Interim lightweight champion Justin Gaethje will be among several UFC fighters who will demonstrate their training techniques to academy students and FBI staff at the FBI Special Agent Academy in Quantico, Virginia, on Saturday and Sunday.
Gaethje also will headline a July 4 card on the south lawn of the White House when he goes against Ilia Topuria for the lightweight championship.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for our FBI agents to learn and train with some of the greatest athletes on earth — helping the world’s premier law enforcement agency be even better prepared to protect the American people,” FBI director Kash Patel said in a statement.
Jorge Masvidal, Chris Weidman, Claudia Gadelha, Michael Chandler, Manel Kape and Renzo Gracie are the other mixed-martial arts fighters who will take part.
"It’s an incredible opportunity for our athletes to experience, and we’re proud to support the FBI in strengthening their defense techniques,” Dana White, the UFC CEO and president, said in a statement.
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 11: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers controls the ball against Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic in the first half of the game at Kia Center on March 11, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost a tough one to the Orlando Magic last night. It wasn’t just that they had a disappointing effort on defense that led to their defeat. But it also felt like the officiating was working against them at key moments.
Kenny Atkinson deployed both of his coaches’ challenges throughout the game. Once on an out-of-bounds call in the first quarter, and later to reverse a shooting foul on Keon Ellis. Both were successful. But once the game was coming down to the wire, Atkinson wished he had a third challenge to use on a key call.
With under 20 seconds to play, the Magic attempted to dump the ball into the post for Paolo Banchero. The entry pass sailed out of bounds — with both James Harden and Banchero making an attempt to catch it. It was unclear if either player touched the ball before it went out of bounds. In real time, the official did his best and determined it was Orlando’s possession. But on such a tough call, you would have liked to see a replay review.
Fortunately, it turns out the officials made the right call.
The NBA’s last two-minute report confirms that Harden touched the ball before it went out of bounds. That might not make you feel any better about the Cavs losing — but at least you can rest assured they weren’t screwed out of an opportunity to win.
The only missed calls included an uncalled foul by Sam Merrill and a missed travel from Desmond Bane. I think those two cancel each other out. Everything else was ruled correct by the league’s report.
With the 2026 season opener two weeks away, most of the Astros’ Opening Day 26-man roster is coming into focus. A few spots, however, remain unsettled. After the signing of Christian Vázquez and the announcement that Josh Hader will start the season on the IL, here’s my second pass at how things could shake out:
Starting pitchers: Hunter Brown, Christian Javier, Tatsuya Imai, Mike Burrows, Spencer Arrighetti, Lance McCullers Jr
Also considered: None
Everything appears to have gone according to plan for the four perceived rotation locks — Brown, Javier, Burrows, and Imai — along with Arrighetti and McCullers, the favorites for the final two spots. All six are healthy, and all six have been effective in most of their outings.
Bullpen: Bryan Abreu, Bryan King, Steven Okert, AJ Blubaugh, Ryan Weiss, Bennett Sousa, Enyel De Los Santos
Also considered: Roddery Muñoz, Peter Lambert, Nate Pearson, Kai-Wei Teng
We know Josh Hader will start the season on the IL, but I’m working under the assumption that Enyel De Los Santos, who is scheduled to throw a live BP on Friday, will be ready for Opening Day.
Slow-playing things and having De Los Santos start the season on the IL would open a roster spot for Rule 5 pick Muñoz, who must remain on the roster all season or be sent back to Cincinnati. His velocity and strikeout numbers have been impressive this spring. The Astros could send Muñoz back to the Reds and then try to re-acquire him via trade.
Former second round pick Peter Lambert has put himself on the radar with an impressive spring following a season in Japan.
Catchers: Yainer Diaz, Christian Vázquez
Also considered: Cèsar Salazar
Vázquez has been with Puerto Rico in the WBC since rejoining the Astros on a minor league deal last week, but I don’t think he signed with the intention of starting the season in Sugar Land. Salazar is out of options, however, so sending him down risks losing him on the waiver wire. I think the Astros will ultimately take that risk.
