Sports News Daily

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)   The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres are set to open the 2024 MLB season on March 20. The game won’t take place in the United States, though, nor Canada. As part of the league’s continued efforts to take the game to international latitudes, it will be played in Seoul, South Korea. The two squads in play were carefully chosen and are excellent options, as they have a long history of employing Asian players, even Korean stars like Ha-Seong Kim (currently on the Padres). But there is a good chance two Japanese hurlers make history on that day, if the plan comes to fruition. “Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Yu Darvish (@faridyu) could be the starting pitching matchup March 20 in Seoul. That would be the first @MLB Opening Day game ever started by two Japanese-born pitchers, per research by @keithcostas,” MLB insider Jon Morosi tweeted. Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Yu Darvish ( @faridyu ) could be the starting pitching matchup March 20 in ...

(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)   Joel Embiid hasn’t played a game for his Philadelphia 76ers for a month as he recovers from knee surgery. But according to the reigning MVP, he is hoping to return to the team by the end of the season. “That’s the plan,” Embiid said when asked by Keith Pompey if he’ll be returning in 2023-24. Embiid said that any return is contingent on his progress and evaluations by the medical staff but made it clear that he really wants to suit up as soon as he can, as long as it’s safe. #Sixers center Joel Embiid on coming back to play this season: pic.twitter.com/3toWaFwzlf — Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) February 29, 2024 Embiid was then asked why he is trying to come back this season instead of getting as much rest and recovery as possible and simply joining his team again at the start of next season. Embiid said this situation is similar to the one he faced a few weeks ago when he pushed through injuries because he really wanted to p...

(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)   Just a few days ago, Stephen A. Smith predicted that the Los Angeles Clippers would defeat the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night. For much of the game, it looked like that was going to happen but then LeBron James burst to life in the fourth quarter, scoring 19 points and carrying his team to perhaps their biggest win of the season. On Thursday morning, Smith swallowed his pride and apologized to James for doubting him and the team. “There is no getting around the greatness of LeBron James,” Smith said on “First Take.” Is @stephenasmith APOLOGIZING to LeBron? pic.twitter.com/IY7WyiiiTQ — First Take (@FirstTake) February 29, 2024 The entire Clippers lineup scored just 16 points in the fourth, eclipsed by James’ greatness and intent to win. The last 12 minutes of the game featured a powerful performance from James but also an utter collapse by the Clippers. Along with Smith, many people predicted the Lakers would lose, ...

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)   The New York Giants looked like a team that was going in the right direction. Brian Daboll took the team to the playoffs in his first season in charge of the team, even getting a win on the road. While his numbers were far from impressive, Daniel Jones had the best year of his career with Daboll calling the shots, so the fans were optimistic about his development, especially considering he had a somewhat similar build to Josh Allen, who had already excelled with Daboll at the helm. Needless to say, that wasn’t the case at all last season. He wasn’t good at all when healthy, and he missed a ton of games with injuries. Considering that, former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky believes the Giants should ‘absolutely’ prepare for life without him. “The Giants should absolutely be planning for a life post-Daniel Jones,” Orlovsky said. "The Giants should absolutely be planning for a life post-Daniel Jones." @danorlovsky7 on New York's draf...

(Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)   The NBA revamped it’s end-of-the-season awards for the 2022-23 NBA season. Among many decisions, adding the NBA Clutch Player of the Year award was one of the biggest takeaways. Speaking of the award, Sacramento Kings’ De’Aaron Fox won the inaugural Clutch Player of the Year award for the 2022-23 season. As for this season, there are many amazing players who can take home the honor, but only one player will ultimately succeed in doing so. According to the latest odds to the win the NBA Clutch Player of the Year award, revealed by NBACentral on Twitter, Stephen Curry is by far the favorite. Steph Curry is the overwhelming favorite to win Clutch Player of the Year, per @BovadaOfficial Stephen Curry -370 Devin Booker +1000 Damian Lillard +1100 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander +1100 DeMar DeRozan +2000 De’Aaron Fox +4500 Jalen Brunson +4500 Nikola Jokic +4500 LeBron James… pic.twitter.com/AEiXpdR92P — NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) Fe...

