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		<title>Latest NHL News &amp; Videos from FOX Sports</title>
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			<title>Latest NHL News &amp; Videos from FOX Sports</title>
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		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:14:49 -0400</pubDate>
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					<![CDATA[Big Bets Report: Sascha Zverev, Knicks Reward Bettors After Hefty Wagers]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/big-bets-report-sascha-zverev-knicks-reward-bettors-after-hefty-wagers</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/big-bets-report-sascha-zverev-knicks-reward-bettors-after-hefty-wagers</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Whew. Over the weekend, the high-rollers were rolling high when it came to Roland Garros and the NBA Finals. Patrick Everson reports.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:07:17 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Knicks’ stunning playoff run is drawing a lot of attention from bettors, with New York now the favorite in NBA Finals odds. Meanwhile, the Stanley Cup Final has been ridiculous through three games, taking bettors on a stomach-churning ride. As for the World Cup? Those odds are about to dominate the sports betting landscape. But not to be overshadowed, there’s been massive money flowing on tennis. That includes a couple high-roller parlay wins and a pair of seven-figure prediction market trades on the French Open. More on those transactions, plus the latest on the NBA ladder bettor and other hoops and hockey wagers, as we recap the week that was in sports betting. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. French Connection After the third round of the French Open, with four more rounds to go, a Fanatics Sportsbook customer felt good about who would nab the men’s and women’s titles. The bettor plunked down $10,000 on a two-leg parlay of Mirra Andreeva as the Roland Garros women’s winner and Alexander Zverev as the men’s champion. Further, the customer utilized an odds boost, taking the price from +1775 to +2219. On Saturday, Andreeva beat Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 to get the first half of that ticket home. Then on Sunday, Zverev survived a five-set marathon to beat Flavio Cobolli 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1. So that 10 grand netted $221,875 profit, for a total payout of $231,875. In French Open action last Monday, a DraftKings Sportsbook customer came out an even bigger winner on an in-play parlay. The bettor put three matches on the $2,500 ticket, including a long shot of Matteo Arnaldi +1820 to rally and win his match vs. Frances Tiafoe. At the time, Arnaldi was down 3-1 in the fourth set, three games from losing the match. But he rallied to take the fourth set 7-6 in a tiebreaker, then won the fifth set 6-4. The other two legs got there, as well. At hefty odds of +23630 — just beyond 236/1 — the $2,500 bet turned into a whopping $593,260.80. French Connection, Part Deux Polymarket saw a pair of seven-figure trades on Sunday’s French Open men’s final, both on Zverev, who was a heavy favorite. First, a trade of $5 million came in on the German at 80%, which translates to odds of -400. Then came a $1.8 million trade at 79% (-376). The traders certainly got a huge sweat, with Zverev stretched much further than oddsmakers anticipated. But he got the five-set victory. So the first trade profited $1.35 million (total payout $6.35 million), while the second trade netted $537,553 (total payout $2.33 million). Knicks of Time The Knicks are on a run for the ages in the NBA playoffs, going 13-0 straight up (SU) and 12-1 against the spread (ATS) in their last 13 games. That includes Games 1 and 2 of the NBA Finals, as road underdogs to the Spurs. As we’ve reported over the past few weeks, a BetMGM customer is making ladders of point-spread straight bets on NBA playoff games, with phenomenal success. Friday’s Game 2 was the latest big splash for the whale bettor. The customer put $445,000 across seven bets, on spreads ranging from +5.5 to +10.5. As it turned out, the bettor didn’t need all those points, with the Knicks squeaking out a 105-104 victory. So, as has been the case on almost all these ventures, it was a perfect 7-0 night, and the bettor bagged $238,965 in profit (total payout $683,965). Since April 27, when the first reported set of such bets came in, the customer is up an incredible $2.22 million. Don’t be surprised if another pile of money shows up for Monday’s Game 3. In Game 1, a Hard Rock Bet customer went large on New York, wagering $177,500 on Knicks moneyline +195. Jalen Brunson &amp; Co. delivered with a 105-95 upset victory on Wednesday. The customer landed a healthy profit of $346,125 (total payout $523,625). One Dollar Holler How about wrapping up with a wager that’s much more relatable to all of us? In Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, a DraftKings customer put all of one dollar on a four-leg parlay of anytime goalscorers. Then the Golden Knights and Hurricanes put up nine goals in a wild opener, with Vegas winning 5-4. The Knights’ Shea Theodore was the first of those four to score, in the first period, and the Hurricanes’ Jordan Staal netted a second-period goal. Midway through the third period, Carolina’s Shayne Gostisbehere lit the lamp, tying the game at 4. So the sweat was on for that final leg. Vegas’ Tomas Hertl obliged with just 3:24 remaining, which gave the Knights and the bettor a big win. At huge odds of +100000 (1000/1), that lonely dollar turned into $1,001. Not a bad night’s work at all.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Hear That Thunder? Combine Likely OKC Title with MLB, NHL, World Cup Plays]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder-nba-title-mlb-nhl-world-cup-odds</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder-nba-title-mlb-nhl-world-cup-odds</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[OKC is "on another level," so sportsbooks are handicapping their title odds accordingly. With that, Sammy P has some ideas on how you can capitalize.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 14:49:55 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Barring a catastrophic injury, the Oklahoma City Thunder will hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy for a second straight season. The reigning champions have breezed through the first five games of this year’s NBA postseason with victories by 9, 12, 13, 18 and 35 points. And you could make the case they didn’t play well in a couple of those games. Scary, isn’t it? This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Oklahoma City is already as high as -200 to win it all. "I would be surprised if they didn’t win the title," Westgate SuperBook vice president of risk management Jeff Sherman told me. "They’re on another level and their closest ‘competition’ comes from a youthful, inexperienced San Antonio team. The Spurs must go through the learning process to reach the success the Thunder have already achieved." If the Thunder take on San Antonio in the Western Conference finals, Sherman estimates the price would be OKC -250 in a best-of-seven series. The price would be even steeper if the Minnesota Timberwolves advanced. As for the NBA Finals, think bigger. "I make OKC -350 against the Knicks," Sherman admitted. With a sweep over the Luka Dončić-less Lakers feeling imminent, now would be the time to buy some Oklahoma City title stock if you’re on the fence. If you don’t want to lay the -170 at Caesars or DraftKings, let’s get creative. Consider wheeling the Thunder with other things. An OKC title parlay with the Colorado Avalanche winning the Stanley Cup pays out over 3/1. That’s a pretty decent shake for two things that are likely to happen, and you’ve converted two favorites into a $3 underdog. Want more? How about a parlay with the Thunder, Avalanche and Portugal to win the World Cup? France is the betting favorite and Portugal is a little down the board at 11/1, but that price explodes the three-teamer to almost 50/1. The best part about that parlay is that the basketball and hockey postseasons will end during group play of the World Cup. So if the Thunder and Avalanche take care of their business, you’ll be in a great spot. You could add a couple other teams to win the World Cup and have three live bullets. Just sayin.’ Earlier this week, I built a four-teamer with Oklahoma City to win the NBA title, Colorado to win the Stanley Cup, Scottie Scheffler to win the PGA Championship and the Chicago White Sox to make the playoffs. That's 250/1. I’m generally against parlays on a day-to-day basis because of the volatility and the unlikeliness of four or five things all happening in the same day. And don’t get me started on four or five things happening in the same game. Sportsbooks love when you bet those. That said, starting a futures parlay with something that Las Vegas already believes is going to happen is a step in the right direction. I highly recommend the Thunder-Avalanche parlay and if you want to add more, be my guest. Thunder up.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NHL Stanley Cup Odds: Hurricanes New Favorites]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2026-nhl-stanley-cup-odds</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2026-nhl-stanley-cup-odds</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[There's a new favorite at the top of the Stanley Cup oddsboard. Here's the latest.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 05 May 2026 16:46:13 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup in back-to-back years, hoisting the trophy in both 2024 and 2025. A team has not three-peated the Stanley Cup since the Islanders won four straight from 1980-1983. But with the Panthers out of playoff contention and a three-peat off the table, a new team will be named champion at the end of the postseason. Which team will it be? Let's take a look at the 2026 Stanley Cup odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of May 5. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 2025-26 Stanley Cup winner Hurricanes: +170 (bet $10 to win $27 total)Avalanche: +190 (bet $10 to win $29 total)Golden Knights: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)Sabres: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)Canadiens: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)Wild: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Ducks: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total)Flyers: +7000 (bet $10 to win $710 total) The Favorites: The Hurricanes are the new favorites, shortening to +170 from +285 after going up 2-0 in the Eastern Conference second round over Philadelphia. Carolina swept Ottawa in Round 1, led by outstanding goaltender Frederik Anderson. Right behind them are the Avalanche, who became the first team of the 2026 season to clinch their playoff spot after defeating the Blackhawks on March 20. And center Nathan MacKinnon has been a huge part of the team's success this season. During the regular season, he led Colorado in points (127), with 53 goals and 74 assists. Before the season, the Avalanche were +900 to hoist the Stanley Cup. Ones to Watch: Before the season started, the Sabres were long shots at +10000 to win the Stanley Cup. Now Buffalo has the fourth-best odds to be the last team standing. Buffalo's odds held steady at +1100 after getting past Boston in the first round 4-2.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 NHL Conn Smythe Trophy Odds: Colorado's Nathan MacKinnon Favored]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/stanley-cup-mvp-conn-smythe-trophy-odds</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/stanley-cup-mvp-conn-smythe-trophy-odds</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Which player will win the Conn Smythe Trophy at the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs? Here are the latest odds.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:07:20 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Florida's Sam Bennett took home the Conn Smythe Trophy last season — the trophy awarded to the most valuable player of the Stanley Cup playoffs. With the Panthers out of the postseason, a new player will take the crown in 2026. Who will it be? Let's take a look at the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of April 24, along with a look at the winners over the last 20 years. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Conn Smythe Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total)Cale Makar: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Sebastian Aho: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Connor McDavid: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Seth Jarvis: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)Nikita Kucherov: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Andrei Vasilevskiy: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Scott Wedgewood: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total)Frederik Andersen: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)Mikko Rantanen: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)Martin Necas: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)Brandon Hagel: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)Wyatt Johnston: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)Andrei Svechnikov: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)Jason Robertson: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total) Here's what to know about the oddsboard: The Favorite: It's no surprise that Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon is the favorite in this spot. Since getting drafted by the Avalanche with the first pick of the 2013 NHL Draft, he's tallied 126 points in the postseason, including 24 in 2022, when the Avalanche last hoisted the Cup. While he's never won the Conn Smythe Trophy, some of his career accolades include the Ted Lindsay Award (NHL's most outstanding player in the regular season), NHL First All-Star Team and the Hart Trophy (regular-season MVP trophy). Ones to Watch: Cale Makar and Connor McDavid are ones to watch in this market. McDavid won this award in 2024, despite the fact his Edmonton Oilers were on the losing side of the Stanley Cup Final that year. Makar — MacKinnon's teammate — secured the trophy in 2022 when the Avalanche won it all. Currently, Makar &amp; Co. are up 3-0 on the Kings in the best-of-seven Round 1 series. McDavid and his Oilers are tied 1-1 with Anaheim. Past NHL Conn Smythe Trophy winners 2025: Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers2024: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers*2023: Jonathan Marchessault, Vegas Golden Knights2022: Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche2021: Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning2020: Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning2019: Ryan O'Reilly, St. Louis Blues2018: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals2017: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins2016: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins2015: Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks2014: Justin Williams, Los Angeles Kings2013: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks2012: Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings2011: Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins2010: Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks2009: Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins2008: Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings2007: Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks2006: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes * Asterisk indicates that player was a member of the losing team in the Stanley Cup Final]]>
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					<![CDATA[NBA, NHL Futures Betting Report: Bettors Await Potential Huge Paydays]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/nba-nhl-futures-betting-report-bettors-await-potential-huge-paydays</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/nba-nhl-futures-betting-report-bettors-await-potential-huge-paydays</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Depending on the NBA Finals and Stanley Cup winners, a few prescient bettors could land six-figure payouts. Patrick Everson reports.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:41:58 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[With a pair of postseasons about to start, numerous noteworthy bets — often made months ago — draw closer to cashing in on NBA futures odds and NHL futures odds. That includes futures parlays that are on the brink of big paydays, needing either the NBA Finals winner or Stanley Cup winner. One particularly prescient parlay is in good position for a six-figure haul. Read on for more on that bet, along with one bettor’s long-shot chance at $1 million and other notable wagers tied to NBA Finals odds and Stanley Cup odds. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Money Avalanche On Jan. 6, a Hard Rock Bet customer put $200 on a four-leg futures parlay. The first leg settled up less than two weeks later, when Indiana beat Miami to win the College Football Playoff national title. The second leg required a little more good fortune. Before the NFL playoffs even began, the bettor predicted a Seahawks win over the Patriots in the Super Bowl. The third leg: Michigan to win the NCAA Tournament. That box was checked on April 6, when the Wolverines topped UConn. There’s one leg remaining, and it’s on the best team in the NHL. So the bettor is in a pretty enviable spot, needing the favored Avalanche to lift the trophy in June. The odds on all four legs getting there: +76445, or just over 764/1. If Colorado wins it all, then that 200 bucks becomes a whopping $153,090. That’ll be worth the five-month-plus wait. Philadelphia Flier The 76ers beat the Magic 109-97 in an NBA play-in game on Wednesday night. That allowed Philadelphia to secure the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Which means a Round 1 date with the Boston Celtics, with Philly a +800 underdog just to win that series. But that didn’t stop a Caesars Sports customer from taking a $5,000 flier on the Sixers to go all the way. In fact, the bettor made the wager Tuesday, when the 76ers faced at least one and perhaps two play-in games to advance. At hefty odds of +20000 (200/1), if Joel Embiid &amp; Co. somehow pull off a miracle run, then the bettor wins $1 million. Dare to dream. Stars Struck Parlays often lead to unusual combinations, and a FanDuel Sportsbook customer has a ticket that certainly bears that out. Back in October, the customer put together a parlay combining three tennis plays with a Yankees-Red Sox game and a New Mexico State-Sam Houston State football game. All those events took place on Oct. 2, which means the wager would’ve settled up that day if the bettor stopped at five legs. But in an apparent "Why not?" moment, the customer then added in Seahawks +3300 to win the Super Bowl and Stars +800 to win the Stanley Cup. Arguably the best part about this ticket is not that it’s one leg from the finish line, at monster odds of +293916 (approximately 2939/1). Rather, it’s that the customer utilized a $50 bonus bet. So it’s ostensibly a free ride. And the final leg is certainly more live than the aforementioned parlay that closes with the 76ers. Among the 16 playoff teams, Dallas is the +1300 sixth choice in FanDuel’s Stanley Cup futures odds. Should the Stars hoist the treasured chalice, the bettor banks $146,958.46. I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie The Spurs are among the biggest surprises this year in the NBA. San Antonio’s regular-season win total was 44.5, but Victor Wembanyama &amp; Co. blew that away, going 62-20. Only the Thunder (64-18) had a bettor record. Now, the Spurs are the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and No. 2 in NBA championship futures odds, as well. BetMGM has San Antonio as the +450 second choice, with OKC the favorite at +120. And file this for reference: The Spurs went 4-1 against the Thunder this season. A BetMGM customer was a latecomer on San Antonio but still ponied up $50,000 on Spurs +650 to win it all. If that happens, then the bettor collects $325,000 in profit (total payout $350,000). Also at BetMGM, a customer put $25,000 on Pistons +1400 to win the NBA Finals. Detroit (60-22) is the No. 1 seed, but is now +2000 to win the championship, trailing Eastern Conference peers Boston (+550) and Cleveland (+1600), along with OKC, San Antonio and Denver (+1000). Still, the Pistons are certainly in the mix. A Motor City run to the NBA title would net that bettor $350,000 profit (total payout $375,000).]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 Oscars Odds: Could Movies with Deep Sports Ties Take Home Trophies?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/oscars-odds-2026</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/oscars-odds-2026</guid>
				<category>other</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Oscars and sports have a handful of things in common, and you can bet on that. Here are some of the odds for tonight's 98th Academy Awards.]]>
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				<pubDate>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 15:56:43 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[What do the 98th Academy Awards have in common with sports? Well, as it turns out, a lot. Like the Super Bowl, March Madness, the Daytona 500 and other huge events whose appeal crosses over into pop culture, the Oscars attracts fans from all walks — including folks who like to place a few wagers on the action. And this year's Academy Awards features a handful of cinematographic works that spill over into sports. Let's take a look at a few categories' odds at FanDuel Sportsbook as of March 15. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Best Picture One Battle After Another: -500 (bet $10 to win $12 total)Sinners: +300 (bet $10 to win $40 total)Hamnet: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Marty Supreme: +2700 (bet $10 to win $280 total)Sentimental Value: +4000 (bet $10 to win 410 total)Frankenstein: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)Bugonia: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)Train Dreams: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)F1: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)The Secret Agent: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) What to know: "Marty Supreme" and "F1" have some of the longest odds on the Best Picture board, but their plots are the ones most closely tied to sports. Timothée Chalamet stars in "Marty Supreme," playing relentless hustler Marty Mauser, who'll stop at nothing to achieve his goal of becoming the top table tennis player in the world. Brad Pitt stars in "F1," a film based on fictitious Formula 1 driver Sonny Hayes who returns from retirement to give racing one more go. Best Actor Michael B. Jordan, Sinners: -160 (bet $10 to win $16.25 total)Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme: +185 (bet $10 to win $28.50 total)Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total) What to know: Michael B. Jordan — not to be confused with NBA Hall of Famer and successful NASCAR team owner Michael Jordan — is the clear favorite to win Best Actor. In the Ryan Coogler-directed "Sinners," Jordan does double duty, playing twin brothers Smoke and Stack. While Michael B. is named after his dad and not the Bulls legend, he has dipped his toe into the sports world as a minority owner of the Premier League club AFC Bournemouth. Total Number of Conan O'Brien Outfit Changes Over 1.5: -142 (bet $10 to win $17.04 total)Under 1.5: +112 (bet $10 to win $21.20 total) What to know: It's a bettor's guess how many wardrobe changes Conan O'Brien will have as he hosts the Oscars for the second consecutive year. But when it comes to his sports fandom, that's no secret. The Boston-born host, writer and comedian is also famous for his diehard fandom of all things New England sports, including the Patriots, Bruins and Red Sox. To be mentioned by Conan O'Brien in Opening Monologue: Opera and/or Ballet: -390 (bet $10 to win $12.56 total)Kylie Jenner: -310 (bet $10 to win $13.23 total)Heated Rivalry: -220 (bet $10 to win $14.55 total)Letterboxd: -160 (bet $10 to win $16.25 total)The Bride: -140 (bet $10 to win $17.14 total) What to know: Speaking of Conan, bettors can also wager on what he'll mention in his opening monologue. On that oddsboard is "Heated Rivalry," the Canadian sports romance about two professional hockey players who are competitors in a fictional NHL. Further down the list at +1200 is Bam Adebayo. The Miami center scored 83 points in the Heat's March 10, 150-129 win over the Wizards, sandwiching him between Kobe Bryant (81) and Wilt Chamberlin (100) for the second-highest, single-game scoring total in NBA history.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Big Bets Report: Bettor Misses $1.3 Million Payday After USA Hockey Wins Gold]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/big-bets-report-2026-bettor-falls-short-of-million</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/big-bets-report-2026-bettor-falls-short-of-million</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[A bettor came close to winning seven figures. Then, the USA struck gold. Patrick Everson breaks down that losing wager, along with a few lucky winners.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 17:06:40 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[There’s no doubt that the NFL drives the American sports betting bus. That’s where the bulk of action is, including plenty of major wagers and wild winners. But there are still plenty of bets flowing elsewhere, now that the NFL season is over, perhaps on college basketball, the NBA, tennis and golf. Or the NHL, where last week, a Caesars Sports customer turned a three-figure bet into a huge six-figure payday. More on that winning wager, notable parlay hits and misses and other interesting plays as we recap betting from the past week or so. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Huge Hockey Hit Last week at Caesars, a customer put $500 on a nine-leg NHL parlay, spread across Wednesday and Thursday games. The parlay had a nice balance of favorites and underdogs, be it on totals or the puckline — teams to either win by more than 1.5 goals or lose by less than 1.5 goals. Stunningly, all nine legs got to the finish line. At odds of about +83000 (830/1), the bet would’ve paid out approximately $415,000. However, the bettor also utilized an escalator boost, which bolsters the odds with each leg that’s added to a parlay. So instead of $415,000, the bettor walked away with an even more whopping $704,042.25. Above-Par Bettor At Fanatics Sportsbook, a customer dove into all three of the top professional golf tours last week. The bettor put a modest $10 on a three-leg parlay of each winner: Add all that up, and you’ve got massive long-shot odds of +207900 (2079/1). Nico Echavarria shot 5 under in the final round to win the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic by two strokes. On the LPGA Tour, Hannah Green held off Auston Kim to win the HSBC Women’s World Championship by one shot. And on the DP World Tour — formerly the European PGA Tour — Casey Jarvis claimed a three-shot win in the South African Open. So that bettor’s 10 bucks turned into $20,790 in profit. Not a bad weekend’s worth of work. Hockey and Hoops At William Hill US last week, a customer strung together a parlay of six Tuesday NBA games and four Wednesday NHL matchups. The goal: Turn $275 into half a million dollars. Just to remind: 10-leg parlays rarely if ever hit. Don’t get carried away, or you might get carried out. But in this instance, all 10 selections got there. At odds of about +186500 (1865/1), the bettor won a whopping $512,982.52. Olympic Hockey Winners and Losers Team USA claimed gold in both men’s and women’s hockey, defeating Canada in the gold medal game in each instance. The men’s victory stung particularly hard for a BetMGM customer who was on the brink of a million-dollar win. As you can tell by the selections, this six-leg parlay — for an unusual amount of $426.63 — was made back in September. The first five legs were all in, once the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays in the World Series. All that remained was sitting, waiting and hoping Canada won the men’s hockey gold medal. But the USA prevailed 2-1 in overtime, squelching the bettor’s hopes of winning nearly $1.3 million. On the flip side, in women’s Olympic hockey, a DraftKings Sportsbook customer in Canada put a hefty $351,074.11 on Team USA -350 to win the gold medal. The American women did so in thrilling fashion, tying Canada at 1 late in the third period, then winning 2-1 in overtime. So the bettor banked a profit of $100,306.89 in Canadian dollars (total payout $451,381). Not a bad day, eh? As with all major wagers, just a reminder: High-rollers have the means to take such risks and absorb potentially obscene losses. We normal people need to keep our expectations and wager sizes reasonable. Never bet more than you can afford to lose.]]>
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					<![CDATA[The Most Unique American Sporting Events]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/motor/coolest-american-sporting-events-venues</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/motor/coolest-american-sporting-events-venues</guid>
				<category>motor</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Take a look at some of the most unique sporting events and venues in the country.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 31 Jan 2026 21:54:38 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Just how incredible is it that the INDYCAR season will feature a race in the nation's capital? The Freedom 250 around the streets of Washington, D.C., is set for Aug. 23 on FOX. Most of the grounds will be free admission. With such a historic event being announced, we decided to break down some of the coolest and most iconic sporting events and venues to date. Let's take a look: WNBA Stars vs Team USA at Radio City Music Hall, 2004 Dubbed as "The Game at Radio City", the WNBA hosted an exhibition game between the U.S. Olympic team and a group of WNBA stars. Some of the biggest names in the history of the sport, like Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird took the court in one of the most iconic entertainment venues ever. The game was set up as a way to excite fans for the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Athens. Team USA defeated the WNBA stars, 74–58, and would go on to win the gold medal as well. NHL Winter Classic (Hockey at Wrigley, Fenway, Big House), 2008-Present The NHL Winter Classic is staged in large outdoor stadiums originally built for baseball or football, including Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, and Michigan Stadium. A full-size ice rink is constructed on top of the field surface, creating an incredible scene. Whether it’s Wrigley Field’s ivy-covered walls, Fenway Park’s Green Monster, or Michigan Stadium’s massive bowl, the venue becomes part of the story. These stadiums typically hold between 35,000 and 100,000 spectators, far exceeding standard NHL arena capacity. Northwestern vs Illinois at Wrigley Field, 2010 In 2010, Northwestern's football team took on Illinois in what was the first football game to be played at Wrigley Field in 40 years. The iconic baseball venue provided a picturesque backdrop for two of the oldest programs in the Big Ten. The Wildcats would also later return to Wrigley, playing four games there between 2024 and 2025 due to ongoing construction at their home stadium. Carrier Classic, 2011-12, 2022 The Carrier Classic was a series of college basketball games played on the deck of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier beginning in 2011. Set against an open sky and the ocean, the image of a basketball court in the middle of the ocean is one that's hard to beat. Every camera angle feels like a movie shot, especially at sunset when the horizon glows behind the baskets. And it helps that powerhouse teams like Michigan State, North Carolina, Syracuse, and Gonzaga have all participated in some electric games in this series. Battle at Bristol, 2016 In 2016, Bristol Motor Speedway was converted to a football stadium for a college football game between Virginia Tech and Tennessee. The game saw 156,990 people, making it the largest college football venue in history. Peyton Manning and Bruce Smith were the alumni representatives for each school at the coin toss, further adding to the spectacle. Field of Dreams Game, 2021-22, 2026 The 1989 baseball movie Field of Dreams is arguably one of the best sports films of all-time. It revolves around an Iowa farmer who builds a baseball field on his cornfield. Major League Baseball decided to pay homage to it by creating the "Field of Dreams" game in 2021 between the New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox, constructing a field in Dyersville, Iowa. It is one of the most jaw-dropping images in sports, as players are often photographed while walking through the cornfields. In 2022, the Chicago Cubs took on the Cincinnati Reds and will feature the Minnestoa Twins and Philadelphia Phillies this season. Clash at Coliseum, 2022-24 Racing inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum turns NASCAR into a stadium spectacle. The historic venue, once home to the Olympics and still the house for the USC football team, becomes a tight, high-banked short track packed into an iconic bowl. Fans tower over the action from all sides, creating a sense of intensity and closeness rarely seen in motorsports. Joey Logano won in 2022, Martin Truex Jr. in 2023, and Denny Hamlin in 2024. Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, 2023-Present People often view Vegas as the city that never sleeps, known for opulence, luxurious hotels and casinos, and excess. What else could you add to the world-famous Las Vegas strip? Well, Formula 1 decided to build a racetrack around it, constructing a 6.2-kilometer course for the world's fastest drivers and cars. Imagine being at the Bellagio Hotel, looking out the window, and seeing cars drive 200-plus miles per hour on the streets! The first edition took place in 2023, with Max Verstappen getting the victory. NASCAR's Grant Park 165, 2023-25 Few motorsports events can match the spectacle of NASCAR racing through the heart of a major American city. The Chicago street race transforms downtown streets into a temporary speedway, wrapping stock cars around Lake Michigan, Grant Park, and the skyline itself. Instead of grandstands and infields, fans get skyscrapers, waterfront views, and iconic landmarks framing every lap. It feels less like a traditional race and more like a citywide festival, where Chicago's energy collides with NASCAR in one of the sport’s most visually striking settings. Shane van Gisbergen won the event in 2023 and 2025, while Alex Bowman took it in 2024. Nebraska Women's Volleyball at Memorial Stadium, 2023 Dubbed as "Volleyball Day in Nebraska", the University of Nebraska hosted a two-match event featuring four schools at Memorial Stadium, the home of the Cornhuskers' football program. The second match, featuring the women's volleyball team against Omaha saw a whopping 92,003 people in attendance, widely considered one of the highest attendances on record for a women's sporting event. The sea of red all over the stadium was one of the most incredible sights you'll see in sports. UFC 306 at The Sphere, 2024 There aren't many venues that are cooler in the country than the Sphere in Paradise, Nevada. Built in 2023, it features 580,000 square feet of LED displays and measures 366 feet tall and 516 feet wide. A year after its construction, the UFC decided to host one of its biggest events there. Headlined by "Suga" Sean O'Malley taking on Merab Dvalishvili for the Bantamweight Championship, UFC 306 was also a celebration of Mexico's Independence Day, and dubbed "Noche UCF." Throughout the night, incredible visuals representing Mexican culture were featured on the Sphere's massive screen. MLB Speedway Classic, 2025 The 2025 MLB Speedway Classic brought baseball into the roaring world of motorsports, transforming a racetrack into a diamond. The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves played a game at Bristol Motor Speedway with over 91,000 fans present, setting the attendance record for a MLB regular-season game. The venue combined features of a traditional ballpark, such as dugouts and backstops, with the scale and layout of a speedway. Grand Prix of Arlington, 2026 INDYCAR is headed to Arlington, Texas, this year, bringing two "American institutions together." From March 13-15, INDYCAR will unveil a brand-new stop right outside AT&amp;T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. This will be the first-ever Grand Prix of Arlington and the third stop on the INDYCAR calendar, after the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg and the Good Ranchers 250 at Phoenix Raceway. Freedom 250, 2026 For more information on INDYCAR's newest event, check out the links below:]]>
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					<![CDATA[115-Year-Old Boston Arena Where Babe Ruth Played Hockey — Yes, Hockey — Closing]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/115-year-old-boston-arena-where-babe-ruth-played-hockey-yes-hockey-closing</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-basketball/115-year-old-boston-arena-where-babe-ruth-played-hockey-yes-hockey-closing</guid>
				<category>college-basketball</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Matthews Arena was where Babe Ruth played hockey, where the first Celtics game took place, the original home of the Bruins, the site of many Beanpot games and much more over 115 years.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:06:20 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Older than Fenway Park, older than both Boston Gardens, older than the Bruins and Celtics and the NBA and NHL, too. Matthews Arena will be closing its doors this week after more than a century of hosting the biggest names not just in sports but also politics, music and culture. Now owned by Northeastern University, the 115-year-old barn will say goodbye when the Huskies play Beanpot rival Boston University in hockey on Saturday night. It will be replaced by a multipurpose arena and recreation center on the same site. "It’ll be bigger and greater," Northeastern and Hockey Hall of Famer David Poile said in an recent interview with The Associated Press. "But for those of us that were lucky enough to play there, we’ll always have those memories." The building that opened as Boston Arena on April 16, 1910, served as the original home of the Boston Bruins, and also hosted the first Celtics game, too — giving birth to the team’s iconic parquet floor. Along the way it hosted both President Roosevelts, along with William Howard Taft and Herbert Hoover and future presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy. Aviators Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart were feted there. Concerts featured Marvin Gay, the Supremes, Chubby Checker, Jerry Lee Lewis, Shirley Jones, Bob Dylan, Phish and Ludacris. But mostly, it was, as the promotional materials billed it, "The largest, most complete and most elaborate temple erected for the devotees of sport in the world." Even as the paint peeled and the bricks began to crumble, it remained a no less historic destination than its more famous Boston brethren on Lansdowne and Causeway Streets. "I like to be in places where men were men and basketball was basketball instead of what we have sometimes now," said Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo, who brought the Spartans to play Northeastern in 2015 — a rare visit from a top team to the home of a mid-major opponent. "In those places … you dove for a loose ball on the sidelines and you’d land in the fans," said Izzo, who also made it a point to visit the Palestra in Philadelphia. "I like to get to every place that I’ve never been to that has history; and those two were high on my list. I’ve been to Cameron (Indoor Stadium at Duke) and others, but that was a special treat that night." From Boston Arena to Matthews When it opened as the Boston Arena in 1910, the building was to host skating exhibitions, curling, horse shows and track meets. But after a fire took down the original structure in 1918, the rebuilt arena became a mainstay for ice hockey. The Bruins played there until the original Boston Garden opened in 1928. Before they were the Carolina Hurricanes or even the Hartford Whalers, the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association shared ice time with local colleges. Northeastern moved in when hockey became a varsity sport in 1929. The school bought the building in 1979 and it went by Northeastern Arena for three years before it was renamed in honor of the university’s former chairman, George Matthews. A 1995 renovation expanded the ice sheet to 200 by 90 feet, and for the building’s 100th birthday it was given a new roof, press box and video scoreboard. A brick and glass facade now welcomes visitors before they step into the historic Victorian foyer. Big names stopped by Before Babe Ruth became the Sultan of Swat with the New York Yankees, he was just a Red Sox left-hander passing his winters playing pickup hockey at Boston Arena. Boxers Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney and Joe Louis all checked out fights, decades before Marvelous Marvin Hagler used the arena as a steppingstone to the middleweight championship. Paavo Nurmi, the "Flying Finn," competed in a Boston Athletic Association track meet. Political rallies brought in once and future U.S. presidents. Sonja Henie skated there after winning her first of three Olympic gold medals, and it's where Nancy Kerrigan made her return after being knee-clubbed in the runup to the 1994 Winter Games. When Reggie Lewis died, more than 12,000 people turned out for the funeral and viewing at the arena. A series of farewells The Huskies held a ceremony during their last men's basketball game at Matthews, on Nov. 15 against Vermont, with dozens of hoops alumni taking the court at halftime. Northeastern Hall of Famer Keith Motley thanked the fans for a century of support and the players who "made it into the place that it is today." "I stand before you today, in a place that is steeped in history, that is steeped with emotion," said Motley, who went on to coach the Huskies under Jim Calhoun and then serve as the chancellor of UMass-Boston. "May the spirit of winning that started at Matthews Arena continue through the history." That was followed by the final women’s hockey game on Dec. 6, with a pregame puck drop featuring some of the school’s Olympians and a postgame salute to the Doghouse fan section. The finale comes Saturday night, with the final men's hockey game. Poile, a former Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators general manager who still holds the Northeastern record with 11 hat tricks, said he remembers arriving as a 17-year-old freshman in 1967, surprised by the egg-shaped playing surface that had no corners. But he didn't really appreciate the history. "When I played there and then, of course, after, it always has grown on me," said Poile, who will take part in Saturday's ceremony. "To be asked to participate in the final game is such a huge honor and will be kind of that icing on the cake in terms of all the memories I had with Northeastern, both in hockey and school, and all the things that I did there in Boston." Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[What Is the Over Under in Sports Betting? Totals Explained]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/betting/over-under-totals-betting</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/betting/over-under-totals-betting</guid>
				<category>betting</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Learn what Over/Under betting means in sports, how totals work, and see real sportsbook examples for NFL, NBA, MLB, and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 20:10:09 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. An Over/Under bet, also called a total, is a wager on the combined number of points, runs, or goals scored in a game. The sportsbook sets a line, and bettors choose whether the final score will go over (more than the posted total) or under (less than the posted total). It’s one of the most popular bet types across major sports like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, giving fans a way to bet on the flow of the game rather than which team wins. Totals Betting Explained Oddsmakers set a total by projecting the combined score of both teams in a game, factoring in offensive and defensive strength, pace of play, and recent form. Bettors then decide whether the final score will go over or under that posted number. The rules are simple: if the game goes over the total, Over bets win; if it finishes under, Under bets cash. Overtime counts toward the total unless otherwise stated, which often makes a difference in close games. If the final combined score lands exactly on the posted number, the result is called a push, and all wagers are refunded. How to Bet on Over/Unders Let's go over how to place an Over/Under wager step-by-step: 1. Open the sportsbook app and find your game: pick the sport/league, then tap the matchup you want. 2. Select the Totals (Over/Under) market: look for "Total," "O/U," or "Over/Under." You’ll see a number (e.g., 47.5) and odds for Over and Under (often around -110). Remember: overtime typically counts toward totals. 3. Choose Over or Under: tap the side you want to bet on. 4. Enter your stake and review the slip: type your amount; the slip auto-calculates potential payout. Double-check the total number, odds, and that you selected Over or Under correctly. 5. Place the bet: confirm to submit. You can track it in "Open Bets." Example: if an NFL total is 47.5 at -110, choosing Over 47.5 means you need 48+ combined points to win (47 or fewer loses). At -110, a $100 bet returns $190.91 total ($90.91 profit) if it hits. It's also worth mentioning that you can also bet totals during the game. Lines update in real time with pace and scoring. For example, an NBA game opened at 212.5, but after a fast first quarter, the live total jumps to 224.5. If you think scoring will cool off, you might take Under 224.5 at the listed live odds. How are Over/Under Lines Set? Oddsmakers set totals by analyzing a mix of data, matchup factors, and betting market trends. At the core, they look at team offensive and defensive efficiency, pace of play, player injuries, recent performance, and even head-to-head history. Each sport has its own wrinkles that affect the Over/Under line: Finally, the market itself matters. As money comes in, especially from sharp bettors, oddsmakers will adjust totals before game time to balance action and manage risk. Best Sportsbooks for Over/Under Betting There are several sportsbook where which you can bet on the Over/Under for games. Two of the best options are DraftKings and FanDuel, thanks to their deep menus of live betting markets and alternate lines. DraftKings consistently offers a wide range of alternate totals, letting you adjust the number up or down with corresponding odds. They also tie many player props to Over/Under markets, giving bettors more ways to build same-game parlays around scoring. FanDuel stands out for its live totals markets, which update quickly as the game unfolds. You’ll often find multiple alternate totals available mid-game, allowing you to grab value if you think the pace of play will change. Both sportsbooks give bettors flexibility beyond the standard total, making them strong choices if you like to mix in alt lines and prop-based Over/Under bets. Why Do Lines Shift in Totals Betting? Totals don’t stay fixed, as they often move when sportsbooks react to new information or heavy betting action. Oddsmakers adjust to keep lines sharp and balance risk. Common reasons for these shifts include: Injury news: the star quarterback or top scorer being ruled out can push the total down. Weather updates: wind, rain, snow, or extreme heat often drive football and baseball totals lower. Public betting trends: if most of the money is on one side, sportsbooks may move the line to balance action. Sharp money: large wagers from respected bettors can move lines quickly and significantly. For example, an NBA total might open at 228.5, but if a star scorer is scratched before tip-off, the line could drop to 224.5. Early bettors often target softer opening numbers, while late bettors react to confirmed injury reports and other news. How to Calculate the Vig on Totals Vig (short for "vigorish") is the bookmaker’s built-in commission. On totals, it’s usually baked into the odds, with the standard -110 odds on both sides. Let's break it down step-by-step: 1. Convert each side to implied probability: let's say the Over/Under for an NFL game is 47.5 with -110 odds on both sides. The implied probability for both sides is calculated as such: 2. Add the probabilities together. 3. Subtract 100% to find the vig percentage. Keep in mind that the vig varies by sportsbook, sport, market liquidity, and timing. Gambling disclaimer: Only individuals aged 21 and over are permitted to gamble. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Gambling is subject to local state regulation and is illegal in some states. Please gamble responsibly – information relating to responsible gambling can be found here. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[What is Prop Betting? How Prop Bets Work, Types & Examples]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/betting/prop-betting</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/betting/prop-betting</guid>
				<category>betting</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Learn what a prop bet is, how it works, and the different types of prop bets in sports. See examples, strategies, and the best sportsbooks for prop betting.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 20:09:26 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. A prop bet is a wager on an outcome other than the final score, like player stats, team milestones, or in-game events. Examples include betting on a quarterback’s passing yards, an NBA player’s 3-pointers made, or whether an MLB player hits a home run. Props are especially popular in the NFL, NBA, and MLB, and have become a big part of U.S. sports culture, as they add extra excitement to viewers. What is a Prop Bet in Sports Betting More formally, a prop bet (short for "proposition bet") is a wager on a specific outcome within a game that isn’t directly tied to the final score or margin of victory. Instead, prop bets focus on individual player performance, team statistics, or other in-game events. Prop bets generally fall into two broad categories: Player props: wagers on individual stats, such as a quarterback’s passing yards, a basketball player’s points scored, or a pitcher’s strikeouts. Team props: wagers on team outcomes, such as which team scores first, total team rushing yards, or the number of three-pointers made. These markets can be offered pre-game or during live/in-game windows, with odds updating in real time as the action unfolds. Sportsbooks and betting apps also occasionally post "exotic" or novelty props, which go beyond standard stats. For example, some of the most popular prop bets during the Super Bowl are the Gatorade color of the winning team, and whether or not the team that wins the coin toss will win the game. How Prop Bets Work for Different Sports and Leagues Prop bets vary by sport, but the concept stays the same: they focus on individual or team outcomes beyond the final score. Below are some commonly offered props across several sports. Keep in mind that there is a lot of overlap between college football and NFL, as well as college basketball and NBA. NFL Props College Football Props NBA Props College Basketball Props MLB Props NHL Props Soccer Props Golf Props Examples of Prop Bets Let's get into specific example of prop bets below: NFL example In the NFL, a common example of a prop bet might be wagering on Patrick Mahomes to throw over 2.5 passing touchdowns against the Raiders. The line is set at +150, which means a $100 wager would return a profit of $150 if Mahomes throws three or more touchdowns (so a total return of $250). Anything less than that and the bet loses. NBA example In the NBA, a prop bet could focus on LeBron James’ rebounding. If the line is set at 7.5 rebounds at -110 for the Over, you would profit $90.91 on a $100 wager if James records at least 8 rebounds. If the bet hits, you’d see a total return of $190.91 ($90.91 profit plus your $100 bet). What Are the Best Betting Sites for Prop Bets? Most sportsbooks offer a wide array of prop bets. Some shine for their market depth, while others stand out for boosts or live options. Here are a few of the best: DraftKings: known for the deepest prop markets, especially around player stats across all major leagues. FanDuel: excellent for same game parlays, letting you combine multiple props from a single matchup. BetMGM: runs frequent prop boosts, adding extra value on player performance markets. Caesars: offers consistently competitive odds on both player and team props. bet365: strong for live prop betting, with markets updating in real time as the action unfolds. Gambling disclaimer: Only individuals aged 21 and over are permitted to gamble. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER. Gambling is subject to local state regulation and is illegal in some states. Please gamble responsibly – information relating to responsible gambling can be found here. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[2026 World Cup Draw: Tom Brady Headlines Star-Studded Draw Assistants]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-draw-tom-brady-headlines-star-studded-draw-assistants</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2026-world-cup-draw-tom-brady-headlines-star-studded-draw-assistants</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
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				    <![CDATA[Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O'Neal will serve as draw assistants at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw on Friday.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2025 17:01:28 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[FIFA on Wednesday announced the draw assistants for Friday's 2026 World Cup draw and the cast is stacked with North American sports legends, including seven-time Super Bowl champion and FOX Sports' lead NFL analyst Tom Brady. "Being part of the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup is an incredible honor — it’s the kind of global stage every athlete dreams of," said Brady. "I’m excited to help set the path for a tournament that brings the world together like nothing else." The Final Draw, which FOX will broadcast live from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday starting at 11:30 a.m. ET, is where the 48 countries participating in next summer's FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States will discover their group stage matchups. Brady will assist in the drawing of the pots alongside NHL Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup champion Wayne Gretzky, seven-time MLB All-Star Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and four-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal. "I follow soccer closely, so being part of the World Cup draw is incredibly special," reflected Judge. "With the final set for New York New Jersey — right where I play — I can’t wait to see which teams will be battling for the title in our own backyard." FIFA also announced that former England captain and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand will conduct the draw with award-winning international broadcaster Samantha Johnson, and two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning will serve as the red carpet host. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 11. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 MLB Odds: $93, 4-Leg Parlay Cashes for $100k After Blue Jays Clinch AL]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/2025-mlb-odds-93-4-leg-parlay-cashes-100k-after-blue-jays-clinch-al</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/2025-mlb-odds-93-4-leg-parlay-cashes-100k-after-blue-jays-clinch-al</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
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				    <![CDATA[O Canada! Find out how three Canadian teams, along with the Eagles, helped one bettor turn a $93 wager into more than $100k.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 22 Oct 2025 19:12:13 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[It took almost a year for this dream to become a reality, but one bettor turned a $93, four-leg parlay into a six-figure payday. And the Toronto Blue Jays punching their ticket to the World Series earlier this week was the W the lucky sports fan needed to cash out his winnings. Known on Instagram as @halfwolfhalfish, the bettor strung together a mix of futures bets to build out his parlay with odds of +107765. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. Here's what the ticket looked like: Philly was the first leg to come through, as the Eagles wrapped up the NFC back in January by defeating the Commanders, 55-23. The next leg of the parlay was a wager on Canada to win the 4 Nations Face-Off. This international tournament features NHL players from Canada, the United States, Sweden and Finland. The face-off championship game came down to the wire, but ultimately, Canada defeated the U.S. in overtime. Halfway there. By this point, @halfwolfhalfish needed another assist from Canadian hockey players to keep his ticket alive. And that's exactly what he got. With a regular-season record of 52-26, the Maple Leafs clinched the Atlantic Division back in April, setting the stage for this bettor's six-month-long sweat. When the calendar turned to mid-October, though, Canada came in clutch once more. The Toronto Blue Jays — who hadn't been to the World Series since 1993 — clinched the AL Pennant and punched their ticket to the Fall Classic by defeating the Mariners in a pivotal Game 7. The Blue Jays ended a 32-year drought, and @halfwolfhalfish got the last leg he needed to turn a $93 bet into more than $100k. O Canada (and Philly) indeed! Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Could Cooper Flagg Become First North American Athlete to Earn $1B In Contracts?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/could-cooper-flagg-become-first-north-american-athlete-earn-1b-contracts</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/could-cooper-flagg-become-first-north-american-athlete-earn-1b-contracts</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
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				    <![CDATA[If Cooper Flagg lives up to the hype, he could become the first player in North American sports to earn $1 billion in on-field earnings. We took a look at each league to see who might be the first to reach that mark.]]>
