts had told me late in the season they saw his stock dramatically rising.
That got me thinking: who could be this year's Sennecke?
The draft always holds surprises, and while there are some great candidates to go in the top five this season – Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, Porter Martone, Anton Frondell and James Hagens – there are also some names that could jump up into that range. Here are three candidates.
Brady Martin, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
Martin will come into the draft hot, having scorched the field at the World Men's U-18s with Canada and winning a gold medal in the process. He didn't have much talent surrounding him in the Soo this year but still put up solid offensive numbers.
He's physical, he's a leader, and when it comes to off-ice training, the small-town Ontario farm boy hasn't even begun his ascent.
"Martin is right in there with the top OHL guys," said one scout. "When media guys do their redrafts in a few years, he'll be considerably higher. The way he plays, he might end up being one of the best pros. You've got a kid who has never done power skating or summer skill camps; he's just a hockey player. His compete level is off the charts. He plays both ends of the ice and in all the hard areas."
Roger McQueen, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
The knock on McQueen this season has been the injury that sidelined him for most of the campaign. Scouts suspect a back problem, and given what happened to Columbus Blue Jackets first-rounder Cayden Lindstrom, there is some reticence. However, Lindstrom just returned from his back injury and is playing for Medicine Hat in the WHL final.
On merit, McQueen is a 6-foot-5 center who skates well, has a great shot and hunts down pucks.
"Ability-wise, he's top-five, potentially even top-three," said one scout. "The injury, and being on the heels of Cayden Lindstrom not playing, I expect him to slide."
Having said that, it only takes one team to believe in McQueen and his long-term upside.
When draft day actually arrives, the same thing happens every year: teams picking high go for centers or size or both.
O'Brien is a 6-foot-2 center who will only get stronger once he bulks up from his current 170 pounds. He's coming off a 98-point season with the Bulldogs and plays at both ends of the ice.
"He's in the Wyatt Johnston mold that thinks the game well," said one scout. "He's very elusive, but he's not going to run you over like Porter Martone. He'll steal pucks by lifting sticks or jumping pass routes. He's another guy who people will say 'you picked that guy over him?' in a few years. He has that potential."
Pete Rose remains MLB’s all-time hits leader.Photograph: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Tuesday that Pete Rose, ‘Shoeless’ Joe Jackson and other deceased players have been removed from MLB’s permanently ineligible list. The decision clears the path for the sport’s all-time hits leader and the storied Chicago White Sox star to be considered for the Hall of Fame.
Manfred ruled that MLB’s punishment of banned individuals ends upon their death. “Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,” Manfred wrote in a letter to attorney Jeffrey M Lenkov, who petitioned for Rose’s removal in January.
Rose accepted his ban in 1989 after an MLB investigation found he bet on games while managing the Cincinnati Reds. Jackson and seven other White Sox players were banned for life in 1921 for allegedly fixing the 1919 World Series. Rose died in September at age 83; Jackson passed away in 1951.
The ruling also removes 16 other deceased players and one deceased owner from MLB’s banned list, including Jackson’s former teammates Eddie Cicotte and George ‘Buck’ Weaver.
Rose and Jackson are now eligible for the Hall of Fame, with their cases expected to be reviewed by the Classic Baseball Era Committee in December 2027. Both would need 12 of 16 votes for induction, meaning the earliest possible enshrinement would be summer 2028.
Lenkov, who led the petition for Rose’s reinstatement, called the decision “a long journey”. He plans to meet with Hall of Fame officials to discuss Rose’s candidacy. “Reds Nation will not only be able to celebrate Pete’s legacy, but now optimistically be able to look forward to the possibility that Pete will join other baseball immortals,” Lenkov said.
The decision has sparked debate. John Dowd, who led MLB’s original investigation into Rose, criticized the move, saying the ban’s significance should not be erased after death. “There’s no difference with him being dead – it’s about behavior, conduct, and reputation,” Dowd told ESPN.
Rose’s career remains unmatched, with 4,256 hits, three World Series titles, and a .303 lifetime batting average. Jackson, despite his involvement in the 1919 scandal, finished with a career .356 average – the fourth highest in MLB history.