Infielders: Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Jeremy Peña, Christian Walker, Isaac Paredes, Nick Allen
Also considered: Brice Matthews, Zach Dezenzo
I am working under the assumption that Peña will not need to start the season on the IL. He’s scheduled to be re-evaluated next week, so we’ll have a clearer picture then.
Loperfido has hit in four straight games after a dreadful start, so I have him moving ahead of Trammell, who has had a nice spring himself. Cole’s numbers haven’t been great, but he has done a good job of getting on base, and I think the Astros would like for him to make the Opening Day roster.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are at home against the Atlanta Braves, where they will try and pick up another win in the Grapefruit League.
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The Vancouver Canucks have made their fair share of interesting trades throughout the past few seasons. One could argue that the J.T. Miller trade flopped for both sides, while fans have soured on the trade that sent a 2025 first-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
A trade that has stood out as of late is Vancouver’s decision to move on from former first-round pick Vasily Podkolzin, who they sent to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft — the very pick that was sent back to Edmonton in exchange for Evander Kane a little less than a year later.
Podkolzin was drafted 10th overall by Vancouver in 2019 but spent three seasons playing for the Canucks. During this span of time, he scored 18 goals and 17 assists in 137 games. With Vancouver, he never quite got back to his previous career-high of 14 goals and 12 assists in 79 games during his rookie NHL season.
Since joining the Oilers, Podkolzin has put up back-to-back 20-point seasons and has already surpassed his previous career-high this year. Through 65 games in 2025–26, he’s scored 15 goals and 14 assists. This ties him with Vancouver’s current goal-scoring leader, Drew O’Connor. Were he still on the Canucks now, he’d be tied for the fourth-most points on the team. Podkolzin has also scored the Oilers’ lead in game-winning goals with five.
Looking past his offensive capabilities this season, the forward has developed into a more well-rounded player for Edmonton, as he’s been killing penalties for the Oilers while also skating on lines with high-end players like Leon Draisaitl. As it stands, he currently has a +/- rating of +14 (third-highest on the Oilers) and has averaged 15:09 minutes played per game.
Mar 6, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; The Edmonton Oilers celebrate a goal scored by forward Vasily Podkolzin (92) during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
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SAN JOSE, CA - NOVEMBER 23: Adam Gaudette #81 of the San Jose Sharks and Andrew Peeke #26 of the Boston Bruins watch the puck during a NHL game on November 23, 2025 at SAP Center at San Jose in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Welcome to another night of Bruins hockey, folks!
We have a California crew in town once again tonight, as the Los Angeles Kings headed out and the San Jose Sharks moved in.
Every game is a big game if you believe in yourself, but for the Sharks, points are at a premium as they cling to playoff hopes.
While the Bruins aren’t exactly super secure in a playoff spot at the moment, San Jose is outside of the picture for now and has lost three games in a row — though two of those losses have come beyond regulation.
These young Sharks are an entertaining team to watch, so we probably shouldn’t expect another round of three-shot periods like we saw on Tuesday night.
This will be the second of two meetings against the Golden Knights this season after the Penguins won 5-0 back on Mar. 1. It's one of their most complete performances of the season.
They'll take on a Golden Knights squad that continues to struggle. They have lost three in a row and four of their last five games since the Mar. 1 game. They're still in a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but are really going through it.
Despite that, they still have some great high-end talent led by Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner. Eichel is a force in all three zones, compiling 23 goals and 72 points in 57 games. Marner has been a great fit in his first season with the team, racking up 18 goals and 65 points in 64 games.
Mark Stone has also been one of their best players, but hasn't played since that first game against the Penguins. He did participate in Thursday's morning skate and hasn't been ruled out for the game.
Don't forget about Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev, either. Hertl and Dorofeyev have combined for 54 goals this season and can strike at any time.
Adin Hill will start in goal for the Golden Knights. He's having a really tough season, winning only six games with an .859 save percentage. He gave up five goals in the first matchup.
The Penguins are set to run with the same lineup from Tuesday's game in Raleigh, except for in net. Arturs Silovs will be the starting goaltender for Thursday's game.