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				<pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2025 20:42:33 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Cooper Flagg has already earned a whole lot of money before he even steps on an NBA court, reportedly earning a staggering amount of money in name, image and likeness (NIL) during his one season at Duke. But as the Dallas Mavericks selected Flagg with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday, he’s set to make a lot more dough in his NBA career. Once he signs his rookie contract, Flagg will receive $62.7 million over the next four years. After that, Flagg’s salary could jump significantly, especially if he lives up to billing as a generational prospect. The potential average annual value of his second contract could be north of $70 million, while that figure for his third contract might be north of $100 million, according to projections from Spotrac. If that’s the case, it stands to reason that Flagg might be the first player across the four major North American professional sports leagues (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) in on-field earnings. Let’s take a look at each of the four leagues and see who might have the best chance of reaching that mark. All salary numbers are courtesy of Spotrac, unless otherwise noted. MLB When you look at the largest contracts in North American sports history, MLB players mostly make up the list. Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal to join the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023 blew people away at the time, but his record for the largest contract in North American sports history only lasted for one year. Juan Soto beat Ohtani’s mark by $65 million this past December, signing a 15-year, $765 million deal to join the New York Mets. While Ohtani and Soto are in the midst of the two largest contracts in MLB history, there’s a fair chance those deals are their final two pacts as MLB players. Ohtani will be 38 when he’s a free agent again and had $42.2 million in career MLB earnings before he signed his current deal. Soto will be 41 when his deal expires. There is an opt-out following the 2030 season, so there is a possibility that Soto could receive a larger deal sometime down the line. If he opts in, though, Soto will be on track to earn $847.3 million in his career. Looking into the future, there aren’t many players of Ohtani’s or Soto’s caliber set to hit free agency in the coming years. Some insiders have pontificated that Chicago Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker could earn a $600 million deal in free agency this offseason, which is obviously a lot of dough, but still well short of the $1 billion mark. Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal is set to become a free agent following the 2026 season, but pitchers typically earn less than hitters. So, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes probably won’t get there, either, even if he continues to pitch at an elite level by the time he’s eligible for free agency in the 2029-30 offseason. New York Yankees star Aaron Judge is under contract through the 2031 season, when he’ll be 39. He’ll have $396.1 million in career earnings by then. Dodgers star Mookie Betts is also under contract through his age-39 season, becoming free-agent eligible in 2033. He’ll have $425.6 million in career earnings by then, which includes the deferred money he’s set to receive after his contract expires. Point being, the first $1 billion MLB player likely hasn’t begun his career yet, or is in the early years of his career. NBA LeBron James recently became the first North American athlete to have an estimated net worth that crossed the $1 billion mark, but that number includes his endorsement deals and investments. In terms of his NBA career earnings, James has only $528.6 million in career earnings through his NBA contracts. That number could increase to $581.3 million if he accepts his player option for the 2025-26 season. While James is the highest earner in NBA history, he’ll have to play much longer in order to reach the $1 billion mark. With many of the other NBA’s all-time highest earners on the back nine of their careers, the likely candidates to come closest or reach the $1 billion mark are younger than 30. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum inked the richest contract in NBA history last offseason, signing a five-year, $313.9 million deal. If he accepts his player option for the 2029-30 season, Tatum’s career earnings will be at $469.4 million when that contract expires. He’ll be 32 by then, so he’d have to have a pretty long career to reach $1 billion. Fresh off winning an MVP and a title, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could break Tatum’s mark for the richest contract in NBA history in the coming weeks. He’s eligible for a five-year, $380 million extension this offseason. If Gilgeous-Alexander agrees to such a deal, he’ll have possibly racked up $535.3 million in career earnings by the time the extension ends in 2032. He’ll turn 34 that offseason, though, giving him a relatively limited earnings window to potentially reach $1 billion. Some people thought Luka Doncic would become the first player to reach the $1 billion mark as he had a strong start to his career. But his potential to earn $1 billion in career earnings took a hit when he was traded this past season, becoming ineligible to receive a five-year, $345 million supermax extension from the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. He can still sign a four-year, $229 million extension with the Lakers this offseason. However, Doncic could maneuver his next deal to make it possible for him to sign a five-year, $418 million deal in the 2028-29 offseason. If Doncic did that, he’d have $722 million in career earnings by the end of the 2032-33 season, when he’s 34. Another massive deal that offseason could help Doncic come close to the $1 billion mark. Beyond Tatum, Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic, San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and Cooper Flagg could threaten to reach the $1 billion mark if they live up to the hype surrounding them. Wembanyama’s in the midst of a four-year, $55.1 million rookie deal, and his next contract could be worth around $300 million if he meets the requirement to earn a supermax, per Bloomberg. If Wembanyama meets the requirement to earn a supermax for his third deal, that contract could be worth around $500 million, according to Bloomberg. That would take Wembanayama’s career earnings to around $850 million 12 years into his career, when he’ll only be 31. Flagg could earn even more than that in that span. As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Flagg’s rookie contract will be a four-year, $62.7 million deal. If he meets the criteria to earn a supermax at the end of that contract, Flagg can receive a five-year, $359 million deal for his second contract. If Flagg meets the criteria to earn a supermax again by the end of his second contract, his third contract would be worth $509 million over five years. In total, Flagg’s potential career earnings through his first 14 seasons in the league could be at $930 million by the end of the 2037-38 season, in which he’ll only be 32 at the time. NFL Similar to MLB and NBA salaries, the salaries for NFL players have also risen tremendously over the last few years as the salary cap has risen following the COVID-19 pandemic and the monstrous TV deals. While players are setting salary records at each position seemingly every offseason, quarterbacks still get paid well more than anyone else. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was the biggest beneficiary of the recent cap spike. He signed a record four-year, $240 million extension prior to the start of the 2024 NFL season, making him the first player in NFL history to have an average salary of $60 million. But his career earnings will still be short of $500 million by the time that deal ends in 2029 ($436.3 million) as he turns 36 that offseason. Many might think that Patrick Mahomes would be a logical player to threaten to cross the $1 billion mark. However, the 10-year, $477 million extension he signed in 2020 will make it tough for him to get there. The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback will be 36 when that deal expires in the 2032 offseason and will have $497.7 million in career earnings at that time. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen became the latest player to cash in a historic check, doing so when he signed a six-year, $330 million extension in March. But his career earnings $504.6 million when that deal ends in 2031, as he’ll turn 35 that offseason. Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens are reportedly discussing an extension ahead of training camp. Even if they agree to terms on a massive new deal, Jackson would probably still fall short of $1 billion. He’s projected to earn $297.3 million in career earnings by the end of the 2027 season, in which he’ll be 30. In May, salary cap expert and 3 Strand Sports' vice president of client compensation’s J.I. Halsell told FOX Sports’ Eric Williams that Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels could be the first quarterback to earn $100 million per year. He projects that Daniels will sign a four-year, $360 million extension when his rookie contract expires at the end of the 2028 season, assuming Washington picks up his option and he continues to play at the level he played at in 2024. If Daniels earns such a deal, his career earnings would be north of $400 million by 2033. He’ll be 33 when his contract expires at the end of that season, so he’d still have some time to make up for the $500-plus million he’d need to reach $1 billion. The five other quarterbacks selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft (Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy, Bo Nix) could feasibly earn the same deal if they play at Daniels’ level before signing an extension. Tennessee Titans quarterback and 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward would also be in line to earn a similar amount of money through the end of his second contract if he plays at that level, according to Halsell. So, as salaries continue to climb in the NFL, it does seem like a quarterback drafted in the last couple of years or in the near future will reach $1 billion in career on-field earnings at some point. NHL Barring a major change in the NHL’s salary cap, it’s going to take some time for a hockey player to earn $1 billion in their playing career. The NHL is projected to have a hard salary cap of $95.5 million for the 2025-26 season, which is far fewer than the other three major professional North American sports leagues (MLB has a $241 million tax threshold in 2025; NBA will have a $154.6 million soft salary cap in 2025-26; NFL will have a $279.2 million hard salary cap in 2025). Washington Capitals star and NHL all-time goal-scoring leader Alex Ovechkin is also the league’s highest earner ever at $161.7 million. That should help paint a picture for how far away an NHL player is from $1 billion in career earnings. Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid will be a free agent after the 2025-26 season, putting him in line to potentially earn a historic deal. But NHL players can only receive up to 20% of the salary cap on an annual basis. As a result, a max contract for McDavid is projected to be around $19 million in average annual value, according to ESPN. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Stanley Cup Damaged as Florida Panthers Celebrate Second Straight Championship]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/stanley-cup-damaged-florida-panthers-celebrate-second-straight-championship</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/stanley-cup-damaged-florida-panthers-celebrate-second-straight-championship</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Stanley Cup is a little banged up after the Florida Panthers’ celebration of back-to-back titles.]]>
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				<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jun 2025 17:10:09 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Stanley Cup is a little banged up, thanks to the Florida Panthers’ celebration of back-to-back titles. The bowl of the famous trophy is cracked, and the bottom is dented. Not for the first time and likely not the last. The Panthers won their second consecutive championship on home ice on Tuesday night, beating Edmonton in six games. The team, following decades of tradition, partied with the Cup into the wee hours and kept the revelry going in Fort Lauderdale well into Wednesday afternoon. A spokesperson for the Hockey Hall of Fame said the keepers of the Cup are taking the appropriate steps and plan to have it repaired by the celebration parade on Sunday. Made of silver and a nickel alloy, the 37-pound Cup is relatively malleable. Damage is nothing new for the 131-year-old silver chalice that has been submerged in pools and the Atlantic Ocean and mishandled by players, coaches and staff for more than a century. Just this decade alone, the Tampa Bay Lightning dropped the Cup during their boat parade in 2021 and the Colorado Avalanche dented it on the ice the night they won the following year. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[The 10 Best Individual Championship Performances Since 2020]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/best-championship-performances-since-2020</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/best-championship-performances-since-2020</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Sam Reinhart joined rare air in the Panthers' series-clinching Stanley Cup Final win. So, here are the 10 best individual performances in championship games since 2020.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:19:55 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Everyone who plays sports dreams of stepping up on their sport's biggest stage as a kid, hoping to make history en route to a championship. Sam Reinhart got to fulfill that dream on Tuesday night. The Florida Panthers center scored four goals in his team's 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday night, helping his team secure back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. Reinhart's four goals matched the most ever scored in a Final game, with five other players scoring that many goals in one since it began in 1914. (It should be noted that Reinhart's last two goals came against an empty net, but both of those goals were outside the Oilers' attacking zone.) As Reinhart and the Panthers celebrate in South Florida, let's take a look at the 10 best individual championship performances since 2020. There are two caveats to this list. The performance had to have come in a series-clinching game (MLB, NBA, NHL) and the player had to have won the title. LSU QB Joe Burrow vs. Clemson (2020 National Championship Game) After an eight-touchdown performance in LSU's semifinal win, Burrow nearly matched that in the national championship game against Clemson. He completed 31 of 49 passes for 463 yards for five touchdowns to go with 58 rushing yards and a rushing score. Burrow actually had to help LSU climb out of an early 10-point deficit against the defending national champs, leading three straight touchdown drives in the second quarter. His 29-yard scamper before halftime highlighted a 95-yard drive that gave the Tigers a 28-17 lead. Burrow then sealed the win with a pair of TD passes in the second half, capping off the best passing season in college football history. Alabama WR DeVonta Smith vs. Ohio State (2021 National Championship Game) The Heisman winner set title game records for receptions (12) and receiving touchdowns (three) — and he did it all in one half. His final grab came in the second quarter, but it was a huge one. Smith ran right past an Ohio State defender while hauling in a 42-yard strike from Mac Jones to give Alabama a 35-17 lead going into halftime. The star wideout suffered a finger injury early in the second half that forced an early exit. But the damage was already done, as he put a bow on one of the best wide receiver seasons in college football history. He finished the game with 215 receiving yards as well, helping Alabama win, 52-24. Milwaukee Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Phoenix Suns (2021 NBA Finals, Game 6) In his first NBA Finals appearance, Antetokounmpo had already dropped multiple 40-point performances heading into Game 6 against the Suns. He also made two big plays in the clutch in the Bucks' Game 4 and 5 wins, getting a game-sealing block in the former and a game-sealing dunk in the latter. Still, the two-time MVP saved his best for last in the 2021 NBA Finals. Antetokounmpo scored 50 points in the Bucks' 105-98 win over the Suns, making 16 of 25 shots from the field and shooting an impressive 17 of 19 from the free-throw line. Thirty-three of those points came in the second half, with Antetokounmpo scoring 13 of the Bucks' final 21 points to help them pull away late. He also had 14 rebounds and five blocks in that game. A day later, Antetokounmpo celebrated the win by ordering 50 chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A. Atlanta Braves OF Jorge Soler vs. Houston Astros (2021 World Series, Game 6) Soler had already lived up to the billing as a worthy trade deadline acquisition for the Braves before Game 6. He hit 14 homers in 55 regular-season games for Atlanta, and while he was quiet at the plate in the NLDS and NLCS, Soler hit two major homers in Games 1 and 4 of the World Series. His Game 4 home run came as a pinch-hitter, and served as the game-winning run. The slugger had another homer in him for Game 6. With the game scoreless in the third inning, Soler crushed a three-run shot off Astros pitcher Luis Garcia that cleared the train tracks at Minute Maid Park and went 446 feet. Soler walked in his next at-bat and later scored thanks to Freddie Freeman's home run that made it a 5-0 game en route to a 7-0 win for the Braves. Soler went 6-for-20 at the plate in the 2021 World Series, with his homer helping him earn World Series MVP. Los Angeles Rams WR Cooper Kupp vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Super Bowl LVI) Kupp arguably had one of the best seasons for a wide receiver in the 2021 regular season, becoming the first player in 16 years to win the receiving triple crown (lead the league in receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns). But he arguably saved his best performance for last. The Rams' star receiver had eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns in their 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. Kupp's first touchdown came in the second quarter, an 11-yard grab that gave the Rams a 13-3 lead at the time. However, Los Angeles found itself trailing for much of the second half. With Cincinnati holding a 20-16 lead late in the fourth quarter, Kupp rushed for a seven-yard gain on a fourth-and-1 play before grabbing four receptions for 39 yards on Los Angeles' penultimate drive. The final catch was a one-yard touchdown grab that gave the Rams the lead with less than 1:30 remaining. To no surprise, Kupp wound up winning MVP of Super Bowl LVI. Golden State Warriors PG Stephen Curry vs. Boston Celtics (2022 NBA Finals, Game 6) Curry's best performance of the 2022 NBA Finals came in Game 4. He scored 43 points in that game to help the Warriors get a comeback win and prevent them from going down 3-1 in the series against the Celtics. When the series returned to TD Garden two games later, Curry had another stellar performance in him. The Warriors' star went off for 34 points, adding seven rebounds and seven assists. Following one of his six made 3-pointers in that game, Curry sensed that the Warriors were close to capturing another title, pointing at his ring finger. Curry capped off Game 6 by scoring 13 points in the fourth quarter, holding off the Celtics' late rally to lift the Warriors to a 103-90 win. He won his first Finals MVP as a result, averaging 31.2 points per game in the series. Argentina striker Lionel Messi vs. France (2022 World Cup final) The 2022 World Cup final had two performances that could've met this list, but we're only picking winners here. Messi and Kylian Mbappe were arguably the two best players in the world when Argentina and France met in 2022. They certainly played like it, too. Messi opened up the scoring, netting a goal in the 23rd minute. After Argentina took a 2-0 lead late in the first half, Mbappe gave France two necessary goals to send the game to extra time. He scored a penalty kick in the 80th minute before netting a pass from Marcus Thuram. In extra time, it appeared Messi had notched the win for Argentina when he scored in the 108th minute. However, Mbappe scored on another penalty kick in the 118th minute after a handball was called on Argentina. In penalty kicks, Messi and Mbappe each scored in the opening round. But France missed on its next two shots, allowing Argentina to win the penalty kicks, 4-2. Messi won his first World Cup and received the Golden Ball for the tournament, while Mbappe became the second player to ever score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. Boston Celtics F Jayson Tatum vs. Dallas Mavericks (2024 NBA Finals, Game 5) Offensively, Tatum didn't have the best series in the 2024 NBA Finals when the Celtics took a 3-1 lead. But he stepped up in all facets in the Celtics' 106-88 win over the Mavericks in Game 5. He had 16 points and nine assists in the first half to help give his team a 21-point edge. He added to his scoring total in the second half, finishing the game with 31 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds and two steals to help the Celtics seal their 18th title. PSG midfielder Desire Doue vs. Inter Milan (2025 UEFA Champions League Final) Doue proved that he wasn't too young for the big stage in the 2025 UEFA Champions League Final. The then-19-year-old midfielder scored two goals in PSG's 5-0 win over Inter Milan in May, with the brace giving his side a 3-0 lead by the 63rd minute. As he won man of the match, Doue became the youngest player to ever score a brace in a UEFA Champions League Final. He also became the second player to ever score a goal and dish out an assist in a UEFA Champions League Final. Florida Panthers C Sam Reinhart vs. Edmonton Oilers (2025 Stanley Cup Final, Game 6) Reinhart joined a group of select few with his four-goal performance in Game 6 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Final. He became the sixth player to score four goals in a Stanley Cup Final game, the first to do so since 1957. He also became just the second player to score four goals in a series-clinching Stanley Cup Final game, and the first player to do so since 1922. The four goals Reinhart scored in Game 6 gave him seven in the series. Not only was that the most in the series, but it was also the most in a Stanley Cup Final since Wayne Gretzky scored seven goals in the Oilers' 1985 series win. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Bettor Misses Winning $270k After Oilers Lose Stanley Cup to Panthers]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/bettor-misses-winning-270k-after-oilers-lose-stanley-cup-panthers</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/bettor-misses-winning-270k-after-oilers-lose-stanley-cup-panthers</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[One bettor missed out on $270K after the Oilers lost the Stanley Cup to the Panthers. He still made a pretty penny, however, by hedging the bet.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 18 Jun 2025 13:13:19 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[One bettor would've cashed in on a whopping $270,000 if the Oilers had won the 2025 Stanley Cup. But as fate would have it, the Florida Panthers hoisted the trophy on Tuesday night instead of Edmonton. And while the bettor walked away a little less wealthy, he's not completely empty-handed. Here's how it unfolded. On June 19, 2024, Drew Hirschman made a $13 wager on a five-leg parlay with odds of about +2082600. The Liberty, Dodgers and Eagles all handled business. Once the Stanley Cup Final and the NBA Finals started, Hirschman needed the Oilers and Thunder to follow suit so that he'd be swimming in more than a quarter million dollars worth of winnings. However, Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final ended up being all Panthers. Florida won the series 4-2 and captured the title after trouncing the Oilers 5-1 on Tuesday. But Hirschman had hedged the wager — meaning that he'd at least walk away with something if the Panthers ended up winning. And with that hedge, Hirschman's winnings were in the range of $75k to $90k. Not bad for a one-year-old $13 wager, even if it did fall short of the quarter-million mark.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Back-to-Back Cats: Panthers Repeat As Stanley Cup Champions By Beating Oilers in 6 Games]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/back-to-back-cats-panthers-repeat-stanley-cup-champions-beating-oilers-6-games</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/back-to-back-cats-panthers-repeat-stanley-cup-champions-beating-oilers-6-games</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Florida Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions by beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the final.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2025 23:10:30 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Florida Panthers repeated as Stanley Cup champions by beating the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 in Game 6 of the final on Tuesday night, becoming the NHL’s first back-to-back winners since Tampa Bay in 2020 and ’21 and the third team to do it this century. Sam Reinhart scored four goals, becoming just the fourth player in league history to get that many in a game in the final. His third to complete the hat trick sent rats, along with hats, flying onto the ice. Matthew Tkachuk, one of the faces of the franchise, fittingly scored the Cup clincher. "Good evening, South Florida," Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "It feels like we just did this." Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 28 of the 29 shots he faced, closing the door on a rematch with the same end result. The only goal came from fellow Russian Vasily Podkolzin in garbage time, long after the outcome was decided. That was followed by chants of "We want the Cup!" as time ticked off the clock. The Panthers already had it. Now they get to keep it. "This is as good as the first one," Reinhart said. "We learned some lessons. We stayed on the gas, foot on the pedal, and obviously the result speaks for itself." Not long after the Lightning made three trips to the final in a row, Florida has done the same and now has the makings of a modern-day dynasty. The Panthers have won 11 of 12 playoff series since T kachuk arrived by trade and Paul Maurice took over as coach in the summer of 2022. "We’ve got to be a dynasty now," Tkachuk said. "Three years in a row finals, two championships. This is a special group." The only time they have been on the wrong side of a handshake line was the final in Vegas in 2023, only after several key players were dealing with banged up and gutting through significant injuries. From the core of Tkachuk, Reinhart, Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett on down the roster, they were much healthier this time around and were boosted by key trade deadline additions Brad Marchand and Seth Jones. Bennett led all goal-scorers this postseason with 15, and Marchand had six in the final alone. Bennett won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. Getting depth contributions from throughout the lineup allowed them to overpower Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and the Oilers, who struggled with Florida’s ferocious forecheck and switched goaltenders multiple times in the final. Stuart Skinner got the nod in Game 6 and was again done in by mistakes in front of him that ended with the puck in the net behind him and had his own blunder on Reinhart’s second goal. McDavid tried to take over but was again stymied by Barkov, Jones and Bobrovsky. He finished with seven points in his second career trip to the final, again denied his first title. Canada’s Stanley Cup drought reached 31 seasons and 32 years dating to Montreal in 1993. Teams in the U.S. Sun Belt have won it five of the past six times, four of them in Florida. This run through Tampa Bay in five, Toronto in seven, Carolina in five and Edmonton in six showed how clinical the Panthers have become under Maurice, who has coached more NHL games than everyone except Scotty Bowman and is now a two-time champion. So is Marchand, who last hoisted the Cup in 2011 with the Boston Bruins. The 14-year gap is the third-longest in league history, just shy of 16 for Chris Chelios from 1986 to 2002 and 15 for Mark Recchi from ’91 to ’06. "It’s incredible," Marchand said. "It’s a feeling you can’t really describe. Seeing the family and everyone up there and everyone that supported me and helped me get to this point, words can’t put this into reality how great it feels. Such an incredible group." Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Oilers vs. Panthers Predictions, Picks: Back McDavid to Score 2 Points or More]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/oilers-vs-panthers-predictions-picks-back-mcdavid-score-2-points-more</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/oilers-vs-panthers-predictions-picks-back-mcdavid-score-2-points-more</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Geoff Schwartz is here with his best bets for Stanley Cup Final Game 6. Find out why he's backing Connor McDavid to put up a fight tonight for the Oilers.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:52:13 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Stanley Cup Final between the Oilers and Panthers has given us some exciting postseason hockey. And tonight's Game 6 should be another thrilling matchup between these powerhouse teams. Let's dive into what I'm wagering on as the Oilers face a win-or-go-home scenario. Connor McDavid 2+ points McDavid had at least two points in six of the Oilers' seven games between the start of the Western Conference Finals and Game 3 of the Cup. Since then, he’s been held to zero points in Game 3, then a single point apiece in the last two games. Florida’s defense has hounded the Oilers and made it difficult to get clean looks at the goal, plus Panthers' goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky has been mostly outstanding. However, I don’t think McDavid is going down tonight without a fight. He’s the most skilled mover on the ice and the Oilers will need his skills to open up clean looks and give them a chance to tie this series. I like McDavid to contribute to at least two goals in this game. PICK: Connor McDavid (+110) to score 2+ points Sam Bennett Over .5 points The leader for the Conn Smythe Trophy has a point in all five games of this series. He’s scored in four of the games and added an assist in Game 4 when he didn’t find the back of the net. Going back to the series against the Canes in the Eastern Conference Finals, he had a point in four of those five games as well. He’s in a good position to create several scoring opportunities for this Panthers team, and with the Oilers being so aggressive tonight to tie up the series, he will have some chances off turnovers and on power plays to get that point. PICK: Sam Bennett (-135) Over .5 points scored Empty-Net Goal There’s only been a single empty-net goal in this series, with Florida securing the final goal of a 5-2 win in game five via the empty net. With Lord Stanley in the building tonight, I’d expect a mad scramble at the end of the game by either side to close out the series or maybe to extend it one more game. Either way, a net will be empty sooner than later in this contest, and I’m wagering on the puck finding the back of that net. Instead of playing either team to score an empty-net goal at +110, I will split that unit to wager on the specific team to score that goal. PICK: Florida +250PICK: Oilers +400 Blocks Parlay This is a pizza-money wager and nothing more. I’m attempting to take advantage of the situation in Game 6 and a trend in this series. The Oilers' defensemen have blocked a ton of shots in this series. By my count, it’s 69 blocked shots over the five games, with a high of 21 in Game 4. There are two reasons for these high block numbers. The Panthers have been more aggressive in getting their shot toward the goalie than the Oilers, but more importantly, the Oilers' goal tending has been suspect, with Skinner and Pickard in net. Skinner was benched in Game 4, didn’t start Game 5 but appears to be back in net for Game 6. The Oilers are jumping in front of pucks to help their goaltender. They know it’s necessary to help them win. Add a win-or-go-home Game 6 into the mix, and I like these guys to dive in front of every shot possible. Note: I’m only targeting the players with a number set at 1.5. Mattias Ekholm o1.5: 2 blocks or more in all five gamesEvan Bouchard o1.5: 2 blocks or more in four of five gamesDarnell Nurse o1.5: 2 blocks or more in three of five gamesBrett Kulak o1.5: 2 blocks or more in two of five gamesIf you parlay all of those together, you get +675. Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He played eight seasons in the NFL for five different teams. He started at right tackle for the University of Oregon for three seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection his senior year. Follow him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 Best Bets, Predictions for the Week by Chris 'The Bear' Fallica]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2025-best-bets-predictions-week-chris-the-bear-fallica</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2025-best-bets-predictions-week-chris-the-bear-fallica</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA["The Bear" is back with his favorite wagers for the Stanley Cup Final, Wimbledon and MLB. Find out where he is putting his money.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:44:50 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA["Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. The Stanley Cup Final returns to Florida on Tuesday for Game 6 between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. Sports fans will be eagerly watching as the Panthers have a chance to win the trophy again. But who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy ? In addition to the finals, fans will keep an eye on one of the world’s most prestigious tennis tournaments: Wimbledon. Baseball also remains a hot topic as the MLB season progresses. While the action on the ice is heating up, the excitement at the All England Club in London is still a few weeks away and the MLB season has months to run. Let’s jump into the action. Brad Marchand to win the Conn Smythe Trophy The series obviously isn’t over, but I don’t know why Brad Marchand isn’t the favorite to win the Conn Smythe. Yes, Sam Bennett has 15 goals, and that's great. But Marchand scored the two biggest goals of the playoffs for Florida. Without his Game 3 overtime goal against Toronto, when the Panthers were down 2-0 in the second round, they likely wouldn’t be here. Marchand also netted the OT winner in Game 2 in Edmonton, keeping the Cats from falling to 2-0 in the series — and who knows what might have happened in Games 3 and 4 if the Oilers had taken a 2-0 series lead. Marchand has 10 goals and 10 assists, along with superior penalty killing (including a short-handed goal) and an insanely good +18 plus/minus rating for the playoffs. For the Stanley Cup Final series alone, Marchand scored six goals, including a power-play goal, one short-handed goal and two game-winners. He’s a big-moment player, and if the voters are doing their jobs and not just seeing "15 goals," Marchand is an obvious choice to win the Conn Smythe at this point if the Panthers repeat as Stanley Cup champions. As many of you know, I mentioned Marchand at 60-1 to win this on May 29, so I’m a tad invested, but the numbers and production back my thoughts up. PICK: Brad Marchand (+410) to win the Conn Smythe Trophy Ben Casparius to win NL Rookie of the Year Casparius has been a savior to the injury-riddled Dodgers staff this year. He’s appeared in 23 games, starting twice — a role that manager Dave Roberts says he will now continue — going 5-1 with a 3.02 ERA. However, a deeper look shows six of the 16 runs he’s allowed came in a 16-0 loss to the Cubs. He has a 5-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, a .217 batting average against opponents and has very good numbers in both the hard-hit and ground ball percentages. If Casparius is a mainstay in the Dodgers rotation now — even as a five-inning guy — he could put up a solid W-L record for a team which might have the best record in baseball, which will attract voters' attention. The four players ahead of Casparius — Drake Baldwin (+220), Agustin Ramirez (+450), Matt Shaw (+800) and Jacob Misiorowski (+1000) — seem like placeholders at this point in what should be a volatile market the rest of the way. This award is pretty much there for the taking, and I wouldn't bet on any of those guys who have single digit odds. PICK: Ben Casparius (+1100) to win NL Rookie of the Year Madison Keys to win Wimbledon Keys has had the best year of her career, capturing her first slam title in Melbourne, and also winning the warm-up event in Adelaide. But her first slam title also could have come last year at Wimbledon, where Keys was arguably playing the best tennis of her career. She was likely headed towards a win in the Round of 16 against Jasmine Paolini, but suffered an unfortunate hamstring injury, forcing her to retire in the third set. Keys has won a couple of times at Eastbourne, so her grass pedigree is not surprising, given her power and style of play. No reason to worry about her grass buildup events — a semifinal loss in Queens to Tatjana Maria and a loss in Berlin to 2023 Wimbledon champ Markéta Vondroušová. It’s hard to play either Coco Gauff or Iga Swiatek here. I also think the price on Aryna Sabalenka is too short — remember she didn’t play Wimbledon last year because of injury. Mirra Andreeva? Who knows. The only other player I would consider betting to win is Elena Rybakina, who won in 2022. But the price on Keys is too good to pass up, and we’ll await the draw to see what some of the derivative prices offer. PICK: Madison Keys (+1600) to win Wimbledon Chris "The Bear" Fallica has covered sports for nearly three decades. While college football has been his focus, he also enjoys the NFL, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, MLB, NHL and Horse Racing, with an "occasional" wager on such events. Chris recently won the inaugural Circa Football Invitational and finished in the Top 10 of the Golden Nugget Football Contest. He's a multiple-time qualifier for the NHC Handicapping Championship. Remember, "The less you bet, the more you lose when you win!" Follow him on Twitter @chrisfallica. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 NHL Stanley Cup Odds: Panthers One Win from Championship Ahead of Game 6]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2025-stanley-cup-odds</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2025-stanley-cup-odds</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[We have a repeat of the Stanley Cup Finals — and it's about as back and forth as can be. Check out the latest odds.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2025 12:29:36 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The NHL playoffs have officially reached the Stanley Cup Final. This series might look familiar, as the Florida Panthers look to defend their title by defeating the Edmonton Oilers for a second straight year. Can Connor McDavid and the Oilers overcome Florida this season? Will we have a new champion for the fifth time in five years? Let's check out the Stanley Cup champion odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of June 17. Panthers (3) vs. Oilers (3)Playoff series: FLA leads 3-2 Panthers: -350 (bet $10 to win $12.86 total)Oilers: +280 (bet $10 to win $38 total) Game 6 odds Panthers: -155 (bet $10 to win $16.45 total)Oilers: +130 (bet $10 to win $23 total) Edmonton won Game 1 of the Stanley Cup series after Leon Draisaitl scored a power-play goal with 31 seconds left in overtime. Draisaitl and the Oilers found the back of the net first at 1:06 into the first period, and then came back from 3-1 down to force OT. In Game 2, it was double overtime, but this time, the Panthers emerged with the win via a Brad Marchand goal at the 8:05 mark of the second extra period. With that, the Panthers became the favorites once again. In Game 3, no extra time was needed, as the Panthers jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second period before cruising to a 6-1 victory, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. But in Game 4, even with Florida jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first period, things ended in overtime once again, as Edmonton stormed back to take a 4-3 before winning 5-4 in OT. Talk about a back and forth series. The Panthers took a commanding 5-2 Game 5 win after Marchand added another two goals — giving him a series-leading six goals — the most by any player in a Stanley Cup Final since 1988. Florida is one win away from bringing home the trophy once again. While Florida has been to the last three Stanley Cups, and won last season, the last time the Oilers took home the trophy was in 1990. It has been over 30 years since a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup. A different franchise has won the Stanley Cup in each of the past four years. The Lightning were the last team to repeat, winning it in 2020 and 2021. Prior to that, the Penguins won it back to back in 2016 and 2017, and before that, the last team to win consecutive titles was the Red Wings in 1997 and 1998. Of the last 10 NHL champions, six have been from the Eastern Conference and four have been from the West. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Who are the 10 best father-son sports duos of all time?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/who-10-best-father-son-duos-all-time</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/who-10-best-father-son-duos-all-time</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Some of the greatest athletes in sports history are a part of a father-son duo. Which ones are the best? FOX Sports research ranked the 10 greatest.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 15 Jun 2025 14:04:37 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Sometimes, greatness runs in the family. Several players in sports history have followed in their fathers' footsteps to become stars of their own. In fact, some of the greatest players in major North American sports are sons of former professional athletes. Not many father-son duos get the opportunity to play together, though — like what LeBron and Bronny James did with the Los Angeles Lakers at the start of the 2024-25 season. In fact, they became the first father-son duo in NBA history to play in a game together. Even though the elder James has accomplished a lot in his NBA career that's caused many to think he's one of the best players in league history (four NBA titles, four MVPs, all-time leading scorer), he said that playing with his son is the top accomplishment of his career. "When it comes to the titles, that's one separate thing but to be able to be in this league, to play in this league and also being able to do it alongside Bronny right now, that's one of the biggest accomplishments and probably the No. 1 accomplishment I've ever been able to do," James said in January. "To work with your son — I've heard it from a lot of people and, not only [in] sports, but I've heard it in business and [other] walks of life, and they say it's the greatest thing you could ever have." As the James family made history this past year, let's take a look at the 10 best father-son duos in sports history. 10 best father-son sports duos of all time 10. Howie Long and Chris Long, Kyle Long The elder Long had an unusual path to a Hall of Fame career, playing at Villanova right before its college football program briefly shut down. But as he emerged as a standout there, the Raiders selected him in the second round of the 1981 NFL Draft. He went on to become one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL in the 1980s, making eight Pro Bowls and helping the Raiders win Super Bowl XVIII. Long's eldest son, Chris, followed in his footsteps. The second overall pick in 2008, Chris Long had several solid seasons with the Rams before winning a Super Bowl title with the Patriots in 2016 and the Eagles a year later. Long, who finished his career with 70 sacks, was one of the few players in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls with different teams. He and his father also became the first father-son duo to ever win a Super Bowl. Kyle Long, meanwhile, played on the other side of the ball. The three-time Pro Bowl guard was a first-round pick of the Bears, and he spent most of his career in Chicago, losing to the Eagles (and his brother) in the memorable "Double Doink" playoff game. He joined the Chiefs for a season in 2021 after a one-year retirement but did not appear in any games with them due to injury. 9. Cecil Fielder and Prince Fielder A pair of Fielders are among the top power-hitting father-son duos in MLB history. Cecil Fielder was an All-Star for the Tigers in the early 1990s after stints with the Blue Jays and in Japan, leading the American League in homers in back-to-back seasons. He also became the first AL player since Babe Ruth to lead the league in RBIs for three straight seasons. He later won a World Series with the Yankees, finishing his career with 319 homers and three All-Star nods. The younger Fielder was every bit the hitter that his father was. He quickly emerged as one of the game's top sluggers when he was with the Brewers in the mid-to-late 2000s, hitting 50 homers in his third season. He later joined the Tigers, nearly helping them win a World Series in 2012. A six-time All-Star, Prince Fielder's 50-homer season made the Fielders the first father-son duo to record at least 40 homers in a season. He also hit the same number of homers as his father did in his career. 8. Mychal Thompson and Klay Thompson Decades before Klay Thompson was a centerpiece of the Warriors' dynasty, his father was a key contributor to the Lakers' dynasty in the 1980s. He helped Los Angeles win a pair of titles, averaging over 10 points per game off the bench in those championship seasons. Prior to that, Thompson was taken with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 NBA Draft by the Trail Blazers, enjoying eight solid years there before joining the Spurs in 1986. Klay Thompson made up half of the "Splash Brothers" twosome that won four championships between 2014-22. The five-time All-Star averaged over 20 points per game in each of Golden State's title-winning seasons, with the Warriors reaching the NBA Finals two more times during his tenure with the team. The Thompsons are one of five father-son duos to have ever won an NBA title. 7. Dell Curry and Stephen Curry The other half of the "Splash Brothers" was the son of an NBA standout, too. Dell Curry broke out as one of the first great 3-point shooters in the league, making 40.2% of his shots from deep over his 16-year career. He also won Sixth Man of the Year in 1994 and is second on the Hornets' all-time points leader list. Of course, Steph Curry took his father's 3-point prowess to a whole other level. The Warriors star revolutionized the game with his 3-point shooting, winning two MVPs (including the first unanimous one in league history) en route to guiding Golden State to four championships. Curry set the NBA's all-time record for 3-pointers made in 2021, six months before he won his first Finals MVP. 6. Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The Earnhardts are two of NASCAR's most iconic drivers. The elder Earnhardt participated in 676 Winston Cup races, winning 76 of them. Earnhardt's career came to an end after he was involved in a fatal crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. He was posthumously inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame inaugural class in 2010. Earnhardt Jr. won 26 Cup Series races, including the Daytona 500 twice (2004, 2014). He had 260 top-10 finishes in Cup races in his career and was named to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2021. 5. Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds Before Barry Bonds reset the record books, his father also joined the record books in a unique way. Bobby Bonds, a three-time All-Star, was just the second player to hit 300 career home runs and steal 300 bases, recording 332 homers and 461 stolen bases. Three decades after Bonds emerged as a young star with the Giants, his son added to his already Hall of Fame career in a big way during his time in the Bay Area. He won five of his seven NL MVPs during his 15 seasons with the Giants, including four in a row at the start of the century. Bonds broke a couple of home run records as well, hitting 73 homers for the most in a single season ever in 2001 and setting the all-time record for homers with 762. 4. Vladimir Guerrero and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Guerreros have left their mark on Canadian baseball history. The elder Guerrero was a four-time All-Star with the Expos, finishing in the NL's top 10 in homers four times during his eight seasons in Montreal. He added to his historic career in his first season with the Angels, hitting 39 homers in 2004 to win his first and only MVP. The nine-time All-Star became a Hall of Famer on the second ballot. As for the younger Guerrero, he turned into one of MLB's best power hitters in just a short time. He hit 48 homers in his third season in 2021, which marked his first of four straight All-Star nods. Guerrero Jr. is only 25 years old, so it's possible this father-son duo could climb the list. 3. Bobby Hull and Brett Hull The Hull family produced two of the greatest players in NHL history. Bobby Hull was arguably the best player in the history of the sport during his prime, leading the league in goals in seven seasons and finishing second all-time in goals scored (610) at the time of his retirement. The two-time MVP winner also led the league in scoring three times. The younger Hull might have been an even better player than his father. Brett Hull scored 741 goals in his career, the fifth-highest in league history. He also won Stanley Cups in 1999 with the Stars and in 2002 with the Red Wings. A nine-time All-Star, Brett Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, joining his father to become the Hall's first father-son duo. 2. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. notably made history when they became the first father-son duo to play together in the majors. Before they appeared in 51 games together in the early 1990s, Griffey Sr. played a key role in the Reds' World Series triumphs in the 1970s. He was one of the best contact hitters in the game when they won it all in 1975 and was an All-Star a year later when the Reds claimed the World Series again. Griffey Sr. ended his career as a three-time All-Star. The younger Griffey is known as one of the greatest players in MLB history. He was a 13-time All-Star and an MVP winner, leading the AL in homers four times. Junior, who mostly starred for the Mariners and Reds, also won 10 Gold Gloves in his career. He ranks seventh all-time with 630 career home runs, and he set a record at the time for the highest Hall of Fame voting share in 2016. 1. Archie Manning and Peyton Manning, Eli Manning Most families would love to have one quarterback good enough to make the NFL. The Manning family not only had three (likely to be four soon), but all three also became top quarterbacks in the league. Archie Manning was a two-time Pro Bowler over his 14-year NFL career, spending most of it with the Saints in their early seasons as a franchise. While the Saints never had much team success with Manning, he was widely viewed as one of the best passers of the 1970s. Manning's two quarterback sons wound up having even better careers than he did. Peyton Manning, the elder of the two, lived up to the hype as a generational prospect when the Colts selected him first overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He won four MVPs during his time in Indianapolis and brought the Colts a Super Bowl title in 2006. Manning continued his all-time career with the Broncos in 2012, adding another MVP award and Super Bowl championship in the final four seasons of his career. He still holds several NFL records, including MVP wins, and was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2021. Eli Manning could become a first-ballot Hall of Famer soon, too. The Giants' decision to trade up and nab him with the first overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft paid dividends. While the youngest Manning didn't have the individual prowess that his older brother had, he led the Giants to a great deal of success. He helped them pull off one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history in the 2007 season, giving the then-undefeated Patriots their first loss in dramatic fashion. Manning took down the Patriots in the Super Bowl again four years later, making him one of a handful of quarterbacks to start in two Super Bowl wins. The Manning family could add a third generation to strengthen their standing on this list soon. Arch Manning, who is the grandson of Archie and the nephew of Peyton and Eli, is set to begin his first season as Texas' starting quarterback in 2025. The highly-touted quarterback prospect has been widely considered as one of the favorites to win the Heisman in the upcoming season and viewed as the frontrunner to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Honorable mentions: Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce attend Stanley Cup Final alongside Wayne Gretzky]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-attend-game-4-stanley-cup-final-florida</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/taylor-swift-travis-kelce-attend-game-4-stanley-cup-final-florida</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were among the celebs that flocked to Amerant Bank Arena to watch Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jun 2025 21:53:02 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Pop superstar Taylor Swift and boyfriend Travis Kelce were among the celebrities that flocked to Amerant Bank Arena on Thursday to watch Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers. Kelce, a Super Bowl-winning tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, is a known hockey fan, and ever since he and Swift began their high-profile romance in 2023, the 14-time Grammy Award-winning singer has been known to pop in on big sporting events — including the last two Super Bowls — and cause an excited frenzy for fans. There were rumblings ahead of Thursday's game that the couple might attend the final. Other celebs in attendance included former Miami Dolphins star defensive end Jason Taylor, who banged the drum before the game. Miami Heat captain Bam Adebayo was joined by former Heat captain Udonis Haslem on the drum on Monday. The defending champion Panthers led the best-of-seven series 2-1 heading into Thursday's game. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 Big Bets report: Bettor stands to win $270k via Thunder, Oilers titles]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2025-big-bets-report-bettor-stands-win-270k-via-thunders-oilers-titles</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2025-big-bets-report-bettor-stands-win-270k-via-thunders-oilers-titles</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[If the Thunder and Oilers can both secure titles, one bettor will turn $13 into nearly a quarter of a million dollars. Patrick Everson has the scoop.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2025 18:14:46 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[NBA playoff odds — and some futures bets that go with them — are closing in on crunch time. And let’s not forget Stanley Cup odds, too, with both leagues heading toward their championship series. One DraftKings Sportsbook customer certainly hasn’t forgotten. How’d you like to be in his spot, holding a $13 bet that could become more than a quarter of a million dollars? Read on for more on that wager, along with a $400,000-plus bet that hit, some fun parlay payouts and other notable bets and major wagers tied to NBA and NHL playoffs betting. Let It Ride? At some point before last year’s WNBA Finals, a DraftKings Sportsbook customer put all of 13 bucks on a five-team championship futures parlay: • Liberty to win the WNBA title • Dodgers to win the World Series • Eagles to win the Super Bowl • Oilers to win the Stanley Cup • Thunder to win the NBA Finals The first three legs are in. And as fate would have it, the last two teams are now favored to win their respective championships. Oklahoma City will be a solid series favorite against the Indiana Pacers or New York Knicks. Edmonton is a modest series favorite vs. Florida in a rematch of last season’s Stanley Cup Final, won by the Panthers. The odds on that five-leg parlay: +2082680, or in easier-to-digest form, about 20827/1. If OKC and Edmonton get there, the customer turns $13 into a whopping $270,761.40. He also has a cash-out option, right now sitting at almost $75,000. Decisions, decisions! Big Believer In Thursday night’s Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals, the New York Knicks were on the brink of elimination, trailing 3-1. But among those confident in Jalen Brunson &amp; Co. was a DraftKings customer with a huge bankroll. The bettor put $418,200 on Knicks -4 (-112), banking on the home favorite to win and cover. New York did that and then some, posting a 111-94 rout to extend the series. So the customer pocketed a massive win of $373,392.86 (total payout $791,592.86). Don’t forget that 86 cents. Not a bad night’s work for that high-roller. Parlay Partay Let’s bring this back to something more relatable to the average sports bettor. In Knicks-Pacers Game 4 on Tuesday night, a FanDuel Sportsbook customer put together a six-leg single-game parlay heavy on Tyrese Haliburton props: Haliburton filled up the box score with 32 points — including five 3-pointers — 15 assists and 12 rebounds. The Pacers won 130-121 to fulfill the moneyline leg of the parlay, and the game sailed over the total of 219.5 points. And that’s how you turn $25 into $8,690. I Like Big Bets And I Cannot Lie As the NBA playoffs point toward the NBA Finals, some big futures bets either cashed or moved a step closer to doing so. At DraftKings Sportsbook, one customer is all over Oklahoma City. On April 28, the bettor put $100,000 on Thunder -175 to win the Western Conference. That wager cashed on Wednesday night when OKC eliminated Minnesota 4-1 in the best-of-7 series. The customer profited $57,140 (total payout $157,140). But wait. There’s more. The same customer has two major wagers on the Thunder to win the NBA Finals: • $105,000 Thunder +160 • $100,000 Thunder +130 The first bet would profit $168,000 and the second $130,000 if the Thunder — now -750 favorites to win the championship — claim their first NBA title. That’s a $298,000 potential profit and a total payout of $503,000. In Thursday’s Pacers-Knicks Game 5, Caesars Sportsbook saw two big plays, one a winner and one a loser: • $105,000 Under 223.5 points (-105). A 111-94 New York win, for 205 points, was a victory for the bettor, too, who profited $100,000 (total payout $205,000). • $110,000 Pacers +4.5. Indiana fell flat at Madison Square Garden, making that wager a big donation to the house. A hopefully helpful reminder: These big bets are often made by high-roller customers who can absorb such a loss. Regular Joes and Janes like you and me cannot. And as for those parlays? Well, as they say: Parlays are a bookmaker’s best friend. So keep it reasonable. Wager responsibly. Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose. Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting space. He’s based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on X: @PatrickE_Vegas. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Panthers vs. Oilers: Stanley Cup series schedule, scores, TV channel, how to watch]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/panthers-vs-oilers-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/panthers-vs-oilers-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out this article for a complete history of Panthers vs. Oilers games, including previous game results, scores, and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 30 May 2025 10:01:46 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Stanley Cup Finals of the NHL Playoffs featured a thrilling matchup between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers. Check out everything you need to know about the series: Panthers vs. Oilers Series Schedule Below is the full schedule for the Panthers-Oilers playoff series: Stanley Cup Finals (A3) Florida Panthers vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers How many times have the Panthers played the Oilers? The Florida Panthers have played the Edmonton Oilers a total of 2 times in the regular season. The Panthers won the season series 2-0. Panthers vs. Oilers History (2024-25 Regular Season)]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 Futures wagers, best bets by Chris 'The Bear' Fallica]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2025-futures-wagers-best-bets-chris-the-bear-fallica</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2025-futures-wagers-best-bets-chris-the-bear-fallica</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[From college baseball to the NFL, Chris "The Bear" Fallica is delivering his latest futures wagers. Check out his latest best bets.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2025 19:51:44 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA["Bear Bets" are real wagers that Chris "The Bear" Fallica is actually making. It's an exciting time of the year for a handful of sports, from college baseball to the NFL, NHL and even tennis. With plenty of sporting events happening, there are numerous wagers I like. Having your money on some future bets makes watching even more fun. With a few events just around the corner, let's dive into it. Mississippi State CWS Regional win (50-1) The Diamond Dogs have gotten hot at the right time of the year. Mississippi State finished the regular season 9-1 after naming pitching coach Justin Parker interim manager. The Bulldogs have plenty of bats, including 3B Ace Reese (the SEC Newcomer of the Year), along with Noah Sullivan and Hunter Hines. The biggest question surrounds pitching depth after Pico Kohn, but they do average 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings as a team, allowing a lot of easy outs. It's a good test for their bats in the opener against a Northeastern pitching staff that's riding a 27-game winning streak. MSU has made a College World Series (CWS) via Tallahassee in the past, and Florida State historically hasn't been rock solid at this point in the season. It feels like this has been a house-money type of season for Link Jarrett’s Noles. Despite returning Jamie Arnold, this was a team that lost three of its top four arms and top four bats from last year. Why not take a chance and see if the team from Starkville has some magic in it like Ole Miss did a few years back? PICK: Mississippi State 50-1 (+300) CWS Regional win Jonathan Gannon to win Coach of the Year (20-1) Arizona was 8-9 last year, and the NFC West might be in a bit of transition. The Cardinals certainly have a chance to win it or at least make the playoffs as a wild card. Take a look at the first seven games: at Saints, Panthers at home, at Niners, Seahawks at home, Titans at home, at Colts and lastly, at home against the Packers. Arizona could be 5-2 heading into the bye week, and any juicy price will disappear if that's the case. If you want to play Over 8.5 wins, you could do that, too, and potentially look for a middle opportunity at this point. The defense adds Josh Sweat, Will Johnson and Walter Nolen, among others, but this team clearly goes as far as Kyler Murray can take it. The Cardinals showed up every week last year for Gannon when people didn’t think they would be very good, and I’d expect them to be very competitive again this year. PICK: Jonathan Gannon (+2000) to win Coach of the Year Brad Marchand to win the Conn Smythe award (60-1) This is a bit of a dart throw, but Marchand has 14 points and a +11 plus/minus in the playoffs. If he hadn't scored the game-winner in OT against Toronto in Game 3, the Cats could have faced a 3-0 deficit and probably wouldn’t be back in the Cup Final. I know Florida has a bunch of viable candidates, but Marchand will be his usual antagonistic self in the Cup Final against Edmonton or Dallas and could be a big reason why or if the Panthers repeat. Maybe some recency bias would affect voters? I’ve certainly made worse wagers! PICK: Brad Marchand (+6000) to win the Conn Smythe award Qinwen Zheng to win her quarter Zheng should beat the young Canadian Victoria Mboko on Friday, and then face Dayana Yastremzka or Liudmila Samsonova in the Round of 16 prior to a probable showdown with Aryna Sabalenka in the quarters. But remember, this is not Sabalenka’s best surface and Zheng has won an Olympic gold here, granted the Roland Garros clay plays a little differently at that time of year. Zheng had a slow start to the year, but has gotten better and better as the weeks have gone on. She has a great shot at capturing her first slam here (+900 to reach the final, +1800 to win the title for those feeling a bit more frisky). PICK: Qinwen Zheng (+275) to win her quarter Chris "The Bear" Fallica has covered sports for nearly three decades. While college football has been his focus, he also enjoys the NFL, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, MLB, NHL and Horse Racing, with an "occasional" wager on such events. Chris recently won the inaugural Circa Football Invitational and finished in the Top 10 of the Golden Nugget Football Contest. He's a multiple-time qualifier for the NHC Handicapping Championship. Remember, "The less you bet, the more you lose when you win!" Follow him on Twitter @chrisfallica.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Capitals' Alex Ovechkin hasn't made decision on future after email mishap]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/capitals-alex-ovechkin-hasnt-made-decision-future-after-email-mishap</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/capitals-alex-ovechkin-hasnt-made-decision-future-after-email-mishap</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Capitals season-ticket holders received an email Thursday that indicated the 2025-26 season would be Alex Ovechkin's final year in the NHL.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 29 May 2025 19:22:56 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Washington Capitals said Thursday that no decision has been made on Alex Ovechkin’s future in the NHL after an email was sent to season-ticket holders calling next season his last. The team on social media said that the email was mistakenly sent by someone in the corporate sales department. Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky's career goal-scoring record this spring and now has a total of 897. The upcoming 2025-26 season is his last on his current contract, signed in 2021, and he turns 40 in September. Ovechkin has said he intends to play next season, which would be his 21st in the league. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 Big Bets report: Thunder, Oilers titles stand between bettor and $100k]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2025-big-bets-report-thunder-oilers-titles-stand-between-bettor-100k</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2025-big-bets-report-thunder-oilers-titles-stand-between-bettor-100k</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[If OKC and Edmonton can both win it all, one bettor will shockingly turn fewer than $5 into nearly $100,000. Patrick Everson has the scoop on the six-leg parlay.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2025 18:26:22 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[NBA playoff odds are getting a lot more interesting with the conference finals underway. It’s at this point where futures bets — and more so futures-parlay bets — really start to get the pulse racing. That’s certainly the case for one FanDuel Sportsbook customer, who’s looking to turn a few bucks into nearly $100,000. Read on for more on that wager, fun parlay payouts, along with other notable bets and major wagers tied to NBA playoffs betting, and an intriguing MLB win for several DraftKings Sportsbooks customers. Built for the Futures Many months ago, a bettor put together a six-team futures parlay at FanDuel, with what seemed to be whatever was left in that person’s account — $4.44 to be exact. The six legs: The first four legs are already in. Now, it’s stomach-churning time. The Oilers are in the NHL's Western Conference finals vs. the Dallas Stars, and OKC is in the NBA’s Western Conference finals vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves. If those last two legs get there — the Thunder are favored to win it all — then the bettor pockets $94,358.88. Pretty insane ROI on a $4.44 bet, if you ask me. Parlay Partay Back on Jan. 17, a Hard Rock Bet customer decided to drop $40 on a 15-leg parlay. In other words, sports betting’s version of a lottery ticket, with odds of +45574, or almost 456/1. It was a cornucopia that included NFL, NCAA football, NCAA women’s basketball, UFC and NBA. The first 14 legs got there. Then on Tuesday night, the final leg delivered: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander winning the NBA MVP Award. And that’s how you turn $40 into $18,269.60. Fast Break In Game 1 of the Western Conference finals, a FanDuel Sportsbook customer set a land-speed record, going from $100 to $3,500 in 13 seconds. OK, maybe not a land-speed record, but you get the gist. The bettor put $100 on the method of first basket between Minnesota and Oklahoma City. The pick: Jaden McDaniels 3-pointer, at +3400. Thirteen seconds in, McDaniels made a 27-foot jumper to give the Timberwolves a 3-0 lead. And the bettor pocketed $3,400 in profit, for a total payout of $3,500. Triple Scoop In the Indiana Fever's WNBA season opener vs. the Chicago Sky, DraftKings Sportsbook had Caitlin Clark +1300 to record a triple-double. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, a huge Clark fan, couldn’t resist putting down a $25,000 wager. And Clark delivered — just barely. The second-year superstar had 20 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. So Portnoy picked up a hefty $325,000 profit (total payout $350,000). Baseball Bonanza DraftKings Sportsbook has an interesting market that it calls King of the Diamond. On days that it’s offered — Fridays through the end of June, and this past Monday — bettors can win a share of $1 million in bonus bets. How it’s done: Oftentimes, popular players on popular teams — the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, etc. — get the bulk of the action. So a King of the Diamond win will see that $1 million divided up among a massive number of customers. But if you take a flier on an unexpected player from an unexpected team, and it hits, the payoff can be phenomenal. That was the case in Monday’s Tigers-Cardinals tilt. Only 12 DK customers had home-run parlays that included St. Louis’ Pedro Pagés. He hit a two-run shot in the seventh inning, the only homer of the game. And the Cards won 11-4, putting up the most runs of any team in eligible games. So those 12 customers got $83,333 in bonus bets — 16 bets of $5,000 apiece, and one bet of $3,333. Better still: A couple of those customers turned around Tuesday and used a $5,000 bonus bet on Rhys Hoskins +400 to homer for the Brewers, against the Orioles. Hoskins led off the eighth inning with a solo shot. And this time, the payout wasn’t in bonus bets. It was $20,000 in cash. Both bettors were incredulous on X: I Like Big Bets And I Cannot Lie Major wagers continue to roll in on NBA playoff odds. Arguably one of the more exciting bets: a $55,000 play on Indiana Pacers +4.5 vs. New York Knicks, in Wednesday’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Midway through the fourth quarter, it didn’t look good for that Caesars Sports customer, with the Pacers trailing 111-94. With 2:51 remaining, Indy was still down 119-105, looking unlikely to cover as a road underdog, never mind winning the game outright. But shockingly, the Pacers did both. Indiana closed the fourth quarter on a 20-6 run, forcing overtime on Tyrese Haliburton's long 2-pointer. The Pacers went on to a 138-135 victory. So the bettor picked up a $50,000 profit (total payout $105,000). On that same game, BetMGM took this wager: As always, keep in mind that these big bets are often made by high-roller customers who can absorb such a loss. Regular Joes and Janes like you and me cannot. And as for those parlays? Well, as they say, Parlays are a bookmaker’s best friend. So keep it reasonable. Don’t bet more than you can afford to lose. Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting space. He’s based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on X: @PatrickE_Vegas. ​​Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Stars vs. Oilers: Playoff series schedule, scores, TV channel, how to watch]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/stars-vs-oilers-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/stars-vs-oilers-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out this article for a complete history of Stars vs. Oilers games, including previous game results, scores, and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2025 12:03:25 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Western Conference Finals round of the NHL Playoffs featured a matchup between the Dallas Stars and the Edmonton Oilers. Check out everything you need to know about the series: Stars vs. Oilers Series Schedule Below is the full schedule for the Stars-Oilers playoff series: (P3) Edmonton Oilers vs. (C1) Dallas Stars How many times have the Stars played the Oilers? The Dallas Stars have played the Edmonton Oilers a total of 3 times in the regular season. The Stars won the season series 2-1. Stars vs. Oilers History (2024-25 Regular Season)]]>