Rose and Jackson’s eligibility for Cooperstown now rests with Hall of Fame voters, reigniting debates about integrity, redemption, and legacy in America’s pastime.
SEATTLE (AP) — New York Yankees third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left ankle fracture ahead of Tuesday night’s game against the Seattle Mariners.
In a corresponding move, infielder DJ LeMahieu completed his rehab assignment and was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.
In the ninth inning of New York’s 11-5 victory over Seattle on Monday night, Cabrera fractured his left ankle on an awkward slide when he reached back for the plate and scored the Yankees’ final run on Aaron Judge’s sacrifice fly.
Cabrera is in his fourth MLB season and has become a regular in the Yankees’ lineup. He is hitting .243 this season with one home run and 11 RBIs.
“He cares for everybody in this room. He loves being a Yankee,” Judge said after Monday’s game. “He wears his jersey with pride. This is a tough one, especially a guy that’s grinded his whole life and finally got an opportunity to be our everyday guy and been excelling at it.”
"Shoeless" Joe Jackson, banned after his participation in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, also was reinstated in a sweeping decision by commissioner Rob Manfred that included other deceased players from the list. All are eligible for election to the Hall of Fame.
An MLB statement released Tuesday referred to it as a "policy decision."
"This issue has never been formally addressed by Major League Baseball, but an application filed by the family of Pete Rose has made it incumbent upon the Office of the Commissioner to reach a policy decision on this unprecedented issue in the modern era as Mr. Rose is the first person banned after the tenure of commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis to die while still on the ineligible list.
"Commissioner Manfred has concluded that MLB’s policy shall be that permanent ineligibility ends upon the passing of the disciplined individual."
Rose had been exiled from the sport since 1989, after he was found by then-commissioner Bart Giamatti (yes, the father of actor Paul Giamatti) to have been betting on his team’s games while he was manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Rose died Sept. 30, 2024, at the age of 83.
Rose's daughter, Fawn Rose, filed a petition for reinstatement Jan. 8 and met with Manfred. In February, President Trump advocated for the lifetime ban to be lifted in a social media post, then met with Manfred in April to discuss the matter.
Jeffrey Lenkov, a Los Angeles lawyer who represented Rose at the time of his death and prepared the petition pro bono, told The Times the decision was the result of several years of working with Manfred and his executive team.
"The Rose family and I are extremely overjoyed," Lenkov said. "The reinstatement in and of itself is a historic moment because many people, including Pete at times, thought the ban would never be lifted.
"Getting into the Hall of Fame on his merits is an opportunity he wanted and should be able to receive now."
Cincinnati Reds player-manager Pete Rose hits a line drive single to break Ty Cobb's all-time hits record in 1985. (Associated Press)
From his 24-year career that resulted in more MLB hits — 4,256 hits — than any other player in history to his lifetime ban, Rose's saga was as complex and sad as it was triumphant. Pete Rose Night will take place Wednesday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, and the decision to lift the ban undoubtedly will elevate the mood.
Here is a look at key elements of his rise, fall and potential inclusion in the Hall of Fame.
Will Rose or Jackson immediately be inducted into the Hall of Fame?
No. Barring an unforeseen exception, the earliest Rose could be considered for induction would be the summer of 2028. The committee that could vote him into the hall — the Classic Baseball Era Committee — doesn't convene until December 2027.
Rose is not eligible to be voted in by the Baseball Writers Assn. of America because its ballot includes only candidates whose playing careers ended no more than 15 years prior to the election. Rose retired in 1986. In 1991, two years after Rose was banned from baseball and months before he was set to make the ballot — players become eligible for consideration five years after they retire — the hall’s board of directors passed a rule prohibiting anybody on the ineligible list from being a candidate.
Hall of Fame chair Jane Forbes Clark issued a statement making it clear Rose, Jackson and the others are eligible for induction.
"The National Baseball Hall of Fame has always maintained that anyone removed from Baseball’s permanently ineligible list will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration," the statement said. "Major League Baseball’s decision to remove deceased individuals from the permanently ineligible list will allow for the Hall of Fame candidacy of such individuals to now be considered."
Now that Rose is eligible, his case will be reviewed by the 16-member Classic Baseball Era Committee which evaluates players who made their greatest impact before 1980. Rose would qualify for consideration because his 24-year career began in 1963.