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)   The Atlanta Braves went to work in the offseason and traded for ace Chris Sale. Sale will turn 35 in March, and injuries have taken a toll on his body, too. But the Braves have faith that he can contribute a meaningful innings total, and that he can do it with his usual effectiveness. In recent seasons, it has been hard for Sale to combine both things: availability and effectiveness. He is looking fresh with the Braves, though, sitting in the mid-90s with his fastball and adding his trademark: a good deal of run. “Chris Sale, 96 mph Fastball with 18 inches of run (home plate view),” Rob Friedman, famously known as the “Pitching Ninja,” tweeted. Chris Sale, 96 mph Fastball with 18 inches of run (home plate view). Via @mlb . pic.twitter.com/vOPq0liJe6 — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) February 27, 2024 He included a video of the pitch, and it’s absolutely nasty. Imagine standing there and having to hit 96 mph: now picture that ve...

(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)   For years, fans have been ruthless to Arizona Cardinals star Kyler Murray. The fact that the team had to include a “homework clause” in his contract extension to make sure he was watching film was telling of his work ethic. However, the fact that it got leaked was a testament to the team’s frustration with this situation, although they could’ve and should’ve handled it better. Now, his reputation precedes him. Fans expose him for how much time he spends online playing video games, and it just has become too big of a storyline now. That’s why Pro Football Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe believes it’s about time Murray gets serious about his job. Talking to Chad Johnson for their “Nightcap” show, he claimed that there is a price to be paid for greatness, urging Murray to put the joystick down and start watching some film. Kyler needs to know there's a price to be paid for greatness @ShannonSharpe @ochocinco pic.twitter.com/ajdFzf4B8A —...

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)   The Los Angeles Lakers suffered a disappointing loss to the Phoenix Suns on Sunday and are about to endure a tough stretch of games. Because of this, Kendrick Perkins believes the team is at serious risk of not even making the playoffs this year. “The Lakers better be worried about making the playoffs, let alone making a run in the playoffs,” Perkins said on Monday’s “First Take.” Perkins noted that “the playoffs had started” because other teams like the Golden State Warriors, Denver Nuggets, and others are performing with their focus solely on the start of the postseason in a few months. "The Lakers better be worried about making the playoffs, let alone making a run in the playoffs." @KendrickPerkins pic.twitter.com/M6iDuHTylb — First Take (@FirstTake) February 26, 2024 Meanwhile, the Lakers are set to face the Minnesota Timberwolves, Los Angeles Clippers, Oklahoma City Thunder, and more in the weeks ahead. Perki...

(Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)   David Bakhtiari’s time with the Green Bay Packers could be coming to an end. He hasn’t been healthy since late 2020, and he’s about to have a massive cap hit next season. The Packers have minimal cap space, and cutting ties with their legendary left tackle would save them north of $21 million. That’s why most people speculate he’s not going to be at Lambeau Field next season. With that in mind, the talented offensive lineman took to Instagram to share a bit of a cryptic tweet (Via Jacob Morley). “Those who know, will appreciate.  Those who appreciate, I won’t let down,” Bakhtiari posted. #onemoreyear Doesn’t make sense in my head. But it does in my heart. pic.twitter.com/Rn1z7Ij5pJ — Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) February 24, 2024 Truth be told, there could still be an avenue for Bakhtiari to stay in Wisconsin if that’s what he truly wants. He would have to agree to a new and restructured contract and serve as a veteran me...

(Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)   The New Orleans Saints are coming off a disappointing season, with the team failing to live up to expectations after bringing in veteran quarterback Derek Carr to be the team’s new franchise player under center. Despite winning their last two games, the Saints fell short of winning the NFC South division title and were unable to punch their ticket to the NFL playoffs as a result, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers heading into the postseason instead. With the Saints needing to make quite a few tweaks during the NFL offseason in order to right the ship for the 2024 NFL season, the team has been busy trying to get as much cap space as possible by restructuring deals. According to Field Yates of ESPN, the Saints have restructured the contract of defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd, which will give the team another $3 million for the offseason. The Saints have restructured the contract of starting DT Nathan Sheperd, clearing just north of $3M in...

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)   Chicago Bears fans should be relieved right now. Team legend Steve McMichael is finally back home after spending the past week or so in the hospital, according to spokesperson Betsy Shepherd (via Courtney Cronin). Some good news to wake up to: Bears legend Steve McMichael is back home after spending more than a week in the hospital https://t.co/Fs7pfbbGSP — Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) February 24, 2024 McMichael was being treated for multiple issues. He was diagnosed with ALS and made it public three years ago. The 66-year-old had been in the hospital since Feb. 15 with a urinary tract infection, but he was also treated for MRSA — a staph infection resistant to most antibiotics — and pneumonia. Per the statement, he’s going to continue getting IV antibiotics and around-the-clock nursing care at home. Notably, this all happened after he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A dominant force during his playing d...

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)   The New York Giants have several priorities ahead of free agency. Notably, they’ve made it loud and clear that keeping star RB Saquon Barkley around isn’t one of them. However, they could look to keep one of their veteran offensive linemen in town. Justin Pugh wound up playing a huge role in the team’s offense in the second half of the season, playing 99% of the offensive snaps over the final 12 games of the campaign. That’s why, now that he’s going to test free agency again, he wanted to make it loud and clear that he wants to stay in the Big Apple (via SNY TV). “I love New York, I want to be back…I think they know the value and leadership that I bring to the locker room,” Pugh said . Justin Pugh is hoping to return to the Giants next season: “I love New York, I want to be back…I think they know the value and leadership that I bring to the locker room.” https://t.co/Z6ucizMtSK pic.twitter.com/97nxLFzDcM — SNY (@SNYtv) February 24, 2...

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)   The Kansas City Chiefs are the most popular team in the National Football League right now. Ever since Patrick Mahomes became a starter, they’ve made it to at least the AFC Championship Game, reaching four Super Bowls in six years with three Vince Lombardi trophies. Nonetheless, things weren’t as sweet in Missouri just eight years ago. Travis Kelce was just taking his first steps in the league, and Mahomes wasn’t even in the league yet. Needless to say, the young tight end out of Cincinnati couldn’t even dream of being a three-time Super Bowl champion, a future Hall of Famer, and — perhaps even more importantly — Taylor Swift’s boyfriend. That’s why, during a game of Kiss, Marry, Kill in an interview for E! Entertainment Television, he chose Katy Perry over his now-girlfriend to marry. As shown by TMZ, the clip has now gone viral. An old clip of #TravisKelce playing "Kiss, Marry, Kill" has gone viral this week In the game...

(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)   The Oklahoma City Thunder got back to work on Thursday night, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 129-107 in their first game after the All-Star break. During that game, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander put up 31 points and 8 assists, while shooting 63.2% from the field and 50% from the three-point line. On Friday’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith stated it’s time that everyone gives credit to the two-time All-Star. Smith highlighted the fact that Gilgeous-Alexander is scoring over 30 points and 2 steals per game with an 88% free throw percentage. “We’ve got to stop ignoring this kid. He’s that special!” Smith exclaimed. "We've got to stop ignoring this kid. He's that special!" — @stephenasmith thinks all eyes should be on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander pic.twitter.com/Y7BUvZEPFe — First Take (@FirstTake) February 23, 2024 For the season, Gilgeous-Alexander is averaging 31.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.6 assists. He is als...