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					<![CDATA[Hurricanes vs. Panthers: Playoff series schedule, scores, TV channel, how to watch]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/hurricanes-vs-panthers-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/hurricanes-vs-panthers-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out this article for a complete history of Hurricanes vs. Panthers games, including previous game results, scores, and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2025 12:02:40 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Eastern Conference Finals round of the NHL Playoffs featured a matchup between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Florida Panthers. Check out everything you need to know about the series: Hurricanes vs. Panthers Series Schedule Below is the full schedule for the Hurricanes-Panthers playoff series: (A3) Florida Panthers vs. (M2) Carolina Hurricanes How many times have the Hurricanes played the Panthers? The Carolina Hurricanes have played the Florida Panthers a total of 3 times in the regular season. The Panthers won the season series 2-1. Hurricanes vs. Panthers History (2024-25 Regular Season)]]>
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					<![CDATA[Will there be a first-time title winner in NBA, MLB, NFL?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/will-first-time-title-winner-nba-mlb-nfl</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/will-first-time-title-winner-nba-mlb-nfl</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[This year, Indiana and Minnesota have a chance to win their first NBA titles, as do five MLB teams and 12 NFL teams. What do the odds say about those winless teams' chances?]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 19 May 2025 12:02:35 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[There is a chance that at the conclusion of this season, the list of NBA franchises that haven't won a title moves to nine. As it stands today, 10 franchises have never hoisted the Larry O'Brien Trophy, including Indiana and Minnesota. The Thunder have never won it all, but the franchise won it back in Seattle in 1979. The Knicks won titles in 1970 and 1973. DraftKings Sportsbook has odds for a first-time NBA Finals winner as of May 19. First-time NBA Finals winner (Pacers or Wolves) Yes: +245 (bet $10 to win $34.50 total)No: -310 (bet $10 to win $13.23 total) Outside of Indy and Minnesota, the eight other franchises to have not won a title are Charlotte, Utah, the LA Clippers, Brooklyn, Memphis, New Orleans, Orlando and Phoenix. The Thunder are the favorites to win it all this season (-145), followed by New York (+450), Minnesota (+550) and Indiana (+600). What about other North American professional sports? As the NHL playoffs reach the conference finals, there will not be a first-time winner after the Winnipeg Jets fell to the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference semifinals. Along with Winnipeg, the franchises that haven't won the Stanley Cup include Vancouver, San Jose, Nashville, Columbus, Minnesota, Seattle, Ottawa and Utah (formerly Arizona). Moving to the NFL, here are the title odds for franchises that have yet to win the Super Bowl entering the 2025 season: Bills: +700 (bet $10 to win $80 total)Lions: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Bengals: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)Chargers: +2800 (bet $10 to win $290 total)Vikings: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)Texans: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)Cardinals: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)Jaguars: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)Falcons: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)Panthers: +14000 (bet $10 to win $1,410 total)Titans: +18000 (bet $10 to win $1,810 total)Browns: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total) The Bills are tied for second on the title oddsboard (Ravens), trailing only the defending champion Eagles (+650) and ahead of the defending AFC champion Chiefs (+750). Meanwhile, the Lions are fifth, and the Bengals are ninth. The Lions made the NFC title game in 2023, and the Bills made the AFC title game in 2020 and 2024. The Bengals made it to the Super Bowl in 2021, falling to the Los Angeles Rams. Lastly, here are the 2025 title odds for MLB franchises that have yet to win the World Series: Mariners: +1600 (bet $10 to win $170 total)Padres: +2200 (bet $10 to win $230 total)Rays: +6000 (bet $10 to win $610 total)Brewers: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)Rockies: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total) The Mariners are seventh on the oddsboard, while the Padres are 11th. Seattle has made the playoffs once since 2001, losing to the Astros in the 2022 AL divisional round. San Diego made it in 2020, 2022 and 2024, falling to Philly in the 2022 NLCS. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 NBA, NHL Playoffs best bets: Back Celtics, Oilers to start fast]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2025-nba-nhl-playoffs-best-bets-back-celtics-oilers-start-fast</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2025-nba-nhl-playoffs-best-bets-back-celtics-oilers-start-fast</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Geoff Schwartz drops a few best bets ahead of Wednesday's NBA and NHL playoff action, including Boston to start fast against New York.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 14 May 2025 13:02:22 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The NBA and NHL playoffs have not disappointed in the drama department. This is especially true in the NBA, where we've seen higher seeds get destroyed, as well as some unfortunate injuries to superstars. But that's what keeps us tuned in, watching and wagering on a chance to capitalize off some exciting matchups. With that in mind, I've got a few spots that I like for tonight's contests. Let's take a look at where I'm putting my cash mid-week. Knicks @ Celtics The Knicks are up 3-1, a stunning result after the first four games of this series. Boston was around -700 to win the series, and while the Celtics are still alive to do so, they are missing their superstar in Jayson Tatum. Tatum tore his Achillies near the end of Game 4 and has already been in the operating room to fix the tear. This injury might do little to alter the trajectory of the series, but I’m going to wager on the Celtics team rallying together early in Game 5 to show everyone they have not quit and can play well without Tatum. The Celtics have been the faster starting team in four games so far. They won the first quarter by a point in Game 1, then 11 in Game 2, 16 in Game 3 and 11 in Game 4. Some of these fast starts did not include high-scoring output from Tatum. He had zero first-quarter points in Game 2 and six in Game 3. Boston can start fast without its star. Combine that with the Knicks' poor first-quarter shooting and with the pride Boston should have after that Game 4 loss, and I like the Celtics to start fast. PICK: Celtics (-2) first quarter Payton Pritchard Over/Under 14.5 points After Pritchard scored 23 points in 35 minutes in the Celtics' Game 3 win, he saw his minutes cut in Game 4. It’s a puzzling decision, with Sam Hauser out and with other Celtics players struggling to score. Pritchard finished Game 4 with 20 minutes, the fewest he’s seen since the end of February. He’s got to play more in Game 4 now that Tatum's out of the lineup. For the series, Pritchard has scored 13, 9, 23 and 12, but he shoots the ball well when given the chance. He’s shooting 41% from 3, which mirrors his home 3-point shooting percentage for the regular season. He’s just going to see the ball more in this game, and I like his chances to get over this number. PICK: Payton Pritchard Over 14.5 points Warriors @ Timberwolves The Timberwolves grinded out two wins in San Francisco to come back home for Game 5 up 3-1. One more win, and they are back in the Western Conference finals. They will get that win tonight, but I’m not laying Over 10 points. I’ve found two other ways to wager on this game. The Warriors have made a tremendous effort to score without Steph Curry. He will miss tonight after exiting Game 1 with a hamstring injury. That effort is appreciated, but it will be a losing battle. The Warriors have played five road games in the postseason and have scored under 100 in four of those. In this series, they had 99 points in Game 1 and 93 in Game 2. In Game 1, Curry had 13 points in Game 1 before getting injured. G.S. got 18 from Draymond Green, who made four 3-pointers. Buddy Hield scored 24 points, and has since failed to score over 15 in the next three games. The Timberwolves defense is excellent, and it has limited the Warriors from beyond the arc. PICK: Warriors team total Under 95.5 points scored Here's another wager, and it's a perfect zigzag spot for Naz Reid playing at home. Reid averages nearly 15 points at home, 1.5 points higher than on the road. His field goal percentage is seven points higher, and he shoots 41% from 3 at home. His points Over has hit this season in 73% of home games. He scored 19 in Game 1 at home and then 11 in Game 2, followed by nine and five in Games 3 and 4 on the road. Sometimes you have to trust the zigzag system and this is the best opportunity for this game. I like Reid to score. PICK: Naz Reid Over 10.5 points Rudy Gobert Over/Under 4 rebounds in the first quarter Robert has been a rebounding machine early in games. He had over four rebounds in the first three games and finished with only three in Game 4. However, as I tweeted, it appears he’s got at least a fourth rebound here and maybe a fifth before a loose ball foul. The official scoring of this play was a Wolves team rebound. Anyway, I’m going back to the well here with Gobert Over first-quarter rebounds. I expect the Warriors to miss more shots in this game as well. PICK: Rudy Gobert Over 4 first-quarter rebounds Panthers @ Maple Leafs I have two hockey wagers for tonight, and they are all correlated. A trend I’ve followed is wagering on teams to score first after they lose. Hat tip to Jonathan Davis — @westcoasthky — for bringing attention to this trend. It’s an even better wager when the team off a loss is at home. In the second round, there have been seven opportunities for home teams to score first in the game following a loss. In six of those games, the wager was won. The lone loss was when the Leafs scored first in Game 3. Tonight, the Leafs return home after losing the previous two games against the Panthers. They’ve scored the first goal in three of five games. Ironically enough, Florida scored the first goal in Game 2 off a loss — a win for the trend in general. So I’m taking Toronto to score first in regulation tonight. PICK: Maple Leafs (-110) to score first in regulation Oilers @ Golden Knights The Golden Knights are hosting the Oilers tonight after splitting both games in Edmonton. The Knights are fighting for their season tonight, down 3-1 in the series. The home team off a loss has scored first in both opportunities in this game — the Knights in Game 2 and the Oilers in Game 4. The Knights generate a ton of scoring opportunities and I would expect even more energy and effort to score early in this game after being shutout in Game 3. PICK: Golden Knights (-125) to score first in regulation Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He played eight seasons in the NFL for five different teams. He started at right tackle for the University of Oregon for three seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection his senior year. Follow him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Capitals vs. Hurricanes: Playoff series schedule, scores, TV channel, how to watch]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/capitals-vs-hurricanes-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/capitals-vs-hurricanes-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out this article for a complete history of Capitals vs. Hurricanes games, including previous game results, scores, and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2025 14:21:13 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The second round of the NHL Playoffs featured a matchup between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes. Check out everything you need to know about the series: Capitals vs. Hurricanes Series Schedule Below is the full schedule for the Capitals-Hurricanes playoff series: (M1) Washington Capitals vs. (M2) Carolina Hurricanes How many times have the Capitals played the Hurricanes? The Washington Capitals have played the Carolina Hurricanes a total of 4 times in the regular season. The season series is tied 2-2. Capitals vs. Hurricanes History (2024-25 Regular Season)]]>
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					<![CDATA[Maple Leafs vs. Panthers: Playoff series schedule, scores, TV channel, how to watch]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/maple-leafs-vs-panthers-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/maple-leafs-vs-panthers-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out this article for a complete history of Maple Leafs vs. Panthers games, including previous game results, scores, and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2025 14:19:46 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The second round of the NHL Playoffs featured a matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers. Check out everything you need to know about the series: Maple Leafs vs. Panthers Series Schedule Below is the full schedule for the Maple Leafs-Panthers playoff series: (A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Florida Panthers How many times have the Maple Leafs played the Panthers? The Toronto Maple Leafs have played the Florida Panthers a total of 4 times in the regular season. The Panthers won the season series 3-1. Maple Leafs vs. Panthers History (2024-25 Regular Season)]]>
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					<![CDATA[Golden Knights vs. Oilers: Playoff series schedule, scores, TV channel, how to watch]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/golden-knights-vs-oilers-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/golden-knights-vs-oilers-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out this article for a complete history of Golden Knights vs. Oilers games, including previous game results, scores, and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2025 14:16:04 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The second round of the NHL Playoffs featured a matchup between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers. Check out everything you need to know about the series: Golden Knights vs. Oilers Series Schedule Below is the full schedule for the Golden Knights-Oilers playoff series: (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers How many times have the Golden Knights played the Oilers? The Vegas Golden Knights have played the Edmonton Oilers a total of 4 times in the regular season. The season series is tied 2-2. Golden Knights vs. Oilers History (2024-25 Regular Season)]]>
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					<![CDATA[Jets vs. Stars: Playoff series schedule, scores, TV channel, how to watch]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/jets-vs-stars-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/jets-vs-stars-playoff-series-schedule-scores-tv-channel-how-watch</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out this article for a complete history of Jets vs. Stars games, including previous game results, scores, and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 08 May 2025 09:37:33 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The second round of the NHL Playoffs featured a matchup between the Winnipeg Jets and the Dallas Stars. Check out everything you need to know about the series: Jets vs. Stars Series Schedule Below is the full schedule for the Jets-Stars playoff series: (C1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (C1) Dallas Stars How many times have the Jets played the Stars? The Winnipeg Jets have played the Dallas Stars a total of 4 times in the regular season. The Jets won the season series 3-1. Jets vs. Stars History (2024-25 Regular Season)]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 NBA, NHL Playoffs best bets: Back big night from Anthony Edwards]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2025-nba-nhl-playoffs-best-bets-back-big-night-from-anthony-edwards</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2025-nba-nhl-playoffs-best-bets-back-big-night-from-anthony-edwards</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Geoff Schwartz's drops a few jewels ahead of Thursday's NBA and NHL playoff action, including why he expects Ant-Man to exact some revenge on the Warriors.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2025 14:16:14 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[A lot of you know me as the football guy when it comes to placing wagers. And yes, I played in the NFL and love the league and college football, but I enjoy the entire spectrum when it comes to sports. Especially when it comes to playoff ball — or puck, in some cases. Since we're all watching the exciting action of the NBA and NHL Playoffs, I decided to do some research and give you spots that I like the most for Thursday's games. Let's take a look. Warriors @ Timberwolves The Wolves lost to the Warriors in Game 1, becoming the fourth home team out of four to lose the first game of the series. However, unlike the Celtics, Cavs or Thunder losses, this game was never close after the first quarter. The Wolves scored 31 first-half points and finished with 88 total. They shot 5-for-29 from 3, missing their first 19 attempts. They were -10 in rebounds and -7 in assists. The Warriors did all of this without injured superstar Steph Curry, who left the game in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. He is out for Game 2 and potentially beyond. I’d imagine the Wolves are a proud team, and it’s a good opportunity to pounce — a team playing with motivation against a team happy to have won Game 1 without its star. I’m taking the Wolves first half and first-half Over point total. We can look at the Cavs in Game 2 for the blueprint: an awful shooting performance in Game 1, followed up by 61 first-half points and an 11-point halftime lead. PICK: Wolves (first half -6.5) to lead by more than 6.5 points at halftime Wolves (Over 52.5 first-half) to score more than 52.5 points in the first half I have written before on my zigzag theory, where you wager on a player to go Over or Under to zag off the previous performance. The best opportunity in this game is taking Anthony Edwards Over 27.5 points. Edwards was near a goose egg for points in the first half of Game 1. He finished with 23 points on 9-for-22 shooting and just 1-for-5 from 3. He shot nearly 40% from 3 during the regular season and even just making three of them in Game 2 will help get Over this point total. PICK: Anthony Edwards (Over 27.5) to score more than 27.5 points With Curry out of Game 2, that increases the time that Draymond Green will start the offense in the half court. It’s a spot he’s comfortable with, and he’s shown to be an outstanding passer and understand the flow of his offense. He will be in charge of making sure the offense is run smoothly, which should increase his ability to tally assists. In the last three games, Green has seven, five and six assists, respectively. We know Green’s rebounding is a must with the Warriors' smaller lineup. Green has at least 10 combined rebounds and assists in four of five playoff games, with him going over 12 in two of those. This number was 10.5 for Game 1, and it saw Green get 14. So they’ve added a tax of one more stat. I’m still comfortable taking it. PICK: Draymond Green (Over 11.5 REB/AST) to have more than 11.5 rebounds and assists combined Hurricanes @ CapitalsOilers @ Golden Knights The NHL playoffs have been fantastic theater, with multiple teams winning in come-from-behind fashion in Game 7s to advance to the second round. It’s a tough sport to wager on, with the bounce of a puck determining goals, shots on goals, assists and game results. We’ve also seen some excellent goaltending in the first games of the second round. So the way I will play both of these games on Thursday is to take the home team off a loss to score first. Entering Wednesday, the team off a loss has scored the first goal in 24 of 36 playoff games. And both the Capitals and Golden Knights scored first in their Game 1 losses. Both must start fast to get back into the win column. PICK: Capitals (-110) to score firstGolden Knights (-130) to score firstCapitals/Golden Knights (+157) first-period goal Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He played eight seasons in the NFL for five different teams. He started at right tackle for the University of Oregon for three seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection his senior year. Follow him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Utah Mammoth revealed as permanent name of Salt Lake City's NHL team]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/utah-mammoth-permanent-name-salt-lake-citys-nhl-team</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/utah-mammoth-permanent-name-salt-lake-citys-nhl-team</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The NHL team in Salt Lake City is now known as the Utah Mammoth, and in addition to the name, the team's logos and jerseys were released to the public, as well.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 07 May 2025 13:05:17 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The NHL team in Salt Lake City is now known as the Utah Mammoth. Owners Ryan and Ashley Smith unveiled the franchise’s permanent name Wednesday after more than a year of fan input and voting. "From Day 1, we committed that this team would be built with and for the people of Utah, and we are excited to celebrate today’s launch with the entire state," they said in a statement announcing the name. "The community chose the Utah Mammoth brand, and it stands as a symbol of who we are, where we came from and the unstoppable force we’re building together." Mammoth replaces the inaugural season placeholder name Utah Hockey Club, which was also one of the three finalists. Yeti was taken out of consideration when the cooler company bearing that name could not come to a copyright agreement with Utah ownership, and Wasatch — a reference to the state’s mountain range — was quickly replaced as an option by Outlaws. The Mammoth are maintaining the same black, light blue and white color scheme and the road jerseys with UTAH diagonally down the front. The logo includes a nod to the mountains, the shape of the state and a curved tusk that forms a "U." Mammoth fossils have been found throughout Utah, including a complete skeleton in Huntington Canyon in 1988. The team said "Tusks Up" will be its rallying cry. Utah has an exciting summer ahead holding the fourth pick in the draft, the first phase of arena renovations taking place and more than $20 million in salary cap space for general manager Bill Armstrong to make a splash in free agency and trades. With young talent like captain Clayton Keller, budding star forward Logan Cooley, two-time Stanley Cup champion Mikhail Sergachev and emerging goaltender Karel Vejmelka, the Mammoth could contend for a playoff spot as soon as next season. While the team hasn't changed their handle on platforms such as X just yet, only their display name, they have released official renderings of the jerseys to be worn by the Mammoth both in Utah and in road games. The rebranding comes less than 13 months since Smith Entertainment group bought the team previously known as the Arizona Coyotes from former owner Alex Meruelo and moved it to Salt Lake City. The Coyotes played in the Phoenix area since 1996 after moving there from Winnipeg, where the team was the original Jets. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[What were the 10 biggest storylines in sports in April?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/what-were-10-biggest-storylines-sports-april</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/what-were-10-biggest-storylines-sports-april</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[April was a very eventful time on the sports calendar. Let's take a look at the top 10 biggest sports storylines from the month!]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 05 May 2025 19:41:13 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[April is one of the busiest months and arguably the most eventful time of the year on the sports calendar. This past April was no different. Championships were determined in the first week of the month, while the NBA and NHL playoffs began shortly after. Some of the top storylines in sports last month extended beyond on-field matters, too. The NFL and WNBA held their annual drafts in April, with each bringing plenty of surprises along the way. So, which sports stories were the biggest in April? Let's take a look: 10 biggest storylines in sports in April 10. Austin Cindric wins at Talladega The Team Penske driver picked up his first win of the 2025 season at Talladega Superspeedway in April, beating out Ryan Preece (who was disqualified following technical inspection) and Kyle Larson by a hair. From FOX Motorsports Insider Bob Pockrass: Cindric will just appreciate winning a race at a drafting track. At these tracks, he's often been in contention, but victories have seemed tough to come by (except in the 2022 Daytona 500). He didn't have to survive a late-race caution. All he had to do was be out front and in position. "For that to go green at the end, have a car capable, a team capable, have it all come together, it's really gratifying," Cindric said. "It's definitely a relief, given how a lot of these have gone. It doesn't make me any special or different. These things go up in flames for most. I'm super grateful for the opportunity to be able to come through and win." 9. Kyle Kirkwood wins Long Beach Grand Prix Alex Palou has dominated the 2025 INDYCAR season so far, winning three of the first four races ahead of the Indianapolis 500 later in May. But Kirkwood offered a reprieve from Palou’s dominance at the Long Beach Grand Prix. He defeated Palou by a few seconds in that race, holding off this season’s top driver to pick up his third career win. From FOX Motorsports Insider Bob Pockrass: Kirkwood made it look relatively easy. He won the pole and led 46 of the 90 laps. He didn’t deviate from strategy, as other drivers tried to pit on different laps to potentially gain spots. On his final stop in the caution-free race, Kirkwood blended onto the track ahead of Palou and held him off — ending the Palou quest for three consecutive wins to open the season. "We really didn't have that ultimate speed that the 27 car [of Kirkwood] had," Palou said. "They did an awesome job throughout the weekend, qualifying and the race. "He was managing. Every time I was having a small chance, he just had a little bit more pace. Shame that we couldn't really make it more interesting for the fans, but I'm super happy to be here." 8. Nebraska wins the inaugural College Basketball Crown tournament Fred Hoiberg has had an impressive stint at Nebraska, and he added to it in April. He led the Cornhuskers to four straight wins in the first-ever College Basketball Crown tournament, notching three double-digit victories. 7. Joaquin Niemann wins fifth career LIV Golf Tournament, tying Brooks Koepka for most all-time In the first-ever LIV Golf Mexico City event, Niemann continued his hot start to the season. He shot 6-under in the final round of the tournament to win by three strokes and get his third victory of the year. It also gave Niemann five career wins in LIV Golf, tying Koepka for the most. 6.  Paige Bueckers is selected No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft UConn women’s basketball had a pretty eventful April. After capping off her historic college basketball career earlier in the month, Bueckers became the sixth player in program history to be selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft, extending the Huskies’ record for most ever. Bueckers was the consensus national player of the year in the 2020-21 season and regained her elite form after an ACL tear sidelined her for the 2022-23 season. The three-time first-team All-American joined a Wings team that finished with the second-worst record in the WNBA last season. 5. Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goals record A record that many thought would never be broken did just that in April. Ovechkin scored his 895th career goal in the Washington Capitals’ loss to the New York Islanders on April 6, breaking the longstanding all-time goals record set by the "Great One." The moment was accompanied by a pause in the game as Ovechkin’s landmark achievement was celebrated. 4. Florida wins men’s NCAA Tournament; UConn wins women’s Of course, the bulk of March Madness didn’t take place in April, but the Final Four in the men’s and women’s tournaments did. In the women’s tournament, Bueckers finally got over the hump, helping Geno Auriemma and UConn win their first national championship since 2016 with blowout wins over UCLA and South Carolina in the semifinal round and national championship, respectively. The men’s Final Four had a bit more drama. Florida edged out fellow SEC foe Auburn in the national semifinal, while Houston had a thrilling comeback to defeat Duke. In the championship game, it was Florida’s turn to make a furious comeback. The Gators rallied from a 12-point deficit to win, making it the third-largest second-half comeback in NCAA national championship history. Houston had a chance to tie or win the game on the final possession, but Florida’s defense prevented the Cougars from getting a shot off. 3. Cam Ward, Travis Hunter go Nos. 1 and 2 in the NFL Draft The Tennessee Titans grabbed who they hope will be their quarterback of the future when they unsurprisingly selected Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. There was a twist when the Cleveland Browns were on the clock with the No. 2 overall pick, though. The Jacksonville Jaguars moved up from the fifth overall pick to No. 2, trading a 2026 first-round pick, among other assets, in order to get two-way star Hunter. 2. Shedeur Sanders drops to the fifth round of the NFL Draft Very rarely is there a non-first-round pick who winds up gripping the sports world, but Sanders drew unprecedented attention to the later rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Browns eventually took Sanders in the fifth round of the draft, but it came after they surprisingly picked Dillon Gabriel in the third round. Sanders was also the sixth quarterback off the board this year, which was a major shock considering most draft analysts ranked him as the second-best player at his position in the class. Many mock drafts projected Sanders as a first-round pick, too. Sanders’ slide brought in other subplots as well. He was one of the handful of prospects who received prank calls during the draft. Speculation also emerged over why he might have fallen as far as he did. No matter what the theories are about Sanders, though, there’s no denying that there was great interest surrounding where he got drafted as Day 3 of the draft set ratings records. 1. Rory McIlroy wins the Masters McIlroy finally got the Augusta-sized monkey off his back to put on a green jacket in April, but it didn’t come easily. After holding the lead for much of the final round, McIlroy struggled on the back nine and missed a putt to win the tournament on the 18th hole, forcing him to go to a playoff. He avenged his missed putt on the first hole of the playoff, sinking a short putt after an impressive second shot to defeat Justin Rose. The win made McIlroy the sixth golfer to have ever completed a career Grand Slam and the first one from Europe. Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 NBA, NHL Playoffs best bets: Back Clippers, Avalanche to start hot]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2025-nba-nhl-playoffs-best-bets-back-clippers-avalanche-start-hot</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/2025-nba-nhl-playoffs-best-bets-back-clippers-avalanche-start-hot</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Geoff Schwartz delivers his best bets for Thursday night's NBA and NHL playoff action. Find out where he's putting his money ahead of a few crucial contests.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 01 May 2025 09:26:51 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[A lot of you know me as the football guy when it comes to placing wagers. And yes, I played in the NFL and love the league and college football, but I enjoy the entire spectrum when it comes to sports. Especially when it comes to playoff ball — or puck, in some cases. Since we're all watching the exciting action of the NBA and NHL Playoffs, I decided to do some research and give you spots that I like the most for Thursday's games. Let's take a look. Denver Nuggets @ LA Clippers This has been a fantastic series. We've seen buzzer-beaters, come-from-behind wins and a few games that got out of hand for the home team. The Nuggets head into Game 6 with a 3-2 series lead, after beating the Clippers 131-115 in Game 5. Now the series turns to Game 6 and the Clippers are in a must-win situation at home. I always make a first-quarter wager in these situations instead of on the full game where the better team can take over at the end. First-quarter wagers in the NBA playoffs are my favorite. In Game 1 scenarios, the home team — who is often better than its opponent — is trying to start fast in front of its crowd. Six of the eight home teams covered the first quarter in Game 1 of Round 1 this postseason. I also apply the same theory for Game 3 situations, where the home team is back on its own court and feeding off that fan energy early on. The home team covered only half of the first quarters in Game 3 situations this postseason. Once the series gets to Games 5, 6 or 7, there are targeted opportunities to grab first quarters when the home team has to win. The Clippers must win Thursday night. And I’m wagering that they start fast — just like in Game 3, when they were leading the Nuggets by seven points after one quarter. PICK: Clippers (-2.5) to lead by more than 2.5 points at the end of the first quarter Tim Hardaway Jr. O/U point total I’m a big subscriber to the zigzag theory in the NBA postseason. Essentially, a player under-performs and you take his Overs the following game. This isn’t a wager you make for every player that doesn’t play well, but there are circumstances where it makes sense. Tim Hardaway Jr. fits the perfect mold for this wager. Hardaway is a player who averages nearly 12 points a game and shows a tendency to take more shots and score more points at home. In this series, he has scored 19, zero and eight in the three road games, shooting 4-for-23 from the 3-point line in those three games. Meanwhile, he’s scored 24 and 14 in the Pistons' two home games, going 11-for-25 from 3. He’s coming off an eight-point Game 5, with just one 3-pointer made. I like Hardaway to regain his form in Game 6. PICK: Tim Hardaway Jr. to score Over 12.5 points Vegas Golden Knights @ Minnesota Wild I’m going to stay away from the first game of the night in Ottawa, as the Senators look to even the series at 3-3 after going down 3-0 to the Maple Leafs. The scar tissue of previous Maple Leafs' failures in this spot will hang heavy on the franchise. Not a good wagering opportunity in either direction. The Golden Knights reclaimed home ice with a Game 5 win to lead the series 3-2, after some inconsistent play as the series favorites. The series now heads back to Minnesota, with the Wild needing a win to stay alive. I like two wagers in this game. The first is a system play that I’ve found, courtesy of Jonathan Davis, host of "Ice Cap" on SiriusXM and a VSiN NHL betting analyst. As of writing this on Wednesday, the team that lost the previous game has scored the first goal in 19 of 29 games. So that’s a 19-10 record with this series being 2-2 on that trend. I like the Wild to make that trend 3-2 on Thursday night. The first goal has been scored by the home team in four of these five games, and the Wild need a win to keep the series alive. They will look to score quickly to set the tone. PICK: Wild (+105) to score first Wild wing Kirill Kaprizov has been a dominant force in this series. He’s had at least one point in all five games, going over 1.5 points in three contests. He’s had assists in three games while scoring goals in another three contests. The Wild will need Kaprizov to be outstanding once again to help them get back to Vegas for Game 7. PICK: Kirill Kaprizov (+145) Over 1.5 points Dallas Stars @ Colorado Avalanche Same situation as the game above with the system play. It’s a home team needing a win, as it is coming off a loss. In this series, the home team has scored first in four of the five games, including the Stars scoring in the first 11 seconds of Game 5, with a shot that hit the back of the Avs' goaltender before settling into the net. The losing team has scored the first goal in three of the games as well. So let’s go with the Avalanche to score the first goal of this game. PICK: Avalanche (-150) to score first Geoff Schwartz is an NFL analyst for FOX Sports. He played eight seasons in the NFL for five different teams. He started at right tackle for the University of Oregon for three seasons and was a second-team All-Pac-12 selection his senior year. Follow him on Twitter @GeoffSchwartz. ​​Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 Big Bets report: Despite wait, Sanders-to-Browns bettors cash in]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2025-big-bets-report-despite-wait-sanders-to-browns-bettors-cash</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2025-big-bets-report-despite-wait-sanders-to-browns-bettors-cash</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[It might not have happened when bettors thought, but Shedeur Sanders did land in Cleveland. Patrick Everson reports on that and other big bets from the week.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 26 Apr 2025 18:48:13 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The NBA and NHL playoffs are well underway. And the MLB season is through its first month. But make no mistake: This past week, NFL Draft odds were easily the most-talked-about topic in the sports betting universe. Specifically, any NFL Draft prop bets tied to Shedeur Sanders. And more specifically, the prop of which team would draft the Colorado quarterback. More on that market, along with other notable bets, unique wins and major wagers — winners and losers alike — over the past week or so. Cleveland Comes Calling The Cleveland Browns were actually among the favorites to select Sanders in the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft. So too were the New Orleans Saints and, as the first round arrived, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then Round 1 came and went Thursday, with no team calling Sanders’ name. Ditto for Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday night. By the time Saturday’s Round 4 arrived, DraftKings Sportsbook had Cleveland a longer shot as Sanders’ landing spot. The Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders were the favorites at +190 and +350, respectively. Those two were among a dozen teams ahead of Cleveland on the oddsboard. So if you jumped on the Browns +3000, well, claim your prize. Cleveland drafted Sanders with the sixth pick in the fifth round, 144th overall, ending the long national nightmare. A $100 bet on Sanders to the Browns prior to Round 4 would’ve profited $3,000. Here’s hoping someone had it. Earlier this week, a DraftKings customer put $500 at +500 on Cleveland to select Sanders. It took a lot longer to cash out than that bettor likely expected, but it’s hard to complain about $2,500 in profit (total payout $3,000). If you missed the NFL Draft boat on Sanders odds, then maybe you’ll want a piece of this: FanDuel Sportsbook opened Sanders +4000 to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Feeling The Draft OK, one more note on NFL Draft betting, then on to other things. Because this bet is just too good not to share. Miami QB Cam Ward was a massive favorite to go No. 1 overall, which he did, to the Tennessee Titans. BetMGM had Ward -10000. That means it took a $100 bet to win one dollar. One customer decided to take it to even more of an extreme. You read that right. The bettor put $1 on Ward to go No. 1 overall, winning a penny. That profit surely didn’t last long, but the story will. Parlay Partay At Caesars Sports, a bettor got way involved in live betting on Tuesday. The customer put $25 on a 13-leg parlay, all on events that were in progress. Granted, most of those legs were on favorites, and in some cases strong favorites. But favorites do lose. Especially with so many chances to do so. In this case, though, all 13 legs delivered. And at massive odds of +54028 — or in easier-to-read terms, about 540/1 — the bettor profited more than $13,000. On Monday night, ahead of Game 2 between the LA Clippers and Denver Nuggets, a DraftKings customer got creative with the number four on a $25 four-leg parlay: All four players hit exactly four 3-pointers apiece. Odds on the parlay were +28000 (280/1), but the bettor also utilized a 20% odds boost, taking the price up to +33600 (336/1). Total profit: A tidy $8,400. That’s some beautiful ROI. Puck Luck Goals in hockey are tough to predict, and even more so in the playoffs. But a Caesars Sports customer correctly ID’d eight goalscorers in Monday’s postseason games. The bettor put a modest $10 on an eight-leg player parlay, and all eight players found the net. So the bettor profited a massive $75,602.29. Don’t forget that 29 cents. I Like Big Bets And I Cannot Lie Hoops and hockey playoffs have led to quite a few major wagers over the first week of action. Caesars Sports saw several big plays, including one that survived despite an implosion by the Memphis Grizzlies. In Thursday night’s Game 3 vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis led by 29 points in the second quarter. But Ja Morant suffered a hip injury in the second quarter and didn’t return. The Grizzlies ultimately gave back every point of that lead and then some, losing 114-108. Still, a Caesars customer cashed with a $73,500 bet on Grizzlies +10 (-105). The bettor profited $70,000, for a total payout of $143,500. Other notable bets of the past week or so: With those big bets, keep in mind, these are high-roller customers who can absorb such a loss. Regular Joes and Janes like you and me cannot. So keep it reasonable. Never bet more than you can afford to lose. Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting space. He’s based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on X: @PatrickE_Vegas Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Stanley Cup winners: A complete list of champions by year]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/stanley-cup-champions-complete-list-winners-year</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/stanley-cup-champions-complete-list-winners-year</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Check out this article for a complete list of Stanley Cup winners by year.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 25 Apr 2025 10:44:54 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Hockey’s ultimate prize has traveled an extraordinary path over the past century, touching every corner of the NHL map. Keep reading for a complete list of Stanley Cup winners by year: Stanley Cup champions by year]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 NHL Playoffs Schedule: How to watch Stanley Cup Finals, TV, streaming, free]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2025-nhl-playoffs-schedule-how-watch-nhl-finals-tv-streaming-free</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2025-nhl-playoffs-schedule-how-watch-nhl-finals-tv-streaming-free</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Here's how to watch the 2025 NHL playoffs including schedule, dates, and more.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:31:11 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The NHL Playoffs have officially wrapped up with an unforgettable Stanley Cup Final. Here's a look back at when and where each game of the NHL championship series took place: 2025 NHL Playoffs Schedule Tuesday, June 17 2025 NHL Playoffs Scores Stanley Cup Finals (A3) Florida Panthers vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers Conference Finals – East (A3) Florida Panthers vs. (M2) Carolina Hurricanes Conference Finals – West (P3) Edmonton Oilers vs. (C1) Dallas Stars Second Round – East (A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Florida Panthers (M1) Washington Capitals vs. (M2) Carolina Hurricanes Second Round – West (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers (C1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (C1) Dallas Stars First Round – East (A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators (A1) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (A3) Florida Panthers (M1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens (M2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (M3) New Jersey Devils First Round – West (C1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues (C1) Dallas Stars vs. (C3) Colorado Avalanche (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild (P2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers When do the NHL playoffs start? The first round of the NHL playoffs started on April 19. How can I watch the NHL Playoffs? The NHL playoffs will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and TNT. Most traditional cable/satellite subscriptions have packages including some or all of these channels. You can also stream the full NHL playoffs with streaming providers Sling, fubo TV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and DIRECTV STREAM. Who is in the 2025 NHL playoffs? The 2025 NHL Playoff Bracket is set. Check out the teams playing here.]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 NHL Stanley Cup playoff bracket: Updated schedule, scores]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2025-nhl-playoff-bracket-updated-schedule-scores</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2025-nhl-playoff-bracket-updated-schedule-scores</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The current 2025 NHL playoff picture including bracket, schedule, standings, matchups and seedings.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 24 Apr 2025 14:57:30 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The NHL Playoffs have officially wrapped up with an unforgettable Stanley Cup Final. Here's a look back at when and where each game of the championship series took place: Stanley Cup Finals (A3) Florida Panthers vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers - Panthers win 4-2 2025 NHL Playoffs Schedule and Scores Conference Finals – East (A3) Florida Panthers vs. (M2) Carolina Hurricanes - Panthers win 4-1 Conference Finals – West (C2) Dallas Stars vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers - Oilers lead 3-1 Second Round – East (A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Florida Panthers (M1) Washington Capitals vs. (M2) Carolina Hurricanes Second Round – West (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers (C1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (C1) Dallas Stars First Round – East (A1) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (WC1) Ottawa Senators (A1) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (A3) Florida Panthers (M1) Washington Capitals vs. (WC2) Montreal Canadiens (M2) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (M3) New Jersey Devils First Round – West (C1) Winnipeg Jets vs. (WC2) St. Louis Blues (C1) Dallas Stars vs. (C3) Colorado Avalanche (P1) Vegas Golden Knights vs. (WC1) Minnesota Wild (P2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (P3) Edmonton Oilers Eastern Conference Atlantic Division (A) Metropolitan Division (M) Wild Cards Western Conference Central Division (C) Pacific Division (P) Wild Cards How many teams make the NHL playoffs? Sixteen teams in total make the NBA playoffs, eight teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences. The top six seeds in each conference advance based on the regular season record. The final two seeds in each conference are wild-card spots based on the best remaining records in each conference.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Chalky championship runs — a new trend or classic fool's gold?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/chalky-championship-runs-new-trend-classic-fools-gold</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/chalky-championship-runs-new-trend-classic-fools-gold</guid>