The committee voted in Dick Allen and Dave Parker this year. When it convenes again to vote for 2028 induction, Rose would need the backing of an aye from a 75% majority — 12 of the 16 members.
Since before the 1919 Black Sox Scandal resulted in Jackson and other players being banned for life for taking money from gamblers and throwing games, Major League Baseball has had a rule against gambling to protect the integrity of the game. Rule 21(d) is posted in every clubhouse and states: “Any player, umpire, or Club or League official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible."
Rose bet on the Cincinnati Reds when he was the team's player-manager in 1985 and '86, and the manager in '87. An MLB investigation headed by lawyer John Dowd resulted in a 225-page report released in 1989 that named men that Rose allegedly placed bets with and cited evidence that Rose bet on Reds games.
Cincinnati Reds manager Pete Rose before a spring training game March 22, 1989, after the Commissioner's Office investigation into his gambling was released. (John Swart / Associated Press)
After denying for nearly 15 years that he bet on baseball, Rose admitted doing so in his 2004 book, “My Prison Without Bars,” written with Rick Hill. Later, he would sign and sell baseballs with the inscription, “Sorry I bet on baseball.” The balls currently go for $200 to $400 apiece online.
Born and raised in Cincinnati, Rose began gambling as a youngster when his dad took him to a local racetrack. By the time he reached the big leagues, he was betting on college and pro basketball and pro football in addition to the horses.
“On Feb. 5, 1986, I wrote three checks for eight grand each to cover my losses on the NFL playoffs,” Rose wrote. “The NFL turned into March Madness, which turned into the NBA playoffs, which always turned into the skids.
"I always lived by one hard and fast rule: You don’t bet on baseball. But for the first time in my life, I was no longer playing baseball, just managing. A part of me was still looking for ways to recapture the high I got from winning batting titles and World Series. If I couldn’t get the high from playing baseball, then I needed a substitute.
"I can’t honestly remember the first time I bet on baseball. But I remember the first time I spoke openly about it. I was sitting in my living room, watching the 1986 playoffs between the Mets and the Astros. I had a group of friends over for the game. Without even thinking of the consequences, I said, ‘Betting on the playoffs makes the games more exciting to watch.’ ”
Rose's immense popularity in his hometown began to erode when the Dowd Report was made public.
“Forever and ever and ever, the people here have been solidly behind Pete,” Marty Brennaman, longtime broadcaster for the Reds, told The Times' Bill Plaschke. “This is the most provincial city I’ve lived in. I can’t imagine a more provincial city.
“But now, there is a segment of the population where, if they haven’t completely gone the other way against Pete, there is at least an element of doubt in their minds. People are becoming divided.”
Longtime Cincinnati historian Dan Hurley insisted the public reaction was even harsher.
“I think the reaction finally is, ‘Hey, they got him,’ ” Hurley said of Rose. “And for us, that’s not very pleasant.”
Rose does have his supporters within baseball. Terry Francona, his former teammate who is in his first season as Reds manager, recently said, "If he’s not in the Hall of Fame, there isn’t one."
Why the change of heart by MLB?
Pete Rose speaks at a news conference in Las Vegas after MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said he has no intention of altering Rose's lifetime ban from baseball. (Mark J. Terrill / Associated Press)
Rose first petitioned for reinstatement in 1997 when Bud Selig was commissioner. Selig didn't meet with Rose until 2002 and did not rule on the issue before he retired in 2006. Manfred rejected a second petition by Rose in 2015, saying, "Mr. Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life either by an honest acceptance by him of his wrongdoing, so clearly established by the Dowd Report, or by a rigorous, self-aware and sustained program of avoidance by him of the circumstances that led to his permanent eligibility in 1989.
"Absent such credible evidence, allowing him to work in the game presents an unacceptable risk of a future violation by him of Rule 21, and thus to the integrity of our sport. I, therefore, must reject Mr. Rose's application for reinstatement."
Rose's death created an opportunity to revisit his status. If the permanently ineligible list exists to prevent a person who poses a threat to the integrity of the game from working in baseball, could that status change when the person is no longer living?