(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)   The Los Angeles Lakers have been pretty inconsistent this season. They looked like a big threat during the In-Season Tournament, but they have struggled to keep that same defensive intensity for most of the campaign. They’ve alternated big wins with head-scratching losses, and you never know what version of them you’re going to get. Notably, that might not be much of a surprise to a particular bettor. According to the Action Network, someone actually placed a $50K wager on the Lakers missing the playoffs. This unnamed bettor could be looking at a $150,000 payout if the Lakers keep sliding, as they’re currently in ninth place. A bettor @BetMGM has $50K to win $150K on the Lakers to miss the playoffs (+300) from before the season started… They currently sit at 9th in the Western Conference with 26 games to play pic.twitter.com/TcdFvIBT7n — Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) February 22, 2024 The Lakers currently sit 1.5 games ahead...

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)   The Los Angeles Lakers don’t look like a big threat to come out of the Western Conference right now. This team looked great early in the season and even won the In-Season Tournament, proving that they could be a lockdown defensive team when they’re at their best. However, they’ve been fairly inconsistent, and they didn’t make any big moves before the trade deadline outside of signing Spencer Dinwiddie after his buyout. Even if Dinwiddie winds up making an impact, which may not be huge, this team might not have what it takes to get past some legit contenders in the West. However, Brian Windhorst doesn’t think their future is as dark as other analysts. Talking on ESPN’s First Take, he claimed that this team is likely to sign LeBron James to another big contract in the offseason, adding that they will now have three tradeable first-round picks, which is why they will be able to make a splash. “I don’t think this is LeBron’s last stand...

(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)   The New England Patriots have many needs to address right now. Needless to say, the most obvious one might be their need for a franchise-caliber quarterback, and most analysts and fans would rather see them getting either Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels with that pick. Notably, NFL insider Field Yates seems to feel the same way. Talking to Mina Kimes, he explained that the only way the Patriots could consider trading down from the No. 3 pick is if they know for a fact that they could get Justin Fields and flip that pick into multiple valuable assets. “The Patriots at #3 are the most interesting pick of the draft,” Kimes said. The Patriots at #3 are the most interesting pick of the draft. Should they… A. Take a QB (Daniels?) B. Pick Marvin Harrison Jr C. Trade down Discussed the biggest questions of draft season with @FieldYates ! Audio: https://t.co/25po4Tj9rF YouTube: https://t.co/EjNf4joKaB pic.twitter.com/8ledSBr2WX — Mina Ki...

(Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)   The National Football League is a never-ending money-making machine. Football continues to be king in American sports, and that usually translates into very lucrative deals. That’s why it’s not much of a surprise to see that Amazon Prime is shelling out to make sure to get exclusive rights for one of their playoff games. According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports, Prime will pay a whopping $120 million to stream its first playoff game after the 2024 season. The report also adds that Prime didn’t jump on board and missed the chance to get a playoff game this season, with Peacock making the most of the opportunity and streaming the Wild Card game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins. BREAKING: Amazon Prime Video will pay a record $120 million to stream its first NFL playoff game after the 2024 season, sources tell @FOS . Last year, @NFLonPrime passed on Wild Card Playoff that went to Peacock. But Prime neve...

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)   The Phoenix Suns gave birth to the newest superteam in the NBA in the offseason upon completing a blockbuster trade to acquire Bradley Beal from the Washington Wizards. The decision resulted in the Suns having a Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Beal. Evidently, the fans expected the Suns to be the most dominant team in the league this season. Unfortunately, due to consistent injury issues for Beal, the Suns’ Big 3 hasn’t played a lot of games together. While they have shown promise in the small number of games they have played together, NBA analyst Kenny Smith believes the trio is yet to be truly challenged this season, via Duane Rankin on Twitter. “I’m not really sure when they’re tested, what are they going to do defensively and what are they doing to do offensively yet,” Smith said. "We’ve seen them play together, but we haven’t seen them tested. I’m not really sure when they’re tested, what are they going to do defensiv...