Here's a look at the projected lineup:
Forwards
Chinakhov-Rakell-Rust
Mantha-Novak-Koivunen
Soderblom-Kindel-A. Hayes
Dewar-Lizotte-Acciari
Defensive pairs
Wotherspoon-Karlsson
Shea-Letang
Solovyov-Clifton
Puck drop is set for 10 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh. Fans can also listen to the game on 105.9 'The X.'
TAMPA BAY, - MARCH 16: George Lombard Jr. #26 of the New York Yankees singles in the first inning during the 2024 Spring Breakout Game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday, March 16, 2024 in Tampa Bay, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
The Yankees continue to make some cuts at spring training, this afternoon announcing that they had reassigned their top prospect George Lombard Jr. to minor league camp. Right-handed pitchers Ben Hess and Brendan Beck also were reassigned.
Lombard had an uneven but tantalizing run at big league camp, flashing his huge potential at times. His mammoth home run off of Garrett Crochet earlier in the month stands as one of the most impressive swings from a Yankee this spring training:
As impressive as that showing was, Lombard is still just 20 and hit .185 in 11 exhibition games, with 12 strikeouts in 33 plate appearances. His time with the big club in spring was never about making the actual team, but to see how the fledgling prospect looked in a short spurt against high level competition. Lombard showed just fine in that regard, largely not looking out of place in games with actual big leaguers. He’s the team’s consensus top-ranked prospect, and his arrow is still pointed upward as he prepares to start his regular season in the high minors.
Though perhaps not as starry a talent as Lombard, Hess has played well in spring training, and is a dark horse to potentially help out the major league team this year. He impressed in a three-inning outing against the Pirates, striking out five and generating 11 whiffs in 48 pitches. Carlos Lagrange and Elmer Rodríguez are higher up on the organizational depth chart, but Hess, the Yankees’ 2024 first-round pick, could be a pick to click this summer if he can wring a little more velo out of his heater, or else make improvements to other parts of his arsenal.
Beck was part of Great Britain’s squad at the World Baseball Classic, throwing four hitless, shutout innings in a start against Brazil. The 27-year-old posted a 3.36 ERA across 131.1 innings in the high minors last year, and comes in ranked 22nd on MLB Pipeline’s Yankees top 30 list.
The NHL has told Nathan MacKinnon that they have rescinded his major penalty, the goalie interference against the Edmonton Oilers Connor Ingram. It’s a notable action, as if you get two major penalties in a certain number of games, it will be an automatic suspension along with a hefty fine.
#Avs Nathan MacKinnon said the NHL rescinded his major penalty.
If you get two in a certain amount of games, it’s an automatic suspension. So he’s back to zero for those purposes.
Why? Well, because a familiar situation happened to former Avalanche Mikko Rantanen, where in one week he was called for two major penalties, both being boarding, and since they were so close to each other, the NHL automatically suspended him for one game under Rule 23.6, which is;
“Any player who incurs a total of two (2) game misconduct penalties in the “Physical Infractions Category”, before playing in 41 consecutive regular season League games without such penalty, shall be suspended automatically for the next League game of his team. For each subsequent game misconduct penalty, the automatic suspension shall be increased by one game.”
Nathan MacKinnon has received a five-minute major following a scary collision with Connor Ingram.
This raises the issue that the internet has been all over it, which was, was MacKinnon's action warranted a five-minute major or a simple two-minute one, and it's clear, even the NHL agrees it should have been two minutes.
The initial review was justified. I like it when referees call a five-minute penalty so they can take a closer look at the play to determine whether it warrants a 5-minute penalty and automatic ejection, or a simple 2-minute penalty, with the help of the NHL’s Centralised Situation Room.
The problem with this is that major penalties are called and reviewed by the on-ice officials, referees Kelly Sutherland and Brandon Schrader, who officiated that game.
From the TNT panel to the Sportsnet panel, a lot of analysts agreed that MacKinnon was simply making a scoring play. Slow-motion shots showed his skates were pointed outward to try to dodge around Ingram after his play, and, at most, if he did come into contact, it wouldn't be as gruesome as it originally was.
This brings in Darnell Nurse, trying to make a play for the puck, who plowed headfirst into MacKinnon's hips and smashed MacKinnon into his own goalie. A lot of discussion came up about why, after review, it should have been at least a two-minute penalty, because there was contact, but his own defensemen was a major part of why the contact was that bad.