Roses adorn the statue of Pete Rose at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati after the all-time hits leader died. (Kareem Elgazzar / Associated Press)
"Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game," Manfred wrote in a letter to Lenkov. "Moreover, it is hard to conceive of a penalty that has more deterrent effect than one that lasts a lifetime with no reprieve."
That argument was made in the December petition by Rose's family, and Manfred took it into consideration.
"Pete in his lifetime felt he had done his time, paid the price," Lenkov said. "I believe he lived with a scarlet letter on him because of it. His punishment was substantial."
Manfred's ruling removes 16 deceased players and one deceased owner from the banned list. Included are some additional 1919 White Sox players found to have taken money from gamblers to throw games, including pitcher Eddie Cicotte and third baseman George “Buck” Weaver.
The relationship between gambling and professional sports — including MLB — has evolved dramatically in recent years. Sports betting is legal in 40 states, and the American Gaming Assn. estimates that its total economic impact is $328 billion a year and revenue from it exceeded $115 billion in 2024.
Yet restrictions still apply, again to protect the integrity of the game. Can a baseball player, coach or umpire bet on March Madness brackets, the Super Bowl or participate in a fantasy football league? Yes. Can they bet on anything — baseball or otherwise — through illegal or offshore bookmakers? No.
What was President Trump's role in the reinstatement?
Even before the family’s petition for reinstatement had become public, Trump posted a message on Truth Social on Feb. 28 that read:
"Major League Baseball didn’t have the courage or decency to put the late, great, Pete Rose, also known as 'Charlie Hustle,' into the Baseball Hall of fame. Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it, and can only be named posthumously. WHAT A SHAME!
"Anyway, over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING."
No evidence has surfaced of Rose betting on the Reds to lose. After confessing in his book that he bet on baseball, he emphasized that point.
“I bet on my own team to win,” Rose told NJ.com. “That’s what I did in a nutshell. I was wrong, but I didn’t taint the game. I bet on my team every night because that’s the confidence that I had in my players.”
A pardon wasn't necessary for Manfred to reinstate Rose, who in 1990 served five months in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion.
Trump met with Manfred at the White House on April 16, but neither man spoke publicly about what they discussed. MLB issued a statement that said, "President Trump is a longtime fan of baseball. As he has done in the past, commissioner Manfred was pleased to visit the White House again to discuss issues pertaining to baseball with the president.”
What are Pete Rose's Hall of Fame credentials?
Cincinnati Reds player-manager Pete Rose is congratulated by his teammates after he broke Ty Cobb's hitting record in Cincinnati on Sept. 11, 1985. (Associated Press)
Rose broke Ty Cobb's career hits total of 4,189 in 1985 and finished with 4,256. He was named National League Rookie of the Year in 1963 and the NL Most Valuable Player in 1973. He won three batting titles and three World Series titles — two with the Reds in 1975 and '76 and one with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980.
Rose batted .303 with an on-base percentage of .375, earning the nickname "Charlie Hustle" because he sprinted to first base even on a walk. He led the NL in hits seven times, doubles five times, and in 1978 put together a 44-game hitting streak, second in baseball history to Joe DiMaggio's 56-game streak.
Rose played in more games (3,562), had more plate appearances (15,890) and more at-bats (14,053) than any other player.
Erasing the white board and starting from scratch, the Warriors’ Game 2 loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semifinals was a wash.
Steve Kerr tried, quite literally, everybody. When the final buzzer rang, the Warriors lost by 24 points. The feeling of the game didn’t resemble the score. Kerr’s objective of experimental minutes was finding something that could work with Steph Curry out to a strained left hamstring.
Emerging from the rubble in that loss were Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis. Kuminga has been a go-to scorer without Curry, and Jackson-Davis has regained his old title of starting center. The last two losses are where frustration and disappointment has to kick in.
Games aren’t decided by one quarter. Throughout the playoffs, major leads have been lost in a flash. That’s the modern NBA. And yet, if it weren’t for two terrible quarters, one in each of the past two games, this series could be looking a lot different than the Warriors staring at a three-games-to-one deficit, still waiting for Curry, who officially has been ruled out for Game 5 on Wednesday.
In the Warriors’ 102-97 Game 3 loss, it was the fourth quarter that spelled doom for them. They held a four-point lead, 73-69, entering the final 12 minutes and wound up losing by five.
