The Chicago Cubs moved seven players to the minor leagues as they prepare for the new season. One of these players, Justin Dean, who recently won a World Series with the Dodgers, was sent to Triple-A Iowa.
Key Facts
The Cubs reduced their roster by sending seven players to minor leagues.
Justin Dean, an outfielder, was part of these moves.
Dean played for the Dodgers during their World Series victory four months ago.
He mostly served as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner during the playoffs.
Dean had minimal batting opportunities, going 0-for-2 in the regular season with one strikeout and one stolen base.
In spring training, Dean had a batting record of 4-for-27 with a .480 OPS.
Despite being moved to the minors, Dean may return to a similar role later in the season.
Team USA has added Joe Ryan to its roster for the World Baseball Classic after former pitcher Clayton Kershaw stepped back. Kershaw retired from Major League Baseball last year, and Ryan will replace him as Team USA enters the next stage of the tournament.
Key Facts
Team USA is competing in the World Baseball Classic.
Joe Ryan, a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, has joined the Team USA roster.
Clayton Kershaw, a retired MLB pitcher, was initially included but is now stepping aside.
Kershaw did not pitch during the initial pool play of the tournament.
Manager Mark DeRosa placed Ryan on the roster for the upcoming bracket matches.
Kershaw's role focused on mentoring rather than pitching in the tournament.
Ryan could pitch in the championship if Team USA advances.
The Big 12 Conference decided to switch from using an LED glass court to a traditional wooden court for the remainder of its tournament due to safety concerns. Kansas head coach Bill Self agreed with this change, prioritizing player safety.
Key Facts
The Big 12 was using a digital LED glass court for its tournament.
Concerns arose about potential injuries from the glass court.
The Big 12 commissioner decided to change to a wooden court for the last three tournament games.
Kansas and other semifinal teams were consulted before the decision.
Bill Self, Kansas Jayhawks' coach, supported the switch to a wooden court.
The decision aimed to ensure player comfort and safety.
UConn Huskies basketball team improved their performance by winning against the Xavier Musketeers in the Big East Tournament. After a previous game where Coach Dan Hurley was fined for being ejected, UConn players showed support by offering to help pay his fine, although this was not allowed.
Key Facts
UConn defeated the Xavier Musketeers 93-68 in the Big East Tournament.
Players Taris Reed Jr. and Solo Ball had strong performances, contributing significantly to the win.
Coach Dan Hurley received a $25,000 fine for technical fouls and ejection in a previous game against Marquette.
After this incident, UConn players offered to help Hurley pay the fine, though he could not accept their money.
The players' offer demonstrated team unity and their support for the coach.
UConn had a tough film session after their prior loss to Marquette, which seemed to motivate them in the next game.
UConn will play against the Georgetown Hoyas in the tournament semifinals.
Former Arsenal player Thomas Partey plans to deny two new rape charges, according to a court hearing. He was charged last month for incidents in December 2020 and faces a trial in November for earlier allegations involving other complainants.
Key Facts
Thomas Partey, who used to play for Arsenal, faces two new rape charges.
He intends to plead not guilty to these charges at a hearing on April 10.
Partey was previously charged with five counts of rape and sexual assault against three different women.
He has denied all charges from 2021 and 2022 and will face a trial in November.
Partey plays for the Spanish club Villarreal and is a key player for Ghana's national football team.
The charges arose following a Metropolitan Police investigation.
He was released on bail with conditions not to contact the alleged victim.
The Boston Red Sox have signed left-handed pitcher Danny Coulombe to a one-year contract worth $1 million to strengthen their bullpen before the new season. The team had lacked left-handed relievers, especially after several departures, and Coulombe is expected to fill this gap.
Key Facts
The Boston Red Sox signed Danny Coulombe, a left-handed pitcher, to a one-year contract for $1 million.
This move aims to address the team's lack of left-handed relievers, aside from All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman.
Coulombe played for both the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers last season, making 55 appearances.
Last season, Coulombe had a strong performance with the Twins, recording a 1.16 ERA in 31 innings.
Several left-handed relievers left the Red Sox, prompting the team to search for replacements.
The Red Sox traded Brennan Bernardino and Chris Murphy to other teams, and did not re-sign Justin Wilson.