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)   The Minnesota Vikings are ready to enter a new era. Kirk Cousins has been solid for them, and he was having the best season of his career last year. However, he has also been quite overpaid, especially considering what he has accomplished, and he’s not getting any younger. With that in mind, and considering the fact that he’s coming off a major injury, it’s not much of a surprise to see that the team isn’t ready to offer him a fully guaranteed deal. According to Albert Breer (via Vikes Insider), the Vikings want to bring him back but under different circumstances. The Vikings front office has made it clear that they are not willing to give Kirk Cousins a fully guaranteed deal, as the previous regime did twice. Source: @AlbertBreer pic.twitter.com/cxIekHNaWB — vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) February 19, 2024 Cousins is a fan favorite, and he’s made it loud and clear that he wants to continue his stay in the Twin Cities. Then a...

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)   The NBA had a very good initiative to bring back some joy and excitement to the All-Star Weekend. WNBA superstar Sabrina Ionescu, the best female shooter in the pros, agreed to match up with Stephen Curry. She was originally meant to shoot from the WNBA’s three-point line, which is a little closer to the rim, but she stated she wanted to shoot from NBA range. So, the only difference between her and Curry was that she was going to shoot with WNBA basketballs instead of NBA basketballs, and she seemed to be at a bit of a disadvantage because of the range. Notably, that wasn’t a factor at all, as she scored a whopping 26 points, losing to Curry by just three. That led Kenny Smith to state that she should’ve shot from the WNBA’s three-point line instead, to which Reggie Miller replied that he shouldn’t try to put boundaries on women like that and that no women should be okay with that (via Gifdsports). Smith’s comments rubbed a lot of ...

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)   This is perhaps the most talented era in NBA history. We’ve seen multiple stars rule the game for the better part of a decade, and while LeBron James has been the guy to beat for the past 20 years or so, several guys have also had their chance to reach the mountaintop on his watch. Even though we’ve seen Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and other guys like Jayson Tatum or Joel Embiid make a name for themselves over the past couple of years, it seems like it won’t be long before the younger stars take the league by storm. With that in mind, Stephen Curry believes that Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Anthony Edwards will be the new faces of the league once he, James, and Kevin Durant call it quits (via Vincent Goodwill & Legion Hoops). Steph Curry sees Luka, Shai and Anthony Edwards as the faces of the league when he, KD and LeBron retire. (via @VinceGoodwill ) pic.twitter.com/V39XXOp1S6 — Legion Hoops (@LegionHoop...

(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)   The Milwaukee Bucks were the favorites going into Thursday night’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. After all, the Grizzlies had a 19-36 record and the Bucks had one of 35-20. However, the short-handed Grizzlies were able to beat the Bucks, 113-110, giving Milwaukee one of their most embarrassing losses of the season. Following the game, Giannis Antetokounmpo spoke to The Athletic about the defeat and what it meant to him and the team. “Enough with the, ‘our s— don’t-stink’ mentality. Do we really want it? Are we putting in the work?” Antetokounmpo asked. All season long, the Bucks have talked about trying to win a championship. But now, as Milwaukee heads for the All-Star break, Giannis Antetokounmpo has found himself wondering if the team's play matches its stated desire. @eric_nehm https://t.co/3bQLXNjXyn pic.twitter.com/Mcz7GDmheG — The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) February 16, 2024 Antetokounmpo tried his hardest f...

(Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)   The Detroit Lions have more than enough talent on both sides of the field right now. They’re going to be quite good for years to come if they manage to keep the core together. That’s why extending star WR Amon-Ra St. Brown has officially become their No. 1 priority for this offseason. Now, Cam Marino reports that they’re on the verge of signing him to a three-year extension worth around $25 million per year, which seems kind of a bargain for a player of his caliber. Source: The Detroit Lions and star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown are in discussions that would give St. Brown’s contract an extension of at least three years at an annual salary of ~$25M. Extending St. Brown is a priority for the Lions as they enter their offseason. pic.twitter.com/R9BvuebIhn — Cam Marino (@MarinoNFL) February 15, 2024 St. Brown has already established himself as a Pro Bowl-caliber player. He’s been Jared Goff’s favorite target in the passing game, eve...