“It felt like a couple of offensive rebounds for them turned into threes,” Kerr said after that Game 3 loss. “I think [Anthony] Edwards had one out of the corner. [Naz] Reid, there’s a big sequence where Jimmy [Butler] had a shot at the rim. Looked like he was going to convert it, looked like he might have gotten fouled and then they went the other way and got an offensive board and Reid hit the three from the corner.
“I thought that was the sequence that really shifted the game and the momentum.”
With 10 minutes left and the Warriors ahead 75-69, Butler stepped up to set a screen for Draymond Green and rolled behind Julius Randle. Butler caught Green’s high pass, came down for his signature two-footed jump stop and rose for an attempt at the rim. Randle’s left hand was on Butler’s hip the whole time, but no foul was called and the Timberwolves gained possession.
Edwards then hit a step-back three to make it a three-point game. Kuminga countered with a layup, but on the Timberwolves’ next offensive possession, Edwards’ missed three bounced off Jaden McDaniels’ hand, Butler’s hand and into the hands of Mike Conley, who found Reid in the right corner for three points.
From that point on, the Timberwolves outscored the Warriors 27-20 the rest of the game. Butler scored 28 points through three quarters, and then went 1 of 7 for five points in the fourth.
The Warriors at halftime led by two points. While the Timberwolves had doubled the Warriors’ output from 3-point range, 10 to five, the Warriors had more rebounds (25-15), points in the paint (26-16), fastbreak points (9-8) and second-chance points (10-2). Their two-point lead then was wiped away to a 20-point Timberwolves lead going into the fourth quarter.
They went from having just six turnovers in the first half to seven in the third quarter alone. It’s their defense, Kerr believes, that preceded bigger problems.
“Defensive connection,” Kerr said Tuesday in a Zoom with media members, one day after the Warriors’ Game 4 loss. “We had done a really good job the previous couple games of just staying connected. I thought our offensive woes in the middle of the third quarter led to some of the transition stuff. They hit some tough shots, but it didn’t feel like we ever had control of them in the third.
“We have to stay better connected and make sure we’re forcing tougher shots than what we gave up in that fourth quarter.”
The Warriors went 7 of 19 from the field in the third quarter of Game 4, and missed all six of their 3-point attempts. The Timberwolves had more rebounds (10-5), points in the paint (18-12), fastbreak points (11-2) and second-chance points (7-2), while shooting 15 of 23 overall and 6 of 12 on threes.
There’s a theme between both quarters: Edwards scored 13 points in the fourth quarter of Game 3, and 16 in the third quarter of Game 4.
Through the last two games, the Warriors have tied or won six of eight quarters. The only two that they lost were the fourth quarter of Game 3 and the third quarter of Game 4, when the Timberwolves outscored them by a combined 31 points. In the other six quarters, the Warriors have outscored the Timberwolves by 19 points the last two games.
To keep the season alive and the hopes of getting Curry back with three days in between Game 6, the Warriors simply have to avoid a catastrophic quarter in Game 5.
One of the developing stories around the Montreal Canadiens this offseason will be how the situation in net evolves. For now, at least, Samuel Montembeault is the Habs’ number one goaltender, and it looks like the backup role will be Jakub Dobes’ to lose.
Newly signed prospect Jacob Fowler will need at least one season of full-time action in the AHL before the organization can even consider bringing him into the NHL. Meanwhile, Connor Hughes has already announced that he’ll be heading back to Switzerland, and Cayden Primeau will be a restricted free agent once more.
Joe Verbatic, drafted in the seventh round in 2022, has yet to be signed to an ELC, and unless he is by June 1, the Canadiens will relinquish their rights to him. Emmett Croteau, who was a sixth-round pick in 2022 will still be plying his trade with Dartmouth in the NCAA, fifth-round pick at the 2024 draft Mikus Vecvanags will move from the QJMHL to the NCAA with the University of Maine, Quentin Miller who went from the Quebec Remparts to the BCHL since he was picked 128th overall at the 2023 draft will also be moving to the NCAA with the University of Denver.