				<category>college-football</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Chris "The Bear" Fallica analyzes a recent trend across the sports landscape, and wonders aloud if it will continue, or, like most trends, if it will come and go.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2025 15:26:34 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[If it feels like this recent run of champions, and sports as a whole, has been a little bit chalky and predictable, that feeling would be accurate. What has resulted for underdog and contrarian bettors has been a bit of a dry spell. So, while there's little solace to your bank account, know that you aren’t alone. Let's review what has happened over the last 10 months or so. Prior to the college football season, most expected the favorite Georgia (+300) or second choice Ohio State (+325) to win the College Football Playoff. South Point’s Chris Andrews even posted a prop where you could bet those two vs. the field. It got a little sketchy there for a bit, but Ohio State did win the CFP and that was a good result for the book, as most of the money on the prop was wagered on the field. "You steered the ship in getting that prop posted," Andrews said. "It wasn’t looking good for a while, but we got there and did great." What wasn’t as good for the books was the run of favorites in the CFP itself. Eleven CFP games were won by 10 favorites (9-2 ATS), with Notre Dame’s win over Penn State as a one-point dog in the Orange Bowl representing the lone game won by an underdog. Players loaded up on moneyline parlays on the four favorites in the first round, and it was a rocking chair win for the bettors. "Oh yeah, that was bad — the first round was brutal with the moneyline parlays," Andrews lamented. "Only the Notre Dame game was OK for us against the spread in the first round. The others we lost pretty good. But as a Penn State fan, I sure couldn’t root for SMU." Favorites running through the CFP simply mirrored what was happening in the NFL. If you were a 'dog player in the NFL, you couldn’t get one to win. It was a terrible season for sharps and the books, while a lot of public bettors were celebrating, hitting over 60% on NFL sides. NFL favorites won outright at a 72.1% clip this season, the highest percentage since 2005. Favorites covered at a 54.1% clip, also the highest since 2005. Consider this a warning, however. If you made a killing on those favorites this season, don't get too cocky. In 2006, those numbers came crashing down to favorites winning 59.8% of the time and covering just 43.8% of the time. Will regression rear its ugly head again this year? Underdog bettors and the books are certainly hoping so. I mentioned the 2005 note to Andrews and got a laugh from him. "That’s so funny. I told people this was our worst year since 2005, so that makes perfect sense now. "It was one of those years where everyone seemed to have it figured out. Mostly moneyline parlays, but home favorites, short road favorites — it didn’t seem to matter. One guy even gave credit to AI for all his success." "It's not a big secret that we didn’t do well on moneyline parlays in the NFL," said John Murray of the SuperBook. "December was just poor. We couldn’t get a 'dog to win outright." "College was OK though, we did very well on Penn State-Boise State and Ohio State-Oregon CFP games. Those 'dogs were very popular. We had a good future position on Ohio State as well," added Murray, "The NFL regular season is really what we’re talking about here. The playoffs were good here. We had a good Super Bowl and Washington beating Detroit outright was a great result for us." Even in professional baseball — one of the most random sports historically — the Dodgers (+350) became just the second preseason favorite to win the World Series in the last 15 years (2016 Cubs were the other). It was an all-chalk series as L.A. disposed of the AL favorites and AL champion Yankees in five games. About the only sport which stayed true to its wild playoff outcomes was the NHL. The Florida Panthers (+2200 preseason, +800 start of playoffs) defeated the Edmonton Oilers in a dramatic seven-game series to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time in franchise history. While the Cup provided drama, the NBA Finals happening at the same time did not. Preseason favorite Boston (+400) rolled to an easy win over Dallas to capture the NBA title. Fresh on everyone's minds, however, is the recent run of favorites and public sides in the NCAA Tournament and at The Masters. And that’s really what spurred me on to write all of this down. Florida could have been had at 60-1 in December, was at +800 in March when it seemed everyone owned a Gators ticket, and then went into the tourney right there with Duke at +325. It was a charmed, magical run, which could have ended in Round 2 vs. Connecticut, in the Elite Eight vs. Texas Tech, in the Final Four vs. Auburn, and in the title game against Houston. It was a microcosm of the Tournament as a whole, with seven of the top eight seeds reaching the Sweet 16, all four 1-seeds reaching the Final Four, and just one upset from the Sweet 16 on — that was Houston’s improbable comeback against Duke in the Final Four. "We lost on parlays in March and that tells the story," Murray said. "The second weekend was no good. Sweet 16 and Elite Eight favorites went 12-0 straight up, and that was a problem. If we could have gotten either Arkansas to hold on against Texas Tech or Texas Tech to finish off Florida, that obviously would have helped." "What’s so unique about the tourney is how the first two days, the public seems to love the ‘dogs. The bracket comes out and everyone talks themselves into the same ’dog, and we’ll need the favorites. In the second round, that worked out good for us. A game like Purdue blowing out High Point was great." "We did OK in the futures. I kind of saw it coming with Florida. I had my eyes on them for a while, and we were able to maneuver some things around," Andrews said. "Having the matchup exactas and the SEC vs. the field prop helped. We actually were sweating the 3-seed to win the title prop, which Texas Tech was very close to reaching the Final Four. What was funny is that all I heard around town was that everyone needed Houston to beat Duke. I actually needed Duke to beat Houston, and we all saw what happened there. After the tourney, I looked and our hold was 2.1%. I was like, ‘How the hell did we do that?’" The women’s NCAA Tournament was its usual predictable self, with powerhouse Connecticut winning the title. The seed line said two, but the Huskies rolled through the tourney uncontested as the most bet-on team at BetMGM (18% of the money) to cut down the nets, a position which was strengthened when USC sadly lost star JuJu Watkins to a knee injury. And that brings us to The Masters. No player had more money bet on him to win at BetMGM (19%) than public favorite Rory McIlroy, who was attempting to win the career grand slam for the 11th time. McIlroy is almost a bit of a tragic figure in the sport, given his 2011 collapse at Augusta and last year at the U.S. Open, along with failing to close out the 2022 Open Championship. The narrative entering the tourney was that it was his time. And as the +650 second choice in the betting and everyone’s pick, McIlroy finally got there. One could actually get a better price on McIlroy after the first round when he double-bogeyed two of the final four holes and shot an opening round 72. As was the case at BetMGM, the SuperBook had a ton of tickets on McIlroy, but Murray said they did OK there. "Jeff (Sherman) did a really good job of staying ahead of things with Rory, so it wasn’t a huge liability. By the time Sunday rolled around, we definitely wanted Rory to win as Bryson DeChambeau was bet consistently every day. And after Rory double-bogeyed the first hole, we were like, ‘Here we go,’ but Bryson ultimately fell out of contention, which was good for us." My wallet wouldn’t share those same sentiments, considering DeChambeau was my pre-tourney pick. All price-seekers can hope for is that the worm turns. But don’t expect that to start with the NBA playoffs, where it appears we’re headed towards an inevitable Celtics-Thunder Finals. And that would be just fine with Andrews and Murray. "A chalk final would be beautiful for me," Andrews said. "We’re sweating the Lakers and Warriors. Jimmy Butler is one of my favorite players. We never saw that trade coming, just like with Luka Dončić — a trade out of the blue. Those teams never had a prayer until those deals, but now those two are heavy sweats." "Boston-OKC is exactly what we want. We do really well either way," Murray said. "The Lakers are a bad result for us. Had we known the Mavs were going to give away Luka Dončić, we could have been a little bit more prepared. But we’ll see what happens. Beating the Timberwolves and then probably Golden State isn’t a given." Despite a choppy run, books certainly don’t expect any sympathy. Nor do I expect anyone to be starting a "Root for the Books" podcast anytime soon. Chris "The Bear" Fallica has covered sports for nearly three decades. While college football has been his focus, he also enjoys the NFL, Soccer, Golf, Tennis, MLB, NHL and Horse Racing, with an "occasional" wager on such events. Chris recently won the inaugural Circa Football Invitational and finished in the Top 10 of the Golden Nugget Football Contest. He's a multiple-time qualifier for the NHC Handicapping Championship. Remember, "The less you bet, the more you lose when you win!" Follow him on Twitter @chrisfallica. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Alex Ovechkin breaks Wayne Gretzky’s record for most goals in NHL history]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/alex-ovechkin-breaks-wayne-gretzky-nhl-career-goals-record</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/alex-ovechkin-breaks-wayne-gretzky-nhl-career-goals-record</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Alex Ovechkin has broken Wayne Gretzky’s longstanding record for the most goals in NHL history by scoring the 895th of his career.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 06 Apr 2025 14:19:21 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Alex Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s longstanding record for the most goals in NHL history by scoring the 895th of his career on Sunday. The Washington Capitals’ captain did so against the New York Islanders by beating fellow Russian Ilya Sorokin on a power play in the second period. Ovechkin had never scored on Sorokin before, making his countryman the 183rd different goaltender he has beaten. The goal cut New York's lead to 2-1 in the second period. Sunday's game stopped for several minutes after Ovechkin's goal, as teammates mobbed the 39-year-old Russian to celebrate the accomplishment, which replaced a record that had stood for 31 years. A tribute video was played at the Islanders' home arena, UBS Arena, and the NHL's new all-time leading goalscorer was congratulated by Gretzky on the ice. Ovechkin, nicknamed "The Great 8," now has 42 goals on the season, despite missing 16 games due to a broken fibula. He surpassed 40 goals this season for the 14th time — two more than Gretzky and also the most in league history. Even before this, Ovechkin owned the NHL records for power-play goals, shots on goal and the most goalies scored against, now adding Sorokin to that list. Only Gretzky has more multi-goal games, and Ovechkin earlier this season became just the sixth player with 700 goals and 700 assists. Gretzky, known as "the Great One," scored 894 goals in his 20-year career, which ended in 1999. Even with this one falling to Ovechkin, Gretzky holds 55 NHL records, and two seem truly untouchable: 2,857 total points and 1,963 assists, the latter of which is more than anyone else has in goals and assists combined. Gretzy was in attendance Friday when Ovechkin tied his record in the Capitals' home game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Ovechkin, the first overall pick in 2004, has spent his entire NHL career with the Capitals. The 12-time All-Star won the Conn Smythe Trophy, which is awarded to the Stanley Cup playoffs MVP, when the Capitals took home their first championship in 2018. He's also a three-time NHL MVP and has led the league in goals nine times in his 20 seasons. For NHL playoff goals, which do not count toward the record, Gretzky has the most (122). Ovechkin has 72. Gretzky also had another 56 in the World Hockey Association regular season and playoffs, while Ovechkin has 57 from his time in the KHL, Russia’s top league. Returning to Russia to play in front of family and friends is an option at some point for Ovechkin, who has one season left after this one on the five-year, $47.5 million contract he signed in 2021, which took him through age 40 to give him enough time to chase Gretzky’s record. Instead, he got it done earlier than just about anyone could have realistically expected. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Alex Ovechkin scores 894th goal, ties Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/alex-ovechkin-scores-893rd-goal-one-away-from-tying-wayne-gretzkys-record</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/alex-ovechkin-scores-893rd-goal-one-away-from-tying-wayne-gretzkys-record</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Alex Ovechkin has scored his 894th goal to move one back of breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most in NHL history.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 04 Apr 2025 21:33:13 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Alex Ovechkin is now one goal away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for the most in NHL history. Ovechkin scored his second goal of the Washington Capitals’ home game against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night on the power play with 13:46 left in the third period — and he did so with Gretzky in attendance for the first time during this chase. Earlier, he got his 893rd to move one away from tying and two from breaking Gretzky’s mark that long seemed unapproachable. The 39-year-old Russian superstar is now one away from breaking it with 10:56 to go in the game and six left to play this season. On his first of the night, Ovechkin beat Spencer Knight 3:52 in, taking a pass from Dylan Strome behind the net and banking the puck off the far post and the goaltender’s back and in. After a few seconds, Ovechkin's personal goal song, "Shake, Rattle &amp; Roll" by Big Joe Turner, started blaring from arena speakers as mascot Slapshot flipped the counter in one corner from 892 to 893. Fans chanted, "Ovi! Ovi!" before and after play resumed. Scoring in a fourth consecutive game, Ovechkin reached 40 goals for a 14th time in 20 seasons, which is the most in league history. With his second, he is at 41. The Eastern Conference-leading Capitals have six games left in the regular season with a visit to the New York Islanders next Sunday. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Alex Ovechkin odds: When will he break Wayne Gretzky's scoring record?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/alex-ovechkin-odds-when-will-he-break-wayne-gretzkys-scoring-record</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/alex-ovechkin-odds-when-will-he-break-wayne-gretzkys-scoring-record</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Ovi is just a few goals away from breaking Gretzky's scoring record. Will he do it this season? And if so, against which team will he do it? See the odds.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 02 Apr 2025 11:55:33 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Wayne Gretzky will soon have company in at least one category. "The Great One" holds several of the most meaningful records in NHL history, including the record for most career goals with 894. However, that record is about to go down. Let's check out the odds on whether Washington's Alex Ovechkin will score his 895th goal this season, and against which squad he will accomplish the feat against, as of April 3 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Alex Ovechkin to record 895th career goal this season Yes: -425 (bet $10 to win $12.35 total)No: +330 (bet $10 to win $43 total) Team Alex Ovechkin scores 895th career regular-season goal against Blue Jackets: +140 (bet $10 to win $24 total)Islanders: +230 (bet $10 to win $33 total)Hurricanes: +360 (bet $10 to win $46 total)Penguins: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)Blackhawks: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Gretzky retired in 1999, which means his scoring record of 894 has stood for 25 years. However, he broke the record of 801 — set by Gordie Howe — in 1994, meaning he's been the all-time goals leader for three decades. As of April 3, Ovechkin, 39, has 892 career goals in 1,485 games. Gretzky reached 894 in 1,487 games. The Capitals have seven regular-season games left for Ovi to score three goals. So far this season, he has 39 goals in 59 games. Ovechkin is favored to break the record against either the Blue Jackets or the Islanders. The Capitals play New York on April 6 and 15, and Columbus on April 12 and 13. Ovi, along with Gretzky and Howe, is one of only three players in NHL history to have 800 goals or more in the regular season. Assuming he plays next season, Ovechkin will likely become the only player to ever score 900 regular-season goals. Gretzky holds the record for all-time goals, regular season and playoffs, with 1,016. Ovechkin has 964 regular-season and playoff goals. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[What To Bet Today: Jimmy Butler's return to Miami]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/what-bet-today-jimmy-butler-returns-miami</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/what-bet-today-jimmy-butler-returns-miami</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Jimmy Butler makes his return to Miami (gulp), the NHL's best teams face off, and more. Here's what to bet today.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 25 Mar 2025 15:07:16 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Sports are an everyday thing — meaning there is always an opportunity to throw down a few bucks. Currently, we're in the midst of the men's and women's NCAA Tournaments, with the NBA and NHL playoffs approaching, and the new MLB season set to begin. Like we said, a lot of wagering options. With that, each weekday, FOX Sports will discuss a few big games and matches on tap, and the individual performances to potentially keep an eye on. Here's what to bet for March 25, with odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. NBA: Golden State @ Miami7:30 p.m. ET, TNT/MaxGSW -6, ML: GSW -205, O/U 216.5 What to know: Jimmy Butler makes his return to Miami after his relationship with Pat Riley and the Heat turned contentious. Since joining Golden State, the Warriors are 16-3 in games in which Butler has played. On the other side of the equation, since the Feb. 7 trade, the Heat are 5-17. The odds: Butler's Over/Under point total is set at 21.5. NHL: Washington @ Winnipeg8 p.m. ET, ESPN+ WPG -1.5, ML: WPG -148, O/U 5.5 What to know: Alex Ovechkin has 888 career regular-season goals, meaning he is just six away from tying Wayne Gretzky's all-time regular-season record, and seven away from breaking it. The Capitals and Jets also have the two best records in the league. The two teams have faced off once this season, with the Jets winning 5-4 in overtime on Feb. 1. Ovi had one goal in that game. The odds: Winnipeg is the -142 favorite, and Washington is the +120 underdog. Ovechkin is a -120 favorite to break Gretzky's record this season. WTA: (1) Aryna Sabalenka vs. (9) Qinwen Zheng7 p.m. ETML: Sabalenka -330 What to know: Sabalenka is the top women's tennis player in the world, but after winning the Brisbane International, she lost in the final of the Australian Open and BNP Paribas Open. In short, she's due for another big title, which she could grab at the Miami Open. Sabalenka and Zheng — the gold medal winner at the 2024 Paris Olympics — have faced off five times, with Sabalenka sitting at 5-0. In those five matches, she's only lost one set to Zheng. The odds: Zheng is the +260 underdog. Sabalenka and Iga Świątek have the shortest odds to win the tournament at +130. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[What were the 10 biggest storylines in sports in February?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/what-were-10-biggest-storylines-sports-february</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/what-were-10-biggest-storylines-sports-february</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[What were the biggest storylines in sports in the second month of 2025? Check out the latest here.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2025 23:53:38 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The new year is already in full swing, as the month of February has come to a close. It was an eventful month to say the least, with a few teams winning championships in some sports and others making playoff runs elsewhere. But what were the absolute biggest storylines in sports over the past month? We dove into what transpired in all sports, including college football, the NFL, college basketball, the NBA, MLB and soccer, in February and gave you the biggest headlines to follow. Let's take a look: 10 biggest storylines in sports in February 10. Patrick Reed makes hole-in-one at LIV Golf Adelaide It's not often you see a hole-in-one in golf, let alone at a professional event with the likes of Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka all in the mix. But it was Patrick Reed who pulled off the impossible, making a hole-in-one at the Watering Hole less than 20 minutes after the shotgun start. His 8-iron at the 151-yard par-3 set off a scene reminiscent of two years ago when Chase Koepka delivered LIV Golf's first ace at the famous party hole. Reed's ace is the ninth in league history. "It's awesome to give the fans what they want," said Reed, making his fifth competitive ace (and sixth overall) of his career. "That's why we want to be out here: Golf, but louder." Reed's hole-in-one was one of the few highlights of his 1-over 73. He finished the event T-37th at +2. 9. Auburn and Duke keep rolling As of March 3, these two teams are a whopping 54-5, with No. 1 Auburn at 27-2 and No. 2 Duke at 27-3. Johni Broome and Cooper Flagg are currently the favorites to win the Wooden Award (National Player of the Year), with Flagg at -140 and Broome at +110. Flagg, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, became the first ACC player with 500 points, 100 assists and 30 blocks in a season since at least 1996-97, and is one of four freshmen ever in the last 25 seasons to average 20 points per game on 50% shooting and 40% three-point shooting — joining Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley and CJ McCollum. Broome on the other hand? His 31-point, 14-rebound, four-assist game in a win over Georgia made him the only player to reach those totals against a Division I team this season. Ben Simmons is the only other SEC player with that many points, rebounds and assists in a game this century. The NCAA Tournament couldn't come quicker for these two teams. 8. MLS is back, Messi’s still got it The 2025 MLS season kicked off on Feb. 22, but it was in CONCACAF Champions Cup where Lionel Messi reminded us just how good he is. He opened the scoring for Inter Miami with an absolute banger in the 19th minute against Sporting Kansas City. The Argentinian received a ball off his chest, let it drop one time, and then sent a rocket from nearly outside of the box. Miami went on to win the match 3-1, and is 1-0-1 (W-L-D) in MLS play. Messi &amp; Co. will look to repeat as the league's point leader. 7. William Byron wins Daytona 500 From FOX Motorsports Insider Bob Pockrass: William Byron went from seventh to first in the final two miles as the leaders crashed in front of him, and he slipped by on the outside. Byron started the final lap in ninth. "This win, it brought me to laughter," Byron crew chief Rudy Fugle said. "Because I looked up and we're getting ready to win, and it was just amazing." Byron, who won NASCAR’s biggest race for the second consecutive year, got out of his car and was, frankly, a little perplexed. "Crazy," Byron said. "I can't honestly believe that. But we're here." Read more from Pockrass here. 6. Alex Bregman signs with Red Sox From FOX Sports MLB writer Rowan Kavner: Alex Bregman and the Red Sox reportedly agreed to a three-year deal worth $120 million which includes deferrals, an important note considering the otherwise massive short-term commitment from a longtime powerhouse franchise. Over the past seven years, Bregman has been worth the second-most wins above replacement among all MLB third basemen, behind only José Ramírez. He's no longer producing the offensive numbers that made him a two-time All-Star, 7-9 WAR player and top-five MVP finisher in 2019 and 2020, but he remains one of the best players at his position. Bregman's expert plate discipline and stout defense at the hot corner have helped him consistently remain a well above league-average hitter with 20-plus-homer pop and one of the better defensive third basemen in the sport, even at 30. Read more from Kavner here. 5. Jimmy Butler gets traded to Warriors From FOX Sports NBA writer Melissa Rohlin: Jimmy Butler is joining a Warriors team that won four titles in eight years from 2015-2022, but has struggled since, getting eliminated in the second round of the playoffs in 2023 and missing the postseason altogether last year. The Warriors believe this is their chance to be great again. Steph Curry called Butler a winner, adding, "When the stakes get higher, he rises to the occasion." Added Warriors coach Steve Kerr: "I think he’ll fit right in." Draymond Green didn’t hesitate when asked if he believes Butler could make the Warriors champions. "I think so," Green told FOX Sports. "We've obviously got to put it together and figure it out. But I definitely think this puts us in contention to compete at the highest level — 1,000 percent. You’ve got a chance to get one of the top 20 players in the NBA. That’s incredible." Read more from Rohlin here. 4. Tom Izzo breaks Big Ten wins record Michigan State came from behind to beat Illinois 79-65 on Feb. 15 for Izzo’s 354th career Big Ten victory, breaking former Indiana coach Bob Knight’s record of 353 conference wins. "What a win," Izzo said. "You talk about the highest of highs and the lowest of lows." Michigan State freshman Jase Richardson made the night extra special for Izzo by scoring 11 points. Richardson is the son of former Michigan State star Jason Richardson, who was a key member of the Spartans’ 2000 NCAA championship team. Jase is the first son of a former player to play for Izzo. A 2016 inductee into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Izzo has a record 26 straight NCAA Tournament appearances and eight trips to the Final Four on his resume, which also includes 10 Big Ten regular-season titles and six Big Ten Tournament championships. 3. Canada takes down USA in the 4 Nations Tournament Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game to give Canada a 3-2 overtime victory over the United States on Feb. 20 as the North American rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into a geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy. Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett also scored for Canada. Jordan Binnington made 25 saves in the first three periods and six more in the extra period on the same ice where he helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup five years ago. Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the Americans, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots in regulation and three more in OT. 2. Luka Doncic gets traded to the Lakers Arguably the biggest trade in NBA history, and also one of the most shocking in all of professional sports, happened at the start of the month. This year's NBA trade deadline saw Anthony Davis sent to Dallas and Luka Dončić to the Lakers. Dončić, 26, is a five-time All-Star and five-time first-team All-NBA player who was in the midst of his seventh season with the Mavericks. He won the NBA scoring title just a year ago and helped lead the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, where they lost in five games to the Boston Celtics. Davis, 31, is a 10-time All-Star who is also a four-time first-team All-NBA player. He was in the midst of his sixth season in L.A., and won a championship with the Lakers in 2020. While it's still a bit early to see how the trade has affected both teams, Dallas has only had Davis' services for one game due to injury — while Dončić has already recorded a triple-double and helped propel the Lakers to the No. 2 seed at 38-21. 1. Eagles win Super Bowl LIX Two years after falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII, the Philadelphia Eagles were able to avenge that loss in Super Bowl LIX. The Eagles are Super Bowl champions once again after throttling the two-time defending champs 40-22. The game wasn't as close as the final score indicated. The Eagles took a 24-0 lead going into halftime and were up 34-0 before the Chiefs scored their first points of the game late in the third quarter. It was the largest margin of victory for a team in the big game since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV. With the win, the Eagles joined the New England Patriots and the Chiefs as the only NFL franchises with multiple Super Bowl wins in the past 15 years. Despite the game not being close, it still ended up as the most-watched Super Bowl ever with 127.7 million viewers. Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance also set a viewership record. The halftime show delivered 133.5 million viewers from 8:30-8:45 p.m. ET, making it the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show of all time. Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Who are the 10 biggest athletes currently playing in Miami?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/who-10-biggest-athletes-currently-playing-miami</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/who-10-biggest-athletes-currently-playing-miami</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Who are the 10 biggest athletes currently playing in Miami sports? FOX Sports Research compiled the list.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 26 Feb 2025 20:51:35 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Miami sports scene has always been among the most vibrant in the country. From Pat Riley's Miami Heat being the talk of the town to the Miami Dolphins making Darius Rucker cry, there's always something prominent happening in the Miami sports scene. With all that in mind, who are the most notable athletes in the city? Here are the 10 biggest athletes currently playing in South Beach. 10 biggest athletes currently playing in Miami 10. Luis Suárez One of the best soccer players in the world, Suarez has spent the past season-plus in MLS with Inter Miami. Suarez, a six-time domestic league champion, totaled 20 goals and nine assists in 27 matches (21 starts) for Inter Miami in 2024. The 38-year-old previously played eight seasons in LaLiga for Barcelona (six seasons) and Atlético Madrid (two seasons), winning a combined five championships. 9. De'Von Achane Selected in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Texas A&amp;M, Achane has been a consistent catalyst for Miami's offense. Splitting reps with Raheem Mostert at running back, Achane has rushed for an average of 854 yards and seven touchdowns on 5.6 yards per carry over the first two years of his career. Meanwhile, Achane recorded 78 receptions (third on the Dolphins) for 592 yards (fourth) and six touchdown catches (tied for second) last season. His 12 touchdowns from scrimmage were four more than anyone else on the team. 8. Jaylen Waddle He sneaks behind the secondary, finds the end zone and does "The Waddle." In his four years in the NFL (2021-24), Waddle has been one of the better wide receivers in the sport, averaging 77 receptions for 1,032 yards and five touchdowns per season. He led the NFL with 18.1 yards per reception in 2022 and signed a three-year, $84.8 million extension with the Dolphins last offseason. 7. Carson Beck After being under center the past two seasons for the Georgia Bulldogs, Beck has taken his talents to South Beach. Across his 27 starts for Georgia from 2023-24, which saw the Bulldogs go 24-3, Beck averaged 3,713 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 156.2 passer rating per season, while completing 68.4% of his passes. The senior quarterback joins a Miami Hurricanes team that just missed the College Football Playoff in 2024. 6. Matthew Tkachuk After spending the first six seasons of his NHL career with the Calgary Flames, Tkachuk was traded to the Florida Panthers in 2022 and helped them get over the hump. They reached the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons and won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in the 2023-24 season. Tkachuk, a two-time All-Star, totaled 26 goals and 62 assists last season, with the left wing having already tallied 22 goals this season as of Feb. 26. 5. Bam Adebayo Adebayo, a five-time All-Defensive selection and three-time All-Star, has been a rock for the Heat since becoming a full-time starter in the 2019-20 season. Part of two teams that have reached the NBA Finals, Adebayo can put the ball on the floor and create havoc on the defensive end. He has averaged 18.4 points, 9.8 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game, while shooting 53.7% from the field, over the past six seasons. With Jimmy Butler now gone, Adebayo is even more essential to Miami's hopes of being a contender again in the near future. 4. Tua Tagovailoa Although the Dolphins' drought without a playoff win now stands at 25 years, and injuries — specifically head-related — have slightly held back Tagovailoa, the young signal-caller has been good when healthy. In 2022, Tagovailoa led the NFL with a 105.5 passer rating, which he followed up by throwing for a league-high 4,624 yards in 2023. Last season, he led all quarterbacks with a 72.9% completion percentage. Tagovailoa begins a four-year, $212.4 million contract next season. 3. Tyreek Hill One could argue that Hill, a five-time All-Pro and eight-time Pro Bowler, has played his best football across his three seasons in Miami. After a six-year stint with the Kansas City Chiefs, Hill set career highs in receiving yards in both 2022 (1,710) and 2023 (1,799) with the Dolphins. He also led the NFL as a whole in both receiving yards and touchdown receptions (13) in 2023. Despite a handful of career-low marks while dealing with an injury, the soon-to-be 31-year-old still posted 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns last season. 2. Tyler Herro Herro is having arguably the best season of his NBA career. When Butler was in and out of the rotation due to suspensions (and has since been traded), Herro stepped up for the Heat. Herro, who earned his first All-Star nod, is averaging a personal-best 24 points, 5.6 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game so far this season. The 2021-22 NBA Sixth Man of the Year has continually been able to score in isolation and drain shots from the perimeter; he's averaging 19.1 points per game for his career and posted 20-plus points per game in each of the past four seasons. 1. Lionel Messi One of the greatest humans to ever kick a soccer ball has been playing the global game in the 305 with Inter Miami over the past two years. Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, two-time UEFA Men's Player of the Year and 12-time domestic league champion, appeared in six games for Inter Miami in 2023, followed up by totaling 20 goals and 11 assists in 19 matches in 2024. Of course, Messi, who won 10 championships playing for Barcelona in LaLiga and won back-to-back titles in his two seasons playing for Paris SG in Ligue 1, led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA Men's World Cup Championship. Honorable mentions Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Who are the 10 biggest athletes currently playing in New York?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/who-10-biggest-athletes-currently-playing-new-york</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/who-10-biggest-athletes-currently-playing-new-york</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Arguably no city in the world has more star power than New York, but which 10 athletes are the biggest? We ranked them.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 25 Feb 2025 22:36:44 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Aside from being arguably the most famous city in North America, no city has more titles in the "Big Four" sports than New York. However, the most notable New York team is without a doubt the Yankees. The Yanks played in the World Series in 2024 and have the most championships in MLB history with 27 World Series wins. But with a city full of stars, who shines the brightest? We ranked the 10 best athletes currently in the Big Apple. 10 biggest athletes in New York City 10. Pete Alonso Nicknamed "The Polar Bear," Alonso is a pure masher, having delivered 30 or more homers in five of his last six seasons. In fact, since entering MLB in 2019, his 226 home runs are the most in the National League, trailing only Aaron Judge for the most in baseball. Most impressively, though, he leads all players since 2019 with 586 RBIs, proving just how clutch he is when there is an opportunity to come through for his team. 9. Giancarlo Stanton One of the most prolific power hitters of his generation, Stanton has done nothing to dispel that reputation since coming over to the Bronx in 2018. In that time, he has smashed 14 homers that traveled at least 450 feet, which is seventh among all players in that span. Additionally, since 2018, only Aaron Judge (96 mph) has a higher average exit velocity than Stanton (94.5 mph) among players who have appeared in at least 500 games. There's no denying his star power, but the most pressing question that will come up in the next portion of his career: Will he make it to Cooperstown? 8. Davante Adams Adams is a legendary wideout and likely already has a ticket to Canton even if he retired today. Last season, he became the 12th player in NFL history to notch 100 receiving touchdowns in his career, with longtime QB Aaron Rodgers hooking up with Adams for the all-important score. Adams also has proven to be able to churn out yards. Since 2020, he is one of just two players to record 6,000 receiving yards and 500 catches, joining Tyreek Hill as the lone players to accomplish that feat. 7. Sauce Gardner Sauce has had as good of a start to his NFL career as anyone, displaying incredible production at an early level. Gardner was named a first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons in the NFL, becoming the first cornerback to do so. The unfortunate part about being an elite CB in the NFL, though, is that quarterbacks stop throwing at you. That couldn't be more true with Sauce. In his rookie season, Gardner compiled 20 passes defended to lead the league. He has had 20 total over the last two seasons, as he's pushed opposing offenses to the other side of the field. 6. Malik Nabers The future is bright for Nabers. The LSU product put up 1,204 receiving yards on 109 catches in his rookie season, joining Puka Nacua (2023) and Anquan Boldin (2003) as the only rookies in NFL history to have at least 1,200 receiving yards and 100 receptions. He was also one of just five players to reach that threshold in 2024, making him both a possession receiver and a dangerous playmaker down the field. Although the QB situation in New York is questionable going forward, the future of Nabers makes it much more tenable for whomever the Giants are able to land. 5. Karl-Anthony Towns One of the best shooting big men of all time, Towns is new to the Big Apple this season. An offseason trade sent him to New York after he spent the first nine years of his career in Minnesota, but Towns has continued to connect from 3 in his new city. Towns has made 40 percent or more from deep in two of his last three seasons, and five seasons in his career so far. He is at a career-high 43.2 percent this season, as of Feb. 25. That shooting also helped him reach 20 points per game in eight of his nine seasons before 2024-25. His only season under 20 points per game came during his rookie campaign when he finished at 18.3. 4. Francisco Lindor In the last few years, Lindor has been perhaps the biggest star in New York. Since being traded to the Mets four seasons ago, Lindor has racked up three top-10 MVP finishes, including coming in as the runner-up to last year's MVP Shohei Ohtani. Lindor is truly a five-tool player, as well. Since the shortstop joined the Mets in 2021, he is one of just four players to have 375 runs scored and 75 stolen bases, joining Ohtani, Jose Ramirez and Trea Turner. 3. Jalen Brunson One of the best free-agent signings in recent NBA history, Brunson has become one of the faces of the Knicks. Last season, he was one of just six players to average 10 or more made field goals per game. Of those six players, only he and Kevin Durant also shot over 40 percent from three-point range. Brunson delivers under pressure, too, finishing the 2023-24 season with 106 clutch points, a number he's quickly on pace to beat in 2024-25. This season, Brunson ranks in the top 10 in the NBA in both points and assists per game. 2. Aaron Judge One of the most famous players in baseball, Judge instills fear in opposing pitchers — and rightfully so! He has collected two MVP awards in the last three seasons for his efforts, while also leading the majors during that time with 157 homers, 25 more than any other player. Oh, and he set a record in 2022 for most homers in a single season in the American League with 62. Judge is one of the most recognizable players in MLB today due to his immense power, status as the leader of a massive franchise and his incredible production. 1. Juan Soto No player has generated as much attention this offseason as Soto, who signed a record-breaking contract with the Mets, committing to the team for 15 years to the tune of $765 million. Aside from being able to do virtually anything at an elite level on the baseball field, there is one thing he does better than anyone else: draw walks. Since entering the majors in 2018, Soto has walked 769 times, nearly 200 more than the next closest player on the list, Bryce Harper (580). But Soto also has amazing power, making him a rare breed. He is one of just three players since 2018 to compile 500 walks and 200 homers, joining Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber. Honorable mentions Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Who are the 10 biggest athletes currently playing in Los Angeles?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/who-10-best-athletes-currently-playing-los-angeles</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/who-10-best-athletes-currently-playing-los-angeles</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[There might not be a city that boasts more sports stars than Los Angeles. Which 10 are the biggest? We ranked them.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:07:15 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Los Angeles is no stranger to stars in the entertainment industry, with many A-list actors, musicians, executives and more calling Tinseltown home. There also might not be a city that has more sports stars than Los Angeles. Currently, six L.A. players have won MVP honors, while a few others have won a playoff or championship MVP award. Those athletes have also helped their franchises become playoff mainstays. Since 2011, Los Angeles-based teams have won 11 championships combined in the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, MLS and WNBA: With all of these stars in L.A., which one is the biggest? We ranked the 10 best athletes currently in the City of Angels. 10 biggest athletes in Los Angeles 10. James Harden Harden's MVP days might be behind him, but he's still playing at a high level. Despite Kawhi Leonard missing much of the season, Harden has helped the LA Clippers remain in the playoff hunt following the departure of Paul George. The 35-year-old guard was named an All-Star for the 11th time in his career earlier in February as he's averaging 21.7 points and 8.6 assists per game. In many cities, an 11-time All-Star with an MVP and several top-five MVP finishes leading his team to the postseason would be one of the biggest names in town. But in LA, Harden is one of many who've won an MVP in the past. 9. Puka Nacua When the Los Angeles Rams selected Nacua in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, it's hard to envision that anyone other than Sean McVay or Les Snead thought he would quickly become one of the league's top receivers. Well, just two years in, Nacua has already stated his case. In 2023, he set the record for most receiving yards ever by a rookie with 1,486, more than the totals Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson had in their debut seasons. Nacua missed six games in 2024 due to injury, but he finished the year third in the NFL in receiving yards per game (90). At 23, Nacua seems certain to move up this list in the near future. 8. Freddie Freeman Freeman, who grew up in Fountain Valley, has continued to play at an All-Star level after he left the Atlanta Braves for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022. But it wasn't until his third season that the Southern California native became a franchise legend. That's when Freeman crushed a walk-off grand slam in Game 1 of the 2024 World Series. He added homers in each of the next three games, becoming the first player to ever hit a home run in the first four games of a World Series. Freeman wound up tying the record for most RBIs in a World Series with 12, winning MVP when the Dodgers took down the New York Yankees for the title in Game 5. 7. Justin Herbert Ever since the Los Angeles Chargers took him with the sixth pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Herbert could be considered a top-10 quarterback in the league. Herbert set rookie records in 2020, throwing the most touchdowns and completions ever for a first-year quarterback. While the Chargers were a bit uneven throughout the first four years of Herbert's career, they finally got some stability when Jim Harbaugh arrived in 2024. The new coaching staff allowed Herbert to become a more efficient quarterback, as he posted career highs in passer rating (101.7), yards per attempt (7.7) and interception percentage (an NFL-best 0.6). Herbert also guided the Chargers to their best record (11-6) in his tenure and a spot in the postseason. 6. Matthew Stafford Stafford might not be on this list for much longer. The Rams have allowed the quarterback to speak with other teams as he seeks a new contract, getting the ball rolling for a possible trade this offseason. For now, he's still a member of the Rams, and it'd be a big omission to not include one of the NFL's best quarterbacks on this list. Stafford quickly became a Los Angeles sports icon when he led the Rams to a Super Bowl title in his first season with the team in 2021. Following an injury-shortened 2022 season, Stafford bounced back and played like a top-10 quarterback again over the last two years, nearly bringing the Rams to the NFC Championship Game in the 2024 season. The 37-year-old is also one of the most decorated quarterbacks in today's game, ranking second among active players in career passing yards (59,809) and touchdowns (377), as well as fourth all-time in career comebacks (38). 5. Mookie Betts The Dodgers were essentially gift-wrapped a top-five player when the Boston Red Sox traded Betts to L.A. in 2020. He hasn't wavered from that standing as one of the best position players in the majors over his first five seasons with the team. Betts has finished in the top five of NL MVP voting in the years that he hasn't missed significant time due to injury, posting two runner-up finishes. More importantly, Betts has played a major role in two World Series titles. He had a few memorable moments on the field and at the plate in the Fall Classic run in 2020, when the Dodgers broke their 32-year championship drought. He was productive at the plate in their postseason this past year as well, hitting .290 with four homers. The 32-year-old is the only active MLB position player with three World Series titles. He also ranks fifth in bWAR, fifth in batting average and seventh in slugging percentage among active players. 4. Mike Trout In a similar vein as Harden, Trout's a bit removed from his peak. But he's still put up strong numbers despite dealing with multiple injuries in recent years. He hit 40 homers in his last 100-plus-game campaign in 2022, producing another season when he nearly reached the 1.000 OPS mark (0.999). While he's only played in 111 games over the last two years, he has tallied 28 homers with an .860 OPS during that time. Trout is set to move to right field in 2025 to help prolong his playing career, but he's arguably the best all-time player currently in MLB. His three AL MVP wins are tied for the most ever, while his bWAR is the highest among active players. He's also second among active players in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and home runs. 3. Luka Doncic No one would've imagined Doncic being on this list a month ago, but his sudden trade to the Lakers instantly puts him near the top. As Doncic takes one of the 10 spots that would've presumably been held by Anthony Davis, it could be argued that he should be higher than No. 3. Doncic, who has earned first-team All-NBA nods in each of the last five seasons, has had one of the best starts to a career in NBA history. He won't be named an All-NBA player this season due to injury, but Doncic would rank in the top 10 in points and assists per game for the sixth straight year if he were eligible. He also just led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024 as a 25-year-old and boasts the second-highest scoring average (30.9 points per game) in NBA playoff history. 2. LeBron James Doncic's new teammate slightly edges him out in the rankings. James — one of, if not the greatest NBA player ever — is the league's all-time leading scorer, with four titles and four MVPs to his name. And, at 40 years old, he's only added to his impressive résumé during the 2024-25 season. As of Feb. 24, James ranks in the top 15 in points and assists per game this season, registering numbers that aren't far off from his prime years. James seems poised to finish in the top 10 in MVP voting for the 18th time in his career and could be named first-team All-NBA for the 14th time as the Lakers have been one of the top teams in the Western Conference this season. 1. Shohei Ohtani You have to be doing something incredibly special to be ranked ahead of James. Well, Ohtani did something pretty special in 2024. He became the first player in MLB history to ever record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in the same season, leading the NL with 54 homers and finishing second in stolen bases with 59. To no one's surprise, Ohtani was unanimously voted NL MVP, becoming the first player among the major North American professional sports leagues to win three MVPs unanimously. Ohtani also won his first World Series title with the Dodgers in 2024. He did it all without pitching, taking a year off from the mound to rehab his elbow after undergoing surgery in 2023. Honorable mentions Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Connor McDavid scores in OT to give Canada 3-2 win over USA in 4 Nations Face-Off final]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/connor-mcdavid-scores-ot-give-canada-3-2-win-over-usa-4-nations-face-off-final</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/connor-mcdavid-scores-ot-give-canada-3-2-win-over-usa-4-nations-face-off-final</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday night .]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 21 Feb 2025 00:50:25 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Connor McDavid scored at 8:18 of overtime in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game to give Canada a 3-2 victory over the United States on Thursday night as the North American rivals turned what had been a tune-up for the 2026 Olympics into an geopolitical brawl over anthems and annexation as much as international hockey supremacy. Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett also scored for Canada. Jordan Binnington made 25 saves in the first three periods and six more in the extra period on the same ice where he helped the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup five years ago. Brady Tkachuk and Jake Sanderson scored for the Americans, and Connor Hellebuyck stopped 22 shots in regulation and three more in OT. The already ripe rivalry took on an added intensity with the cross-border animosity following President Donald Trump's tariff threats and talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state. Trump called the American team Thursday morning to wish it well, then turned to Truth Social to poke Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau with more annexation chatter. The political backdrop combined with the quality of the round-robin game, which the United States won 3-1 on Saturday, to bring the atmosphere of a Stanley Cup Final or Olympic gold medal game to the TD Garden. Fans in their team jerseys waved flags, shouted for their countrymen and continued the ritual booing of the opposing national anthem that has become an nightly undercard for what most agree has been one of the best international hockey competitions in decades. The American fans chanted "U-S-A! U-S-A!" to spur on the home team; in the third period, a cheer of "Johnny Hockey! Johnny Hockey!" reminded the players that they were playing for the memory of former Boston College and Calgary Flames star Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed by a drunk driver while bicycling in New Jersey at his sister's wedding last summer. "Miracle on Ice" Olympic hero and honorary U.S. captain Mike Eruzione wore a Gaudreau jersey during a pregame ceremonial puck drop with Canadian counterpart Wayne Gretzky. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]>
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					<![CDATA[What are the 10 most shocking trades of all time?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/what-10-most-shocking-trades-all-time</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/what-10-most-shocking-trades-all-time</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade was so stunning that it made us wonder if reporters were hacked. So, where does it rank among the 10 most surprising sports trades ever?]]>
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				<pubDate>Mon, 03 Feb 2025 19:47:56 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Every once in a while, there's a trade in the sports world that makes everyone stop in their tracks and dive into their group chats to share the shock of the deal. Saturday night, NBA fans experienced a different kind of alarm, wondering if reports of a Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis blockbuster trade were real. There was no hacking involved, though, and once reality set in, the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks had agreed to a three-team deal that stunned the sports community. Days later, even as more details emerge, the trade still seems outrageous. But is it the most shocking in sports history? Here's our list of 10. 10 most shocking trades 10. Ken Griffey Jr. to Cincinnati Reds (2000) Junior Griffey was arguably the biggest star in baseball when he was unexpectedly traded by the Mariners at the peak of his career. Already a 10-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner before turning 30, Griffey appeared destined to break the all-time home run record and was in the midst of one of the greatest ever starts to a career. But behind the scenes, Griffey wanted out of the Pacific Northwest for family reasons. He'd grown up in Cincinnati and welcomed the idea of raising his children there. Moreover, his father was a bench coach with the Reds. Griffey got his wish after the 1999 season. After vetoing a trade to the Mets, he was sent to Cincinnati — in exchange for Mike Cameron and Brett Tomko — where he quickly signed a long extension. Alas, Griffey wasn't able to stay healthy and his play soon declined. A compromised second half of his career has perhaps dampened the memory of how much this trade rocked the baseball world at the time. 9. Randy Moss to New England Patriots (2007) After two unfulfilling seasons in Oakland, the Raiders and Moss were more than ready to part ways. The Packers were ready to pounce in hopes of pairing the future Hall of Famer with Brett Favre. Green Bay offered a young Aaron Rodgers, who'd attempted all of 31 passes after two seasons in the league. The Raiders declined, however, and drafted JaMarcus Russell instead. That allowed the Patriots, who were annual contenders and coming off an AFC title game appearance, to swoop in and acquire Moss during the draft for a mere fourth-round pick. Moss later shared that he got a surprise phone call from Bill Belichick in the middle of the night, asking him to fly from Texas to Foxborough and clear a physical that day. Moss and the Pats made history a few months later. New England became the first team to go 16-0 in the regular season, setting the record for points in a season, while Tom Brady broke the TD passes mark and Moss the TD receptions mark. The Pats experienced a shock of their own in the playoffs when their perfect season was spoiled by the Giants in the Super Bowl. Moss would play two-and-a-half more seasons in New England, but nothing matched his connection with Brady during that 2007 campaign. 8. Alex Rodriguez to New York Yankees (2004) Rodriguez was just three years into his landmark 10-year, $252 million deal when the Rangers, who'd finished in last place all three years, surprisingly began to shop the reigning MVP. The shock lies in what happened next. The Red Sox orchestrated a three-team deal that also included the Chicago White Sox that would've involved A-Rod, Manny Ramirez, Nomar Garciaparra, Jon Lester and Magglio Ordonez switching teams. The deal was nixed at the 11th hour, however, when the MLBPA wouldn't allow Rodriguez to take the pay cut that he and the Red Sox had agreed to. As Rodriguez remained with the Rangers late in the 2003-04 offseason, Yankees third baseman Aaron Boone tore his ACL playing basketball right before spring training. That prompted the Yankees to gauge A-Rod's interest in playing in the Bronx. With Derek Jeter entrenched at shortstop, and Rodriguez having just won back-to-back Gold Gloves and widely regarded as the best all-around player in baseball, the thought of A-Rod switching positions and joining the Yankees seemed unfathomable. But he consented, and the Yankees sent fellow young star Alfonso Soriano to Texas. The move added a fascinating wrinkle to the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry just months after the two heavyweights squared off in the postseason. They would, of course, meet again the following October, with Boston rallying back from the first 0-3 deficit in MLB history. Rodriguez would go on to earn two more MVPs and eventually win a World Series with the Yankees while spending the final 13 years of his career in New York. 7. Shaquille O'Neal to Miami Heat (2004) Shock waves were felt across ther NBA landscape in the summer of 1996 when the Orlando Magic allowed O'Neal to sign with the Lakers just four years after making him the No. 1 pick in the draft. Predictably, he became a cultural icon and grew into the most dominant player in basketball. But while leading the Lakers to a three-peat and winning Finals MVP for each series, he and Kobe Bryant began to feud publicly. The situation had became untenable by the summer of 2004, and the Lakers had to decide which of them they were keeping. Bryant figured it would be Shaq and had already begun exploring his options in free agency. That plan was put to an immediate halt when the Lakers stunningly sent O'Neal to the Miami Heat in exchange for Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Brian Grant and a first-round pick. The Heat were initially the big winners, as a motivated Shaq finished second in MVP voting the following season and helped lead Miami to its first NBA crown in Year 2. The Lakers, meanwhile, scuffled for three seasons before executing another stunning trade, acquiring Pau Gasol in 2008. His arrival gave Kobe the support he needed to lead the Lakers to back-to-back titles (and three consecutive Finals appearances). He'd spend his entire 20-year career with the Lakers. 6. Kevin Garnett to Boston Celtics (2007) Three years after an MVP season and a deep playoff run, and Minnesota in desperate need of a rebuild, Garnett and the Timberwolves agreed it was time to part ways. The only question was where he'd land. The Lakers and Phoenix Suns were initially at the forefront of the sweepstakes, with each offering a budding star (Los Angeles offered Andrew Bynum, Phoenix offered Amar'e Stoudemire) to try to form a top-tier contender in the West. The Suns eventually bowed out, which seemingly gave the edge to the Lakers. Boston, which was coming off two losing seasons, wasn't an attractive destination for KG. Years later, Garnett shared that the Lakers were his first choice, only he was unable to get in contact with Kobe Bryant despite numerous attempts. The Celtics, meanwhile, acquired perennial All-Star Ray Allen in a draft-day deal to pair alongside Paul Pierce, tipping the scale enough for Garnett to eventually sign off on a trade to Boston. The Celtics gave up a five-player package centered around young center Al Jefferson plus two first-round picks for Garnett, marking the largest deal for a single player in NBA history. More importantly, the transaction unofficially ushered in the modern superteam era. The three stars proved to be a perfect fit and took the league by storm, winning 66 games in their first season before toppling the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Boston would remain a title contender for four more years and appear in another Finals with Garnett. The Timberwolves went another decade without making the playoffs. 5. Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings (1989) The Cowboys became the NFL's team of the ‘90s thanks in large part to one trade. In the middle of the 1989 season, first-year Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and coach Jimmy Johnson decided to part ways with their best player, two-time Pro Bowler Herschel Walker, in order to rebuild a roster that would finish the year 1-15. After creating a bidding war behind the scenes and nearly trading the running back to the Cleveland Browns, the Cowboys took advantage of an opportunistic Vikings team seeking to make a title run and parted with Walker for three draft picks and five players. Dallas then utilized a loophole by cutting four of those players to recoup four conditional picks (two firsts, one second and a third) and trading Darrin Nelson to the Chargers for another conditional pick (1992 second round). The Cowboys turned all that draft capital into future standouts Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith, Clayton Holmes and Darren Woodson, and would soon become a dynasty. Walker, meanwhile, helped the Vikings reach the playoffs in 1989 but would spend just two more years in Minnesota before bouncing around the league and eventually ending up back with the Cowboys. 4. Wilt Chamberlain to Philadelphia 76ers (1965) The deal that saw the San Francisco Warriors trade Chamberlain to the 76ers might be the NBA trade most comparable to the Dončić deal. The move came during All-Star weekend in 1965, with the Warriors trading a 28-year-old Wilt after he helped them reach the NBA Finals the season prior. The Warriors' poor start to the season and Chamberlain's unpopularity in San Francisco made him expendable in the eyes of management, which moved him for three players that had a combined one All-Star appearance (with one of the players retiring shortly after the trade) plus $150,000. The Hall of Fame center responded by winning three consecutive MVPs with the 76ers and leading them to the title in 1967, all while the Warriors struggled. Wilt wasn't long for Philadelphia, however, despite having started his career there with the Warriors before the franchise moved to the Bay. After four seasons with the Sixers, he orchestrated a trade to the Lakers in what some regard as the first example of the player empowerment movement. 3. Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles Kings (1988) You know a trade is controversial when the government tries to get involved. That was the case when the Edmonton Oilers moved Gretzky shortly after winning their fifth Stanley Cup with the all-time great in 1988. The trade had actually been in the works for much longer than anyone had known at the time, with Gretzky's father informing him just hours after their Cup win that he learned months prior that Gretzky was on the market. As Oilers owner Peter Pocklington was in financial trouble, they agreed to deal Gretzky to the Kings for center Jimmy Carson, left wing Martin Gélinas, two first-round picks and $15 million in cash. The Oilers also gave up a pair of lesser players (Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski) at Gretzky's wish. The deal proved traumatic for Gretzky, who tearfully said goodbye to the Oilers in a press conference. Edmonton wound up having more team success than L.A. in the immediate aftermath, winning another Stanley Cup two years later (while sweeping the Kings in the process). Still, it's hard not to imagine the Oilers' dynasty lasting into the ‘90s had they not traded Gretzky, who won an MVP and led the league in scoring three more times after the deal. He eventually led the Kings to their first Stanley Cup. More importantly, he helped popularize the sport in the United States, as the NHL has added 11 franchises stateside since Gretzky's monumental transfer. 2. Babe Ruth to New York Yankees (1920) The baseball player many regard as the best of all time was moved for a sum of cash to help finance a theater play. No, really. Ruth was only 24 years old at the time, had just set the single-season home run record and had already helped the Red Sox win three World Series, thanks to his two-way exploits. But new team owner Harry Frazee was facing financial pressure and agreed to sell Ruth's contract to the Red Sox for $100,000 along with a $325,000 loan from Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert ahead of the 1920 season. The stunning swap changed the fortunes of the two franchises overnight. Boston, which had won five of the first 16 World Series, didn't make the playoffs again for 26 years. The Yankees, who had never played in the postseason, appeared in 29 of the next 45 World Series. Ruth would play 15 years in New York, winning four titles and becoming the all-time home run leader. (He also started just four games on the mound while in pinstripes.) It would be 86 years before the Red Sox finally won a World Series, while the Yankees lead all North American pro franchises with 27 championships. That's why they call it the "Curse of the Bambino." 1. Luka Dončić to Los Angeles Lakers (2025) Dončić is, conservatively, one of the five best basketball players in the world. Many would assert he's behind only the Nuggets' Nikola Jokić. Whatever the case, the 25-year-old Slovenian superstar was assumed to be untouchable. Dončić had just won the scoring title and led the Mavericks to the NBA Finals last summer. So, calling their decision to trade the perennial MVP candidate to the Lakers a shock actually feels like an understatement. The move, which featured future Hall of Fame center Anthony Davis in return, came completely out of nowhere and involved zero speculation prior. Credit to the Lakers on that front. As Dallas general manager Nico Harrison confirmed, he contacted the Lakers a few weeks back to gauge their interest in Dončić. There were seemingly no leaks, as other teams and the players directly involved in the eventual swap were completely unaware of these conversations. While the deal — and the Mavericks not holding a bidding war before unloading Dončić — still has the NBA community reeling, one potential motivating factor for them might have been Dončić being eligible for a $345 million extension this summer. Time will tell if the Mavericks' bet on a soon-to-be 32-year-old Davis, promising guard Max Christie and a future first-round pick pays off. Dončić, meanwhile, like so many of the greatest players in basketball history, will play for the Lakers. HONORABLE MENTION Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]>
