mankatofreepress
The Atlanta Falcons will kick off their preparations for Sunday's NFL game in Madrid by training at Real Madrid's training center on Wednesday, while the Cincinnati Bengals will start practicing on Thursday at the facilities of World Cup champion Spain. Both teams arrived in the Spanish capital on Tuesday for the matchup at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the home of the record 15-time European champions. This will be the second NFL regular-season game in Madrid, following the Miami Dolphins' 16-13 overtime victory over the Washington Commanders in last year's inaugural game in Spain.
Skoda Threatens to Reassess Hockey World Championship Sponsorship
Skoda, the main sponsor of the men's ice hockey world championship for over 30 years, has announced it will reassess its backing for the tournament if Russia is allowed to participate. This stance increases pressure on the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) after a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling last week forced the IIHF to lift its exclusion of Russian national teams. Nearly half of the 16 nations in the men's championship are refusing to play against Russia, and the Canadian government has stated it will not permit Russia to compete in the world junior championship starting next month in Canada.
Miami Tops First CFP Rankings; Notre Dame's Placement Raises Eyebrows
The undefeated Miami Hurricanes earned the top spot in the season's first College Football Playoff rankings, with Georgia, undefeated Utah, and defending national champion Indiana rounding out the top four in the initial projected bracket. The selection committee's most surprising choice was ranking Notre Dame 11th—seven spots lower than its AP Top 25 position and the last team in the bracket if the playoffs began today. The rest of the rankings include No. 5 Alabama, No. 6 Kentucky, No. 7 Texas, undefeated UCLA at No. 8, BYU at No. 9, Ole Miss at No. 10, the Irish at No. 11, and Ohio State at No. 12.
MLB Proposes Delaying Salary Cap Until 2028
Major League Baseball has proposed delaying the implementation of a salary cap until 2028, citing too many financial commitments for the 2027 season that would prevent teams from reducing spending quickly. On Tuesday, owners proposed a hard cap of $258.2 million for 2028 and a mandatory floor of $180.2 million, using luxury tax payrolls with average annual values. MLB spokesman Glen Caplin said the delay allows for a smoother transition without affecting key player benefits, including earlier free agency, a $1 million minimum salary, and a 30% increase to the pre-arbitration bonus pool.
Manchester United Stages Dramatic Comeback; PSG Sets Record
Manchester United produced a stunning comeback from its worst start to a European home game, defeating Roma 3-2 in the Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain set a record as the quickest team to score four goals in European soccer's top competition, racing to a 4-0 lead after 17 minutes against Villarreal and eventually winning 6-0. Barcelona beat Aston Villa 3-0, and Bayern Munich won 2-0 at Atletico Madrid.
Charity Runner Dies Near Finish Line of NYC Marathon
Rachel Apa, a 24-year-old from Lewisberry, Pennsylvania, running her first New York City Marathon to raise money for Parkinson's disease research, collapsed just over two miles from the finish line and later died. Authorities said Apa collapsed on Sunday as she approached the 24-mile marker of the 26.2-mile race. Her father told The New York Times that she had been stricken with rhabdomyolysis, a rare muscle condition in which muscles break down during exertion and poison the body.
Spanish Soccer Player Jesús de Miguel Dies After In-Game Collision
Jesús de Miguel, a 30-year-old journeyman soccer player, died on Tuesday, a day after being critically injured in a brutal in-game collision with an opposing goalkeeper. De Miguel's career was typical of most soccer players: he worked hard to turn the sport into a livelihood, moving from club to club in Spain's lower divisions. His death shocked the Spanish soccer community, many of whom had not heard of him until the tragedy.
NASCAR Driver Carson Hocevar Suspended for Season Finale
Spire Motorsports has suspended NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar for Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, stating that racing at the Cup level is a privilege that comes with an expected level of professionalism. Hocevar was accused of intentionally brake-checking Austin Cindric after a restart at Martinsville Speedway last Sunday, which he denied doing on purpose. Cindric declined interviews after leaving the care center but radioed his team that Hocevar had a mental breakdown during the incidents. Earlier in the race, Hocevar was also accused of intentionally spinning his No. 77 Chevrolet to bring out a caution flag and potentially disrupt the race strategies of Christopher Bell and others on pit road.
Manchester United Fans Protest with Tennis Balls Before Comeback Win
Manchester United fans attempted to disrupt the Champions League match against Roma by throwing tennis balls onto the pitch at Old Trafford. The protest, which had been pre-planned and flagged on social media earlier in the day, was aimed at venting anger at the club's ownership. It caused only a brief delay as a small number of balls were thrown from the Stretford End and quickly removed by players. By the end, the home crowd was celebrating a rousing second-half comeback, with two goals from Matheus Cunha and another from Bruno Fernandes sealing a 3-2 win after United had trailed 2-0 after 17 minutes.
McIlroy Downplays Safety Concerns Ahead of Abu Dhabi Championship
Rory McIlroy has dismissed safety concerns about competing at the Abu Dhabi Championship this week amid tensions in the Middle East that have impacted the region's sports calendar. The tournament is the first of back-to-back season-ending events in the United Arab Emirates over the next two weeks that will determine the winner of the year-long Race to Dubai title. McIlroy, who is third in the standings and chasing a record-tying eighth title, said, "I don't think I would ever feel unsafe." The tour decided to stick to the upcoming schedule in Abu Dhabi and Dubai despite increased security concerns due to the Israel-Iran war.
Originally reported by mankatofreepress.