But there’s another goaltending prospect who will still be skating in the KHL: Yevgeni Volokhin. We’ve not heard much about him so far, but on Tuesday. RG.org published a lengthy interview with the netminder who was picked in the fifth round of the 2023 draft, and clearly, he has his sights set on the Canadiens and the NHL.
While we’ve not heard much about him this season, compared to, say, Ivan Demidov, whose every move was on social media, the Canadiens are keeping close tabs on him. Nick Bobrov calls or texts him every two to three weeks, and every time there’s something important. The Canadiens' co-director of amateur scouting provides advice on his game and/or mental preparation.
According to the interview, Volokhin plans to attend the development camp this Summer, and it will be interesting to see what he can bring to the table. While most people believe Fowler will be the Canadiens’ number one when the team is ready to contend, it’s worth remembering that there are other options in the depth chart.
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In a talented class headlined by Duke forward Cooper Flagg, the only thing that feels certain right now is that Dallas will have a new generational superstar to build around. However, with Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially available for a trade, and the path to a championship feeling more wide open than ever, plenty of lottery picks could be on the move in June.
NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin, Rotoworld’s Raphielle Johnson and myself got together to mock the first 14 picks of the draft now that the order is clear. We'll do more mock drafts in the lead up to the 2025 NBA Draft on June 25.
1. Dallas Mavericks: Cooper Flagg, F, Duke
This is the obvious choice. Dallas somehow lucked into a generational prospect just months after trading one away. Flagg fits GM Nico Harrison’s motto of “defense wins championships” and should make an impact from day one on a team that will have championship aspirations next season. Flagg will provide playmaking while Kyrie Irving gets healthy while forming a formidable defensive front alongside Anthony Davis, Dereck Lively, and P.J. Washington. - Rubin
2. San Antonio Spurs: Dylan Harper, G, Rutgers
As we often hear in drafts, this is where the draft begins. The Spurs hold two lottery picks (No. 14 as well). Do they hold onto them, or is this viewed as an opportunity to add another star to the equation? With De'Aaron Fox in the fold, adding another point guard to the mix may not appear to be the best approach. However, Harper is the best available player on the board, and his combination of size and skill is too enticing to pass up here. - Johnson
3. Philadelphia 76ers: V.J. Edgecombe, G, Baylor
If Daryl Morey keeps this pick, he needs to think about the long-term play as a fit with Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain, and I think Edgecombe works better there than the riskier play of Ace Bailey. Edgecombe can play on or off the ball, defends well, and gives the 76ers a three-guard rotation that will be the core of this team in a post Joel Embiid/Paul George era. - Helin
Michael Jordan, a six-time NBA champion and a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, will join NBC Sports’ coverage of the NBA as a special contributor.
Knueppel can provide a number of things for a Hornets team that is still trying to figure things out. He can slot in as a day-one starter alongside LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, Miles Bridges and Mark Williams. Knueppel is known for his shooting, which will open up the offense for the aforementioned starters. He can be a secondary creator when needed and will compete on the defensive end. He also doesn’t need the ball in his hands to contribute. With some injury luck, Charlotte could return to the postseason. - Rubin
5. Utah Jazz: Ace Bailey, F, Rutgers
I was a bit surprised to see Bailey available in this spot. While his measurements at the NBA Draft Combine were somewhat concerning, with the forward being more than two inches shorter than his listing at Rutgers, games aren't played barefoot. Even with Utah selecting Cody Williams in last year's draft and also having Brice Sensabaugh in the wing rotation, neither has done enough to dissuade adding another competitor to the mix. If the athletic Bailey is available at five, the Jazz are going to have a hard time passing on him. - Johnson
6. Washington Wizards: Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma
Washington needs help everywhere, and with all due respect to Bub Carrington, that includes point guard. Fears is an upside play. There are scouts that love him and think he's top five in this draft, others are not sold, but Washington should take big swings at this point in their roster-building process. - Helin
7. New Orleans Pelicans: Derik Queen, C, Maryland