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					<![CDATA[What are the 100 best athlete nicknames of all time?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/what-100-best-athlete-nicknames-all-time</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/what-100-best-athlete-nicknames-all-time</guid>
				<category>other</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[What are the best athlete nicknames of all time? FOX Sports Research compiled the list of the top 100 names across the sports world.]]>
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				<pubDate>Sat, 01 Feb 2025 12:33:23 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[There are countless athletes that have legendary nicknames attached to their brand, but which ones are the best? Here are the 100 best athlete nicknames of all time. 100 best athlete nicknames of all time 10. William Perry: "The Fridge" Perry was thrown into the fire as a rookie (1985) on an elite Chicago Bears defense. Totaling five sacks and two fumble recoveries, Perry held his own on a Chicago defense that led them to a Super Bowl triumph. Of course, that's not all the defensive lineman did, as "The Fridge" punched in two rushing touchdowns in the regular season and another in Super Bowl XX. Perry spent the bulk of his 10-year NFL career with the Bears, with whom he's ninth in franchise history with 456 solo tackles. 9. Jerome Bettis: "The Bus" It's not wise to get in the way of "The Bus." A six-time Pro Bowler, Bettis was a force to be reckoned with for the Pittsburgh Steelers — and the Rams for the first three years of his career. Surpassing 1,000 rushing yards in eight seasons, six of them coming in Pittsburgh, Bettis is second in Steelers history with 10,571 rushing yards and 78 rushing touchdowns. In his final season (2005), Bettis rushed for nine touchdowns in the regular season and three in the postseason, helping the Steelers win Super Bowl XL. 8. Walter Payton: "Sweetness" "Sweetness" is how someone could define Payton's voice. A five-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler, Payton has a case for being the best running back in NFL history. Surpassing 1,000 rushing yards in 10 of his 13 seasons in the sport, Payton is second in league history with 16,726 career rushing yards and fifth with 110 rushing touchdowns. Payton played his entire career with the Bears, with whom he won Super Bowl XX. 7. Wayne Gretzky: "The Great One" Gretzky, or "The Great One," was majestic on the ice. A career that saw Gretzky win four Stanley Cup titles in five seasons with the Edmonton Oilers saw him finish as the NHL's all-time leader in points (2,857), goals (894) and assists (1,963) by a wide margin. Gretzky led the sport in goals five times, points 11 times and assists 16 times across his 20-year NHL career. Furthermore, Gretzky claimed nine NHL Hart Memorial Trophy honors in the span of 10 years. 6. Calvin Johnson: "Megatron" When you're 6-foot-5, have great hands and run like a freight train, you get nicknamed after the leader of the Decepticons. A three-time All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowler, Johnson was arguably the best wide receiver of his generation. Spending his entire nine-year NFL career with the Detroit Lions, "Megatron" became the franchise's all-time leader in receptions (731), receiving yards (11,619) and receiving touchdowns (83). Johnson led the NFL in receiving yards twice and posted 1,000-plus receiving yards in seven of his nine seasons. 5. David Ortiz: "Big Papi" After a respectable six-year stint with the Minnesota Twins (1997-2002), Ortiz came to the Boston Red Sox in 2003 and became one of the greatest players in franchise history. Earning the nickname "Big Papi," Ortiz was money for Boston in the postseason, helping it win three World Series (2004, 2007 and 2013). He posted 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBIs, respectively, in 10 of his 14 seasons with the Red Sox. Ortiz is 17th in MLB history with 541 career home runs. 4. Michael Jordan: "Air Jordan" Nike saw greatness in Jordan, enough to give him his own signature shoe in 1984, and he shattered the hype. Jordan, who won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, finished his career as a five-time MVP, 10-time scoring champion and 11-time All-NBA honoree. Across his 15-year career, "Air Jordan" finished with a career average of 30.12 points per game, which stands as the best in NBA history. 3. Jerry West: "The Logo" The NBA logo looks a little bit like West, doesn't it? An All-Star in each of his 14 seasons in the NBA, which was spent entirely with the Los Angeles Lakers, West — who isn't what the NBA logo was designed after, wink-wink — helped Los Angeles win the NBA Finals in the 1971-72 season. West is second in Lakers history with 25,192 career points. 2. Deion Sanders "Prime Time" Sanders was one of the best defensive backs in NFL history, held his own as an MLB player and has coached at the collegiate football level since 2020. Everywhere one looks, Sanders is on in "Prime Time." An eight-time Pro Bowler, Sanders won the Super Bowl in back-to-back years with two different teams (San Francisco 49ers in 1994 and Dallas Cowboys in 1995) and is tied for fifth in NFL history with nine career pick-sixes. 1. Earvin Johnson: "Magic" Johnson was "Magic" with the Lakers. He was as gifted of a facilitator as anyone in league history, hit the boards at a high level and was smooth off the dribble as a scorer. The 6-foot-9 floor general was a three-time NBA MVP who led the league in assists four times, averaged double-digit assists per game in nine of his 13 seasons in the sport and was a 10-time All-NBA honoree. Johnson won five NBA titles with the Lakers. 11. Michael Irvin: "The Playmaker" 12. Giannis Antetokounmpo: "The Greek Freak" 13. Jason Williams: "White Chocolate" 14. George Gervin: "The Iceman" 15. Tyrann Mathieu: "Honeybadger" 16. Derek Jeter: "The Captain" 17. Paul Pierce: "The Truth" 18. Allen Iverson: "The Answer" 19. O.J. Simpson: "The Juice" 20. Julius Erving: "Dr. J" 21. Shaquille O'Neal: "Diesel" 22. George Herman Ruth: "Babe" or "The Great Gambino" 23. Darryl Dawkins: "Chocolate Thunder" 24. Kobe Bryant: "Black Mamba" 25. Larry Bird: "Larry Legend" 26. Charles Barkley: "The Great Mound of Rebound" 27. Gilbert Arenas: "Agent Zero" 28. David Robinson: "The Admiral" 29. Gary Payton: "The Glove" 30. Shohei Ohtani: "Sho-time" 31. Larry Bird: "The Hick from French Lick" 32. Kevin Garnett: "The Big Ticket" 33. Rafer Alston: "Skip to my Lou" 34. Vince Carter: "Half Man Half Amazing" 35. Kevin Durant: "Slim Reaper" and "Durantala" 36. Nikola Jokic: "The Joker" 37. Dominique Wilkins: "Human Highlight Reel" 38. Hakeem Olajuwon: "The Dream" 39. Karl Malone: "The Mailman" 40. Mike Tyson: "Iron Mike" 41. Pete Maravich: "Pistol Pete" 42. Tyson Fury: "The Gipsy King" 43. Steve Francis: "The Franchise" 44. Terrell Suggs: "T-Sizzle" 45. Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, Chris Mullin: "Run T-M-C" 46. Steph Curry and Klay Thompson: "The Splash Brothers" 47. Marshawn Lynch: "Beast Mode" 48. Damian Lillard: "Dame Time" 49. Mariano Rivera: "The Sandman" 50. Johnny Manziel: "Johnny Football" 51. Reggie Jackson: "Mr. October" 52. Joe Namath: "Broadway Joe" 53. Dick Lane: "Night Train" 54. Raghib Ismail: "Rocket" 55. Israel Adesanya: "Stylebender" 56. Shawn Marion: "The Matrix" 57. Daryl Johnston: "Moose" 58. Robert Horry: "Big Shot Bob" 59. Joe Montana: "Joe Cool" 60. Kenny Stabler: "The Snake" 61. Chauncey Billups: "Mr. Big Shot" 62. Christian Okoye: "The Nigerian Nightmare" 63. LeBron James: "King James" 64. Kemba Walker: "Cardiac Kemba" 65. Tyreek Hill: "Cheetah" 66. Carnell Williams: "Cadillac" 67. Diana Taurasi: "White Mamba" 68. Bryant Reeves: "Big Country" 69. Chang Sung Jung: "The Korean Zombie" 70. Chad Johnson: "Ochocinco" 71. Javier Hernandez: "Chicharito" 72. Tim Duncan: "The Big Fundamental" 73. Muhammad Ali: "The People's Champ" 74. Ronda Rousey: "Rowdy Ronda" 75. Dwyane Wade: "Flash" 76. Bartolo Colon: "Big Sexy" 77. Ed Jones: "Too Tall" 78. Vinnie Johnson: "The Microwave" 79. Anfernee Hardaway: "Penny" 80. Gabbi Douglas: "The Flying Squirrel" 81. Adam Jones: "Pacman" 82. Ray Leonard: "Sugar Ray" 83. Reggie White: "The Minister of Defense" 84. Peyton Manning: "The Sheriff" 85. Wilt Chamberlain: "Wilt the Stilt" 86. Pete Rose: "Charlie Hustle" 87. Eldrick Woods: "Tiger" 88. Ivan Rodriguez: "Pudge" 89. Earl Monroe: "The Pearl" 90. Clyde Drexler: "The Glide" 91. Jon Jones: "Bones" 92. Randy Johnson: "Big Unit" 93. Alex Morgan: "Baby Horse" 94. Mohamad Salah: "The Pharaoh" 95. Donovan Mitchell: "Spida" 96. Dennis Rodman: "The Worm" 97. Frank Thomas: "Big Hurt" 98. Joe Greene: "Mean Joe" 99. David Jones: "Deacon" 100. Conor McGregor: "Notorious" Honorable mentions: Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[From Mahomes to Jordan: The 10 best 7-year peaks of the past 40 years]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/from-mahomes-jordan-10-best-7-year-peaks-past-40-years</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/from-mahomes-jordan-10-best-7-year-peaks-past-40-years</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Patrick Mahomes is having the best seven seasons to start a career in NFL history. But who's had the greatest seven-year peaks across all team sports?]]>
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				<pubDate>Fri, 31 Jan 2025 17:38:21 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Thursday marked the seven-year anniversary of the Kansas City Chiefs trading Alex Smith to make Patrick Mahomes their starting quarterback. The rest, as they say, has been history. The Chiefs are making an unprecedented fifth Super Bowl appearance in six seasons, and Mahomes is the first QB in history to make five trips before turning 30. His greatness had us thinking about the best individual seven-year runs. What other athletes have dominated for an extended stretch, to the point that there's little debate about anyone being better. Several athletes might come to mind, but a select few meet the criteria. With that, here are the 10 best seven-year peaks of the past four decades in team sports. *Peaks listed in chronological order Wayne Gretzky (1981-87) It didn't take long for Gretzky to establish himself as the best player in the NHL. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy (league MVP) in the 1979-80 season, which was the Edmonton Oilers' first season in the NHL and Gretzky's second with the team, joining them when they were in the WHL a year prior. Gretzky's greatness only took off from there. He led the league in points in each of the next seven seasons, winning MVP each year and adding three Stanley Cup titles in that span. Gretzky scored at least 160 points in each of those seven seasons, crossing the 200-point mark four times. In most of these seasons, Gretzky scored at least 50 more points than whoever finished second. He was a whopping 79 points ahead of Paul Coffey when he scored 205 points in the 1983-84 season; when he put up an NHL record 215 points in 1985-86, he finished 74 points ahead of Mario Lemieux. To further illustrate Gretzky's dominance, those who played NHL fantasy hockey adjusted the rules around him. Some fantasy leagues prohibited Gretzky from even being used. In most leagues, Gretzky became two draftable players, either picking him by just the goals he scored or the assists he dished out. He led the league in both stats five times from 1981-1987. Jerry Rice (1988-94) Rice's prime was about as long as anyone in the history of the NFL, which made narrowing down his peak especially tough. By his second season, Rice began a run in which he was named first-team All-Pro 10 times in 11 seasons. In his third season, Rice won Offensive Player of the Year after recording a then-NFL record 22 touchdowns in 12 games. The marriage between his success and the San Francisco 49ers' began to perfectly align one year later. Rice helped close out the Niners' dynasty in the 1980s with consecutive titles in the 1988 and 1989 seasons. He took home MVP honors in the first of those two Super Bowl wins, hauling in 11 receptions for a Super Bowl record 215 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. A year later, after leading the league in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, Rice had 148 receiving yards and three touchdowns in San Francisco's rout of the Broncos in Super Bowl XXIV. Rice didn't miss a beat when Steve Young replaced Joe Montana in 1991, topping the NFL in receiving touchdowns for a third straight season. In 1993, he led the NFL in receiving yards and touchdowns en route to winning his second Offensive Player of the Year award. Rice added another ring to close out this seven-year run in 1994, recording 149 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the 49ers' Super Bowl win over the Chargers. The greatest wide receiver of all time then closed out what was really a nine-year apex by registering a career-high 1,848 yards in 1995. Michael Jordan (1990-93; 95-98) Of course, Jordan was going to be on this list. He redefined individual greatness while leading the Chicago Bulls to two separate three-peats in the 1990s, which was briefly interrupted by his first retirement before falling short in his return late in the 1994-95 season. His entire Bulls career could be considered his prime, while his apex had commenced by his third season. The rings, though, came a few years later. His Airness won six titles and four league MVPs during his final six full seasons with the Bulls. He also led the league in scoring each year, topping 30 points four times. Jordan was the only player in the league to cross that threshold between 1990-2000. His full list of accomplishments is too long to cite here, even if whittled down to the postseason. But he won Finals MVP six times while never allowing his team to play a Game 7. In 1998, he prevented that scenario and closed out the Bulls dynasty by executing arguably the greatest end-of-game sequence in sports history: layup/steal/jumper to beat the Utah Jazz in the final seconds of Game 6. Pedro Martínez (1997-2003) Pitchers can have dominant seasons or pockets in their careers, where they stand above the rest in the sport. Arguably no pitcher in history, though, has a greater seven-year stretch than Martínez's from the late 1990s to early 2000s. It was the height of baseball's steroid era, and the charismatic righty was at his absolute best. Two years after winning his first Cy Young with the Montreal Expos in 1997, Martínez won the American League pitching triple crown for the Boston Red Sox with a 2.07 ERA that was 1.37 runs better than the next-closest pitcher. He was snubbed in the MVP vote that year, finishing second at a time when pitchers struggled to even earn consideration for the award. His Cy Young campaign the following year was even more historic. Martínez again paced the league in strikeouts and ERA, with his 1.74 mark less than half and nearly two runs better than runner-up Roger Clemens. His 11.7 bWAR led all of MLB, while his 0.737 WHIP is the lowest in MLB history. Over the next three years, Martínez posted the lowest ERA in baseball and highest winning percentage while earning two top-three finishes in Cy Young (voter fatigue, perhaps?). Pedro also did his part in the postseason during this stretch, going 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA as the Red Sox made two trips to the ALCS. Barry Bonds (1998-2004) As Martinez was dominating hitters in the American League, Bonds dominated National League pitchers in even more historic fashion. The 15-season interval between the first and last of Bonds' seven MVP awards makes it impossible to narrow down his peak to seven years. But what he did from 2001 to 2004 has to be included. Over those four consecutive MVP seasons — no other player in MLB history has more than three MVPs total — Bonds hit 209 homers and walked 755 times while leading the league in OPS by at least .170 each year. His 1.422 OPS and 232 walks in 2004 are single-season records, both of which he had set two years prior. He also registered the three-highest OPS+ marks of all time during this stretch. Bonds didn't log a ton of postseason plate appearances, but he made the most of them in 2002 as he single-handedly carried the San Francisco Giants to the World Series. In those playoffs, Bonds slashed .356/.581/.978 while slugging eight home runs over 17 games. Lionel Messi (2008-15) Messi's ultimate career accomplishment came in 2022, when he led Argentina to victory at the World Cup. But his best seven-year stretch of soccer came before that. In the seven seasons between 2008-15, Messi helped Barcelona win five La Ligas, three Copa del Rays and three Champions League titles as he individually dominated. He won five Ballon d'Ors over that stretch, scoring at least one goal per match in three seasons. His 91 goals scored between his time with Barcelona and Argentina in 2012 set the record for a calendar year. Messi had 73 goals with Barcelona in the 2011-12 season, which remains a European record for the most goals scored across all competitions at the club level in a single season. Only one other player has scored 60 goals for a European club in a single season since then, with Cristian Ronaldo hitting that mark twice. Messi also crossed the 60-goal threshold in the 2012-13 season. Internationally, Messi didn't have as much team success. But he still helped Argentina reach the 2014 World Cup final, a massive achievement in and of itself, winning the Golden Ball for player of the tournament. LeBron James (2011-18) You could throw a dart at any point of James' career and pick a seven-year stretch and say it's among the best in NBA history. His run from 2011 to 2018 is probably his greatest. After winning back-to-back MVPs with the Cleveland Cavaliers between 2008-10, James miserably fell short in the 2011 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks. That loss clearly took his play to another level, as he responded with back-to-back league and Finals MVPs. Only Michael Jordan has pulled that off. James went on to play in five more Finals in a row, while finishing top-four in MVP voting each season. In 2016, he led the Cavaliers to an improbable Finals victory over the 73-win Golden State Warriors. The Cavs became the first team in NBA history to rally from a 3-1 deficit in the title round, with James posting back-to-back 41-point performances in Games 5 and 6 and a triple-double in Game 7. James and the Cavs lost in the Finals in each of the following two years against the Warriors, who now featured Kevin Durant heading a squad with five potential Hall of Famers. While neither series was close, the 2018 iteration included arguably the best game of James' career, as he went off for 51 points in a Game 1 overtime defeat. Tom Brady (2014-20) Like several others on this list, there are multiple peaks in Brady's long and illustrious career. But his most successful stretch came on the back nine. In his age 37-43 seasons, Brady won four Super Bowls, three Super Bowl MVPs and a third career league MVP, testing Father Time unlike any athlete before. Following the 2014 season, Brady rallied the New England Patriots from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter to stun the defending champion Seattle Seahawks and their "Legion of Boom" defense. Two years later, Brady was the MVP runner-up before leading the Pats to the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. With the Atlanta Falcons leading 28-3 late in the third quarter, Brady guided five consecutive scoring drives as New England won in overtime. This came during two overlapping stretches of four Super Bowls trips in five seasons, as Brady threw for a record 505 yards in a Super Bowl defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles following an MVP regular season, and outdueled a young Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game en route to winning his sixth Super Bowl to close out the 2018 campaign. Two years later, Brady took a Tampa Bay Buccaneers team that hadn't made the playoffs in 13 years to the Super Bowl. He threw 50 touchdowns between the regular season and playoffs, winning his fifth Super Bowl MVP and seventh ring in the process. It was this stretch of play that elevated him to "GOAT" status. Shohei Ohtani (2018-present) Like the next (and last) person on this list, the 30-year-old Ohtani appears to be in the middle of his apex with no near end in sight. His 2018 Rookie of the Year campaign with the Los Angeles Angels is extraordinary for the mere factor that he became the first player since Babe Ruth an entire century earlier to be in the lineup every day while regularly taking the mound. While his next two seasons were limited by injury, his past four have no historical comparison. In 2021, Ohtani was selected to start in the All-Star Game — as the pitcher and in the lineup — en route to hitting 46 home runs, registering a 3.18 ERA and winning his first MVP award. The unicorn was even better on the mound in 2022, leading MLB in strikeouts per nine innings while posting a 2.33 ERA. For good measure, he also hit 34 home runs. That proved to be a relatively quiet year at the plate. Ohtani has led his league in home runs, OPS and OPS+ the past two years while earning two more unanimous MVP selections. During the former, Ohtani was again a dominant ace. In 2024, unable to pitch after undergoing his second elbow reconstruction, Ohtani became the first player in MLB history to amass 50 home runs and 50 steals in the same season. Then, in his first taste of the postseason, he delivered multiple clutch hits to help the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series. Patrick Mahomes (2018-present) Right around the time Brady's reign ended, Mahomes' began. While Brady won both of their head-to-head matchups in the postseason, Mahomes' first seven seasons as a starting quarterback might be the greatest seven-year stretch of any player ever at the position. The Kansas City Chiefs wunderkind has already won three Super Bowls and two league MVPs, while his five Super Bowl appearances are tied for the second-most ever for a QB. Mahomes, of course, has also been statistically dominant. He threw for 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns in his first season as a starter. (Only Peyton Manning has done it otherwise.) In 2023, Mahomes became the quickest to 200 touchdown passes; in 2024, the quickest to 30,000 passing yards. His 5.9 touchdown percentage is third all time in the Super Bowl era. His 1.8 interception rate ranks fifth. His 102.1 career passer rating is second. His 288.9 passing yards per game are first. More importantly, he's heading a dynasty. The Chiefs are back-to-back champs and winners of three Super Bowls in four seasons, largely thanks to a plethora of late-game heroics from Mahomes. He's the first QB to win consecutive titles and then lead his team to a third straight Super Bowl. Next Sunday, he can become the first QB to pull off a three-peat. Honorable mentions: Rickey Henderson (1980-86)Larry Bird (1980-87)Lawrence Taylor (1981-87)Diego Maradona (1981-88)Eric Dickerson (1983-89)Joe Montana (1984-90)Magic Johnson (1984-91)Reggie White (1986-92)Roger Clemens (1986-92)Mario Lemieux (1986-93)Barry Sanders (1991-97)Greg Maddux (1992-98)Ken Griffey Jr. (1993-99)Randy Johnson (1996-02)Ray Lewis (1997-03)Shaquille O'Neal (1997-2004)Tim Duncan (1998-05)Álex Rodríguez (2001-07)Kobe Bryant (2002-09)Albert Pujols (2003-09)Peyton Manning (2006-13)Adrian Peterson (2007-13)Clayton Kershaw (2011-17)Kevin Durant (2011-18)J.J. Watt (2012-18)Mike Trout (2012-18)Aaron Donald (2015-21)Steph Curry (2015-22)Nikola Jokić (2018-present) Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Peyton Manning among investors for proposed Nashville WNBA franchise]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/peyton-manning-among-investors-proposed-nashville-wnba-franchise</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/peyton-manning-among-investors-proposed-nashville-wnba-franchise</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Peyton Manning has joined a bid for a WNBA expansion team to be called the Tennessee Summitt in honor of former Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jan 2025 15:57:08 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The chairman of the NHL's Nashville Predators and his wife want to bring the WNBA to Music City and have teamed up with a star-filled investor group including Candace Parker, Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning and entertainers Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The group led by Bill Haslam, a former Tennessee governor, submitted its bid to the WNBA on Thursday for a franchise that would start playing in 2028. The team also would be named the Tennessee Summitt in honor of the late Pat Summitt. Haslam said they see how women's professional sports is emerging worldwide. "We believe a WNBA team, based in Nashville, could serve as a beacon for girls and women, young and old, across Tennessee, while also creating more opportunities for sports fans as our community continues to grow," Haslam said. The Nashville bid features a plan to build a practice facility for the WNBA team that also would be used for youth basketball. "Tennessee is the DNA of everything women's basketball stands for," Parker said in a statement. "I'm excited to be a part of the group working to bring a WNBA team to the state and honor Coach Summitt's legacy." Parker is a three-time WNBA champion and helped Summitt win two of her eight national championships at the University of Tennessee. Summitt retired as the winningest Division I coach and died in 2016, four years after her diagnosis of early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. A Tennessee native, Summitt coached the Lady Vols for 38 years and had a career record of 1,098-208 in 38 seasons, plus 18 NCAA Final Four appearances. Her son, Tyler, noted his mother was a huge advocate for women's sports and women in leadership. "I know she would be proud and honored to be included in the expansion of women's professional basketball into Tennessee," Summitt said. The team would play at Bridgestone Arena, home to the NHL's Predators. Haslam started his purchase of a majority share of the Predators in 2022. The WNBA is adding three expansion teams in the next two seasons, with Golden State, Portland and Toronto joining to boost the league’s franchises to 15. Commissioner Cathy Engelbert has said the WNBA would like to add a 16th team by the 2028 season. Cleveland announced its bid to bring a WNBA franchise back to Ohio last November. Reporting by The Associated Press. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[What are the 10 most unbreakable records in sports?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/what-10-most-unbreakable-records-sports</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/what-10-most-unbreakable-records-sports</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Record books in sports are constantly being rewritten, but which records are truly set in stone? Here are the 10 most unbreakable sports records.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jan 2025 10:00:46 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Sports are truly amazing for a lot of reasons. For example, just when you think there will never be anyone better, along comes another player who makes you question everything. After Michael Jordan, it was almost a certainty that there would be no one who could come close to him, and then came LeBron James. After Babe Ruth, there was Barry Bonds and then Shohei Ohtani. Sports continue to evolve and record books continue to be rewritten. But which records are ones we should etch in stone? Let's take a look: 10 most unbreakable sports records 10. Rickey Henderson: 1,406 career stolen bases Henderson's larger-than-life personality was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to his career. He was unstoppable on the basepaths. Never before had a player reached base and so quickly turned a single into a double or triple as often as Henderson did. His 1,406 steals are 468 more than Lou Brock's 938 steals, the second-most in MLB history. If you add up the top four players in steals active today, they equal just 1,191 career steals, 215 fewer than Henderson. Take into account that no active player has had 75 steals in a season and only one has had 70 or more steals in a season (Ronald Acuna, 73 in 2023), and this record looks impossible to surpass. 9. Pete Maravich: 44.2 PPG career average and 44.5 PPG single-season average at LSU Maravich was a special talent and his scoring prowess knew no bounds. He currently owns the top three single-season scoring averages in college basketball history, giving him a career average of 44.2 points per game. His best season came in 1969-70, when he put up an eye-popping 44.5 points per game while playing for LSU. Only one player other than Maravich has averaged 40 points per game in a season: Johnny Neumann, who put up 40.1 points per game for Mississippi during the 1970-71 season, one year after Maravich's last season in college. Since 2000, only one player has been able to average even 30 points per game in a season — Chris Clemons, who recorded 30.1 points per game during the 2018-19 season for Campbell. That puts both Maravich's career and single-season averages well out of reach for anyone in the foreseeable future. 8. Cal Ripken Jr.: 2,632 consecutive games played Ripken Jr.'s streak of consecutive games played is so out of this world that it's often referred to as the "Iron Man" streak. He appeared in a whopping 2,632 consecutive games for the Orioles, spanning from the 1982 season to 1998. During the 1995 season, he smashed Lou Gehrig's record of 2,130 games played in a row, and what's even more impressive is that after those two, no one comes close. The third- and fourth-longest streaks belong to Everett Scott and Steve Garvey. If you combine those two, they add up to 2,514 games, which is still 118 below Ripken. At one point in the streak, Ripken appeared in a staggering 8,243 consecutive innings — smashing the previous record of 5,152 held by George Pinkney. And for perspective, he played alongside 150 different Orioles position players during the streak and eight different managers. 7. Michael Phelps: 28 total Olympic medals won, 23 Olympic gold medals won The Olympic run put together by Phelps is one of a kind. His 28 medals are 10 more than any other participant, but what separates him is his pure domination in the sport. His 23 Olympic golds are 14 more than any other athlete!  No other athlete in history has even 10 gold medals in Olympic competitions. To put that in perspective, if you add together the gold medals of two other famous Olympic swimmers — Katie Ledecky and Mark Spitz, who had nine each — they would have a combined 18 Olympic golds. 6. Nolan Ryan: 5,714 career strikeouts Everyone knows Randy Johnson was a strikeout machine and that Roger Clemens pitched, and with success, for a very long time. Despite that, neither one is even close to Nolan Ryan when it comes to strikeouts. Ryan's 5,714 strikeouts are 839 more than Randy Johnson's 4,875 K's, the second-most in the game's history. If you factor in the current crop of MLB pitchers, the record looks even more unattainable. Justin Verlander leads all active players with 3,416 punchouts — 2,298 strikeouts fewer than Ryan's pristine mark. 5. Jerry Rice: 22,895 career receiving yards Easily the best receiver in NFL history, Rice is in a category all his own. He is the only player to surpass the 20,000-yard receiving mark and is 5,403 yards ahead of Larry Fitzgerald, who comes in at second on the all-time list. That means even if Fitzgerald came out of retirement and set the single-season record with 2,000 receiving yards in two straight years, he would still be 1,403 yards short of tying Rice. 4. Emmitt Smith: 18,355 career rushing yards Smith, the longtime Cowboys running back, was impressively durable in his career. He played in 226 regular-season games and finished with an absurd 18,355 rushing yards. That is 1,629 rushing yards more than Walter Payton for most in NFL history. The logic says if a running back plays long enough, he could catch Smith, but that isn't even true. One of the NFL's longest-tenured backs was the recently retired Frank Gore, who trails him by 2,355 rushing yards, despite playing a full season longer than Smith. Only one active running back has even 10,000 rushing yards: Derrick Henry, who ranks No. 19 on the NFL leaderboard with 11,423 rushing yards. 3. Wayne Gretzky: 2,857 career points and 1,963 career assists Famously nicknamed "The Great One," Gretzky was on a level all his own. Fantasy hockey used to have to split his player stats into assists and goals because he was too valuable as just one player. He could swing the entire league. To put the career points and assists record into perspective, Gretzky is the only player to reach 2,000 points in the history of the NHL and surpassed it by 857 points! To put it in today's terms, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin both have more than 1,580 points, while Jaromir Jagr sits in second place all-time with 1,921 career points. Gretzky also holds the NHL record with 1,963 career assists. Only 14 players all-time have even registered 1,000 assists. No one, besides Gretzky, has passed 1,250 assists. For perspective, his assists alone would be more than points than any player in NHL history! 2. Tom Brady: 102,614 career passing yards, 737 career TD passes, oldest QB to win a Super Bowl (43 years, 6 months, and 4 days), 7 Super Bowl wins, 286 career wins; playoffs included Patrick Mahomes has had an electric start to his career, but Brady has set an almost impossible bar to reach. The G.O.A.T's 102,614 passing yards (regular season and postseason combined) are almost 17,000 more than Drew Brees for the second-most all-time and over 23,000 more than Peyton Manning for third all-time. He also has 129 more passing TDs than any other QB, playoffs included. The most amazing thing, though, is he has 86 MORE all-time wins than any other quarterback. Second-place is Manning with 200, which means even if he came out of retirement and led a team to a perfect 20-0 record through the next four seasons, Manning would still be six wins short of tying Brady. If Manning somehow did that, he'd also pass Brady as the oldest quarterback to win the Super Bowl, but it's a tall task imagining anyone beating Brady in that regard, either. And of course, Brady's seven Super Bowl titles is more than any player in league history. 1. Wilt Chamberlain: Highest PPG average in a season (50.4), highest MPG average in a season (48.5) and most points in a single game (100) It should come as a shock to no one that Chamberlain holds the top spot in multiple places. His average of 50.4 points per game in a season is laughably good, considering no one but "Wilt the Stilt" has even averaged 40 points per game in a season. James Harden's scoring surge during the 2018-19 season put him at 36.1 points per game, 14.3 per game fewer than Chamberlain's best year. Everyone also knows about his 100-point game, which is a remarkable feat; the only player to top 80 points was Kobe Bryant, with his 81-point barrage in 2006. The most unbreakable, though, might be his average of 48.5 minutes per game, considering NBA games only last 48 minutes. There would need to be a lot of overtimes, and those players would need to play every minute of every game on top of that. Honorable mentions: Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Can Kansas City Chiefs join the three-peat club? They're not alone in the chase]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/can-kansas-city-chiefs-join-three-peat-club-theyre-not-alone-chase</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/can-kansas-city-chiefs-join-three-peat-club-theyre-not-alone-chase</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Kansas City Chiefs are striving to three-peat — moving just one win away to doing so. Who are the last teams to accomplish that feat?]]>
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				<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jan 2025 18:22:18 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are one win away from making NFL history. The Chiefs clinched their ticket to Super Bowl LIX with their win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game, giving them the chance to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowl titles. For perspective on the difficulty that comes with three-peating, nine NFL teams (eight franchises) have repeated as Super Bowl champions, but the first eight failed to make it back to the championship game the ensuing season, according to FOX Sports research. So, the Chiefs have already made history in that regard. But the two-time defending Super Bowl champions aren't the only team with such an opportunity in front of them. The UConn Huskies are the back-to-back men's college basketball champions. UConn appears to be on track to make the NCAA Tournament again in 2025, but it hasn't been as strong of a team as it was the last two seasons. Through January, the Huskies already had twice as many losses (six) as they did the year before, when they finished 37-3. There have been a pair of other teams who've recently had a chance to three-peat but fell just short. The Las Vegas Aces lost in the semifinals of the 2024 WNBA playoffs after winning two straight titles. Georgia had the opportunity to three-peat in 2023. However, it was left out of the College Football Playoff that year after losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. With all that in mind, let's take a look at some teams who have managed to pull it off. Here are some of the teams that have most recently three-peated in their league across a plethora of sports — both professionally and collegiately — in reverse chronological order. Premier League: Manchester City (2021-24) Right now, it's Manchester City's world, and the entire Premier League is just living in it. Winners of six of the last seven Premier League championships, Man City has been a runaway freight train, headlined by the attack of Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland. College Softball: Oklahoma (2021-24) The Sooners have lost just 15 games over the past four years and have shown no signs of letting up under coach Patty Gasso. Oklahoma has beaten Texas and Florida State twice apiece to win its titles. Champions League: Real Madrid (2016-18) The one they call Ronaldo helped Real Madrid three-peat in the mid-2010s, along with the likes of Karim Benzema and Alvaro Morata (for one season in the three-peat stretch). Ronaldo's final season with Real Madrid came in the final season of the team's three-peat. Women's College Basketball: UConn Huskies (2013-16) The game of basketball has treated the UConn faithful well over the past decade. Losing a whopping five games over four years (151-5), the Huskies were the unstoppable force of women's college basketball, boat-racing teams up and down the floor. Breanna Stewart, Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis and Morgan Tuck were part of what was arguably the golden age of UConn hoops. NASCAR: Jimmie Johnson (2006-10) Johnson drove laps around everyone in the latter half of the 2000s, winning 35 races from 2006-10 and six Cup Series championships in eight years. He ended his career with seven championships, tied with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the most in NASCAR history. NBA: Los Angeles Lakers (2000-02) Phil Jackson retired following the 1998 season with the Chicago Bulls — until, of course, he became the head coach of the Lakers in 1999. Led by the star power of Shaquille O'Neal and an emerging superstar by the name of Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles won three straight titles, while Jackson actually claimed his sixth consecutive title as a coach, as he won in each of his final three seasons at the helm in Chicago with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. MLB: New York Yankees (1998-2000) In what was the last true Yankees dynasty, the team won four titles in five years — with the wins in the three-peat coming in convincing fashion. Sweeping the San Diego Padres in 1998 and the Atlanta Braves in 1999 and then beating the New York Mets in the 2000 Subway Series, the likes of Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Andy Pettitte cemented their respective places in Yankees history. WNBA: Houston Comets (1997-2000) The first four seasons of the WNBA were controlled by the Houston Comets, who won each of the first four league titles. As the Comets dominated the sport, Cynthia Cooper won two WNBA MVPs. Cooper and Tina Thompson each went on to have Hall of Fame careers, but the Comets disbanded as a franchise following the 2008 season. NHL: New York Islanders (1980-83) The pride of Long Island won its first Stanley Cup in what was the Islanders' eighth season in the sport. A run that featured Hall of Famers Bryan Trottier, Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies and goalkeeper Billy Smith saw the Islanders sweep the Stanley Cup in 1982 and 1983 and avoid a Game 7 in each of the four seasons. This run came directly after the Montreal Canadians also four-peated. College Baseball: USC Trojans (1970-74) The Trojans baseball program was a behemoth under manager Rod Dedeaux, winning five consecutive World Series thanks to the contributions of George Milke and Russ McQueen, among many others. To date, the five-peat remains an NCAA Baseball record, with two being the most consecutive titles by any other team. Men's College Basketball: UCLA Bruins (1967-73) Thought some of the aforementioned runs were impressive? Those don't hold a candle to John Wooden's UCLA teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s. A period that saw the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton and Curtis Rowe, among many others, put on the Bruins uniform saw UCLA win titles in nine of 10 seasons. NFL: Green Bay Packers (1965-67) No NFL team has three-peated in the Super Bowl era (1966-present), but the Packers did three-peat, as they won the final NFL championship in 1965 and then the first two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967. Near the end of Vince Lombardi's reign as head coach, Bart Starr, Jim Taylor and Willie Davis helped lead Green Bay to three consecutive titles, including a pair of blowouts in Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II. The Packers also three-peated from 1929-31. College Football: Minnesota Golden Gophers (1934-36) The Golden Gophers lost one game over their three-peat span (25-1) under head coach Bernie Bierman. Minnesota won two more titles under Bierman in 1940 and 1941. The head coach was ordered to report to the Marines during WWII, with him returning as Minnesota's head coach in 1945. UFL: Birmingham Stallions (2022-2024) The Stallions have been on a tear since the second iteration of the USFL was announced in 2022. Birmingham won two league championships as a part of the USFL, as well as the inaugural UFL Championship Game in 2024 after the league merged with the XFL. Under the leadership of former NCAA football head coach Skip Holtz, the Stallions have compiled a 32-4 record in three years, never sustaining more than two losses in a single season. [Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]]>
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					<![CDATA[What are the 10 best individual rivalries in sports history?]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/what-10-best-individual-rivalries-sports-history</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/what-10-best-individual-rivalries-sports-history</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes will renew their rivalry in the AFC title game. Is it one of the 10 all-time greatest rivalries in sports?]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 26 Jan 2025 17:59:56 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes will battle again in the postseason when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday. The matchup will be the fourth in the playoffs between the two teams, making it the NFL's top quarterback rivalry since the turn of the decade. The previous three battles have mostly been filled with excitement, as both signal-callers played near-perfect games in the 2021 AFC divisional-round title. However, Mahomes' miraculous 13-second drive to force overtime and ensuing game-winning touchdown pass on the opening possession of the extra period gave him an edge over Allen. Mahomes got the next laugh over Allen in the postseason as well, with the Chiefs defeating the Bills in the 2023 playoffs. Entering Sunday, Mahomes is undefeated (3-0) all-time against Allen in the postseason, but Allen has the upper hand in the regular season, going 4-1 in those games. The most recent of those wins came in November 2024, with Allen helping the Bills defeat the Chiefs in their only loss that Mahomes started during the regular season. The Allen-Mahomes rivalry is certainly exciting, but it's far from the only individual rivalry that's brought juice in the NFL world over the years. That said, let's take a look at the best individual rivalries in sports history. 10. LeBron James vs. Steph Curry The NBA icons became unlikely rivals in the mid-2010s, with Curry leading the Golden State Warriors to prominence, while James gave his teams an NBA Finals floor from 2011-18. That set up a run of four consecutive years of James and Curry meeting in the NBA Finals. Curry got the first punch in that set, helping the Warriors take down an injured Cleveland Cavaliers team in 2015. James ultimately got the biggest rivalry punch a year later. After Curry led the Warriors to a record 73-win season to unanimously win MVP, James did something that had never been done in NBA history. He led the Cavs back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series, putting on remarkable performances in the final three games en route to winning Finals MVP. The individual rivalry might have lost some of its luster when the Warriors signed Kevin Durant in 2016, but the stars still delivered, with James putting up some memorable performances in both Finals losses to the Warriors. James and Curry notably became closer as the rivalry continued, and the duo have actually sparked rumors of possibly teaming up in the future. They got the chance to do that in the 2024 Summer Olympics, leading Team USA to a gold medal in possibly one of their final iconic basketball moments. 9. Alex Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby Taken with the first overall pick in consecutive drafts (2004-05), Ovechkin and Crosby quickly became the faces of the NHL. And with their teams being in the same division, they were set up for some epic battles over the years. The duo have gone head-to-head in the postseason four times over their respective careers. They each scored a hat trick in the same game in their first postseason head-to-head series in 2009. Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins dominated Ovechkin's Washington Capitals to win Game 7 of the 2009 conference semis that year. That win set the stage for the initial narratives surrounding the rivalry. Ovechkin typically won more individual accolades between the two, while Crosby led his team to more success, winning the Stanley Cup in 2009. Their next postseason battles also preceded championship years for the team that won the series. The Penguins got the better hand of the Capitals in the second in both the 2016 and 2017 seasons en route to winning the Stanley Cup. Finally, in 2018, Ovechkin got over the hump, making a pair of big plays to help bury the Penguins in Game 6 of their second-round matchup that season before winning his first Stanley Cup. 8. Chris Evert vs. Martina Navratilova Arguably two of the best tennis players of all time, Evert and Navratilova met 80 times over their respective careers. They nearly split the all-time series, with Navratilova holding a 43–37 edge. Navratilova won 14 of the 22 grand slam matches between the two. The elder Evert had the edge in the rivalry at first, winning the first three grand slam matches between the two, but Navratilova won nine of the next 11 grand slam matches, with eight of those wins being a championship match. Evert was able to win just her third grand slam title at the 1985 French Open in a match widely considered as one of the best women's tennis matches of all time. Both players bounced back from deficits before Evert won the deciding set, 7-5, in one of the last grand slam matches between the two. 7. Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning Before there was Allen-Mahomes, there was Brady-Manning. The duo actually began their careers as division rivals, with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts playing in the AFC East through 2001. As the two had polar opposite paths to NFL success, Brady won his first career start against Manning in 2001. Not long after, the two became the best at their position. Manning won co-MVP in 2003, but he wasn't able to play a clean game in the Colts' loss to the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. A year later, Brady and the Patriots took down Manning &amp; Co. in the divisional round after his record-setting season en route to their third Super Bowl win. As Brady enjoyed team success early on, Manning won everything but a Super Bowl throughout the first seven years of his career. In 2006, Manning was able to change that, leading the Colts back from a 21-3 deficit to take down Brady's Patriots in the conference title game en route to winning his first Super Bowl. Brady began to match Manning's individual achievements after the game, as the duo had some more epic regular-season games. The rivalry continued when Manning joined the Denver Broncos in 2012, with the star quarterbacks meeting twice in the postseason. Denver won both of those games, including the 2015 AFC Championship Game, to get the last laugh over Brady as he won the Super Bowl in his final NFL game two weeks later. 6. Wayne Gretzky vs. Mario Lemieux Gretzky and Lemieux never met in the postseason, but they defined the NHL in the late 1980s through much of the 1990s. Many regard Gretzky as the best player in NHL history, setting some marks and records that have become unobtainable. However, Lemieux was able to go toe-to-toe with Gretzky in the prime of their careers. He led the NHL in scoring four times between 1987-93, edging out Gretzky by a few points in some of those years. He also led the Penguins to two Stanley Cup titles over that time. Gretzky still has the majority of the most noteworthy scoring records in NHL history, but Lemieux was able to finish slightly behind him in points per game (1.921 to 1.883) and a consecutive streak for games with a point (51 to 46). 5. Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal Federer and Nadal met 40 times over their respective careers, with Nadal winning 24 of the matches and 10 of their 14 matches in grand slam tournaments. While Nadal got the best of Federer, that was always the case in the rivalry. Nadal won the French Open final over Federer twice, in 2006 and 2007, while Federer defeated Nadal in the Wimbledon final those years. In 2008, Nadal held serve on his dominant surface, beating Federer on clay to win the French Open final over him again. However, he was able to defeat Federer on his dominant surface later that year, defeating him on grass to win the Wimbledon final in a match that's widely considered the best in tennis history. Nadal needed extra games in the fifth set and nearly five hours to beat Federer to win his first Wimbledon title. 4. Lionel Messi vs. Cristiano Ronaldo The two soccer icons have been the faces of the sport since nearly the start of the century. In fact, either Messi or Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or every year from 2008 to 2017. Furthermore, those two made up the Ballon d'Or winner in all but two years between 2008 and 2023. While there hasn't been a major international match between the two, Messi and Ronaldo's peaks aligned when the former was at Barcelona and the latter was at Real Madrid. Over their 37 career matches against each other, they've each scored 23 goals, but Messi's teams went 17-11-9 over span, which included the 2008 Champions League final. Messi also helped Argentina win the World Cup in 2022, giving him the edge over Ronaldo in international accomplishments. But Ronaldo's 919 career goals are more than Messi's 850, arguably making him the greatest goalscorer of all time. 3. Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier What happens when two of the best boxers of all time meet? Three of the greatest boxing matches in history. Ali and Frazier were undefeated ahead of their first meeting in 1971, with each staking a claim as the World Heavyweight Champion before going head-to-head in a match billed the "Fight of the Century." Frazier won that match in 1971 by a unanimous decision, but that just set the stage up for two bouts between the iconic boxers. In 1974, Ali got his revenge on Frazier. He won the same way that Frazier defeated him three years prior, winning by unanimous decision in a 12-round bout. The duo met again in 1975 in a match billed as the "Thrilla in Manilla," which Ali won due to Frazier's corner retirement in Round 14. 2. Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain Russell and Chamberlain emerged as basketball's dominant forces in the 1960s, with each dominating the MVP vote while one of them dominated in the title count. The two accounted for eight of the nine MVPs from 1959 to 1968, signifying that they were the two best players in the game. But when the postseason arrived, Russell's teams usually got the best of Chamberlain's. The Boston Celtics defeated Chamberlain's squads in the first five times the duo met in the postseason before the Philadelphia 76ers took down the Celtics in 1967 to end their eight-year title streak. Russell got the last laugh over Chamberlain, though. Russell helped the Celtics take down the Sixers in 1968, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series and reach the NBA Finals. A year later, Russell's Celtics outlasted Chamberlain's Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. In Game 7, Chamberlain departed early as Russell was able to lift Boston to a title in what wound up being his final game. 1. Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson If there was an individual rivalry that transcended sports, it was Bird-Magic. Seemingly everyone picked a side in the battles between the two sides in the 1980s. Before they made their mark in the NBA, the two went head-to-head in the 1979 national championship game. Johnson led Michigan State to a title over Bird's Indiana State squad. That set the rivalry up for when the two reached the NBA, forming a rivalry that helped re-energize the league. They each won titles early in their careers, but they never met head-to-head in the NBA Finals in 1984. Bird's Celtics won in seven games that year, with things notably getting heated in their Game 4 win. A year later, Johnson got his revenge, leading the Lakers to a six-game series win. Johnson also helped the Lakers beat the Celtics in 1987, with his junior sky hook to win Game 4 being a key moment in the rivalry. The bitter rivals admitted that they disliked each other for years, but they were able to form a bond when they filmed a commercial in between their NBA Finals matchups at Bird's mother's home. Check out all of our Daily Rankers. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[NHL postpones Kings home game with several wildfires burning across greater LA area]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/nhl-postpones-kings-home-game-several-wildfires-burning-across-greater-la-area</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/nhl-postpones-kings-home-game-several-wildfires-burning-across-greater-la-area</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The NHL has postponed a Los Angeles Kings home game with several wildfires still burning across the greater LA area.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 08 Jan 2025 16:07:09 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The NHL postponed the Los Angeles Kings' home game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday with several massive wildfires still burning across the greater Los Angeles area. The Kings and Flames were scheduled to play Wednesday night at the Kings' downtown arena. The NBA's Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled to host the Charlotte Hornets in the same arena on Thursday night. "Our hearts are with our entire Los Angeles community," the Kings said in a statement. "We appreciate the hard working first responders who are diligently working to contain the fire and protect our community. We appreciate the league's support in keeping our fans, staff, and players safe." The NFL is also paying close attention to the potential impact of the fires on the two playoff-bound Los Angeles teams' preparations and the Rams' wild-card postseason game against the Minnesota Vikings scheduled for Monday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. Three major fires were burning in areas of the vast Los Angeles metroplex on Wednesday following two days of extraordinary winds. At least 70,000 people are under evacuation orders, and more than 1,000 structures have been destroyed. Related: Lakers coach JJ Redick says his family evacuated due to LA wildfires The Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers both train in areas not threatened by fires, but both teams are monitoring the air quality and its potential impact on their preparations. The Chargers changed their practice schedule Wednesday to minimize their players' outdoor time in coastal El Segundo, while the Rams don't resume practice until Thursday. The Chargers are on the road Saturday against the Houston Texans in the wild-card round. The Rams said no players or staff members had yet been affected by the fires. The team is headquartered in Woodland Hills, a neighborhood located about 13 miles north of fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades, but separated by the Santa Monica Mountains. "Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires," star Rams receiver Cooper Kupp wrote on social media. "Thank you to the firefighters, first responders, and everyone else doing their best in unfathomable circumstances." At least two people have been killed in the fire north of Pasadena in a different canyon several miles east of the venerable Rose Bowl. The Kings said tickets for their postponed game will be good for the rescheduled date, which hasn't been set yet. This is a developing story. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[LeBron James and 9 other athletes who've lived up to their hype since 2000]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/lebron-james-10-athletes-whove-lived-up-hype-since-2000</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/lebron-james-10-athletes-whove-lived-up-hype-since-2000</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[LeBron James is still playing at 40 years old. As he's continued his amazing career, here are 10 athletes who've met or exceeded their tremendous expectations since 2000.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 23:14:08 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[LeBron James is now a 40-year-old man, making more history just by getting a year older. The all-time great will become the first player in NBA history to have ever played a game both as a teenager and as a 40-year-old the next time he takes the court. He's still going strong in his 22nd season, too, averaging 23.5 points and nine assists per game as of his birthday on Dec. 30. As if that weren't impressive enough, James has also exceeded the hype following him around since he entered the NBA in 2003, playing at an All-Star level essentially since he entered the league. But there are other stars who've also lived up to the tremendous weight put on their shoulders before they became professionals. Just in the last 14 months, Victor Wembanyama, Paul Skenes and Caitlin Clark have started to meet the sky-high expectations that have been placed on them. Those three still have a lot of their respective careers to play out, though. So, let's take a look at James and nine other 21st century professional athletes who've made good on, or even surpassed, the expectations surrounding them. Candace Parker Before entering the WNBA, Parker's high school accolades included being named the 2003 and 2004 Gatorade National Girls Basketball Player of the Year, the only two-time award winner of the USA Today High School Player of the Year, Gatorade Female Athlete of the Year and a McDonald's All-American. The dunking forward-center then attended Tennessee from 2004-2008. She led the Lady Vols to two consecutive national championships in 2007 and 2008 while also being named the NCAA Tournament's Most Outstanding Player in both. Parker was taken with the first pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks, and broke the WNBA record for points by a rookie in her debut game, knocking down 34 points and adding 12 rebounds and eight assists. Parker was the first WNBA player to be named Rookie of the Year and win the MVP award in the same season, and the seven-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA MVP hoisted the championship trophy three times in her career with the LA Sparks (2016), Chicago Sky (2021) and Las Vegas Aces (2023). Bryce Harper Harper might be the closest thing to baseball's equivalent to James this century, at least in terms of hype. In fact, Sports Illustrated gave Harper similar treatment that it gave James when he was in high school, putting Harper on the cover of an issue with the "Chosen One" text. While Harper might not be in the GOAT conversation in his sport like James is, he's been among the handful of top players in MLB since he made his debut in 2012. Two years after the Nationals selected him with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Harper won NL Rookie of the Year and turned into one of the game's biggest sensations. At 19 years old, he became the youngest position player to ever be named to an All-Star roster. Three years later, he won his first MVP. Harper remained one of the major league's best hitters throughout his time with the Nationals before leaving ahead of the 2019 season. He then signed the largest contract in MLB history at the time to join the Phillies. He went on to win his second MVP in 2021 and has helped Philadelphia make the postseason in three straight years. Lionel Messi Messi began his career as a member of Newell's Old Boys youth team, scoring nearly 500 goals with the club before joining Barcelona's youth team at 13 in 2000. He impressed the professionals he practiced against, totaling 36 goals in 30 games during the 2002-03 season. Messi was called up to Barcelona's top squad in 2004 and quickly asserted himself as the best player in the club's history. He scored a record 474 goals in 520 caps with Barcelona before adding another 43 goals in 83 caps between PSG and Inter Miami over the last two years. Of course, Messi has also had a remarkable international career, too. He reached the mountaintop when he led Argentina to a World Cup title in 2022, which was sandwiched between two Copa America wins. He's won the Ballon d'Or eight times as he's scored 850 goals between club and country, further displaying his all-time excellence. Maya Moore Moore gained notoriety as a savvy power forward at the University of Connecticut, where she led the Huskies to back-to-back national championships in 2009 and 2010. Before her reign at Storrs, Moore brought her high school team to four straight Georgia state championship appearances, including three wins. The dual-sport athlete (track and field) was named to the 2006 Sports Illustrated All-America Team and also won the McDonald's All-America Player of the Year in 2007. Moore scored 678 points in her debut season with the Huskies, which is the most by a freshman in UConn history. The 10-time Big East Freshman of the Week went on to earn Big East Player of the Year honors three times (2008, 2009, 2011), Big East Tournament Most Outstanding Player twice (2009, 2011) and also guided Connecticut to its second straight 39-0 season in 2010. In 2011, Moore was drafted first overall by the Minnesota Lynx, and earned the Rookie of the Year award on the way to her first WNBA title. The six-time All-Star won three more championships (2013, 2015, 2017) and was also named the WNBA MVP in 2014. Adrian Peterson Historically, the highest-regarded quarterbacks haven't fared too well in the 21st century. Andrew Luck's career was cut short due to injury, while Trevor Lawrence and Caleb Williams are still in the early years of their respective careers. Additionally, many of the best quarterbacks drafted since 2000 haven't had a great deal of buildup surrounding them, either. However, Peterson garnered a lot of attention before the running back entered the NFL. He finished as the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy as a freshman in 2004, leading Oklahoma to the national title game that same year. After he continued to excel in Norman for the next two seasons, the Vikings took Peterson with the seventh overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. That decision wound up being one of the smartest in Vikings history. Peterson had a wildly productive rookie season, rushing for a record 296 yards in one game as he went on to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Five years later, he rushed for 2,097 yards, finishing just 9 yards short of breaking the single-season record. That performance, which came after he had torn his ACL late in the previous season, helped him win 2012 MVP honors, making him the last non-quarterback to win the award. Peterson was the third-fastest player to rush for 10,000 yards in NFL history. His 14,918 rushing yards are also the fifth-most in NFL history as he led the league in rushing three times and was named a Pro Bowler on seven occasions. Sidney Crosby "Sid the Kid" became a prodigy in Canada when he was literally just a kid. In his minor hockey years as a young teenager, Crosby appeared on "Hockey Day in Canada" before he dominated the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League to the point that it retired his No. 87 in 2019. After a strong junior career, Crosby was drafted with the No. 1 pick by the Penguins in 2005. He helped Pittsburgh reach the postseason just two years into his career and led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Final a year later. He won his first of three Stanley Cups in 2009, while adding two MVP wins over his career. Internationally, Crosby scored one of the most memorable hockey goals ever when he netted the game-winner for Canada in the gold medal match against the USA in the 2010 Olympics. He won his second Olympic gold in 2014. Breanna Stewart Hailing from Syracuse, the 6-foot-4 power forward returned to her New York roots in 2023, and with it added another WNBA championship trophy under her belt with the New York Liberty. The two-WNBA MVP was selected by the Seattle Storm with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft, after a dynamic career at UConn (2012-2016) during which she collected four consecutive NCAA championship titles and four NCAA Tournament MOP awards. Ahead of her college years, "Stewie" was a must-watch high school player, earning the 2012 Gatorade Player of the Year and Naismith Prep Player of the Year in her senior year, while also being named to the McDonald's All-American team. The three-time USA Basketball Player of the Year has also won three WNBA championships (2018, 2020, 2024), two Commissioner's Cup championships and an Olympics MVP award (2021). Connor McDavid You know you're a special player when you're nicknamed "McJesus" well before playing your first professional game. McDavid was the most decorated player in the history of the Ontario Hockey League, winning five individual awards as he was just the third player in the league's history to be granted eligibility before turning 16. While McDavid tore up the OHL, there was great anticipation over who'd land him in the 2015 NHL Draft. The Oilers won the lottery that year and took McDavid, which changed the course of their franchise. They've been a playoff mainstay since the 2019-20 season, and McDavid has won the Art Ross Trophy for the most points in the league five times and MVP on three occasions. McDavid nearly led the Oilers to a title in 2024, when they lost the Stanley Cup Final in seven games to the Panthers. As the Oilers came back from a 3-0 deficit to force a Game 7, McDavid became the sixth player on the losing team to ever win the Conn Smythe Award. Shohei Ohtani Ohtani was a two-way sensation in Japan for several years before joining the Angels in 2018, winning Pacific League MVP in his penultimate season in the NPB. At 23, Ohtani's salary was maxed out due to international signing rules. But he immediately met the expectations thrust upon him. He won AL Rookie of the Year in 2018 despite playing through a UCL injury for part of the season. After undergoing Tommy John surgery following his rookie season, Ohtani was finally able to put it all together as a pitcher and hitter starting in 2021. In a four-year span, he unanimously won MVP three times, twice in the AL and once in the NL. The one season he didn't win MVP, he finished second. Most recently, Ohtani also won a World Series in his first season with the Dodgers in 2024. That came as he wasn't able to pitch, but he was still dominant at the plate. He became the first player in MLB history to record at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a season. LeBron James "The Kid from Akron" has more than lived up to the hype that began even before the 18-year-old basketball phenom was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. In his 22 seasons in the league, James has earned four NBA championships and Finals MVPs (2012, 2013, 2016, 2020), as well as four NBA Most Valuable Player awards (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013). The 2024 Olympics MVP has become the NBA's ​​all-time scoring champion and leads the league in minutes played with over 57,000. Before he broke records in the NBA, James took the basketball world by storm as the standout player at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School in his hometown. He was named the 2003 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year and was a two-time National High School Player of the Year and three-time Ohio Mr. Basketball. The Fighting Irish won the state championship three times in James' four high school years, and the star made national headlines, most famously on the cover of Sports Illustrated. During his first season in the NBA, James was named Rookie of the Year with final averages of 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. During his second season, the now-40-year-old earned his first NBA All-Star Game selection on his way to a record 20 appearances and three All-Star Game MVPs. He has also won the NBA Cup championship and Cup MVP in 2023. [Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]]>