Often, after a game in which such a call is made and spirals out of control on social media, there are no “take-backs”; the game is over, and the winning and losing teams have to get ready for their next game.
This now raises the rare moment, to say the least, that the NHL offices didn’t agree with the original on-ice call or the one made after video review.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MARCH 10: The sneakers worn by Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs during the game against the Boston Celtics on March 10, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Michael Gonzales/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
“Woke up today on the 12th of this month and I figured it’s time to move on from Superman!” Howard wrote on X. “Im no super human… I cry ! I struggle! I feel like everyone else. Through the lies, the media and the hate I still show love and Smile Through The Storm.
“But now Im taking off the cape and retiring from all basketball to pour into my family and give back to communities worldwide. I know some of you might think I thought he already ‘retired’ but I didn’t… the game retired me! I still had more left to give ! Yeah I did play professionally for 20 years and Im grateful to be able to say that but I can’t lie seeing these other players still going at it at age 40 inspired me to want to keep trying but now I believe my duty will be to pass it down to the next generation.
Former NBA player and slam dunk contest judge Dwight Howard looks on during the 2026 NBA All Star Saturday Night at Intuit Dome. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
“So Thank you to all my fans and supporters throughout this journey I love and appreciate yall dearly because without yall it would be no me!”
The 40-year-old, who had not played in the NBA since 2022 and last played in the “BIG3,” also announced a documentary about his career will release this year where viewers will learn the “truth” of how he was taken “advantage of by the world.”
“Also thank you to the Naysayers, the haters, the snakes, and people that came into my life to try to destroy me,” he wrote. “Because everytime yall did …it only made me stronger. When my documentary releases this year the world will know the truth about EVERYTHING! Then you will see how the sheltered little boy from college park Georgia who went to the same school from pre-k to 12th grade then straight to the NBA was taken advantage of by the world. But through it all still managed to keep SMILING.”
The timing is certainly interesting considering his spot in the headlines recently.
The divorce between Howard and the rapper/reality star on Monday followed shocking allegations made by Amber. She claimed Child Protective Services had gotten hold of his daughter in a recent video posted to social media and they have since not heard back from Howard.
It isn’t the first bump in the road for the couple. Amber, who goes by the name of Amy Luciani, filed for divorce herself in July 2025 — just six months after tying the knot — and called their union “irretrievably broken.”
Amber also filed for divorce on Monday but Howard’s documents were processed first.
Dwight Howard and Amy Luciani pose for a picture during the State Farm All-Star Saturday as part of NBA All-Star Weekend on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NBAE via Getty Images
The Hall of Famer and eight-time All-Star has “demanded exclusive use of his Georgia mansion” in the separation, yet the couple still currently lives together and it’s seemingly not going well.
Within the last two weeks, police have been called to the residence three times for a “suicide threat call, a domestic incident and a theft report,” TMZ reported Monday.
Howard called the police on March 7 to claim Amber stole jewelry, his wedding ring and his phone and left in a gray Camaro while he was out picking up his daughter, per a 911 call obtained by TMZ Thursday. He was advised an officer would reach out to file a report.
That incident occurred two days before he filed for divorce.
Throughout his 18-year NBA career, Howard spent eight years in Orlando after he was the Magic’s No. 1 overall pick in 2004. He won three Defensive Player of the Year awards there.
Howard also had stints with the Lakers, Rockets, Hawks, Hornets, Wizards and Sixers. He concluded his time in the league with the Lakers in the 2021-22 season and he was later enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2025.
He spent the 2022-23 season with the Taoyuan Leopards of the Taiwan Professional Basketball League.
While LeBron James could still return to the Lakers’ lineup Thursday night, the team will have multiple key role players — including a starter — sidelined for the home game against the Bulls.
Marcus Smart was ruled out of Thursday night’s game because of a right hip contusion. Getty Images
Smart, who was listed as questionable on the Lakers’ Wednesday evening injury report, was ruled out because of a right hip contusion.
The 32-year-old, 12-year NBA veteran had played in 41 of 42 games, including being a starter for 39 of those games, entering Thursday after having a six-game absence from Nov. 28-Dec. 7 because of back ailments.