The Pelicans drafted Yves Missi in the first round last season, but they still have questions at center, specifically with Missi’s fit next to Zion Williamson, who represented the team at the draft lottery. If that’s their way of saying they’re committed to Zion as the franchise player, then they need a center that fits better next to him. Insert Queen, who is a strong playmaker for a center and can space the floor enough to open things up for Williamson. There may be questions about that frontcourt defensively, but Herb Jones and Trey Murphy will help make up for it. Plus, the big man pick and rolls will be so much fun. - Rubin
8. Brooklyn Nets: Tre Johnson, G, Texas
Johnson is one of the best pure scorers in this draft class, as he can put up points from anywhere on the court. With the Nets holding four first-round picks and a lot of cap space, it's fair to wonder if lead executive Sean Marks will look to use this as an opportunity to fast-track the team's rebuild. If not, Johnson can be a solid building block for the Nets, regardless of what happens with Cam Thomas in free agency. - Johnson
9. Toronto Raptors: Collin Murray-Boyles, F, South Carolina
This is just a natural fit. The Raptors have been in love with playing a lot of interchangeable, switchable wings and Murray-Boyles slides right into that deep rotation in Toronto. - Helin
10. Houston Rockets: Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
Alperen Sengun is obviously the starting center for Houston, but that doesn’t mean he is a flawless player. Having Maluach off the bench provides the Rockets with a nice change of pace with a defensive stalwart that shot 71.2 percent from the floor for Duke last season. Houston had success with two-big lineups featuring Sengun and Steven Adams, and while Maluach isn’t the passer that Adams is, it’s an intriguing lineup. Plus, having a shot blocker like Maluach behind a perimeter defense featuring Amen Thompson, Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. is enticing. - Rubin
The Trail Blazers' play after the All-Star break certainly sparked optimism, and rightfully so. However, they still have a logjam to clean out in the frontcourt, and they remain small at the guard positions with Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson. Jackucionis' ability to play on or off the ball would make for a good fit, even with there being concerns regarding how well he can separate off the bounce. - Johnson
12. Chicago Bulls: Carter Bryant, F, Arizona
Chicago needs defense, particularly wing defense, and that's where Bryant comes in. If Chicago is all-in on a Josh Giddey and Coby White backcourt, Bryant provides a transition finisher and needed defense. - Helin
13. Atlanta Hawks: Thomas Sorber, C, Georgetown
Atlanta has tried to surround Trae Young with a ton of length, and that is something that Sorber can provide. He measured in with a 7-foot-6 wingspan and a 9-foot-1 standing reach at the combine. Sorber showcased shooting touch from the mid-range in college and was a solid passer at the center spot. Onyeka Okongwu is an undersized center, and while Sorber isn’t that tall, he makes up for it with length and strength. He’ll fit well in Quin Snyder’s offense and should make a day-one impact on defense. Of course, this could be another minutes split for Okongwu, who spent the last few seasons behind Clint Capela. This time, Okongwu will at least be the starter. - Rubin
14. San Antonio Spurs: Egor Demin, G, BYU
With the Spurs already selecting Harper in this mock draft, Demin probably isn't the best fit. But versatile forward Carter Bryant was off the board, so the 6-foot-9 Demin is the choice. He isn't much of a shooter, and the defense needs some work, but the Russian guard's ability to make reads in the two-man game makes him one of the more intriguing prospects in the draft class. Unless the Spurs were to use the second overall pick to go "big game hunting," I'd keep an eye on this pick potentially being moved in favor of adding a more established option alongside Wembanyama, Fox, and Castle. - Johnson
In a recent article published by Sheng Peng with San Jose Hockey Now, it seems as though two members of the San Jose Sharks' organization want to play in the NHL next season, but may not get that shot with the Sharks.
Danil Gushchin and Andrew Poturalski played the 2024-25 season with the San Jose Barracuda in the American Hockey League (AHL) and weren't given too much of an opportunity to make a name for themselves at the NHL level.
Poturalski only played three games, notching one assist with the Sharks, but had 73 points through 59 games with the Barracuda. Gushchin played 12 games with the Sharks, notching one assist, but had 51 points through 56 games with the Barracuda this season.
Poturalski admitted it was frustrating not to get more of an opportunity with the Sharks this season. It's also important to mention that he did not directly rule out the possibility of heading to the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) next season.
While neither of them flat-out said they would be leaving or would try to pursue other opportunities, they hinted that they would prefer to get a real shot at playing in the NHL, and it doesn't sound like that opportunity would come with the Sharks next season.
Kurt Helin