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					<![CDATA[2025 sports calendar: 50 bucket list events you can't miss next year]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2025-sports-calendar-50-bucket-list-events-you-cant-miss-next-year</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/soccer/2025-sports-calendar-50-bucket-list-events-you-cant-miss-next-year</guid>
				<category>soccer</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Here are all of the bucket list games, tournaments and events you can attend in 2025.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 14:41:19 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The start of the new year brings another opportunity to attend some of the biggest and most historic sporting events from all over the world. This past year was filled with once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from Game 1 of the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees to the gold medal match of the men's basketball tournament at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. What will 2025 have in store for the ticket-buying sports fan in 2025? Let's take a look at all the bucket list games, tournaments, and events you can attend next year: January Rose Bowl, Jan. 1 Location: Rose Bowl; Pasadena, CA Australian Open, Jan. 12 - 26 Location: Melbourne Park; Melbourne, Victoria UFC 311, Jan. 18 Location: Intuit Dome; Inglewood, CA CFP championship game, Jan. 20 Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium; Atlanta, GA February WWE Royal Rumble, Feb. 1 Location: Lucas Oil Stadium; Indianapolis, IN NFL Pro Bowl, Feb. 2 Location: Camping World Stadium; Orlando, FL Super Bowl LIX, Feb. 9 Location: Caesars Superdome; New Orleans, LA Daytona 500, Feb. 13 - 16 Location: Daytona International Speedway; Daytona Beach, FL NBA All-Star Game, Feb. 16 Location: Chase Center; San Francisco, CA SheBelieves Cup, Feb. 20 - 26 (Multiple locations) March Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, March 2 Location: St. Petersburg, FL CONCACAF Nations League final, March 25 Location: SoFi Stadium; Inglewood, CA April Women's CBK Final Four, April 4 - 6 Location: Amalie Arena; Tampa, FL Men's CBK Final Four, April 5 - 7 Location: Alamodome; San Antonio, TX 2025 NFL Draft, April 24 - 26 Location: Lambeau Field; Green Bay, WI Masters, April 7 - 13 Location: Augusta National Golf Club; Augusta, Georgia Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 11 - 13 Location: Long Beach, CA WWE Wrestlemania 41, April 19 - 20 Location: Alleigant Stadium; Las Vegas, NV May Kentucky Derby, May 3 Location: Churchill Downs; Louisville, KY PGA Championship, May 15 - 18 Location: Quail Hollow Club; Charlotte, NC FA Cup final, May 17 Location: Wembley Stadium; London, England Indianapolis 500, May 25 Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway; Indianapolis, IN Women's Champions League final, May 24 Location: Estádio José Alvalade; Lisbon, Portugal Champions League final, May 31 Location: Allianz Arena; Munich, Germany June French Open, May 25 - June 8 Location: Stade Roland Garros; Paris, France Belmont Stakes, June 4 - June 8 Location: Belmont Park; Elmont, NY NBA Finals, June 5 - June 22 Location: Multiple locations UEFA Nations League final — Location TBD — June 8 UFL Championship, June 14 Location: TBD 24 Hours of Le Mans Location: Le Mans, France — June 11 - June 15 US Open (Golf), June 12 - 15 Location: Pinehurst Resort &amp; Country Club; Oakmont, PA College World Series, June 13 - June 23 Location: Charles Schwab Field Omaha; Omaha, NE Stanley Cup Finals — Multiple locations — Last possible day, June 23 July CONCACAF Gold Cup final, July 6 Location: NRG Stadium; Houston, TX Club World Cup final, July 13 Location: MetLife Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ Wimbledon, June 30 - July 13 Location: All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club; London, England Tour de France — Multiple locations — July 5 - 27 MLB All-Star, July 13 - 16 Location: Truist Park; Atlanta, GA The Open Championship, July 17 - 20 Location: Portrush, Northern Ireland WNBA All-Star Game, July 19 Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse; Indianapolis, IN Women's Euros final, July 27 Location: Switzerland August Location: MetLife Stadium; East Rutherford, NJ Little League World Series, August 13 - 24 Location: Howard J. Lamade Stadium; Williamsport, PA US Open (Tennis), August 25 - Sept. 7 Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center; Queens, NY Big Machine Music City Grand Prix,  August 30 - 31 Location: Nashville, TN September Ryder Cup, Sept. 25 - 28 Location: Bethpage Black Course; Farmingdale, NY October WNBA Finals, Last possible day, Oct. 17 Location: Multiple locations World Series, Date TBD Location: Multiple locations Las Vegas Grand Prix, Nov. 20 - 22 Location: Las Vegas, NV December MLS Cup, Date TBD Location: TBD NBA/NFL Christmas Day, Dec. 25 Location: Multiple locations]]>
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					<![CDATA[Bettor sells 85-cent parlay ticket, forfeits chance at $147k if Buckeyes win CFP]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/bettor-cashes-148k-85-cent-14-leg-parlay-ohio-state-wins-cfp</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/college-football/bettor-cashes-148k-85-cent-14-leg-parlay-ohio-state-wins-cfp</guid>
				<category>college-football</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The only thing that was standing between one bettor turning 85 cents into $147k was OSU winning the CFP — however, he cashed it out. Patrick Everson has the scoop.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 26 Dec 2024 13:58:25 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The parlay heard ‘round the world landed on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Dec. 20. All it needs to reach the finish line: Ohio State winning the 12-team College Football Playoff, which is hardly far-fetched. And the wager is arguably one of the most unimaginable you’ve ever seen: 85 cents on a 14-leg parlay. It’s a mix of March Madness, the NBA All-Star Game, NBA, and NHL futures, along with UFC and boxing outcomes. It's capped by college football’s national champion. As the CFP begins, the first 13 legs are all in. The bettor only needed Ohio State to win it all: $147,507.44. Unless the bettor first sold his ticket — which he did. He listed the parlay play on PropSwap and WagerWire, secondary marketplaces specializing in selling sports betting tickets. Think StubHub but for sports bets and typically for futures wagers and parlays. The ticket sold on WagerWire for $16,750. That's a phenomenal ROI on an 85-cent wager, and the new holder of the ticket still stands to net $130,000 or so, if Ohio State wins it all. Even though PropSwap didn’t get the sale, founder and CEO Luke Pergande was still thoroughly impressed by the parlay ticket. "It’s the best bet I’ve seen this year. Eighty-five cents buys literally nothing in this economy," Pergande said. Pocket-Change Parlay Back on Feb. 12, a FanDuel Sportsbook customer, who perhaps had only 85 cents in his account, decided to utilize that couch-cushion money in the wildest possible way. The parlay opened by taking the NBA All-Star Game Over, with a total of 363.5 points. That was one of the easiest legs, as the East beat the West 211-186, for 397 total points. So the first leg was in. But 13 more legs to go? Seriously? However, one by one, over the course of the next three months, the parlay remained alive. Takuma Inoue scored a ninth-round knockout of Jerwin Ancajas in a WBA title bout on Feb. 24. Then UConn won the NCAA men’s basketball championship on April 8. April 13 was a particularly key day, the end of the NBA regular season. Five legs of this bettor’s parlay hinged on division champions, and he hit them all: There were some serious sweats on that portion of the parlay. Oklahoma City and Denver tied with straight-up (SU) wins at 57-25, but the Thunder won the tiebreaker. Milwaukee, Orlando, and Dallas won their respective divisions by one game. Los Angeles finished two games ahead of Phoenix. Hockey Night/Fight Nights Then it was on to NHL division winners on April 15: Those were followed by a trio of favorable boxing outcomes. On April 21, Ryan Garcia — a +440 underdog — scored a majority-decision upset of WBC super lightweight champ Devin Haney. In a May 12 IBF lightweight title fight, Vasyl Lomachenko earned a TKO against George Kambosos Jr. And on May 18, Oleksandr Usyk won a split decision vs. Tyson Fury in a battle for the undisputed heavyweight title. That’s 13 legs. Since then — seven months and counting — it’s been hurry-up-and-wait time. Ohio State is the final leg. The Buckeyes thumped Tennessee 42-17 in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Three Games To Go Granted, there’s still a considerable distance to travel. Ohio State is the No. 8 seed in the 12-team field. The Buckeyes now face No. 1 seed Oregon in the Rose Bowl for a Jan. 1 quarterfinal showdown. That’s a rematch of a thrilling regular-season game. The Ducks were 3.5-point home underdogs and squeaked out a 32-31 win in Week 7. If Ohio State wins the rematch as a 2.5-point favorite, Texas could be waiting in the semis at the Cotton Bowl. At the moment, Caesars Sports has Texas as the +270 favorite to win the National Championship, followed by the Buckeyes at +360 and Oregon at +375. Then comes Penn State at +500 and Notre Dame and Georgia, both +550. Any of those three teams could await Ohio State in the championship game. The original owner of that bet figured it was best to get out early. But the 14-leg parlay lives on for the person who made a $16,750 investment, hoping it turns into $147,507.44 on Jan. 20. Buckle up for what might be a very entertaining ride. More Potential Payouts At DraftKings Sportsbook, three customers have significant parlay tickets tied to the College Football Playoff. Arguably, the most intriguing one is a $5 nine-leg parlay that has great potential. The only remaining leg: Georgia to win the CFP title. If the Bulldogs get there, the bettor's five bucks swell to $94,234. That's insanely huge odds of +1884680, or in slightly shorter form, about 18847/1. Then there's a $35 five-leg parlay that only needs Penn State to finish it off. The odds are a hefty +464273 (about 4643/1), for a potential profit of $162,495.55. Finally, there's this juicy $500 five-leg parlay, but it still has two legs to go in order to win more than a million dollars: Add it all up, and you've got long odds of +214833, or in shorter form, 2148/1. If the Longhorns and Lions survive, the bettor will profit $1.074 million. Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting space. He’s based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on Twitter: @PatrickE_Vegas Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Biggest contracts in North American team sports: Juan Soto tops select list of $300M players]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/biggest-contracts-north-american-team-sports-juan-soto-tops-select-list-300m-players</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/biggest-contracts-north-american-team-sports-juan-soto-tops-select-list-300m-players</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Several NFL players make more than $1 million per game, while the highest-paid NBA players are approaching that figure. But most of the top overall contracts belong to baseball players.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:28:14 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[It took just one year for Juan Soto to set a new record for the largest contract in sports history. It's anyone's guess how long it will take before his deal with the Mets is surpassed. Soto's 15-year, $765 million pact didn't even include any deferred money, making it worth about $300 million more than Shohei Ohtani's $700 million agreement with the Dodgers. Over the years, athletes' salaries have skyrocketed amid billion-dollar television deals. In 1979, Nolan Ryan became the first pro athlete to earn $1 million per season upon signing with the Astros. Now, dozens of NFL players make more than $1 million per game, while the highest-paid NBA players are approaching that figure for a day's work. But the largest overall contract values primarily belong to baseball players. Soto became the 17th player across the four North American professional sports leagues to have a deal worth at least $300 million; 15 of those are in MLB. Interestingly, every player who's signed a $300 million deal is still active. Here's the complete list. (Note: these values are based on data from Spotrac.com) 1. Juan Soto: 15 years, $765M, New York Mets 2. Shohei Ohtani: 10 years, $700M, Los Angeles Dodgers 3. Patrick Mahomes: 10 years, $450M, Kansas City Chiefs 4. Mike Trout: 12 years, $426.5M, Los Angeles Angels 5. Mookie Betts: 12 years, $365M, Los Angeles Dodgers 6. Aaron Judge: 9 years, $360M, New York Yankees 7. Manny Machado: 11 years, $350M, San Diego Padres 8. Francisco Lindor: 10 years, $341M, New York Mets 9. Fernando Tatís Jr. : 14 years, $340M, San Diego Padres 10. Bryce Harper: 13 years, $330M, Philadelphia Phillies T11. Giancarlo Stanton: 13 years, $325M, New York Yankees T11. Yoshinobu Yamamoto: 12 years, $325M, Los Angeles Dodgers T11. Corey Seager: 10 years, $325M, Texas Rangers 14. Gerrit Cole: 9 years, $324M, New York Yankees 15. Jayson Tatum: 5 years, $313.9M, Boston Celtics 16. Rafael Devers: 10 years, $313.5M, Boston Red Sox 17. Trea Turner: 11 years, $300M, Philadelphia Phillies [Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]]>
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					<![CDATA[$1 million per homer? $27,000 a point? Sports is loaded with money oddities]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/1-million-per-homer-27000-point-sports-loaded-money-oddities</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/1-million-per-homer-27000-point-sports-loaded-money-oddities</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[If Juan Soto replicates his 2024 performance throughout his $765M, 15-year deal with the Mets, he'll make roughly $1.2M per HR.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 09 Dec 2024 17:48:40 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[These were Juan Soto’s numbers in 2024: 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, a .288 batting average. Keep doing that over the next 15 years, and he’ll be making roughly $1.2 million for every home run. Or $467,890 for every RBI. Or $307,229 for every hit. (Pre-tax, of course.) Soto’s $765 million, 15-year agreement with the New York Mets — the richest contract in terms of total value to a player in U.S. major sports history, a massive move by billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen — provides a chance to look at the numbers in some very silly ways. He’ll make $314,815 per game. Based on his numbers this season, he'd get $671,053 for every extra-base hit. Or $46,322 every time he swings the bat — no matter if he misses, hits a tapper back to the mound or has Mr. Met celebrating in the stands after driving one out at Citi Field. Of course, that's assuming Soto remains as healthy and productive as he was in 2024. If he misses significant time, those rates just go up. "Thank you Uncle Steve," Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo wrote on social media. [Read more: Ten biggest contracts in MLB history: Juan Soto's $765 million with Mets tops list] Some of the numbers around the sports world, when broken down by accomplishment, are simply eye-popping in this era. (And keep in mind, these examples are based on current earnings, not taking into account restructurings or any other potential changes.) A look: MLB: Blake Snell, Los Angeles Dodgers The two-time Cy Young winner will earn about $65 million in 2025, most of which is a signing bonus that comes his way in January. He has also never made more than 32 starts in a season. If he makes 32 starts in 2025, he’d be getting (when factoring in the signing bonus) $2,031,250 per game. For comparison’s sake, Detroit’s Tarik Skubal made $2.65 million for the entire 2024 season — and won a Cy Young award. MLB: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers His record $700 million deal is no longer a record because of the Soto deal, but Ohtani still holds the mark for average total value at $70 million a year. The only member of baseball’s 50-50 club (54 homers, 59 stolen bases in 2024) would — at this past season’s rate — be making $619,469 every time he hits one out or steals a base. NFL: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys It’s unfair to break down his stats this year because he’s hurt, but Prescott’s current deal is worth an average of $60 million a season from Dallas. Based on his career average, that means over the lifetime of his current contract, Prescott gets $13,680 for every passing yard. NFL: Quarterbacks in general The per-game numbers in the NFL for starting QBs are wild. Patrick Mahomes’ current $450 million contract isn’t even at the top of the cash-per-game standings: Prescott gets about $3.5 million for every regular-season game, while Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Green Bay’s Jordan Love are around $3.25 million/game. NBA: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors At nearly $56 million this season, Curry leads the NBA salary race (for this year, anyway). The NBA’s all-time 3-point king is earning about $680,000 per game in 2024-25; if he was paid by the 3-pointer only, he’d be getting about $161,908 every time he makes one of those this season. NBA: Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics Brown is starting a five-year deal worth around $285 million, Tatum will start a five-year deal next year worth around $314 million. At those rates, the Celtics would be paying their two best players (at their current scoring paces) around $27,406 for every point scored. To compare — Larry Bird, for his career, made about $1,100 per point. MLS: Lionel Messi, Inter Miami Based just on his MLS-guaranteed salary, Messi got just over $1 million per goal this season ($20.4 million, 20 goals). Again, just counting the MLS salary — his full deal with Inter Miami is worth at least $150 million for 2.5 years — Messi made $229 for every second he was on the field during the 2024 regular season. Golf: Scottie Scheffler, PGA Tour Scheffler’s official earnings in 2024 were $29,228,357 (plus an Olympic gold medal, which is priceless). And that doesn’t include $34,037,500 million in bonuses and unofficial earnings, including $25 million for winning the FedExCup. Add it all up, and that meant the world’s No. 1 player earned about $11,243 per shot he took this season. NHL: Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers He’ll start a contract next year that will pay him an average of $14 million a season over eight seasons. At his current rate of scoring, he’d be earning roughly $119,393 for every goal or assist over that span. NHL: Igor Shesterkin, New York Rangers Shesterkin just got the richest extension for a goalie, $92 million over eight years. At his current averages, every time he makes a save, he’ll be earning $5,084. Reporting by The Associated Press. [Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]]>
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					<![CDATA[LeBron, Bronny James headline notable father-son duos in sports history]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/lebron-bronny-james-headline-notable-father-son-duos-sports-history</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/lebron-bronny-james-headline-notable-father-son-duos-sports-history</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[We've rounded up some of the most iconic father-son duos in sports history, headlined by the Lakers' LeBron and Bronny James.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 22 Oct 2024 12:59:22 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Editor's note: In advance of Bronny James' Los Angeles Lakers debut on Tuesday night, which will make him and LeBron James the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together in league history, we're bringing back this list of notable father-son duos in sports history — including one pair that plans to be in attendance for LeBron and Bronny's moment. Like father, like son. Many remarkable athletes have had sons follow in their footsteps in their respective sport, including new Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James and his superstar father — and now teammate — LeBron James. With that in mind, we've rounded up some of the most iconic father-son duos in sports history. LeBron James and Bronny James LeBron James has made an incredible mark in the NBA, becoming the league's all-time leading scorer this year. A 20-time All-Star, four-time NBA MVP and four-time NBA Finals MVP, LeBron James has played 21 seasons and six with the Lakers. His oldest son, Bronny, was selected by the Lakers with the 55th overall pick in this year's draft, making the pair the first father-son duo to play simultaneously and on the same team in the NBA. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. Ken Griffey Sr. played 19 seasons in the major leagues, most notably with the Cincinnati Reds. He won 10 Gold Glove Awards, seven Silver Slugger Awards and two World Series to go along with 13 MLB All-Star Game selections. In 2004, he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, finishing his career with a .296 batting average, 152 home runs and 859 RBIs. Griffey Jr., played 13 seasons with the Seattle Mariners and nine with the Reds. Griffey Jr. and Griffey Sr. played two seasons together with the Mariners, becoming the first (and still only) father-son duo to play on the same MLB team and, in 1990, hit back-to-back home runs against the then-California Angels. Griffey Jr. was the American League MVP in 1997 and led the AL in home runs four times during his career. He's seventh all-time with 630 career home runs. A 10-time Gold Glove Award winner and 13-time All-Star, Griffey Jr. was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2016. (Update: Until the James duo, Griffey Jr. and Sr. were the only father-son pair in North American professional team sports to play on the same team, and both Griffeys reportedly plan to be in attendance Tuesday to celebrate the James' moment.) Archie Manning and Peyton Manning, Eli Manning Archie Manning is at the forefront of the Manning legacy, playing quarterback in the NFL for 13 seasons, mostly with the New Orleans Saints. A two-time Pro Bowler, Archie Manning was inducted into the Saints' Ring of Honor and Hall of Fame. Archie's eldest son, Peyton, played quarterback at Tennessee, where he was the SEC Player of the Year in 1997 and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy Award that same year. He went on to be the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. A 14-time Pro Bowler, Peyton Manning was named NFL MVP five times and a first-team All-Pro seven times. He's the only starting QB to win a Super Bowl for two franchises and holds the NFL records for career passing yards (71,940) and passing touchdowns (539). Eli Manning played quarterback at Ole Miss, like his father, and won SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2003. He went on to be the first pick in 2004 by the San Diego Chargers (he was traded to the New York Giants that same day), winning two Super Bowls with the Giants and earning Super Bowl MVP honors both times. A four-time Pro Bowler, Eli Manning ranks sixth in passing yards in league history and his 210 consecutive starts from 2004 to 2017 is the second-longest streak by a quarterback in NFL history. Bobby Bonds and Barry Bonds Bobby Bonds, a three-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove winner, became just the second player to hit 300 career home runs and steal 300 bases. Barry Bonds played 22 seasons, mostly with the San Francisco Giants, and was a seven-time National League MVP. Bonds holds the records for most career home runs (762) and most home runs in a season (73). A 14-time All-Star, 12-time Silver Slugger Award winner and eight-time Gold Glove Award winner, Barry Bonds tied his father for the most seasons with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases (five). Dell Curry and Stephen Curry Dell Curry, the 15th overall pick in the 1986 NBA Draft, played 16 seasons, averaging 11.7 points and shooting 40.2% from deep in 1,083 career games. He most notably played for the Charlotte Hornets, finishing second on the team's all-time points leader list. Dell's eldest son, Stephen, was selected seventh overall in the 2009 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors. He went on to become a four-time NBA champion, two-time NBA MVP and nine-time All Star, and is widely considered the greatest shooter in NBA history, shooting over 43% from deep and 90% from the line in his career. Mychal Thompson and Klay Thompson Selected with the first overall pick in 1978, Mychal Thompson averaged 16.7 points and 8.9 rebounds in seven seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers (1980-86) before playing half a season with the San Antonio Spurs (1986-87) and finishing his career with the Lakers. He won two championships with Magic Johnson and the Lakers. Klay Thompson was drafted 11th overall in 2011 by the Warriors and has developed into one of the game’s best shooters. A four-time NBA champion and five-time All-Star, Klay Thompson averaged 19.6 points per game on 41.3% shooting from deep in 11 seasons with Golden State. He announced his departure from the Warriors in free agency earlier this month, opting to sign a three-year, $50 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks. Bobby Hull and Brett Hull Bobby Hull led the NHL in goals seven times and was the second-leading goalscorer in league history (610) when he retired. Hull won back-to-back All-Star Game MVP awards in 1970 and 1971 after winning the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1961. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983. Bobby Hull's son, Brett, scored 741 goals in his career, the fourth-highest total in league history. The right wing won Stanley Cups in 1999 with the Dallas Stars and in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings. A nine-time All-Star, Brett Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009, joining his father to become the Hall's first father-son duo. Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Dale Earnhardt is one of NASCAR's most iconic drivers. He participated in 676 Winston Cups, winning 76 of them. Earnhardt's career came to an end after he was involved in a fatal crash on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500. He was posthumously inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame inaugural class in 2010. Earnhardt Jr. won 26 Cup Series races, including the Daytona 500 twice (2004, 2014). He had 260 top-10 finishes in Cup races in his career and was named NASCAR Rookie of the Year in 2000. Howie Long and Chris Long An eight-time Pro Bowl selection, Howie Long played his entire 13-year career with the Raiders' organization. He was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 after helping the franchise win the Super Bowl the year prior. Howie Long finished his career with 84.0 sacks and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. Chris Long was the second overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, and he became one of the few players in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls for different teams — with the New England Patriots in 2017 and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018. The defensive end recorded 70.0 sacks in his 11-year career. [Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]]]>
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					<![CDATA[Johnny Gaudreau's wife thanks him for 'the best years of my life' in Instagram tribute to fallen NHL player]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/johnny-gaudreau-wife-thanks-him-the-best-years-my-life-instagram-tribute-fallen-nhl-player</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/johnny-gaudreau-wife-thanks-him-the-best-years-my-life-instagram-tribute-fallen-nhl-player</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The wife of Johnny Gaudreau called her husband “the absolute best dad in the world" and thanked him for “the best years of my life" in two Instagram posts paying tribute to the NHL player who was killed when his bicycle was struck by a car on the eve of his sister’s wedding.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 31 Aug 2024 17:50:37 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The widow of Johnny Gaudreau called her husband "the absolute best dad in the world" and thanked him for "the best years of my life" in two Instagram posts paying tribute to the NHL player who was killed when his bicycle was struck by a car on the eve of his sister's wedding. "Despite losing you, I am still the luckiest girl in the world to have been yours," Meredith Gaudreau said in a post Saturday that was accompanied by several photos of the couple. "I love you so, so much. You were perfect. Some days it felt too good to be true. I love every single thing about you. You are my forever and I can't wait to be with you again. I love you so much forever and ever." A separate post included photos of Johnny Gaudreau with their children. "The absolute best dad in the world," she said. "So caring and loving. The best partner to go through parenthood with. John never missed a single appointment. Was the best at putting the baby to sleep and the Apple of Noa's eye. I love how much she looks like him. We are going to make you proud. We love you so so, so much, daddy." Gaudreau and his younger brother, Matt, were killed Thursday night when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding bikes in Oldmans Township, close to their southern New Jersey hometown of Carneys Point. Johnny, 31, and Matt, 29, were supposed to serve as groomsmen at their sister Katie's wedding, which was scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia. The wedding was called off. "The boys grew up here," said Wayne Pelura, a Carneys Point Township committee member. "They were involved in youth sports here. Everybody knows them. Everybody knows the sisters. It's just a sad, sad situation." Police said the driver was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. Johnny Gaudreau, known as "Johnny Hockey," played 10 full seasons in the NHL and was set to enter his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets after signing a seven-year, $68 million deal in 2022. He played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and brother killed by car while riding bicycles]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/nhl-player-johnny-gaudreau-brother-killed-car-while-riding-bicycles</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/nhl-player-johnny-gaudreau-brother-killed-car-while-riding-bicycles</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother were killed Thursday night when they were hit by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles, police said.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 30 Aug 2024 10:38:07 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his younger brother were killed Thursday night when they were hit by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey, police said. Gaudreau, 31, and brother, Matthew, 29, are Carneys Point, New Jersey, natives and were in the area for their sister Katie's wedding scheduled for Friday in Philadelphia, at which they were to be groomsmen. New Jersey State police said Friday the Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road when a man driving in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind, causing fatal injuries. Police said the driver, Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and charged with two counts of death by auto and jailed at the Salem County Correctional Facility. Johnny Gaudreau, known as "Johnny Hockey," played 11 professional seasons in the league and was set to enter his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played his first nine with the Calgary Flames, a tenure that included becoming one of the sport's top players and a fan favorite across North America. "Just devastating news for all of us connected with the Gaudreau family," Jerry York, who coached the Gaudreau brothers at Boston College, told The Associated Press by phone. "Both Matty and Johnny were terrifically admired by all of us. Wonderful young guys, and they impressed a lot of us off ice. Everybody knows how gifted they were on ice, especially Johnny — an all-world type of Olympic player and college all-star. ... They left tremendous impressions on all of us. We'll miss the hockey exploits they always had with us but more important how they were as young guys." The Blue Jackets called it an unimaginable tragedy. "Johnny was not only a great hockey player, but more significantly a loving husband, father, son, brother and friend," the team said in a statement. "Johnny played the game with great joy which was felt by everyone that saw him on the ice. He brought a genuine love for hockey with him everywhere he played." Gaudreau, at 5-foot-9 and 180 pounds, was part of a generation of hockey players who thrived in an era of speed and skill that made being undersized less of a disadvantage. He scored 20-plus goals six times and was a 115-point player in 2021-22 as a first-time NHL All-Star when he had a career-best 40 goals and 75 assists. "While Johnny's infectious spirit for the game and show-stopping skills on the ice earned him the nickname ‘Johnny Hockey,' he was more than just a dazzling hockey player; he was a doting father and beloved husband, son, brother and teammate who endeared himself to every person fortunate enough to have crossed his path," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "We send our most heart-felt condolences to his wife Meredith; their children, Noa and Johnny; his parents, Guy and Jane; and sisters Kristen and Katie. And we grieve alongside his teammates, members of the Blue Jackets and Flames organizations, his many friends in hockey and countless fans around the world for whom he created indelible memories on and off the ice." A fourth-round pick of Calgary's in 2011, Gaudreau helped Boston College win the NCAA championship in 2012 and in 2014 took home the Hobey Baker Award as the top college player in the country. As a professional, Gaudreau was part of the NHL all-rookie team during his first season in the league and was third in voting for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2014-15. Gaudreau was a point-a-game player with 642 points in 644 regular-season and playoff games since breaking into the league. In 2022, he left the Flames to sign a seven-year contract worth nearly $69 million with the Blue Jackets that put him and his young family in central Ohio, closer to his family in New Jersey. Social media was full of an outpouring of messages about Gaudreau. USA Hockey said, "Words cannot appropriately express the sorrow the hockey community is feeling." The Flames said Gaudreau "came to Calgary as a young man and grew up here, not only as a superstar on the ice but also a beloved member of our community." Former Flames teammate Blake Coleman posted that he was "completely gutted. The world just lost one of the best." "I don't know why I'm even writing right now I'm shaking but Johnny was one of my favorite teammates I've ever played with," retired goaltender Eddie Lack said. "Always happy, always spreading positivity around him. Rest in Peace my friend and prayers for your wonderful family. Hug your loved ones." NBA superstar LeBron James, who is from Akron, Ohio, said he instantly got sad after seeing the news. "My thoughts and prayers goes out to the Gaudreau family," James said. "May Johnny and Matthew fly high, guide/guard and bless their family/s from the heavens above." In international play, Gaudreau owns the men's world championship records by a U.S. player with 30 assists and 43 points, earlier this year breaking marks previously held by Patrick Kane. Gaudreau's death is the latest off-ice tragedy to strike the organization in the past few years. Goaltender Matiss Kivlenieks died in July 2021 when he was struck in the chest by a firework while attending the wedding of then-Blue Jackets goaltending coach Manny Legace's daughter in Michigan. The team is now left to deal with another unexpected loss three weeks before training camps around the league are set to open. "We will miss him terribly and do everything that we can to support his family and each other through this tragedy," the Blue Jackets said. "At this time, we ask for prayers for the Gaudreau family and that their privacy be respected as they grieve." Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Florida Panthers beat Edmonton Oilers, win first Stanley Cup title]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/florida-panthers-beat-edmonton-oilers-win-first-stanley-cup-title</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/florida-panthers-beat-edmonton-oilers-win-first-stanley-cup-title</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions for the first time, and they took about the hardest path possible to the title.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jun 2024 23:19:11 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[There was no collapse. The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions for the first time, and they took about the hardest path possible to the title. Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe scored goals, Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves and the Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 on Monday night in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final. It was the third title-round appearance in Florida's 30-year history; it was swept in 1996 by Colorado and routed 4-1 by Vegas last season. This time, they were on the right side of history — after avoiding what would have been a historic collapse. The Panthers won the first three games of the series, then lost the next three and needed a win on Monday to avoid joining the 1942 Detroit Red Wings as the only teams to lose the final after taking a 3-0 lead in the title round. It wasn't easy. Not even close. But it's done. It took until the very end for the Panthers to deny Connor McDavid his first title, and Edmonton what would have been its first Cup since 2006. Mattias Janmark had the goal for Edmonton and Stuart Skinner stopped 19 shots for the Oilers. The Oilers also couldn't snap Canada's title drought; it's been 1993 and counting since a team based in Canada won the Cup. Montreal was the last to do so, 30 seasons ago. Since then, there have been seven attempts by teams from Canadian-based cities — Vancouver in 1994 and 2011, Calgary in 2004, the Oilers in 2006, Ottawa in 2007 and the Canadiens in 2021 — to win titles, and all were in vain. [Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.] South Florida now has one of everything when it comes to titles from the four major pro sports leagues in the U.S. The Miami Dolphins were champions twice, the then-Florida Marlins were champions twice, the Miami Heat have three titles and now the Panthers have joined the party. Welcome, Stanley. The Panthers have been waiting. Bobrovsky was as cool as could be, even in the biggest moments. Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard had a good look from the right circle with about 14 seconds left in the second period; Bobrovsky blocked the shot, and the puck bounced off him and into the air. No problem. Bobrovsky took his stick and batted the puck away again, more like he was playing morning pickleball at a park than in the biggest game of his life — literally, the last line of defense against the Oilers, and against a piece of history that the Panthers desperately fought to avoid. Florida led this title series 3-0, then got outscored 18-5 in Games 4, 5 and 6 to waste three chances at winning the Cup. Edmonton was one win away from becoming the second team in NHL history to win the Cup after dropping the first three games; Toronto did it to Detroit in 1942, and no team has pulled off such a comeback since. They brought in seven-time Grammy winner Alanis Morissette — she was born in Canada and became a dual U.S. citizen in 2005 — to sing the national anthems. Hardly anybody could hear her; the Oilers fans drowned her out for "O Canada," the Panthers fans did the same for "The Star-Spangled Banner." They had Panthers legend Roberto Luongo bang the ceremonial bass drum after that; he urged fans to "let's go" with an extra word in there that needed to be bleeped a few times. The pregame was raucous. The stage was set. And the teams came out absolutely ablaze. The Panthers got the first goal just 4:27 into the game when Verhaeghe waved his stick at the puck that was fired in from the left side by Evan Rodrigues and got just enough to redirect it past Skinner for a 1-0 lead — the first Florida lead since the end of Game 3. They waited more than a week to be back on top. They stayed there for just over two minutes. Janmark got behind the Florida defense and beat Bobrovsky over the right shoulder at 6:44, knotting things right back up and ensuring that this Game 7 of the final — like all 17 of the previous such games — wouldn't end 1-0. It stayed that way through wild ebbs and flows — the Oilers controlled long stretches, the Panthers would counter, back and forth — until Reinhart scored late in the second to put Florida up 2-1. It capped a crazy sequence, one where Florida defenseman Dmitry Kulikov wound up in the net to help prevent an Edmonton goal seconds before Reinhart beat Skinner. The goal was Reinhart's 67th of the season, extending his Florida single-season record, and it was up to the Panthers to make it hold up. Florida was an NHL-best 44-0-3 entering Monday when leading after two periods this season. An NHL-best 85-2-6 in that situation in the two seasons under coach Paul Maurice, too. Reporting by the Associated Press]]>
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					<![CDATA[2024 NHL Stanley Cup odds: Panthers favored in Game 7; Will McDavid win Conn Smythe?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2023-24-nhl-odds-every-teams-stanley-cup-title-futures</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/2023-24-nhl-odds-every-teams-stanley-cup-title-futures</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The champion of the 2024-25 NHL season will come down to a single game. Check out the latest odds ahead of Monday's Game 7 between the Panthers and Oilers.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jun 2024 10:23:39 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The 2024 Stanley Cup is headed for Game 7. Ahead of the championship tilt between the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers, the Panthers were slight favorites to hoist Lord Stanley at -130. However, after outscoring the Oilers 11-4 in the first three games of the series and taking a 3-0 lead, the Panthers saw their odds dip all the way to -2500 to win the Stanley Cup. But it's not over ‘til it’s over. The Oilers bounced back in dominant fashion in Game 4, crushing Florida by a score of 8-1. Then, in Game 5, Edmonton emerged with a hard-fought 5-3 win on Florida's home ice, forcing the series back to Edmonton for Game 6. In that Game 6, the Oilers won 5-1, meaning they've outscored the Panthers 18-5 over the past three games. Despite losing three straight, Florida is still favored to win Game 7 on its home ice. Let's dive into the latest NHL title and Conn Smythe odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of June 24. STANLEY CUP GAME 7 MONEYLINE: Florida Panthers: -112 (bet $10 to win $18.93 total)Edmonton Oilers: -108 (bet $10 to win $19.26 total) STANLEY CUP GAME 7 SPREAD: Panthers -1.5 2023-24 CONN SMYTHE TROPHY ODDS: Connor McDavid: -2500 (bet $10 to win $10.40 total) Aleksander Barkov: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total) Sergei Bobrovsky: +7500 (bet $10 to win $760 total) As for the Conn Smythe Trophy — awarded to the Most Valuable Player in the NHL postseason — it appears that Connor McDavid could win the award whether his team wins or loses. Prior to Game 4, Florida goalie Sergei Bobrovsky was at -380 to win the award, followed by Panthers center Aleksander Barkov (+380) and McDavid (+1600). Ahead of Game 5, it was a dead-heat. Bobrovsky and Barkov were tied atop the oddsboard at +100, while McDavid's odds dropped all the way to +700. Ahead of Game 6, McDavid became the favorite at -145, followed by Barkov in second and Bobrovsky in third. And after the Oilers' Game 6 win, McDavid became a monstrous favorite at -3000, and now sits at -2500 on the day of Game 7. McDavid has racked up 11 points in the past six games and 42 in the postseason, the fourth-most all time. He trails only Wayne Gretzky (47 points in 1984-85 and 43 points in 1987-88) and Mario Lemieux (44 points in 1990-91) on that list. So who are you throwing some money on to win it all? Stay tuned to FOX Sports for all the updates on the shifting odds in the NHL. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Stanley Cup Final: Oilers come back down from 3-0 series deficit to force Game 7 vs. Panthers]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/stanley-cup-final-oilers-come-back-down-from-3-0-series-deficit-force-game-7-vs-panthers</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/stanley-cup-final-oilers-come-back-down-from-3-0-series-deficit-force-game-7-vs-panthers</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Edmonton Oilers forced a Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Final, beating the Florida Panthers 5-1 for their third straight victory.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 21 Jun 2024 23:16:08 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The good news for the Florida Panthers is this: There's a Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday night, and it's on their home ice. And they need to figure a whole lot of things out by then. Another chance to win the Stanley Cup became another power outage for the Panthers on Friday night, when Florida lost 5-1 to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 6 of the title series. A 3-0 series lead is now completely gone, and the season will end Monday night either with the Panthers celebrating a great escape or dealing with a great embarrassment by watching the Oilers hoist the Cup in their rink. The list of things the Panthers didn't like on Friday night were many, namely a goal by Aleksander Barkov getting waved off after an Edmonton challenge for offsides in the second period. Florida was furious after the goal was taken down; Edmonton was predictably thrilled. By NHL policy, "the original call on the ice will be overturned if, and only if, a conclusive and irrefutable determination can be made on the basis of video evidence that the original call on the ice was clearly not correct. If a review is not conclusive and/or there is any doubt whatsoever as to whether the call on the ice was correct, the original call on the ice will be confirmed." But while that call surely changed the game a bit, the Panthers had more problems. Florida — on a night where it could have won the Cup — got nothing going offensively for the first period, managing only two shots on goal to set a season-low in the season's 105th game. Midway through the second period, the Panthers were up to only six shots. Edmonton's defense has been vastly improved since the start of the series, but many of the Panthers' biggest names were invisible on the stat sheet. Sam Reinhart, the team's leading goalscorer, didn't get his first shot on goal until 4:47 remained. Matthew Tkachuk didn't get his first to the net until 3:09 was left. The power play was scoreless in three opportunities, and is 1 for 19 in the series. It has been a wild turnaround. Through the first eight periods of this series, the cumulative score was Florida 11, Edmonton 2. In the 10 periods since, the score was Edmonton 20, Florida 5. Giving up 18 goals in a three-game span of the Stanley Cup Final happened only five previous times, and Florida just became the sixth team on that list. None of the first five teams won the title. And now, Game 7 awaits. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA['Bear Bets': Group Chat's best bets on Belmont, NBA Finals]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/bear-bets-gambling-group-chats-best-bets-belmont-nba-finals</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/bear-bets-gambling-group-chats-best-bets-belmont-nba-finals</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA["Bear Bets" is back! And the Group Chat reconvened to discuss the Belmont Stakes, the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Final.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 06 Jun 2024 16:46:45 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Bear Bets is back and ready to go, as a few major titles are on the line. FOX Sports' digital gambling show returned this week to discuss the Belmont Stakes, NBA Finals and Stanley Cup Final. Chris "The Bear" Fallica and Geoff Schwartz were rejoined by Sam Panayotovich and Will Hill in the Group Chat segment to discuss their favorite wagers for the big events. So, without further ado, let's get right into the action. The final race of the triple crown is this weekend. The Belmont Stakes is on Saturday (4 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), but is in a different location this year, being held at Saratoga Race Course as Belmont Park is being renovated. What plays do you have entering the weekend? Hill: Antiquarian (+1200) to win "Todd Pletcher's the trainer. Pletcher's won the Belmont four times. And if you look at last year, Arcangelo won the Belmont after winning the Peter Pan a month prior." The Bear: Sierra Leone (+190) to win "Basically, Chad Brown and Todd Pletcher, Saratoga is their backyard. You get the equipment change, you get the rider change, you get five weeks off since the Kentucky Derby and you get a shorter field, which you should be able to navigate through even better. I think it was the best horse in the derby. He just didn't win. I am not a lay-it-and-laugh kind of guy, a hammer and pound the favorite. But I expect this horse to go off much shorter than his morning line." Moving from the track to the court, Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks will take place on Thursday. Do you have any thoughts or wagers on the series? Hill: Jrue Holiday to win Finals MVP (+10000) "I thought it was a sleeper to mention Jrue Holiday, but it seems he's everybody's sleeper now because they remember Andre Iguodala. This is usually not a sleeper award. It's usually just as simple as the best player on the best team. Michael Jordan wins it. LeBron James wins it. Don't overthink it. "But if you're looking for a long shot, Holiday's probably going to guard either Kyrie Irving, Luka Doncic or both. If he holds them to some 8-for-24 nights and chips in with 15 or 20 points, there's this narrative that Jayson Tatum is a good player but not a great player." Hill: Celtics in 7 (+340) "They have five shooters. They can play five-out and Dallas played teams that had guys they didn't have to guard on the perimeter. You didn't have to guard Rudy Gobert on the perimeter. You don't have to guard Josh Giddey on the perimeter. You have to guard everybody on Boston." Sammy P: Celtics to win series; parlay Celtics to win Game 1 and series (-130) "I was talking to Jeff Sherman, who's a very good basketball oddsmaker in Vegas at the SuperBook, and he said before the playoffs started, they make series prices on all these matchups, and they had the Celtics as a $4 favorite in this matchup. And they even wanted to go a little bit higher, -420 or -425. So, when you take that number into account … we're at the point now where we can -205 or -210 on the better and deeper team. "Game 1 favorites are 16-3 against the spread. That's not the largest sample size, but it's 19 years and 16 favorites have covered." Schwartz: Like Mavericks to win series, bet Luka Doncic to win MVP (+210) "I'm just taking the team that has the better closers. I'm taking Dallas to win in six or seven. I wouldn't be surprised if Dallas wins in six at home. "If the Mavericks win the series, Doncic is going to win the MVP. This number is better than betting the Mavericks to win the series. Meanwhile, the Stanley Cup Final is also here. The Florida Panthers are a slight favorite (-125) over the Edmonton Oilers. Do you have a side or any other wagers you like in this series? The Bear: Panthers to win series "[Sergei Bobrovsky] has been fantastic. I think the Panthers have so many different ways that they can win games and they can score well. They can beat you 5-1 if they need to. They'd rather not, but at the same time, you look up, and they're dominating games, and it's 2-0 because they're so deep. "If you could draw up a team that I think is tailor-made to beat Edmonton and deal with Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid, it's Florida." Sammy P: Aleksander Barkov to score most goals (+1400) "It's a number grab. This guy is awesome. He scores goals in big moments. I think Barkov at that price is solid. He's gonna light some lamps in this series and I think eventually we're gonna get that Stuart Skinner regression in net for the Oilers. Skinner has sort of been hidden because Edmonton has the puck so much, and Edmonton's power play is very good. But if Florida can control the pace and the puck, they're going to score some goals on Skinner." The Bear: Gustav Forsling to win Conn Smythe (+9500) "Forsling is fantastic. He does everything. He's someone that if you're watching hockey, you can see the things he does that don't always register in the box score. He can score, he can pass, he can kill penalties, and you can put him on the power play if need be." Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Betting scandal with Shohei Ohtani's interpreter is far from first in pro sports]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/betting-scandal-with-shohei-ohtanis-interpreter-is-far-from-first-in-pro-sports</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/betting-scandal-with-shohei-ohtanis-interpreter-is-far-from-first-in-pro-sports</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter are just the latest in a long line of betting scandals that have plagued pro sports.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2024 16:57:50 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Sports and gambling are once again in the spotlight in the wake of the Los Angeles Dodgers firing Ippei Mizuhara, the interpreter and close friend of newly acquired star player Shohei Ohtani. The abrupt dismissal of the 39-year-old Mizuhara came amid reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN regarding his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well over $1 million. Mizuhara told ESPN on Tuesday night he gambled on international soccer, the NBA, the NFL and college football, but said he never bet on baseball, which is prohibited among team employees under MLB rules. He added Ohtani paid his gambling debts at his request. Mizuhara changed his story a day later, following a statement from Ohtani’s lawyers saying the player was a victim of theft. In response, Mizuhara told ESPN that Ohtani had no knowledge of the gambling debts and had not transferred any money to bookmakers. Here is a glance at other betting scandals involving professional sports: — In 1920, a Chicago grand jury indicted eight members of the Chicago White Sox on charges of fixing the 1919 World Series, which became known as the "Black Sox Scandal." White Sox owner Charles Comiskey immediately suspended the eight players, including "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, and they were banned permanently a year later by newly appointed baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Although a jury returned a not guilty verdict on all charges against the eight, their ban from baseball remains in place. — In 1946, Hockey Hall of Famer Babe Pratt was suspended for gambling before being reinstated weeks later, with the NHL Board of Governors issuing a warning that any further instances of gambling would lead to a player’s lifetime suspension. — In 1948, Billy Taylor and Don Gallinger were issued lifetime bans from the NHL for betting on hockey games. — In 1951, 35 active and former players were accused of fixing at least 86 games between 1947 and 1951. Among those implicated were four members of the Adolph Rupp-coached Kentucky Wildcats, accused of taking bribes from gamblers ahead of a National Invitation Tournament game against Loyola during the 1948-49 season. An NCAA investigation found several violations, which led to the cancelation of Kentucky’s 1952-53 season. — In 1980, two Italian soccer teams were relegated and five others penalized for their involvement in a match-fixing scandal that was dubbed "Totonero." Most notably, Paolo Rossi was banned for two years for his involvement while playing for Perugia. — In 1981, former Boston College basketball player Rick Kuhn and four others, including New York mobster Jimmy Burke, were convicted of conspiring to fix basketball games in the 1978-79 season. — In 1985, Tulane suspended its basketball program in the wake of point-shaving and other allegations. The school resumed basketball for the 1989-90 season. — In 1989, Pete Rose agreed to a lifetime ban after an investigation for MLB by lawyer John Dowd found Rose placed numerous bets on the Cincinnati Reds to win from 1985-87 while playing for and managing the team. Now 82, baseball’s all-time leader with 4,256 hits remains ineligible for induction into Cooperstown, and his numerous requests for reinstatement have been denied. — In 1996, 13 Boston College football players were suspended for gambling, including two who bet against B.C. in a 45-17 loss to Syracuse. Coach Dan Henning, who informed school officials upon hearing allegations of players placing bets with bookies, resigned. No evidence of point-shaving was found. — In 2007, current Vancouver Canucks coach Rick Tocchet was placed on two years' probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy and promoting gambling while serving as an assistant coach with Arizona. He was reinstated by the NHL the following year. Also, initially implicated in a gambling scheme titled "Operation Slapshot" involving a New Jersey-based ring were several players; Wayne Gretzky’s wife, Janet Jones, and Gretzky’s former agent and then-Coyotes GM Michael Barnett. — In 2008, NBA referee Tim Donaghy pleaded guilty to wire fraud and transmitting betting information for taking thousands of dollars from a gambler for inside tips on games, including games he worked. He was sentenced by a federal judge to 15 months behind bars. — In 2019, former Wales men’s rugby team captain Rob Howley was sent home on the eve of the Rugby World Cup, where he was to work as an assistant coach. Howley had made 363 bets, including on Wales’ 2019 Six Nations Grand Slam decider against Ireland. He was suspended from rugby for 18 months. — In 2021, England defender Kieran Trippier was banned for 10 weeks after providing insider information on his potential transfer to friends who were then betting on the outcome. — In the NFL, at least 15 players have been suspended by the league for gambling violations. The list dates to 1963, when two eventual Hall of Famers, Green Bay halfback Paul Hornung and Detroit defensive tackle Alex Karras, were suspended for the season for betting on league games. In 2022, the NFL suspended then Atlanta receiver Calvin Ridley for the entire season for gambling on NFL games a year earlier while away from the Falcons, addressing mental health concerns. — In May 2023, Brazil’s lower house of Congress opened a probe into a soccer match-fixing scandal. It is the third investigation into evidence of wrongdoing by soccer players who allegedly made sure to get bookings and gave away penalties in exchange for bribes. — Last summer, six-time major tournament-winning golfer Phil Mickelson was alleged to have wagered more than $1 billion over the last three decades, and wanted to place a $400,000 bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup, while representing Team USA, in a book written by renowned gambler Billy Walters. A month later, Mickelson wrote in a lengthy social media post that he had stopped gambling, and acknowledging his betting habits crossed the line from moderation to addiction. Mickelson denied ever betting on the Ryder Cup. — Soccer players Ivan Toney of Brentford, Sandro Tonali of Newcastle and Nicolò Fagioli of Juventus have all served gambling bans this season. Fagioli was banned for seven months by the Italian soccer federation. Italian player Tonali was banned for 10 months last year for betting on teams he played for. — In October, the NHL issued a 41-game suspension to Ottawa Senators forward Shane Pinto for sports gambling. The NHL would only say there was no evidence of Pinto betting on hockey. Pinto declined to reveal any details upon rejoining the Senators in January. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Virginia senator says deal to relocate Wizards, Capitals not happening]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/virginia-senator-says-deal-to-relocate-wizards-capitals-not-happening</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/virginia-senator-says-deal-to-relocate-wizards-capitals-not-happening</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[A leading Democratic Virginia legislator says proposed legislation to help pave the way for the Washington Wizards and Capitals to relocate to Virginia is dead.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 12 Feb 2024 15:56:42 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Top Democrats in the Virginia Senate have dealt a blow to legislation to help pave the way for the NBA's Washington Wizards and NHL's Washington Capitals to relocate to northern Virginia, refusing to docket the bill for a hearing and expressing serious reservations Monday about the financing of the proposed deal. Sen. L. Louise Lucas, who holds great sway in the General Assembly as chair of the Senate Finance &amp; Appropriations Committee, first said over the weekend on social media that legislation underpinning the deal negotiated by Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin was "not ready for prime time" and would not receive a hearing in her committee. The decision effectively killed the Senate version of the legislation because of a procedural deadline this week, though another bill is making progress in the House of Delegates, which is also controlled by Democrats. Lucas, who took questions from reporters Monday morning along with Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell, said Youngkin had made a series of mistakes in trying to advance the proposal through a General Assembly now in full Democratic control after November's elections. Among them, she said, was a weekend speech at Washington and Lee University in which Youngkin took a broad swipe at Democrats collectively, saying the party does "not believe in — nor do they want — a strong America." Lucas and Surovell also said legislators were not brought into the conversation about the deal to move the teams across the Potomac to Alexandria early enough. They questioned why it was put up for a vote before a legislative economic development commission that reviews proposed incentives just before outgoing lawmakers cycled off that panel. Surovell said his caucus has concerns about whether the governor is truly willing to consider their priorities, including legislation to establish recreational cannabis sales and further increase the minimum wage, in negotiations over the legislation. Lucas is also seeking toll relief for the Hampton Roads region. Asked if the deal was "dead," Lucas responded bluntly: "As far as I'm concerned, it is." Lucas was asked if changes to the House version of the bill, which will cross over to the Senate for consideration assuming it clears a floor vote, could make the proposal palatable. She answered by saying she had a strenuous objection to the project financing as currently envisioned because of its use of moral obligation bonds backed by the state and by Alexandria. That means taxpayers could be on the hook if the project revenues don't come through as expected. "As long as the full faith and credit of this Commonwealth is backing this project, my answer continues to be an absolute no," she said. Surovell said Senate Democrats had asked questions about financing the deal another way but were told "that piece of the bill is untouchable." He added that he was unaware of moral obligation bonds — which are typically used in Virginia to help finance public infrastructure projects — being used for any similar economic development initiative. Rob Damschen, communications director for Youngkin, said in a statement that the governor remains confident that the Assembly "will come together because this project is good for the entire Commonwealth." "It creates 30,000 jobs and unlocks billions in new revenue that can be used to fund expanded toll relief in Portsmouth, increased funding for I-81, and new money for education for rural and urban school divisions across the Commonwealth," Damschen said. Senate Republicans criticized Lucas' refusal to put the bill up for a committee vote, characterizing the move as a "pocket veto" of the governor's priority. "The only plausible explanation for this move is that there were not enough votes in the Senate Finance Committee to defeat the bill," Sen. Mark Obenshain of Rockingham said. "This departure from the traditions of the Senate is unfortunate and clearly indicates a deep division among Senate Democrats." Youngkin and entrepreneur Ted Leonsis, a former AOL executive and the CEO of the teams' parent company, Monumental Sports and Entertainment, announced in December that they had reached an understanding on a deal to relocate the Capitals and Wizards. The proposed new site in Alexandria would be just miles from where the teams currently play in Washington. The legislation currently pending before the Assembly would set up a sports and entertainment authority that would issue the bonds that will help pay for the project. The bonds would be repaid through a mix of revenues from the arena and broader development surrounding it, including a ticket tax, parking fees, concession taxes, income taxes levied on athletes performing at the arena, and naming rights from the district, among other sources. Monica Dixon, a top executive at Monumental, said in a written statement Monday that the company is having "healthy discussions" with General Assembly leaders and Alexandria City Council members, who will also need to sign off on the deal. Dixon said the company is encouraged by Friday's vote in a House committee, where the bill passed, 17-3. Virginia's elected officials have long sought to lure a major pro team to the state, including an unsuccessful effort to secure a Major League Baseball team two decades ago. The baseball bid shared many structural similarities to what is now proposed, including a reliance on moral obligation bonds, which drew concerns from top Republican leaders at the time. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Super Bowl is a monolith — but other sports are capitalizing in Las Vegas]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/super-bowl-is-a-monolith-but-other-sports-are-capitalizing-in-las-vegas</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/super-bowl-is-a-monolith-but-other-sports-are-capitalizing-in-las-vegas</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[For years, rival sports steered clear of the Super Bowl host city. That is no longer the case, with events now lasting the entire week across multiple sports.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 07 Feb 2024 19:54:35 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[LAS VEGAS — It’s Super Bowl week, which means the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers are starting to feel that nervous tingle as football’s greatest show rapidly approaches. As Super Bowl LVIII closes in on Sin City, the golfers are fine-tuning their short games, the boxers are making their grueling weight cuts, the hockey players are licking their wounds and the Power Slap "athletes" are doing whatever they do to prepare for combat (more on Power Slap later). Savvy sports promoters realized long ago that scheduling events in the Super Bowl city during the week of football’s biggest festivity is a fine way to tap into both a willing audience in search of a good time, and what is essentially a giant sports-business convention. With Vegas the host this year, that has taken things up a level. "From our point of view, it is incredible," veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum told me via phone. Arum’s Top Rank staged a WBO junior welterweight world title fight on Thursday where Teofimo Lopez defeated Jamaine Ortiz at Mandalay Bay’s Michelob ULTRA Arena, just a few steps from the Super Bowl’s media center. Arum continued: "You have all the advertising executives, all the television chiefs, all the marketing and business people, all in one part of the same city at one time. Then you have 350,000 people coming into town who are already known to be sports fans. I know we are not the only ones to think this way, but it makes perfect business sense." He’s right. As well as the boxing card, the money-flush competitors of LIV Golf began play on Thursday and will continue Friday and Saturday at nearby Las Vegas Country Club, benefiting from fortunate timing with the pelting rains finally dissipating. The LIV event’s midweek pro-am features current NFL players like Derek Carr and Will Levis, as well as expected high draft pick Drake Maye all taking part. By design, it seeks to borrow from the success of the PGA Tour’s WM Open in Phoenix, which boasts a raucous party-style atmosphere and coincided with the Super Bowl last year and in 2015. [2024 NFL Draft QB rankings: Caleb Williams leads top 10; how many first-rounders?] "I think it’s us trying to create a spectacle for the United States," 2020 U.S. Open championship Bryson DeChambeau told reporters. "I think we haven’t been highlighted enough here in the States, and I can’t wait to see what the response is like with football fans and Vegas fans alike." In the early iterations of the Super Bowl, rival sports would steer clear of the host city, reasoning that with so much focus on the big game, there would be little bandwidth left for anything else. That’s no longer the case, especially since the NFL pieced together a full week of events designed to bring people into town earlier. Rather than schedule around the Super Bowl, local pro teams now lean into the arrival of the Super Bowl. At Super Bowl 46 in Indianapolis, a Pacers basketball game during the prior week drew a raucous crowd containing large numbers of football fans. Poor Kris Humphries of the New Jersey Nets, then embroiled in legal wrangling following his separation from Kim Kardashian, took the brunt of fans' attention as he was jeered most of the night. On Tuesday of this week, one of the most significant games of the National Hockey League season took place on the Strip, where the hometown Golden Knights scuttled the Edmonton Oilers’ bid to tie the all-time NHL win streak record of 17. Inevitably, there is also a collection of more offbeat activities, all trying to grab an audience share. In 2019, in Atlanta, an enterprising promoter named T.J. McAloon brought "No Ring Bar Wrestling" to the doorstep of the Super Bowl, renting out a facility and setting up his patented show, which as the name suggests, involves wrestlers doing their thing not in a ring, but among the crowd in a regular bar. This week’s equivalent might be UFC president Dana White’s fledgling Power Slap. The event features competitors who forcefully slap each other until one can no longer continue. It is not for the faint of heart, but this is Vegas, and there is a market here for everything. "It is no surprise that there is so much going on," Arum said. "Everyone knows about the Super Bowl, the best of the best, the biggest thing in professional team sports. It is like a festival and if you can bring your product close to that audience it can be powerful." Outside the Mandalay Bay, a group of 49ers fans who had just attended the weigh-in for Lopez-Ortiz were heading next to get their LIV Golf tickets, excited that the price of admission was a mere fraction of what they had shelled out for Super Bowl seats on Sunday. With the sun out and the Chiefs-49ers clash just days away, Vegas is hitting top gear, and sports is very much a part of it. Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports and the author of the FOX Sports Insider newsletter. Follow him on Twitter @MRogersFOX and subscribe to the daily newsletter.]]>
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					<![CDATA[23 numbers that defined sports in 2023]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/23-numbers-that-defined-the-year-2023-in-sports</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/other/23-numbers-that-defined-the-year-2023-in-sports</guid>
				<category>other</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[2023 delivered some unforgettable moments, but what numbers truly stand out? Here are our favorites from a great year in sports.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 28 Dec 2023 17:55:53 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The 2023 sports calendar flew past like a whirlwind, but not before solidifying a place in our hearts as a year fans will never forget. That is especially true if you were there to see LeBron James become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, witness Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts make history in the Super Bowl, or enjoy watching one of the first-time title-winning teams collect their franchise’s first trophy. But even if you missed those — or simply don’t support those teams — there were plenty of other notable events and numbers that stood out from a wild and unforgettable year. Here are our 23 favorite numbers that will define 2023. The inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament delivered mixed results for some, but it was a great experience for Lakers fans as they collected the first-ever title in the event. Another line on the LeBron James résumé will now be filled out when Springfield eventually calls. In the four major sports, three of the four winners in 2023 were first-timers, with the Texas Rangers, Vegas Golden Knights and Denver Nuggets capturing their first championships. That marks just the second time since 1989 that three of the four major professional sports leagues had first-time champs. The only other time was in 1999 when the San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Stars and St. Louis Rams all captured their first titles. The 2023 Final Four was the first tournament since 1979 when seeding began in which none of the four remaining teams were top-three seeds. The eventual champion, UConn, was the highest seed at No. 4. Manchester City dominated in 2023, delivering success after success and ultimately landing five separate trophies, making them the first English team to hold the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Super Cup and Club World Cup trophies simultaneously. The Golden Knights won a championship in their sixth year of existence, becoming the fastest team to win a title in modern NHL history. That topped the mark held by the Philadelphia Flyers, who captured their first Stanley Cup in 1974, seven years after their franchise began. Is there anything Lionel Messi can’t do? The star once again reigned supreme over the soccer world when he collected his record-extending eighth Ballon D’Or award, three more than any other player. Just for reference, he also has five second-place finishes for the award, the second-most of any player in the history of the award. Wrexham AFC, famously owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, finally broke through and was promoted to the Football League after being relegated 15 years ago. The 2023 March Madness tournament gave us a 16-seed (Fairleigh Dickinson) and a 15-seed (Princeton) winning over the one and two seeds, respectively, in the first round. That is the first time both of those seeds have won games in the same tournament. In a true feat of durability, the Penguins set a North American sports record when the trio of Kris Letang, Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin began their 18th season together in October. That broke a tie with Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, who spent 17 seasons together with the Yankees, for the longest-tenured trio. The Las Vegas Aces responded to the increased competition following their title-winning campaign in 2022 and captured a second straight WNBA title in 2023. It was the first time in 21 years a WNBA team has won back-to-back championships. Adolis García was a key piece in the World Series run by the Rangers, breaking the record for most RBIs in a single playoff run, with 22. The previous record was held by David Freese of the Cardinals during their 2011 title-winning run. Perhaps the greatest athlete ever to compete showed what makes her an all-time competitor when Simone Biles captured what would be her 23rd world title in October. That is the most in men's or women's gymnastics history. Not to be outdone by others, Novak Djokovic continued his domination, setting the record for the most grand slam singles titles with 24, passing Rafael Nadal, who had 22 titles. In Game 3 of the 2023 NBA Finals, Nikola Jokić delivered an unforgettable performance, becoming the first player in NBA Finals history to post 30 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists in a Finals game. Ronald Acuna Jr. delivered a season for the ages, connecting for 41 homers and 73 steals, the first 40/70 campaign in MLB history. He also is the first National League player in the 40/40 club to have his team make the playoffs. His 73 steals are a modern record for the Braves. Caitlin Clark continued to add her name to the record book when she became the all-time leader in 30-point games in BOTH men’s and women’s basketball over at least the last 25 years, passing Antoine Davis (39) of Detroit. Clark has added to her total and now has a staggering 44 such games. During the 2023 season, the Orioles had a staggering 49-win improvement over two years. That is the greatest improvement over two years in MLB history. The Rangers won the franchise’s first title in their 62-year history, snapping the longest drought in MLB history for a team before their first championship. Their 11-0 road record was also a record as the longest postseason road win streak in MLB history, even over multiple playoff runs! Shohei Ohtani has dominated on the field over the past few seasons, so it makes sense that he would dominate off the field. After lots of guessing and estimates, Ohtani officially landed the biggest contract in North American sports history with a $700 million deal with the Dodgers. That is $197 million more than Patrick Mahomes’ $503 million contract and significantly more than Mike Trout’s $426.5 million, which was previously the most in MLB history. In what was truly an offensive explosion, the Dolphins let loose against the Broncos in Denver during a Week 3 battle. Miami put up a mind-boggling 726 total yards on offense, an NFL record. It was the first time since 1951 that a team has accumulated 700 or more yards on offense. Against Iowa State this season, Caitlin Clark became the only player in Division I men’s or women’s basketball history with 3,000 points, 750 rebounds and 750 assists. To put those numbers in perspective, just six NBA players since 1975 have done that in a 110-game stretch like Clark has done at Iowa: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, James Harden, Luka Dončić, Russell Westbrook and Larry Bird. As many anticipated over the last few years, LeBron James, finally passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. James has since added to his tally and currently sits at 39,363 points. In one of the most amazing spectacles of 2023, the Nebraska women's volleyball team had all eyes on them when they hosted Omaha at Lincoln Memorial Stadium with 92,003 fans watching. That 92,003 set a record for the largest crowd to watch a women’s sporting event in the United States.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Wizards, Capitals would move to Virginia in tentative deal]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/wizards-capitals-would-move-to-virginia-in-tentative-deal</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/wizards-capitals-would-move-to-virginia-in-tentative-deal</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has a tentative agreement that would move the NBA’s Wizards and NHL’s Capitals to northern Virginia.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 13 Dec 2023 14:36:50 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has reached a tentative agreement with the parent company of the NBA's Washington Wizards and NHL's Washington Capitals to move those teams from the District of Columbia to what he called a new "visionary sports and entertainment venue" in northern Virginia. The proposal, which would need the state legislature's approval, calls for the creation of a $2 billion development south of Washington in Alexandria, just miles from the existing arena, Youngkin said in an interview with The Associated Press ahead of a news conference Wednesday at the site. It would include an arena for what would be the state's first professional sports teams, as well as a new Wizards practice facility, a separate performing arts center, a media studio, new hotels, a convention center, housing and shopping. "The Commonwealth will now be home to two professional sports teams, a new corporate headquarters, and over 30,000 new jobs – this is monumental," Youngkin said in a statement. Monumental Sports &amp; Entertainment CEO Ted Leonsis appeared with Youngkin and city officials at Wednesday's announcement. He endorsed the proposal, thanked Youngkin and said he had "goosebumps" at the thought of the project coming together "if all goes as planned." Monumental also owns the WNBA's Mystics, and Leonsis said his expectation was that Capital One Arena, where the Wizards and Capitals currently play, could host women's sports and other events like concerts. "Our intention is to expand here and keep Capital One Arena in D.C. a great place," Leonsis, an ultra-wealthy entrepreneur and former AOL executive, said. The new development would be located in the Potomac Yard section of Alexandria, along the Potomac River and near Virginia Tech's ambitious Innovation Campus, an under-construction graduate school. To help finance the project, Youngkin will ask the Virginia General Assembly in the 2024 session to approve the creation of a Virginia Sports and Entertainment Authority, a public entity with the ability to issue bonds. While no upfront state taxpayer dollars would go toward the project, the terms of the agreement would divert new tax revenues from the project to pay down the bonds. "We have reached a very clear understanding, really subject to finalizing the General Assembly's work," Youngkin said in the interview, noting that a key bipartisan legislative committee endorsed the incentive structure earlier this week. Still, on Tuesday night ahead of the announcement, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser unveiled a counterproposal she said had unanimous support from the D.C. Council aimed at keeping the teams. The legislation would direct a half billion dollars to modernize Capital One Arena. "This proposal represents our best and final offer and is the next step in partnering with Monumental Sports to breathe new life and vibrancy into the neighborhood and to keep the Washington Wizards and the Washington Capitals where they belong – in Washington, DC," said Bowser, who was scheduled to hold her own news conference later Wednesday. When the Capitals and Wizards moved from suburban Maryland to D.C.'s Chinatown district in 1997 in what was then known as MCI Center, officials credited the arena with sparking a revival in downtown Washington. In recent years, critics who have faulted city officials for what they call lax crime policies have said the neighborhood around the arena has suffered disproportionately. The administration expects the proposed 9-million-square-foot Virginia entertainment district to generate a combined $12 billion in economic impact for Virginia and Alexandria in the coming decades and create around 30,000 new jobs, Youngkin's office said in a statement. Subject to legislative approval and sign-off from the Alexandria City Council, it would break ground in 2025 and open in late 2028. The development would be a major blow for D.C. and a massive win for Youngkin, a former private equity executive and college basketball player who said he had a pre-existing friendship with Leonsis from the business world. To get it over the finish line, he'll have to work with Democratic majorities in both General Assembly chambers after his party fell short of its stated expectations in November's elections. Democrats, including incoming House Majority Leader Charniele Herring, were on hand for Wednesday's news conference, along with U.S. Sen. Mark Warner. Other key legislative leaders were not. Scott Surovell, who will serve as Senate Democratic leader come January, said in an interview that the project seemed like it could be a good opportunity, but he stopped short of fully endorsing it. Legislators will have questions about transit, taxpayer risk and compensation for the workers who will build the project, he said. The broad outlines of the proposal call for Monumental to invest $403 million in the $2 billion development. Alexandria will put in $106 million toward the construction of the performing arts venue and the development of underground parking. The rest of the approximately $1.5 billion financing would be supported through the authority-issued bonds. Those bonds would be repaid over time through rent paid by the team, parking fees, naming rights and new tax revenues generated by the development. "There is no upfront investment or inclusion of any taxes already being collected by the Commonwealth to repay the bonds and there will be no tax increases for local residents," Youngkin's office said. Potomac Yard, just south of Reagan National Airport, is currently occupied by strip malls and other retail. The site is adjacent to the redevelopment sparked by Amazon's construction of a new headquarters nearby in neighboring Arlington. Moira Salcedo, who lives in the area, attended Wednesday's event to protest, saying she and her neighbors were blindsided. "I hate subsidizing billionaires. And I've lived here for the last 10 years and I know there's no infrastructure for this," she said. In the 1990s, the site received serious consideration as a site for an NFL stadium, but negotiations between the team and Virginia fell through. Asked how a move by Monumental might affect the state's efforts to lure the NFL's Commanders to Virginia, Youngkin said he could not comment. Legislation aimed at recruiting that team to northern Virginia flamed out last year. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[NBA, NHL and MLB unveil a 30-second ad promoting responsible sports betting]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/nba-nhl-and-mlb-unveil-a-30second-ad-promoting-responsible-sports-betting</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/nba-nhl-and-mlb-unveil-a-30second-ad-promoting-responsible-sports-betting</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The NBA's senior VP and head of gaming and new business ventures said it is important to educate especially young bettors on the inherent risk of sports gambling and correct the misperception that it's a good way to make money.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:05:49 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball have joined forces to produce a 30-second ad promoting responsible sports betting. The "Never Know What’s Next" commercial unveiled Tuesday is a coordination of the three leagues, sportsbook operators DraftKings, Fanatics, PENN Entertainment and the National Council on Problem Gambling. Scott Kaufman-Ross, the NBA's senior VP and head of gaming and new business ventures, said it was important to educate especially young bettors on the inherent risk of sports gambling and correct the misperception that it's a good way to make money. "With more fans than ever having the opportunity to legally bet in their home states, it is imperative that we work with our media and sportsbook partners, as well as with our friends at the NBA and MLB, to inform and emphasize the risks and encourage the importance of setting limits and betting responsibly, especially among our growing fanbase in the younger demographic," NHL chief business officer Keith Wachtel said. The ad’s message is to remind betters to set betting limits and gamble responsibly. It’s set to air during the Cleveland Cavaliers-Philadelphia 76ers in-season tournament game on TNT and on the leagues’ social media channels. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Which 'Big Four' franchise will end title drought first?]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/which-big-four-franchise-will-end-title-drought-first</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/which-big-four-franchise-will-end-title-drought-first</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[With the Rangers winning the World Series for the first time, here are the franchises across the four major sports that have gone the longest since winning a title.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 06 Nov 2023 13:35:17 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Texas Rangers and their fans are still basking in the glow of the franchise's first World Series championship. It was the first MLB title for the franchise, which was originally the Washington Senators from 1961-71 before relocating to the Lone Star State for the 1972 season. RELATED: Texans fans lament taking knee in bad beat That was a wait of 62 years for the franchise to bring home the trophy. You can't call Rangers fans "long-suffering" anymore Here are the franchises in the Big Four sports that have the longest active drought since last winning a championship, and the odds for winning the title this season or next: NFL Franchise: Arizona (Chicago/St. Louis) CardinalsLast title: 1947To win this season: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total) NBA Franchise: Sacramento Kings/Kansas City Kings/Rochester RoyalsLast title: 1951To win this season: +6500 (bet $10 to win $660 total) NHL Franchise: Toronto Maple LeafsLast title: 1967To win this season: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total) MLB Franchise: Cleveland GuardiansLast title: 1948To win next season: +5500 (bet $10 to win $560 total) The Cardinals last won the NFL title as the Chicago Cardinals in 1947. The franchise moved to St. Louis in 1960, then to Arizona in 1988. The Cardinals have played in one Super Bowl, losing SB XLIII to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-23. The Guardians, then known as the Indians, won the World Series in 1920 and 1948. They lost the World Series in 1954 (4-0 to the New York Giants, now the San Francisco Giants), in 1995 (lost 4-2 to the Atlanta Braves), in 1997 (lost 4-3 to the Florida Marlins, now Miami Marlins) and in 2016 (lost 4-3 to the Chicago Cubs). The Kings have yet to play for the NBA title since leaving Rochester in 1957. The franchise was located in Cincinnati (1957-72), Kansas City/Omaha (1972-75) and Kansas City (1975-85) before moving to California's capitol city. The Maple Leafs rank third in the NHL with 13 Stanley Cups, but Toronto has gone the longest among the Original Six franchises since skating a victory lap with Lord Stanley's chalice. The Chicago Blackhawks last won it all in 2015, the Boston Bruins in 2011, the Detroit Red Wings in 2008, the New York Rangers in 1994 and Montreal Canadiens in 1993. Since Toronto won it all in 1967, 15 expansion teams/WHA franchises have won the Cup, including the Vegas Golden Knights, who won it all in June in their fifth season. Bruce Cassidy, Vegas' coach, was born two years before Toronto's last championship. Do you think any of the four franchises can win the title this season? Follow along with FOX Sports for the latest sports news.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Qatar Investment Authority buys stake in Wizards, Capitals, Mystics]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/qatar-investment-authority-buys-stake-in-wizards-capitals-mystics</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/qatar-investment-authority-buys-stake-in-wizards-capitals-mystics</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Qatar Investment Authority is buying a roughly 5% stake of Monumental Sports & Entertainment as part of a $4.05 billion deal.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 22 Jun 2023 17:29:01 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The Qatar Investment Authority is buying a minority stake in Monumental Sports &amp; Entertainment, the parent company of the NBA’s Washington Wizards, NHL’s Washington Capitals and WNBA's Washington Mystics, according to a person with knowledge of the sale. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because the agreement had not been announced. It is believed to be the first time the government of Qatar is investing in U.S. professional sports. Sportico first reported the transaction, saying it is the first time any sovereign wealth fund has bought into ownership of an American team. Qatar hosted soccer’s World Cup for the first time last year, helping FIFA reach a record revenue level because of booming ticket and hospitality sales. Ted Leonsis is managing partner and chairman of Monumental, which lists 20 other partners on its website, including Laurene Powell Jobs and Washington Nationals owner Mark Lerner. The company also owns the Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League and recently took over the media outlet formerly known as NBC Sports Washington, now Monumental Sports Network. Reporting by The Associated Press.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Panthers vs. Golden Knights: NHL Stanley Cup Final odds, Conn Smythe MVP odds, schedule]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/panthers-vs-golden-knights-nhl-stanley-cup-final-odds-conn-smythe-mvp-odds-schedule</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/panthers-vs-golden-knights-nhl-stanley-cup-final-odds-conn-smythe-mvp-odds-schedule</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Here's a look back at the betting odds for the Stanley Cup Final after the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Florida Panthers in five games.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 11 Jun 2023 01:03:39 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The second time was the charm for the Vegas Golden Knights. The Golden Knights, a recent expansion addition to the NHL (joined in 2017), reached the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season but lost in five games to the Washington Capitals. Vegas made it back to the Final this season and claimed Lord Stanley's chalice by beating the Florida Panthers in five games, backing owner Bill Foley's prediction the team would win the Stanley Cup in six years. The NBA's Milwaukee Bucks – led by Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) won the title in 1971 in their third season. MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks won the 2001 World Series in their fourth season and the then-Florida Marlins won it all in 1997 in their fifth season. The surprising Panthers – the third No. 8 seed to reach the Final – were playing for the Cup for the second time since joining the league in 1993. The Colorado Avalanche swept the Panthers in 1996. Vegas was the top seed from the Western Conference with 111 points in the regular season, 19 more than Florida. SERIES WINNER Golden Knights: -2000 (bet $10 to win $10.50 total)Panthers: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total) HEAD-TO-HEAD REGULAR SEASON Jan. 12: at Golden Knights 4, Panthers 2March 7: at Panthers 2, Golden Knights 1 Schedule, scores for the series (Vegas wins 4-1): Game 1: Golden Knights 5, Panthers 2Game 2: Golden Knights 7, Panthers 2Game 3: Panthers 3, Golden Knights 2 (OT)Game 4: Golden Knights 3, Panthers 2Game 5: Golden Knights 9, Panthers 3 The Panthers were hoping to become the second No. 8 seed to win the Stanley Cup under the current format, joining the Los Angeles Kings (2012). Florida is not a fluke after rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the first round to oust the Boston Bruins – the heavy favorite to win it all entering the postseason – then bumping the favored Toronto Maple Leafs in the conference semifinals in five games. Vegas used a strong second half to charge into the playoffs. The Golden Knights were 29-18-4 and on a four-game skid heading into the All-Star break. Vegas won five in a row after the break en route to the Pacific Division title. Heading into the season, Vegas (+2500) was a much longer shot to win the Cup than the Panthers (+900). Florida was at +11000 after falling behind Boston 3-1 in the first round. Here are the previous 10 Stanley Cup winners: 2022: Colorado Avalanche 2021: Tampa Bay Lightning 2020: Tampa Bay Lightning 2019: St. Louis Blues 2018: Washington Capitals 2017: Pittsburgh Penguins 2016: Pittsburgh Penguins 2015: Chicago Blackhawks 2014: Los Angeles Kings 2013: Chicago Blackhawks CONN SMYTHE TROPHY ODDS Vegas' Jonathan Marchessault won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player to his team in the playoffs. Here were the top six betting favorites heading into Game 5: Jonathan Marchessault, Golden Knights right wing: -500 (bet $10 to win $12 total)Adin Hill, Golden Knights goalie: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)Jack Eichel, Golden Knights center: +1500 (bet $10 to win $160 total)Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers right wing: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total)Mark Stone, Golden Knights right wing: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total) Sergei Bobrovsky, Panthers goalie: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) CONN SMYTHE WINNERS SINCE 2013 2022 Cale Makar, Avalanche defenseman2021 Andrei Vasilevskiy, Lightning goalie2020 Victor Hedman, Lightning defenseman2019 Ryan O'Reilly, Blues center2018 Alexander Ovechkin, Capitals left wing2017 Sidney Crosby, Penguins center2016 Sidney Crosby, Penguins center2015 Duncan Keith, Blackhawks defenseman2014 Justin Williams, Kings right wing2013 Patrick Kane, Blackhawks right wing2012 Jonathan Quick, Kings goalie Head on over to FOX Bet to place your bet now! Play FOX Super 6 every week for your chance to win thousands of dollars every week. Just download the Super 6 app and make your picks today!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Sportsbooks seeing huge action on Nuggets; NBA Finals sharp, big bets]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/sportsbooks-seeing-huge-action-on-nuggets-nba-finals-big-bets</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/sportsbooks-seeing-huge-action-on-nuggets-nba-finals-big-bets</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Patrick Everson talked to an oddsmaker and sharp about the Heat-Nuggets NBA Finals. Read here for the sportsbooks' perspective and how one bettor stands to win almost a million dollars if this team wins.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 01 Jun 2023 12:45:07 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[No Steph Curry. No LeBron James. No Jayson Tatum or Giannis Antetokounmpo. No throwback Los Angeles Lakers vs. Boston Celtics matchup. Also, no problem, at least from one sportsbook’s perspective on NBA Finals odds. After all, there’s still two-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić and his red-hot Denver Nuggets and the continuing Cinderella story of Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat. Kevin Lawler, head of trading for PointsBet USA, and savvy NBA bettor Rick Camp help us dive into NBA Finals odds markets ahead of Thursday night’s Game 1 in the Mile High City. Let's break down what should be an eventful NBA Finals. Simply the Best Some oddsmakers are rightly noting that a Heat-Nuggets championship series isn’t going to generate nearly as much action as a Lakers-Celtics series. But with the massive expansion of legal sports betting over the past five years, PointsBet has found that to be less of a concern. In fact, the company’s U.S. base is in Denver, and sports betting is legal and thriving in Colorado. So there’s been no shortage of interest in the Nuggets. And Miami running all the way to the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed also provides a compelling storyline. "Nikola Jokić and Jimmy Butler, to a lesser extent, have shone brighter than any [other big] names in this postseason, so we don’t see any dampener at all," Lawler said. "Both these teams are popular, and the Nuggets particularly so in our home state. Ideally and selfishly, we’d probably prefer something like Nuggets-Sixers or Nuggets-Knicks, where we have two teams facing off from states in which we operate. "But overall, we’re not expecting any drop in handle or business. Giannis has been gone since Round 1, and trading metrics have been great so far. Miami and Denver have been the best teams in the postseason. It’s as simple as that — the two best teams have made it through to the showpiece." The Long Journey After Miami eliminated Boston in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals, PointsBet opened NBA Finals series odds at Nuggets -400/Heat +300. There’s been little movement since then, with Denver -400 and Miami +310 as of Wednesday afternoon. But both teams have come a long way from where they started. Before the 2022-23 season began, the Heat were +1600 and the Nuggets +2000 in odds to win the NBA Finals. Denver was pretty solid all season en route to the West’s No. 1 seed and was +800 entering the playoffs. Miami, however, traveled a tougher road. The Heat finished eighth in the East and had to go through two play-in games — a loss to Atlanta and a win over Chicago — just to get into the playoffs. Bettors could’ve gotten Miami +5000 at PointsBet in January and +4000 at the start of the postseason. Despite different paths and levels of success, both teams have seen plenty of attention at PointsBet. "The Nuggets have been popular from the get-go," Lawler said. "Clients were backing them from the start of the season, all the way through the Christmas period when they were atop the West, and into the playoffs as the 1-seed. Particularly in Colorado, clients have wanted to bet on their home team. "Similarly, clients have believed in the Heat all the way through. They were one game from the Finals last year, and despite finishing in the play-ins with a mediocre regular-season record [44-38], they’ve been backed consistently all year." Miami shocked No. 1 seed Milwaukee in the first round, winning the series 4-1. The Heat then beat the Knicks in six games and the Celtics in seven to reach the Finals. Denver took out Minnesota in five games, Phoenix in six, then pinned a 4-0 sweep on LeBron and the Lakers. Both teams are actually better for PointsBet customers than the book in the NBA Finals. Miami is a smaller loser than Denver for the book. "Interestingly, Boston was the best outright result for PointsBet. But Miami thwarted that in Game 7," Lawler said. "Miami is a small loser, with a couple of tickets in the +4000 range back at the start of the playoffs." [RELATED: NBA Finals prediction, picks, series odds] The Sharp Side Camp has a cornucopia of thoughts on NBA Finals betting, from series winner to alternate series markets to player props and, of course, who emerges as NBA Finals MVP. Regarding who claims the title: "After winning three straight in the fashion the Heat have, every analyst is making sure to give Miami credit before picking Denver to win the title. That should be a sign because the Heat winning the championship would be a great narrative, but the Nuggets have been beyond impressive in the playoffs. "When looking at the matchup, the room for error is just so much larger for the Nuggets. No matter the lineup or rotation adjustments Erik Spoelstra makes, Denver has an answer for it, and it is a matter of picking your poison." On series/alternate series odds: "The market is strong on the Nuggets as the rightful favorites, and there is no value on Denver -1.5 games. If someone is desperate to play the Denver side, an exact outcome of 4-1, with Denver closing it out at home, makes sense. But it’s not something I will personally be playing." And on the MVP chase: "As for Finals MVP, this is the best player on the winning team a vast majority of the time. I do not believe there is value in Jokić or Butler right now. If I was forced to take a long shot, it would be Aaron Gordon at +31000 (310/1) at FanDuel because Gordon provides what Jokić cannot: great defense on Jimmy Butler. If he does a fantastic job shutting down Butler, scores near 20 per game, and the Denver offensive numbers are not great to where Jokić would have insane stats, there could be a slight chance Gordon gets there." Camp said it’s not so much a belief that Gordon can win MVP — again, he recognizes it’s a major long shot — but a play against what he sees as odds that are too long. All the above duly noted, how does Camp see the NBA Finals playing out? "I think the Nuggets win the series in five or six games, but a sweep would be more likely than this getting to Game 7," Camp said while realizing Miami has proven that the NBA playoffs are anything but predictable. "Could the Heat win Game 1 and make me — yet another person — look like a fool? Absolutely." Florida Parlay Not to be overshadowed, the Stanley Cup Final is also set, running fairly concurrent with the NBA Finals. The Florida Panthers face the Vegas Golden Knights for the right to lift Lord Stanley’s chalice. There are striking similarities between the Panthers and their NBA neighbor Miami Heat. Obviously, both teams are based in South Florida. Both got into their respective postseasons as the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference. Both then beat their respective league’s best regular-season team in the first round. The Panthers rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to stun the record-setting Boston Bruins 4-3. The Heat rolled to a 4-1 series win over the Milwaukee Bucks. And now, both are in the championship series. So why not fire on a two-team championship parlay of Heat-Panthers? If you do so at PointsBet USA — parlaying the Heat to win it all with the Panthers to win it all — then the odds are +740. So if you bet $100, the potential profit is $740. I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie Along with those aforementioned couple of tickets at +4000 on the Heat to win the NBA Finals, Lawler noted that PointsBet USA took a $4,000 bet on the Nuggets +2000 at the beginning of the season. Should Denver finish the job, that customer would land an $80,000 profit. Lawler also said the Nuggets drew plenty of tickets at +800 before the playoffs began. And again, the Nuggets are now -400 to win the NBA Finals. Of course, not many bettors want to lay -400, meaning it takes a $400 bet to net a $100 profit. So if they like the Nuggets, then they’re looking to other markets. Caesars Sports noted one customer piling up on Denver making this a quick series: – $20,000 on Nuggets sweep +600 – $10,000 on Nuggets sweep +550 – $40,000 on Nuggets sweep +525 If Denver sweeps Miami 4-0, that bettor’s $70,000 in wagers will yield a hefty $385,000 in profit. A DraftKings Sportsbook customer also put $100,000 on the Nuggets +900 to win the Finals for a potential profit of $900,000. Obviously, for these types of bettors, this is Monopoly money. So as always, while enjoying the NBA Finals, never bet more than you can afford to lose. Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting space. He’s based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on Twitter: @PatrickE_Vegas Play FOX Super 6 every week for your chance to win thousands of dollars every week. Just download the Super 6 app and make your picks today!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Bookmakers break down NBA, NHL Playoffs, big bets]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/bookmakers-break-down-nba-nhl-playoffs-big-bets</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/bookmakers-break-down-nba-nhl-playoffs-big-bets</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Patrick Everson talked to bookmakers about betting NBA Game 7, potential Finals matchups, how one bettor won big on Boston's game winner and he found out which NHL team oddsmakers are rooting against in playoffs!]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 29 May 2023 10:22:26 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[With football season still months away, there’s nothing like a good Game 7 to keep the sports betting juices flowing. Thankfully — or perhaps we should say hopefully — the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat are prepared to deliver just that on Monday night to cap Memorial Day weekend. That’s not the only thing going on in the sports betting space, though. Half of the Stanley Cup Final field is set, with the upstart Florida Panthers waiting on the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars in the Western Conference. And even in late May, NFL betting remains part of the landscape. So let’s serve up a smorgasbord of nuggets on the NBA and NHL playoffs, as well as reveal details on how your ability to make NFL picks could get you a piece of $14 million this fall. Boston Bounce Back Last Monday night, the eighth-seeded Heat were sitting on a 3-0 series lead against the Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals. A week later, Boston has the series tied at 3, and we’re getting a massive Game 7 on Monday night in Beantown. The winner advances to meet the Denver Nuggets, making their first NBA Finals appearance. Boston is a 7.5-point home favorite against Miami (including at FOX Bet), but BetMGM Nevada’s Scott Shelton said action on the Strip is very much running toward the underdog Heat. "Immediately, they pounced on the Heat here. We went from 8.5 to 7.5," Shelton said, noting sharp money landed on Miami when the line first went up Saturday night after Boston’s buzzer-beating Game 6 win to tie the series. "Ticket count is almost 6-1 on the Heat, and the money is almost 7-1 on the Heat." The total also got popped right away. "There was sharp play immediately on the Under," Shelton said Sunday night. "We opened at 206.5, and it got pounded down as soon as it opened Saturday night. We’re now at 203.5." [RELATED: Heat-Celtics Game 7 odds] Shelton said there aren’t any big bets on Game 7 yet, but he anticipates a high roller or two will weigh in before the 8:30 p.m. ET tipoff. Regardless, thanks to Eastern Conference championship futures betting, the Heat are a notable liability in Vegas. "To win the East, we’re a mid-six-figure loser to the Heat," Shelton said, while noting there’s a flip side to that potential loss. "We’d kind of make up for it, though, if the Heat were to win it all against the Nuggets, as opposed to the Celtics winning it all." Big picture, though, LeBron James &amp; Co. being out of the picture is all BetMGM Nevada needed. "Once the Lakers went out, it felt like we were on a free roll," Shelton said. "If the Lakers had won the championship, it would’ve been one of the biggest future-book losses in BetMGM Nevada history." Forward Thinking Rex Beyers has worked for some of the most respected sportsbooks in the industry, including The SuperBook and South Point in Vegas. Beyers is now the head of wagering at PlayUp USA, which operates in New Jersey and Colorado. With the Nuggets already in the NBA Finals, Beyers discussed series odds for a potential Celtics-Nuggets matchup and Heat-Nuggets matchup. "I rate the Nuggets higher than everybody else, and I have the whole time," Beyers said of his stance throughout the playoffs. "I do think Denver is the superior team." However, Boston would have home-court advantage against Denver in the Finals, for what it’s worth. Beyers feels that advantage is almost negligible, though the Celts would likely open as the favorite. "Home court doesn’t mean that much in today’s NBA, and I really think that Boston can’t be any kind of a real favorite. The Celtics are going to be a small series favorite, but they shouldn’t be -140 or higher, which I think they might be," Beyers said. "I think it should be much closer to a pick (-110). I’ll be the cheapest price on Boston. I’ll make sure my first bet taken is on Boston." Beyers also pointed out that Denver is superb at home, going 34-7 in the regular season and 8-0 so far in the postseason. "I think the Nuggets win all three at home. All Denver has to do in theory is win one on the road. And I think they can win two on the road," he said. "Nothing would surprise me, other than Boston winning. I can’t see the Celtics beating Denver four times, regardless of if the games are in Boston, Denver or on Mars." Of course, the Heat will have something to say about the NBA Finals matchup. If Miami resumes its Cinderella playoff run by winning Game 7 at Boston, Beyers would make Denver a significant NBA Finals favorite. "If it’s Heat-Nuggets, I’d say Denver -550/Miami +425," Beyers said. "Anything a little lower or a little higher wouldn’t surprise me, but I can’t see it much off from that." Florida Watches and Waits Meanwhile, in the Stanley Cup playoffs, another No. 8 seed from the Sunshine State is already in the championship series. The Panthers swept the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals. So the Panthers have been resting for five days already, and Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final isn’t until Saturday. That means Florida will be plenty rested once the Golden Knights and Stars settle their business in the Western Conference finals. Regardless of who wins in the West, Vegas or Dallas will have home-ice advantage against Florida. If it’s a Panthers-Knights Cup Final, then Beyers — who works out of Las Vegas — will have a very different need than most Sin City bookmakers. "We’re in bad shape to Florida," Beyers said, alluding to the Stanley Cup futures market at PlayUp. "We’ve got money on Florida at 45-1, 35-1 and 30-1. I’m the only bookmaker in Vegas who’s gonna root for the Knights. We need the Knights for a pile. We’re a small winner to the Knights, and we lose more than we should to Florida." Likewise, the book needs the Stars if they advance to face the Panthers. "If it were anyone but Florida, we’d be rooting for that side," Beyers said. What’s the Guarantee? For the past few weeks, Circa Sports has been teasing its annual NFL picks contests with commercials asking, "What’s the guarantee?" The guarantee being how much Vegas casino owner and avid sports bettor Derek Stevens will put up in those two contests: Circa Millions, in which contestants make five NFL picks against the point spread each week of the regular season; and Circa Survivor, in which contestants make one pick a week, but can’t use the same team twice. For the 2023-24 NFL season, that guarantee is $14 million — $8 million for Circa Survivor and $6 million for Circa Million. It costs $1,000 to enter each contest, but when you think of that as ostensibly a $1,000 bet that covers the entire season, a lot of people find that quite attractive. "It certainly is some of the appeal when you think about it. It’s less than 60 bucks a week," Stevens said. "You get a massive amount of entertainment value. You can play from anywhere. That all plays into it. You get a tremendous amount of action for the cost. And the upside if you get hot is incredible." Indeed, Circa Million guarantees $1 million to the winner — the contestant with the best against-the-spread record across the whole season — and the top 100 finishers cash. Further, there are quarterly payouts and even a $100,000 prize for the contestant who posts the worst record. And all entry-fee money goes back to the contestants. Circa Sports doesn’t make a dime. Circa Survivor, as its name suggests, is a winner-take-all pool. Last season’s winner cleared $3 million. In both contests, as Stevens alluded to, you don’t have to live in Nevada to compete. You just have to make a trip to downtown Las Vegas before the NFL season starts in order to enter and have a Vegas-based proxy submit your picks each week. Arguably the most interesting facet of both contests is that, while plenty of recreational bettors get involved, professionals engage, as well. Generally speaking, sharp bettors don’t like to have their money tied up for months at a time. But the perceived value in these types of contests makes it worthwhile. "Both of our contests play to both novice players and sharps," Stevens said. "The fact that we take out no rake (from entry fees) on either of our football contests allows for scenarios of positive expected value, which attracts the professionals. The simplicity makes it attractive to first-timers. "It’s a really unique situation that makes them attractive to both, and it points toward the growing consumer base." I Like Big Bets and I Cannot Lie OK, I’ve only got one wager to mention in this space, and it’s not even a big one. But it was a really nice payout, and it speaks to the more common sports bettor. DraftKings Sportsbook offered an NBA playoffs proposition bet on whether the Eastern Conference finals would have any game decided by a buzzer-beating game-winning basket. In Saturday’s Game 6, that’s exactly what happened. With Boston trailing 103-102 and just three seconds remaining, Marcus Smart took an inbounds pass from Derrick White and chucked up a desperation 3-pointer. Smart’s shot missed, but White crashed the boards and tipped in the rebound as the clock expired. So the Celtics won 104-103, and anybody who jumped on that prop — which paid +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total) — cashed out nicely at DraftKings. The largest bet acknowledged by DK was just $100. Still, a $4,000 win is a pretty nice return on a $100 investment. May we all see such ROI on any bet in our entire lives. Enjoy Heat-Celtics Game 7 and Knights-Stars Game 6, and remember: Never bet more than you can afford to lose. Keep it reasonable, people. Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting space. He’s based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on Twitter: @PatrickE_Vegas. Play FOX Super 6 every week for your chance to win thousands of dollars every week. Just download the Super 6 app and make your picks today!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Top 20 most-hyped draft prospects ever: Rankings across NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/top-20-most-hyped-draft-prospects-ever-rankings-across-nfl-nba-mlb-nhl-wnba</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/top-20-most-hyped-draft-prospects-ever-rankings-across-nfl-nba-mlb-nhl-wnba</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[With Victor Wembenyama deemed the next great pro sports draft prospect, let's take a look back at some other athletes who entered their careers with massive pre-draft hype.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 25 May 2023 23:21:34 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Uncertainty and intrigue often surround the No. 1 overall pick heading into a draft. In some years, however, one prospect emerges from the field, and the only uncertainty is whether that player will live up to the massive hype. Enter Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-4, 19-year-old out of France, who is universally projected to go No. 1 overall to the Spurs in the 2023 NBA Draft after San Antonio won Tuesday's draft lottery. The hype for Wembanyama has skyrocketed in recent months, with NBA stars including Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo and LeBron James — who knows a thing or two about extreme pre-draft expectations himself — heaping praise on the game-changing French prospect. Some have even called Wembenyama the best prospect in team sports history. When Wembanyama hears his name called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on June 22, he will officially join the ranks of the most heavily anticipated first overall picks of all time across every sport. With that in mind, let's take a look at other No. 1 picks throughout history with massive expectations heaped on them and see how they fared. 1. LeBron James Year: 2003 League: NBA Team: Cleveland Cavaliers What people were saying: James was already turning heads across the NBA by the middle of his junior season in high school, but the hype kicked into overdrive when a now-legendary Feb. 2002 Sports Illustrated cover heralded the then-17-year-old as "The Chosen One," comparing him to Michael Jordan. By the time James was a senior, his games were being shown on national television. Minutes after the Cavaliers won the NBA Draft lottery in 2003, then-owner Gordon Gund posed with a custom-made No. 23 James jersey. Did he live up to the hype? In the nearly 20 years since James was drafted, he has either met or surpassed just about every lofty expectation bestowed on him back then. Cavaliers franchise savior? James led the team to five NBA Finals appearances and a dramatic, climactic championship over the Golden State Warriors in 2016 during his second tenure in Cleveland. Face of the NBA? James has won four league championships, four MVPs and Finals MVPs each, is a 19-time All-Star and 13-time First Team All-NBA honoree, and became the league's all-time leading scorer in early 2023 after already holding the playoff scoring title for several years. The next Michael Jordan? James' staggering on-court success has sparked a long-running debate about which player had the better career, and his pursuit of various off-court ventures in business, media, activism and philanthropy has few peers in modern athlete history. 2.  John Elway Year: 1983 League: NFL Team: Baltimore Colts/Denver Broncos* Prior team: Stanford What people were saying: Elway's entry into the NFL as one of the most well-regarded quarterback prospects of all time is also notable for how he leveraged his clout as a well-regarded baseball prospect in the New York Yankees organization to force a trade away from the Baltimore Colts, who selected him first overall, to the Denver Broncos. A Washington Post dispatch from some of Elway's first practices as a Bronco that summer describes a circus of media and fans in attendance expecting to see something like Willie Mays catching fly balls in his first spring training. Did he live up to the hype? Elway earned his place at the front of a historically great NFL Draft class that included fellow Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Marino and Jim Kelly. Elway was the face of the Broncos throughout his 16-year career, winning an MVP in 1987, making the Pro Bowl nine times and leading Denver to five Super Bowls, finally winning back-to-back titles in 1998 and 1999 to cap off his illustrious career. Elway would later return to the Broncos as general manager and assemble the team that would win Denver's third Super Bowl in 2016. 3.  Bryce Harper Year: 2010 League: MLB Team: Washington Nationals What people were saying: Harper got the baseball version of the LeBron James treatment as a high school star in Las Vegas — a Sports Illustrated cover featuring the 16-year-old Harper literally labeled him "Baseball's Chosen One" and "The most exciting prodigy since LeBron." He earned his GED at 17 to leave high school early and spent a year starring in a junior-college division that, unlike the NCAA, used wooden bats, earning the Golden Spikes Award as the No. 1 amateur baseball player in the country. Did he live up to the hype? Harper stormed through the minor leagues, made his MLB debut early in the 2012 season, was named National League Rookie of the Year and helped the Nationals to their first playoff berth since the franchise's 2005 relocation and rebrand from Montreal. The story of his career since then has been mixed — Harper has dealt with several injuries, but when healthy, he has been the prolifically gifted hitter that he was billed as. Harper has made seven All-Star teams and was named National League MVP in 2015 and 2021, the latter award coming after he signed a 13-year, $330 million contract with the Nationals' division rival Philadelphia Phillies in early 2019, at the time the richest contract in the history of North American sports. Arguably Harper's most memorable highlight came last October, when his go-ahead home run in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series helped power the Phillies to an improbable World Series berth. But Harper is still lacking the ultimate prize, as Philadelphia lost the series to the Houston Astros in six games. 4. Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) Year: 1969 League: NBA Team: Milwaukee Bucks What people were saying: Before the days of the social media, the internet or even cable television, Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) stormed onto the basketball scene by leading his high school team on a 71-game winning streak that spanned multiple seasons, led UCLA to three NCAA titles and won National College Player of the Year each of those years and even forced college basketball to temporarily ban the dunk in an effort to curb his dominance. Abdul-Jabbar rejected a $1 million offer from the Harlem Globetrotters and was selected first overall by both the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and the then-American Basketball Association's New York Nets in 1969, choosing the Bucks' $1.4 million contract offer after the Nets' counter-offer, reportedly worth more than $3 million, came too late. Did he live up to the hype? The Bucks improved by 29 wins in Abdul-Jabbar's rookie year and won their first NBA title in his second season, with Abdul-Jabbar also winning NBA MVP and Finals MVP. He won MVP again each of the next two seasons, and was dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975 after one of the first major trade demands in modern professional sports history. He won three more league MVP awards and five more NBA championships as a foundational member of the Lakers' 1980s "Showtime" dynasty alongside Magic Johnson. He also earned another Finals MVP award in 1985, 14 years after his first one. Abdul-Jabbar finished his career with 19 All-Star appearances, 10 First Team All-NBA nods, and remained the league's all-time leading scorer until James broke his record in early 2023. He also remained a prominent social-justice activist during and after his college and NBA careers, receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 for his efforts. 5. Andrew Luck Year: 2012 League: NFL Team: Indianapolis Colts What people were saying: Few have ever entered the NFL Draft with as much hype as Luck did. Draft analysts going back to the middle of his sophomore year in fall 2010 were labeling him one of the most NFL-ready quarterback prospects they had ever seen, and by the end of the 2011 season, they were deeming the Stanford product as good or better than the two other quarterbacks on this list. Luck was considered just about as perfect an NFL Draft prospect as had ever existed in the modern era, so much so that several NFL fan bases adopted the pro-tanking "Suck for Luck" motto in 2011. Ironically, it was the Colts' implosion with Peyton Manning (more on him in a moment), who was sidelined due to injury, that gave them an NFL-worst 2-14 record and the chance to draft Luck. Did he live up to the hype? At first, yes. Luck led the Colts to 11 wins in 2012, the biggest one-season turnaround for a rookie quarterback in NFL history. After leading the Colts on playoff runs again each of the next two years, it seemed like Luck was destined to one day break through and win a Super Bowl in Indianapolis just as Manning eventually did. Instead, Luck started dealing with lingering shoulder injuries and the Colts regressed until returning to the playoffs behind a finally healthy Luck in 2018 — only for Luck to stunningly retire just before the 2019 season at age 29, citing his injuries as a major factor. Luck finished with four Pro Bowl selections and set the NFL single-season rookie passing yards record. 6. Peyton Manning Year: 1998 League: NFL Team: Indianapolis Colts What people were saying: Manning entered the draft after a sterling college football career at Tennessee, leading the Volunteers to an AP top-10 finish each season he was their starting quarterback. He set 33 school records, including in passing yards and touchdowns, and left as the NCAA all-time wins leader. The son of longtime New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning was also predicted to go first overall in the 1997 NFL Draft, but instead chose to stay at Tennessee for another season. When he did enter the draft in 1998, Peyton faced surprisingly fierce competition to go No. 1 overall from Washington State quarterback Ryan Leaf, but won out because he was considered more NFL-ready. Did he live up to the hype? Manning is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history, renowned for his mental acumen at quarterback just as much as his talented throwing arm. He won four NFL MVPs, two AFC championships and a Super Bowl title in Indianapolis, then after the Colts jettisoned him following a major neck surgery that caused him to miss the 2011 season, Manning won another MVP, two more AFC championships and another Super Bowl title with the Denver Broncos. Manning retired as a seven-time first-team All-Pro and 14-time Pro Bowler and still holds the NFL record for most pass yards and most pass touchdowns in a single season. 7. Patrick Ewing Year: 1985 League: NBA Team: New York Knicks What people were saying: After he became a three-time All-American, NCAA Player of the Year and national champion at Georgetown, Ewing was considered the next great NBA big man, set to define a team's era just as Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had done before him. Ewing was already the overwhelming favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick when the first ever NBA draft lottery took place and awarded the New York Knicks with the pick, prompting widespread but unproven accusations that the lottery was rigged to revitalize the floundering Knicks. Did he live up to the hype? The Knicks' lone period of consistent success in the 50 years since their last NBA title lines up perfectly with Ewing's 15 years in New York from 1985-2000, and that's far from a coincidence. Ewing was as dominant as advertised when healthy, winning Rookie of the Year and being named to 11 All-Star teams. He helped the Knicks to two NBA Finals appearances — but failed to win a championship, often running into Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls in the playoffs. 8. Ken Griffey Jr. Year: 1987 League: MLB Team: Seattle Mariners What people were saying: The son and namesake of one of the stars on the 1970s Cincinnati Reds "Big Red Machine" dynasty, Griffey won high school baseball player of the year in 1987 after a career at Cincinnati's Moeller High School that drew scouts from across MLB and would make fans and opponents alike reportedly hold their breath in anticipation of what he could do next. It was usually something special — despite only playing baseball in his final two seasons of high school, Griffey finished with a .478 batting average. Did he live up to the hype? Almost immediately after his MLB debut in 1989, Griffey became one of the most electrifying players across the sport over the next decade. He made 13 All-Star teams, won 10 Gold Gloves and seven Silver Sluggers, was named 1997 American League MVP, hit 630 home runs (currently seventh all-time) and became one of the most iconic figures in Seattle sports history. Injuries marred the back half of his 21-year career following a trade to his hometown Reds in 2000, but by then, Griffey's legacy was already secure. In 2016, Griffey became the first former No. 1 overall MLB Draft pick to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame and the first player to ever be elected with more than 99 percent of the vote. 9. Sidney Crosby Year: 2005 League: NHL Team: Pittsburgh Penguins What people were saying: Crosby had a spotlight on him from an early age as a prolific youth ice hockey star in Canada, and the spotlight only grew when he dominated a major Canadian junior hockey league as a teenager. The draft lottery won by the Penguins to draft him first overall in 2005 was dubbed the "Sidney Crosby lottery." Did he live up to the hype? In the nearly two decades since, all of which Crosby has spent in Pittsburgh, he has led the Penguins to three Stanley Cup championships, won the Art Ross Trophy as NHL individual points leader twice, won two Hart Trophies as the NHL's MVP, two Richard Trophies as the league's leading goalscorer, made eight All-Star teams and won two Smythe Trophies for his postseason heroics. He is widely regarded as one of the best NHL players ever. 10. Alex Rodriguez Year: 1993 League: MLB Team: Seattle Mariners What people were saying: A-Rod was not only a star high-school baseball player in south Florida, batting .477 for the No. 1 team in the country his junior year before increasing his average to .505 his senior year, but also a football star with college offers to play quarterback. He is still considered one of the top high school baseball prospects in the modern era, winning USA Baseball junior player of the year and Gatorade baseball player of the year in 1993. Did he live up to the hype? Rodriguez debuted for the Mariners as an 18-year-old in 1994, but it took him a while to entrench himself in the major leagues. Once he did, Rodriguez became one of the best hitters of his generation. He won the batting title in 1996, his first full MLB season, made 14 All-Star teams, won 10 silver sluggers, led the American League in home runs five different times, won three MVPs and finally captured a World Series championship as a member of the 2009 New York Yankees. Now, Rodriguez shares his insights and analysis on the current generation of baseball stars as an MLB analyst for FOX Sports. 11. Shaquille O’Neal Year: 1992 League: NBA Team: Orlando Magic 12. Stephen Strasburg Year: 2009 League: MLB Team: Washington Nationals 13. Connor McDavid Year: 2015 League: NHL Team: Edmonton Oilers 14. Brittney Griner Year: 2013 League: WNBA Team: Phoenix Mercury 14. Brien Taylor Year: 1991 League: MLB Team: New York Yankees 15. Darryl Strawberry Year: 1980 League: MLB Team: New York Mets 16. Zion Williamson Year: 2019 League: NBA Team: New Orleans Pelicans 17. Trevor Lawrence Year: 2021 League: NFL Team: Jacksonville Jaguars 18. Greg Oden Year: 2007 League: NBA Team: Portland Trail Blazers 19. Cam Newton Year: 2011 League: NFL Team: Carolina Panthers 20. Breanna Stewart Year: 2016 League: WNBA Team: Seattle Storm]]>
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					<![CDATA[Miami nice: Sportsbooks rooting for Miami Heat, Florida Panthers titles]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/miami-nice-heat-panthers-could-pay-off-for-sportsbooks</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/miami-nice-heat-panthers-could-pay-off-for-sportsbooks</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[With the Heat and Panthers on the verge of playing for championships after barely making the playoffs, sportsbooks stand to cash in. Patrick Everson spoke to a couple of oddsmakers about the upstart teams.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Tue, 23 May 2023 13:58:46 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Players on the Miami Heat and Florida Panthers surely believed in themselves over the course of the NBA and NHL seasons. Of course, the coaches believed in their rosters. And die-hard fans always believe, even this year, when these two teams squeaked into the final spots in their respective leagues’ postseason fields. However, from a gambling perspective, bettors most certainly did not believe in the Heat or the Panthers. And bookmakers just might take that to the bank, should Jimmy Butler and Matthew Tkachuk help bring a pair of championships to South Beach. Caesars Sports lead NBA trader David Lieberman and lead NHL trader Thomas Foster chime in on the upstart Heat in the NBA Finals odds market and the surprising Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final odds market. Let's dive into the action. Feeling the Heat Miami finished 44-38 in the regular season, seventh in the Eastern Conference. That meant the Heat had to go through the play-in round just to make the playoffs. After losing to Atlanta in a play-in opener, Miami was on the brink of no playoff berth. But the Heat bounced back to beat Chicago and nab the East’s No. 8 seed. And they’ve been making opponents pay for it ever since. Miami pulled the reverse gentleman’s sweep against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks, winning that series 4-1. Then Butler &amp; Co. took care of the Knicks in six games. Now, against a Boston Celtics team that for significant portions of the season was favored in NBA championship odds, the Heat are up 3-0 with a chance to close out the series at home. "All season long, nobody was betting on the Heat. They were probably one of our best results," Lieberman said. "As soon as they won the play-in, we started to see some action in the championship futures market because their price was still pretty up there." In fact, after the play-in loss to Atlanta, Miami could be had at +25000 to win the title, meaning a $100 bet could net $25,000 in profit. After winning Game 1 but losing Game 2 in the first round against the Bucks, the Heat were +20000. But the Heat took Games 3, 4 and 5 against Milwaukee and have been rolling ever since. And they’ve climbed the NBA Finals odds board in the process, now sitting as the +270 second choice at Caesars among the three remaining teams. Only the Denver Nuggets are shorter, as -280 favorites. "But nobody was betting the Heat to beat the Bucks, and nobody was betting them to beat the Knicks. And they’re a pretty good result for us against the Celtics, too," Lieberman said. "Maybe now, [bettors] might accept that the Heat are a better team than most people thought." To this point, though, that hasn't been the case in Caesars' NBA championship futures market. "The Lakers were who the customers were rooting for. And the Nuggets, who are the second-best result for customers," Lieberman said. [RELATED: LeBron James hints at retirement] Florida Finds Form From March 29-April 8, Florida seemed to be rounding into playoff hockey form. The Panthers had won six in a row in that span. The streak ended April 10 against Toronto, but Florida still got a point, as the loss came in overtime. That late-season surge helped the Panthers land the eighth and final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference. "The Panthers were in playoff mode for about a month before the regular season ended. Those teams are always dangerous, especially in the first round," Foster explained. Still, four games into the first round, against the record-setting, top-seeded Boston Bruins, the Panthers found themselves in a 3-1 series hole. But Florida won the next two games – including two at Boston in overtime – to advance. Then the Panthers staked a 3-0 lead against the Maple Leafs en route to a 4-1 series win. Now, in the Eastern Conference finals, eighth-seeded Florida is up 3-0 on Carolina. The Panthers took the first two games on the road in overtime, then ground out a 1-0 Game 3 win at home on Monday. Florida now sits just one game away from the Stanley Cup Final. "The Panthers got a little bit of attention for the conference title and the Stanley Cup at the beginning of the year, due to the moves they made in the offseason and their performance in last year's playoffs, when they beat the Capitals in the first round," Foster said. "When they underperformed during the year, interest waned, and then it picked up again when they made their drive to the playoffs." But much as with the Heat, the Panthers pick up hasn’t been nearly enough to make Florida a concern behind the counter. "We don’t have any major liabilities with the four teams left in the playoffs," Foster said of the NHL’s four conference finalists, with the Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars rounding out the field. Harder in Hoops Foster and Lieberman agreed that the Heat’s run is probably the more surprising of the two Miami-based franchises, though both have been nothing short of impressive. "I am more surprised with the Heat’s success than that of the Panthers, due to the way NBA playoffs typically go," Foster said. "The NHL is littered with teams getting in late and making deep runs. One that comes to mind is the Philadelphia Flyers in 2009-10. They made the playoffs in a shootout against the New York Rangers on the last day of the season, and ended up making it to the Stanley Cup Final as a No. 7 seed. "The NHL playoffs are more closely compared with the NCAA basketball tournament than the NBA playoffs, which is a little ironic." Added Lieberman: "In hockey, it’s a lot more common. But it’s a huge shock for the Panthers, because they had to go through the Bruins." While few futures bettors got on the Heat or Panthers, particularly at longer odds, there are certainly some tickets out there. A few customers will cash out nicely if either team gets a title. "As an 8-seed, the Heat were one of the longest shots. And anytime that happens, there are always a few bettors who’ll play the long shot," Lieberman said. "There are probably some nice big tickets with the Heat to win it all – even a hundred bucks on a 60/1 shot would pay out nicely." As noted above, the Heat were as long as +25000, and when the Panthers trailed Boston 3-1, they were +15000 to lift the Stanley Cup. "Some bettors might be hedging out if the Heat get to the Finals," Lieberman said. Regardless, both the Heat and Panthers are on stunning runs. "I’m very surprised, even as a fan of both sports. The similarities between the two teams are really fun to follow," Lieberman said. "They’ve had similar feats to get to this point. It’s pretty exciting to watch these two teams pull off the same Cinderella story. Personally, I’m rooting for underdogs, and these are two of the biggest to make it in a while, especially in the NBA. It’s very rare for an 8-seed to get this far." It’s all part of what’s been an incredible couple of months in South Florida, in the fan and sports betting space. Keep in mind Florida Atlantic and Miami reached the Final Four in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. "It’s a good time to be a South Florida sports fan," Lieberman said. "The last couple of months have been a magical run for that region." Patrick Everson is a sports betting analyst for FOX Sports and senior reporter for VegasInsider.com. He is a distinguished journalist in the national sports betting space. He’s based in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golfing in 110-degree heat. Follow him on Twitter: @PatrickE_Vegas. Play FOX Super 6 every week for your chance to win thousands of dollars every week. Just download the Super 6 app and make your picks today!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Across sports, beasts of the east are reigning supreme]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/across-sports-beasts-of-the-east-are-reigning-supreme</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/across-sports-beasts-of-the-east-are-reigning-supreme</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Across the major American sports, eastern teams have been dominating the last few months.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Wed, 03 May 2023 12:39:40 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Sports media (this column included) likes its rhymes and nicknames and catchy bits of wordplay, and some snippets of lyrical mischief are just too good to avoid. Which is how, any time a team or collection of teams from the Eastern part of North America lands upon an especially potent run of form, we get treated to the term "Beasts from the East" in headlines, tweets, news bulletins and more. On the flip side, a particularly shiny season for a squad from the other coast prompts multiple usages of something like the "Best of the West." Before we get sidetracked by debating the ingenuity or otherwise of the sports journalism industry, let's just say this: there are a heck of a lot of "beasts" around right now. Across the major American sports, plus a few slightly more fringe ones for good measure, there is currently an overwhelming trend favoring conferences and divisions that happen to be geographically situated on the right-hand side of the map. With apologies to Marshawn Lynch for poaching his iconic term, the Philadelphia Eagles are in full-fledged Beast Mode at present, coming off narrowly missing out on the Super Bowl, signing Jalen Hurts to a whopper of a five-year contract, and acing — by most neutral analytics — the NFL Draft. The Eagles were the standard-bearer for the NFC East (until recently bad enough to be monikered as the NFC Least), but they were far from the only ones to have a profitable campaign in 2022. Behind them, the Dallas Cowboys racked up a 12-5 record, Brian Daboll coached the New York Giants to their best year since 2016, while all three not only reached the postseason but also the divisional round, the first time three teams from a single division had managed that feat since 1997. In MLB, the American League East is similarly mighty, headlined by the Tampa Bay Rays, who began the campaign with a 13-0 tear, triumphed in 14 straight at home, are spurred by the lively brilliance of Randy Arozarena and Wander Franco, and as of early Wednesday sat pretty at an MLB best 24-6. Following along, the Baltimore Orioles are cruising along merrily at 20-9 and while no one ever feels sorry for the New York Yankees, it must be a somewhat unfortunate feeling to be 16-15 and yet stuck at the bottom of a five-team division. "(We're) taking care of our own business … for a good part of the season until you really have to start looking at standings, but it is pretty interesting how this division has been on a pretty good roll," Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters. There isn't much of a cohesive argument to make as to why the East is shining across all sports, but within the microeconomies of each individual division or conference there is some microeconomy at play. With the NFC East weakened for so long and the NFL postseason system rewarding division winners with a home game, the Eagles, Cowboys, Giants and Washington Commanders were all incentivized to strengthen in recent offseasons. The AL East is always likely to be strong due to the heavy spending of the Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, so when the Rays thrive while spending a third or half as much as those teams, the division resembles a behemoth. Seriously though, what is going on? Have the moons aligned strangely and created a special, mystical force across the Eastern time zone? Has being subject to so much sunshine and surrounded by so many good-looking people proven to be an immutable distraction for those in the West? Or is (hint: the answer is probably yes, if we're being honest), the whole thing a monumental coincidence that just so happened to go a certain way? It's not slowing down, though. In the NBA, the three best records in the regular season were all from the Eastern Conference — Milwaukee, Boston, Philadelphia. In the NHL, the same thing, courtesy of the Bruins, Hurricanes and the Devils. In each of those sports the hottest postseason underdog also comes from the East, the geographically adjacent Miami Heat and Florida Panthers. During college hoops' season of Madness the overwhelming voice of calm came from overall champion UConn, hailing from a conference titled, you guessed it, the Big East. You can even take this to boxing, where in one of the biggest fights of the year Baltimore's Gervonta Davis stopped Los Angeles' Ryan Garcia. Or to Major League Soccer, where the top two points scorers so far this season are from the Eastern Conference, while the two lowest come from the West. We've seen quirks like this within individual sports before, but when I took a straw poll of sage old-time reporters, no one can remember it crossing every sport simultaneously, or anything close to what's happening now. Are we so sure there isn't something more to it? Something in the air? Tectonic plate shifts? I'm just spitballing; I don't know how those things work either. Answers on a postcard, please, and if the ones mailed from the Atlantic states arrive at our L.A. offices first, well, then we'll really know something is up. These are peculiar times indeed and the nature of such things is that by the time they become so noticeable that you start talking about them, like we just did, it usually means the wind of sporting momentum is ready to shift the other way. Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports and the author of the FOX Sports Insider newsletter. Follow him on Twitter @MRogersFOX and subscribe to the daily newsletter.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Long-shot odds: New York bettor turns $6 parlay into nearly $79K]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/long-shot-odds-new-york-bettor-turns-6-parlay-into-nearly-79k</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/long-shot-odds-new-york-bettor-turns-6-parlay-into-nearly-79k</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[A bettor in New York turned a $6 super parlay into nearly $79,000. The odds of hitting the 12-leg parlay were +1311500!]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Fri, 28 Apr 2023 14:21:25 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Why are we involved with sports gambling? Because with some combination of knowledge, the ability to predict the future, the stars aligning and yes, sometimes luck, we can turn a small amount of money into, well, a big pile of money. [RELATED: Michael Waltrip shares insight on FOX Bet Super 6 Contest] One Caesars Sportsbook bettor in New York is probably still high-fiving random strangers after their $6 super parlay (combining same-game parlays with other wagers) hit to the tune of $78,693.15. The odds of hitting the three same-game parlays on the NBA playoffs and three money lines on the NHL and NBA playoffs? A mind-boggling +1311500. All of us have placed a three-leg parlay and gotten our hopes up by hitting the first two legs, only to suffer a crushing loss on the third leg. So we tip our hat in respect to this bettor, who hit 12 legs (12!) on their winning parlay. A couple upsets Wednesday played roles in the bettor's huge payday: – The Miami Heat beating the Milwaukee Bucks 128-126 in overtime in Game 5. – The Seattle Kraken's 3-2 win on the road against the three-time Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. – The eighth-seeded Florida Panthers winning at the Presidents' Trophy-winning (most points in regular season) Boston Bruins in overtime 4-3. Does the bettor's huge payday make you want to get in on the action? Are you ready to make some wagers on the NBA, NHL and other sports? Head over to FOX Bet for all your wagering needs. Download the FOX Super 6 app for your chance to win thousands of dollars on the biggest sporting events each and every week! Just make your picks and you could win the grand prize. Download and play today!]]>
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					<![CDATA[Kings make playoffs: 12 longest active playoff droughts in professional sports]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/kings-make-playoffs-12-longest-active-playoff-droughts-in-professional-sports</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nba/kings-make-playoffs-12-longest-active-playoff-droughts-in-professional-sports</guid>
				<category>nba</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The Sacramento Kings are in! Now, a new pro sports team owns the longest playoff drought. Check out who is still desperately seeking playoff joy.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Thu, 30 Mar 2023 00:09:39 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[The playoff beam has been lit in Sacramento. The Kings clinched a playoff berth with their victory over Portland on Wednesday. Sacramento's win also ends the longest playoff drought in the four major North American sports leagues, as the Kings hadn't been to the playoffs since the 2005-06 season. While it has been a long time since the Kings have been to the playoffs, they didn't own the most-extended drought for long. The Seattle Mariners previously held that record until they reached the playoffs in 2022, marking the first time they reached the postseason since 2001. Seattle won its wild-card series before getting swept by the Houston Astros in the American League Divisional Series. The Kings are hoping to avoid a similar fate, as they'll likely hold home-court advantage in their first-round series. With that said, here are the updated 12 active longest postseason droughts between the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. 1. New York Jets — 12 seasons (last appearance in 2010) A pair of New York fan bases have experienced misery over the last decade. The Jets haven't made the playoffs since Mark Sanchez was playing quarterback and Rex Ryan was at the helm in 2010, when they upset the Patriots in the divisional round and appeared in a second straight AFC title game. The Jets slowly eroded from there, seemingly bottoming out in 2020 with a 2-14 mark. Following a 7-10 season in 2022, the Jets' current playoff drought became the longest in franchise history as they previously missed the playoffs in every season between 1970-80. Hope could be on the way for Gang Green, though, as Aaron Rodgers has stated his intention to play for the Jets in 2023. 2. Buffalo Sabres — 11 seasons (last appearance in 2010-11) The Sabres have mostly finished in last place or close to last in their division since 2011. Buffalo drafted Jack Eichel with the No. 2 overall pick four seasons into its drought and traded the young star in 2022. The Sabres' playoff drought is the longest in NHL history and will likely move to 12 seasons in a couple of weeks, as they'll need a lot of help to get into the 2023 postseason. T-3. Detroit Tigers — Eight seasons (last appearance in 2014) The Tigers haven't made the playoffs since they had Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander in their starting rotation. They've only had one winning season in that stretch and had a dreadful 47-114 campaign in 2019. T-3. Los Angeles Angels — Eight seasons (last appearance in 2014) The epic Shohei Ohtani-Mike Trout battle in the World Baseball Classic title game was the only time fans have seen the two stars play in a high-stakes game. Trout has played in just three playoff games in his career, and the Angels haven't made it to the playoffs since Ohtani joined the team in 2018. T-5. Kansas City Royals — Seven seasons (last appearance in 2015) The Royals reached baseball's mountaintop in 2015, winning the World Series a year after they lost in seven games on baseball's grandest stage. Kansas City held one of the worst records in baseball in 2022. T-5. Pittsburgh Pirates — Seven seasons (last appearance in 2015) The Pirates earned three playoff appearances in a row (2013-15), but they haven't recovered since the Cubs beat them in the 2015 NL wild-card round. T-5. Charlotte Hornets — Seven seasons (last appearance in 2015-16) The Hornets nearly squeaked into the playoffs in 2022. They made the Play-In Tournament but were blown out in the opening game. Many thought LaMelo Ball would continue his rise and help Charlotte reach the playoffs in 2023, but injuries plagued his season, and they're instead chasing the No. 1 overall pick. T-5. Denver Broncos — Seven seasons (last appearance in 2015) The Broncos haven't made the playoffs since their triumphant Super Bowl win to cap off the 2015 campaign. That, of course, was Peyton Manning's final game. Denver recently traded for quarterback Russell Wilson in hopes of solving its chronic quarterback problem, but it didn't do much to fix it. The Broncos hired Super Bowl-winning head coach Sean Payton during the offseason believing that he's the missing ingredient for them to reach the playoffs. T-9. Texas Rangers — Six seasons (last appearance in 2016) The Rangers were a postseason mainstay last decade, clinching a berth five times in seven seasons between 2010-16. But even after signing Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to big contracts, they still finished toward the bottom of the league in 2022. They spent their 2023 offseason money on pitching, adding Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney. T-9. Baltimore Orioles — Six seasons (last appearance in 2016) The Orioles hit the reset button not long after their last playoff appearance in 2016, leading to some really poor seasons in 2018 (47 wins), 2019 (54 wins) and 2021 (52 wins). Things might be changing in Baltimore, though, as it has one of the game's most exciting young group of players. The Orioles also went 83-79 in a loaded AL East in 2022. T-9. Detroit Red Wings — Six seasons (last appearance in 2015-16) Longtime fans of the Red Wings haven't been too accustomed to the team's recent stretch. The franchise had a 25-year playoff streak prior to its current drought. The Red Wings' streak will likely continue in 2023, as they'll need to make up a lot of ground in the homestretch if they hope to make the playoffs. T-9. Detroit Lions — Six seasons (last appearance in 2016) Detroit fans haven't had a lot of success to cheer about in recent seasons, but the Lions at least seem to be on the come-up. They were just a game away from making the playoffs in 2022, finishing 9-8 as a Seattle Seahawks loss in the final week of the season would've sent them into the postseason.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Hockey Hall of Famer Bobby Hull, the Golden Jet, dies at 84]]>
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				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/hall-of-famer-bobby-hull-the-golden-jet-dies-at-84</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nhl/hall-of-famer-bobby-hull-the-golden-jet-dies-at-84</guid>
				<category>nhl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Bobby Hull, a Hall of Fame winger and two-time NHL MVP who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 1961, has died.]]>
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				<pubDate>Mon, 30 Jan 2023 13:45:34 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[When Bobby Hull got the puck, he was tough to stop. He had blazing speed, a hard slap shot and tons of confidence. Long before today’s biggest stars took the ice, "The Golden Jet" put on quite a show. Hull, a Hall of Fame winger and two-time NHL MVP who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup in 1961, has died. He was 84. The Blackhawks and the NHL Alumni Association announced the death of the two-time NHL MVP on Monday. There were no further details provided by either organization. The Blackhawks said Hull "delivered countless memories to our fans, whom he adored. Generations of Chicagoans were dazzled by Bobby’s shooting prowess, skating skill and overall team leadership that led to 604 career goals, a franchise record that remains to this day. We send our deepest sympathies to the Hull family." Hull was one of the most prolific forwards in NHL history, scoring 610 times during his 16-year career with Chicago, Hartford and Winnipeg. Nicknamed "The Golden Jet" for his speed and blond hair, he also collected 303 goals while playing for the Jets in the World Hockey Association for seven seasons. While Hull starred on the ice, he faced legal and family issues in his personal life. Hull was convicted of assaulting a police officer who intervened in a dispute with then-wife Deborah in 1986. He also was accused of battery, but that charge was dropped after Deborah told authorities she didn’t want to testify against her husband, a state attorney told the Chicago Tribune. Hull’s second wife, Joanne, accused him of abuse during an interview with ESPN for a 2002 show. A Russian newspaper reported in 1998 that Hull said Adolf Hitler "had some good ideas." Hull denied making the comment, calling it "false and defamatory." Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983 and his No. 9 sweater was retired by the Blackhawks that same year. He was estranged from the team for a while before he was named a Blackhawks ambassador in a ceremony with former teammate Stan Mikita in 2008. Hull and Mikita have adjacent statues outside the United Center. The franchise announced in February 2022 that Hull had retired from any official team role, calling it a joint decision. "Bobby Hull will always be remembered as one of the greatest Blackhawks players of all time. He was a beloved member of the Blackhawks family," team owner Rocky Wirtz said in a statement. "When I assumed leadership of the organization upon my father’s passing in 2007, one of my first priorities was to meet with Bobby to convince him to come back as an ambassador of the team. His connection to our fans was special and irreplaceable." Hull’s brother, Dennis, played for Chicago for most of his 14 years in the league, and Bobby’s son, Brett, spent 19 years in the NHL. Bobby and Brett each won the Hart Trophy as league MVP, becoming the first father-son duo to accomplish the feat. Bobby won in 1964-65 and 1965-1966, while Brett won in 1990-1991. Bobby Hull helped the Blackhawks return to the top of the NHL after they were one of the worst teams in the league for years before his debut during the 1957-58 season. He had 13 goals and 34 assists in his first campaign with the team, finishing second in the Calder Trophy race for rookie of the year. It was a steady rise from there. Hull posted 13 consecutive seasons with 30 goals or more from 1959-72, becoming a perennial fixture at the All-Star Game and a regular candidate for the league’s top awards. Hull and Mikita powered Chicago to the franchise’s third championship in 1961, beating Montreal and Detroit in the playoffs. Hull had two goals and five assists as the Blackhawks eliminated the Red Wings in six games in the final. The Pointe Anne, Ontario, native remains Chicago’s career leader for regular-season and playoff goals. He is second to Mikita on the franchise points list with 1,153. Hull left the Blackhawks after the 1971-72 season when he was selected by Winnipeg in the WHA draft. The Jets lured Hull away from the NHL with hockey’s first $1 million contract, according to his bio on the Hall of Fame website. The NHL and WHA merged in 1979, and Hull played 27 games with Winnipeg and Hartford in his final season before retiring. Hull had 560 assists in 1,063 regular-season NHL games. In addition to his two Hart trophies, he was a three-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy awarded to the league leader in points and took home the 1965 Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship combined with stellar play. Reporting by The Associated Press. Top stories from FOX Sports:]]>
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					<![CDATA[Playoffs, rematches and rivalries: Inside Sunday's 28-game Sports Equinox]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/inside-sundays-28-game-sports-equinox</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/inside-sundays-28-game-sports-equinox</guid>
				<category>nfl</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and MLS will combine to play 28 games Sunday for a loaded sports equinox slate.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sun, 23 Oct 2022 10:37:05 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[It's the most wonderful time of the year for sports fans. Sunday marks the second sports equinox of 2022 – a day in which all five major professional men's sports leagues in North America (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS) will be playing actual live regular season or playoff games. Sports equinoxes used to be fairly rare but have become more prevalent recently – especially when the COVID-19 pandemic forced every league to alter its respective schedule in 2020 and 2021. Thursday's sports equinox saw the Arizona Cardinals' win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday Night Football, joined by the Houston Astros' win over the New York Yankees in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, Philadelphia Union FC's and Los Angeles FC's wins in the MLS playoffs on FOX Sports 1, the Milwaukee Bucks' and LA Clippers' primetime wins in the NBA and a full slate of 12 NHL games. LAFC's and the Clippers' wins came with some extra crosstown significance as they beat intra-city rivals LA Galaxy and the Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. Sunday's sports equinox could be even better, with a whopping 28 total games on tap across the five leagues. Additionally, the NASCAR Dixie Vodka 400 is taking place in Florida and the National Women's Soccer League features two playoff games of its own: the Portland Thorns take on the San Diego Wave and OL Reign faces the Kansas City Current. Here are the top games to help you navigate Sunday's sports smorgasbord. NFL: Kansas City Chiefs @ San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX Sunday's America's Game of The Week on FOX had long been circled on the calendar as the first time the Chiefs and 49ers will meet since Kansas City's comeback victory over San Francisco in Super Bowl LV. Then the 49ers traded for Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey, the former Heisman Trophy finalist at nearby Stanford in college, is reportedly likely to suit up at Levi's Stadium for his 49ers debut Sunday, albeit in a limited role after being dealt back to the Bay Area on Thursday. Still, his appearance would give fans their first taste at what McCaffrey could do in a Kyle Shanahan-designed offense alongside star wide receiver Deebo Samuel. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will have to beat the No. 2 scoring defense in the NFL to avoid falling to 4-3 after losing to the league's No. 1 scoring defense – the Buffalo Bills – last week. Buckle up, because this game could go down to the wire. MLB: National League Championship Series Game 5: San Diego Padres at Philadelphia Phillies, 2:37 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1 Many predicted that a National League East team would reach the World Series at the beginning of the playoffs. But virtually everyone thought the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, who each won 101 games, would be that team. Not the 89-win Phillies, who snuck in as the third NL Wild Card team in the expanded MLB playoffs. Yet here the Phillies are, slugging their way to the cusp of a World Series berth after a wild NLCS Game 4 that saw them come back from an early 4-0 deficit to win 10-6. Manager Rob Thompson – who spent much of the year with an interim tag on his title after taking over from Joe Girardi in May – will hand the ball back to Game 1 starter Zack Wheeler as the Phillies try to keep their magical October run going. NBA: Phoenix Suns at LA Clippers, 10 p.m. ET, check local listings A lot can change in a little over a year. Since the Suns knocked off the Clippers in the 2021 Western Conference Finals to advance to just the second-ever NBA Finals in franchise history, Phoenix has been through a rollercoaster of skyscraping highs on the court and shocking lows both on and off the court. Amid the ongoing sale of the Suns' franchise, Phoenix is 1-1 in the young NBA season. Phoenix's first two games have both been thrilling – a double-digit comeback revenge game against the Dallas Mavericks and a blown lead on the road to the Portland Trail Blazers – but now the Suns face a tough test with a Clippers team that plays their first true home game with a healthy Kawhi Leonard in nearly 18 months. NHL: Columbus Blue Jackets at New York Rangers, 5 p.m. ET, check local listings Hello, old friend. The Blue Jackets seeming entered rebuilding mode following the departures of several key players in 2019 free agency, including star winger and points leader Atermi Panarin who signed with the Rangers. But Columbus then shocked the NHL world last offseason by signing Johnny Gaudreau to fill the positional void that had existed since Panarin's departure. Blue Jackets fans now get a chance to watch their team's new superstar in action against its old one as Gaudreau faces Panarin and the Rangers as a Blue Jacket for the first time. MLS: Eastern Conference semifinal: New York City FC at CF Montreal, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN Something's got to give. NYCFC are seeking to become the first team to repeat as MLS cup champion since the LA Galaxy in 2011 and 2012. NYCFC enter Montreal on a five-game win streak as they seek to recapture some championship magic, but Montreal is 5-0 all-time in home playoff games. Can Ismaël Koné &amp; Co. stop the defending champs in their tracks, or will NYCFC get one step closer to back-to-back titles? So, there you have it, folks. Get your popcorn ready because Sunday's Sports Equinox will be one for the ages. Where will you be watching the action?]]>
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					<![CDATA[6 Longest active playoff droughts in NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/12-longest-active-playoff-droughts-in-nfl-nba-mlb-nhl</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/12-longest-active-playoff-droughts-in-nfl-nba-mlb-nhl</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Discover the longest active playoff droughts in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, featuring teams struggling to break through and end their postseason dry spells]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2022 09:30:23 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[Here are the 7 active longest postseason droughts between the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. T-1. New York Jets — 14 seasons (last appearance in 2010) A pair of New York fan bases have experienced misery over the last decade. The Jets haven't made the playoffs since Mark Sanchez was playing quarterback and Rex Ryan was at the helm in 2010, when they upset the Patriots in the divisional round and appeared in a second straight AFC title game. The Jets slowly eroded from there, seemingly bottoming out in 2020 with a 2-14 mark. Unfortunately for Jets fans, this is only tied with the longest playoff drought in franchise history, as they missed the playoffs in every season between 1970-80. T-1. Buffalo Sabres — 14 seasons (last appearance in 2010-11) The Sabres have mostly finished in last place or close to last in their respective division since 2011. Buffalo drafted Jack Eichel with the No. 2 overall pick four seasons into its drought and traded the young star last season. The Sabres' playoff drought is the longest in NHL history. 2. Los Angeles Angels — 10 seasons (last appearance in 2014) The Angels used to boast the two best players in baseball — three-time MVP Mike Trout and MVP Shohei Ohtani — but they've fallen short of the postseason three times when one of them took home the individual hardware. 3. Pittsburgh Pirates — 9 seasons (last appearance in 2015) The Pirates earned three playoff appearances in a row (2013-15), but they haven't recovered since the Cubs beat them in the 2015 NL wild-card round. T-4. Charlotte Hornets — 9 seasons (last appearance in 2015-16) The Hornets nearly squeaked into the playoffs this past spring. They made the play-in tournament but were blown out in the opening game. LaMelo Ball's emergence could lift them over the hump in 2022-23. T-4. Detroit Red Wings — 9 seasons (last appearance in 2015-16) Longtime fans of the Red Wings haven't been too accustomed to the team's recent stretch. The franchise had a 25-year playoff streak prior to its current drought. Detroit still seems far from making it back to the postseason, after finishing 26 points out of the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference in 2021-22.]]>
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					<![CDATA[Quiet period in sports? It depends where you look]]>
				</title>
				<link>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/quiet-period-in-sports-it-depends-where-you-look</link>
				<guid>https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/quiet-period-in-sports-it-depends-where-you-look</guid>
				<category>mlb</category>
				<description>
				    <![CDATA[Aside from the MLB All-Star Game, it seems quiet in sports. You have to know where to look, Martin Rogers writes.]]>
				</description>
				<pubDate>Mon, 18 Jul 2022 16:40:11 -0400</pubDate>
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				    <![CDATA[By Martin RogersFOX Sports Columnist One of the joys of this job of writing about sports is having had the ability to travel far and wide over the years, meeting fans from all over the world. The more you do it, the more the realization that those of us who love sports are for the most part cut from the same cloth. Sure, the languages and accents and the actual games we follow might be different. Yes, American fans are used to paying concession prices that would make those from overseas faint. Admittedly, most from these shores will never get their heads around cricket, just as your average Belgian or South African is perplexed by the vagaries of the gridiron. But rest assured we beat to the same tunes, carry the same frustrations, wish for the same outcomes and are touched by the same stories of sentimentality, whether we are an American basketball fanatic, a Brazilian soccer fan, a German motor racing enthusiast, a New Zealand rugby diehard, a Japanese baseball connoisseur, and so on. What does happen though, is that we work to a very different calendar, a fact brought home by the current lull in the American sports cycle. For much of the year, the action here is incessant and occasionally overwhelming. There is a lot of overlap, but from September through to the midpoint of each following year, it always feels there is something of great significance going on. Football season is short enough that every week of NFL action brings multiple games that truly matter in the overall scheme of the campaign. From the Super Bowl, sportive attention turns to the Daytona 500 and to the NBA All-Star Game. From there it is a short hop into March and all the college hoops Madness that ensues. And then to Opening Day and the Masters, and then the long postseasons of both the NBA and the NHL. Since the Golden State Warriors (Jun. 16) and Colorado Avalanche (Jun. 26) hoisted their respective pieces of silverware, however, it has been a bit sleepy on the domestic scene. NBA Summer League has some entertainment value, but that’s mostly restricted to analyzing initial glimpses of the most promising rookies. The MLB All-Star fun provides a welcome interlude, with the unique magnificence of Shohei Ohtani the undisputed highlight Tuesday (8 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports app), plus outstanding talent such as Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, and feelgood legacy picks Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera. Once Tuesday night is through, though, the start of most NFL training camps will still be days away, with still seven more blank Sundays before the journey toward the latest dose of fantasy football heartbreak begins. Although it might seem quiet in the U.S., that's not the case everywhere. Consider what the European fan has had to get stuck into over the past couple of weeks. In tennis, the French Open bled quickly into Wimbledon, respectively won by a pair of men’s legends (Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic) and an emerging superstar and a controversial surprise on the women’s side (Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina). In Europe, they pack it in over the summer. Last weekend brought the Open Championship of golf at its most iconic venue and spiritual home, St. Andrews in Scotland. It was a reminder that sometimes the story is one you don’t expect. A final round that shaped up as a head-to-head showdown between crowd favorite Rory McIlroy and emerging star Viktor Hovland turned into an absolute putting masterclass from brilliant Australian Cam Smith, who rolled in birdie after birdie on the back nine to shoot 64 and claim his first major. If Smith defects swiftly to LIV Golf, as looks likely, then the renegade league will have a bona fide young star to add to its ever-strengthening ranks. Next weekend sees the conclusion of the Tour de France, the ever-popular cycling spectacular that has so many central European nations spellbound, and where an epic battle between reigning champ Tadej Pogacar and current leader Jonas Vingegaard beckons over the closing stages. A week after that, soccer will be in full flow once more, with the start of the English Premier League and German Bundesliga on Aug. 5, followed a week later by Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A. Realistically, geography matters less and less in sports. Television and streaming developments mean that if there is a sports event happening somewhere in the world, you can find a way to get a look at it without too much difficulty. However, it is a long-proven fact that viewers like watching things that are taking place in their own country. The UFC found this a few years back, when their pay-per-view figures for U.S.-based shows were far greater than those taking place overseas, despite being designed to start to coincide with American prime time. They were never fully able to work out why. There is no accounting for how sports fans act in the name of their passion. It is a kind of sickness for which, thankfully, there is no known cure. When sports are happening, everything feels right. When it is a quiet period, like the one happening in the U.S. right now and for a little while longer, things seem a bit off. We find ourselves doing weird things, like talking about the weather or buying things we don’t need, or tackling home projects that will never get finished. The good news is that busier times are ahead. That’s something to be thankful for, and I’m glad to remind you of it, but an apology is also due. This column started with the intention of providing a solution for the dead period, but there really isn’t one that we can see. Unless you’d want the NBA’s discussed but still non-existent midseason tournament to be played in July? Or the NFL season to be extended forward three weeks (good luck getting that by the Players Association) or NASCAR to drastically reduce its regular season and begin the playoffs now, neither of which would really work. Mission failed then. Sorry for that, and only the following as an excuse. It’s the quiet days of summer. When the games are off the schedule, we’re all a little off our game. Martin Rogers is a columnist for FOX Sports and the author of the FOX Sports Insider newsletter. You can subscribe to the daily newsletter here.]]>
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