Hayes missed his second straight game because of back soreness. Kleber was sidelined for the fifth time in six games because of a back ailment, officially being ruled out because of a back strain.
In a postgame interview with NBC Sports California’s Randy Hahn and Drew Remenda, it seemed as though the fifth-year winger still was trying to process his incredible goal.
“I tried to get around him. It was late in the shift, too; it bounced up in the air, and I just tried to get some of the stick on it. It was nice,” Eklund told Hahn and Remenda. “I don’t know. It was just nice to get a goal, to be honest.”
The quality of the goal was noteworthy enough, but it broke an long drought for Eklund, too. Before Thursday, he hadn’t scored since his overtime winner against the Los Angeles Kings all the way back on Jan. 7 — 20 games ago.
Furthermore, Eklund was a game-time decision in the first place with a lower-body injury. Coach Ryan Warsofsky had high praise for the gritty 23-year-old in the locker room.
“He plays through injuries. He’s a tough kid. He wants to be out there,” Warsofsky told reporters. “He wants to make a difference for his team, and I give him a lot of credit. That’s a heck of a goal. … I mean, that’s a goal that you’ll see on highlight reels for a long, long time. That’s one of the nicest goals I’ve seen.”
While Eklund’s aerial finish reminded some of Bobby Orr’s famous “flying goal” to win the 1970 Stanley Cup Final — which also took place in Boston — both the scorer and his Massachusetts-native coach were hesitant to agree with the comparison.
Nevertheless, it’s a goal the Sharks certainly hope will bolster Eklund’s play over the final 19 games of the regular season.
“I’ve been working really hard, you know, to get those apples [assists] in,” Eklund told Hahn and Remenda. “But I can score goals, too, and it’s nice to get those going.”
Speaking of assists, which Eklund hasn’t struggled to pick up lately, he tallied another earlier in the night on the Sharks’ beautiful first goal via Michael Misa.
Thursday’s win moved San Jose back into the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference. And with the Stanley Cup playoffs around the corner, a productive Eklund could go a long way to getting the Sharks there.
With yet another notch in the injury department for the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team is taking more measures to offset some of their losses and keep legs fresh.
And they made another move to address that on Thursday.
With recently acquired blueliner Sam Girard out day-to-day with an upper-body injury, the Penguins shuffled a few things around with their defensive corps ahead of their matchup against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday evening. They recalled 6-foot-4, 230-pound left defenseman Alexander Alexeyev from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (WBS) - Pittsburgh's AHL affiliate - and sent Ryan Graves to the AHL on a conditioning loan.
Alexeyev, 26, has yet to appear for the Penguins in an NHL game this season, and he has three goals and seven points to go along with a plus-4 and 15 penalty minutes at the AHL level this season. The former first-round pick (31st overall in 2018) was signed to a one-year deal this offseason by the Penguins after spending parts of four NHL seasons with the Washington Capitals.
In 80 career regular season games, he has one goal and eight points, and he also appeared in 10 playoff games for the Capitals last season, registering no points and coming in at a minus-2.
Graves, 30, is in the third season of a six-year contract that pays him $4.5 million annually. He has appeared in only 19 games at the NHL level this season for Pittsburgh after getting waived following training camp, and he has not played since Jan. 21 against the Calgary Flames.
The Yankees announced that infielder George Lombard Jr., who has had flashes of excellence this spring, has been reassigned to minor league camp.
The 20-year-old Lombard was never expected to make the team out of spring training, so this is very much an anticipated move.
Ranked as the top overall prospect in the Yankees’ system, Lombard has never played higher than Double-A ball, meaning his Major League debut is still likely a bit down the road.
But that didn’t stop the former first-round pick from showing flashes of what he can do whenever that time comes around. While he hit just .185 in 27 at-bats, Lombard’s biggest moment came when he blasted a leadoff home run against Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet.
Lombard also held his own defensively, playing short stop, second, and third base.
The Yankees do have a bit of question mark at shortstop, with Anthony Volpe recovering from offseason surgery and not expected to return until after Opening Day, but for now, Lombard will continue to get at-bats and play every day in the minors.