To make space for Coulombe on the roster, infielder Romy Gonzalez was placed on the 60-day injured list.
Iran responded to President Donald Trump's concerns about the safety of its national football team at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the U.S. The Iranian team insisted that no one can exclude them from the tournament, and questioned the U.S.'s ability to host if it can't ensure safety. The conflict arises amid tensions following recent events in the Middle East.
Key Facts
Iran stated that no individual or country could exclude it from the World Cup.
President Trump expressed concerns about the safety of the Iranian team in the U.S.
Iran questioned the U.S.'s ability to guarantee safety for all participating teams.
After US-Israeli military actions, there are doubts about Iran's participation in the tournament.
Trump assured that the World Cup would be safe and ticket sales were very high.
Iran's sports minister stated the team would not participate after the U.S. allegedly killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Team USA advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic despite losing 8-6 to Italy. Manager Mark DeRosa clarified that he never meant to imply Team USA had already secured a quarterfinal spot before playing Italy. Team USA will face Canada in the quarterfinals.
Key Facts
Team USA lost to Italy with a score of 8-6.
Team USA needed Italy to beat Mexico by six or more runs to advance, which Italy did by winning 9-1.
Mark DeRosa, the manager, stated that he was aware of the need to beat Italy despite some interview comments suggesting otherwise.
Both Team USA and Italy had 2-0 records going into their match against each other.
Team USA rallied in the game, scoring six runs and bringing the winning run to the plate but did not succeed.
Team USA will play Canada in the quarterfinals on Friday.
The loss to Italy complicated Team USA's path to the championship game.
Team USA in baseball is making changes to its lineup as they get ready for possible future games, including a championship. Some players are leaving, so new pitchers Joe Ryan and Nolan McLean might start the game if the team advances. Team USA recently had a tough time but is preparing for the next matches.
Key Facts
Team USA's roster is changing with several players leaving.
Logan Webb will start Friday's game against Team Canada.
Team USA struggled during pool play and lost to Italy.
Joe Ryan and Nolan McLean are possible pitchers for the championship game.
Ryan replaced Clayton Kershaw on the roster.
McLean played against Italy, allowing five runs in an 8-6 loss.
Ryan achieved a 13-10 record and a 3.42 ERA last season.
McLean debuted with the New York Mets, achieving a 5-1 record and a 2.06 ERA in eight starts.
The Scottish Premiership football league continues with an exciting title race. Hearts, Celtic, and Motherwell are key teams to watch as the competition resumes after a break, with critical matches taking place over the weekend.
Key Facts
The Scottish Premiership is known for its thrilling and unpredictable games this season.
Hearts are currently leading, hoping to maintain their top spot in the league.
Celtic, after a recent win, aims to close their five-point gap with Hearts.
Motherwell seeks to improve their position to get closer to Champions League qualification.
Injuries and suspensions affect Celtic's team, with key players possibly missing upcoming matches.
Significant games will take place, including Celtic vs. Motherwell and Hearts vs. Kilmarnock.
English football clubs recently faced challenges in the Champions League, with none of the six Premier League teams winning their first-leg matches in the last-16 stage. Liverpool manager Arne Slot suggests it's too soon to draw conclusions from these outcomes, citing factors like strong competition and lack of a winter break.
Key Facts
Six English football clubs played in the Champions League last-16 stage.
All six clubs failed to win their first-leg matches.
Liverpool lost 1-0 to Galatasaray, while Arsenal drew 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen.
Newcastle United also drew 1-1 with Barcelona.
Chelsea and Tottenham both suffered 5-2 defeats against Paris St-Germain and Atletico Madrid, respectively.
Manchester City lost 3-0 to Real Madrid.
Arne Slot, Liverpool's manager, believes it is too early to conclude why English clubs struggled.
Slot mentions the lack of a winter break and strong opponents as possible challenges.
Real Madrid will play against Elche in a La Liga match at Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain. Real Madrid is trying to catch up with Barcelona in the league standings, while Elche is trying to avoid relegation. The game is set for Saturday, March 14, at 9 PM local time.
Key Facts
Real Madrid will face Elche in a La Liga match.
The game will take place at Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at 9 PM local time (20:00 GMT).
Real Madrid is currently chasing Barcelona, who leads them by four points in the league standings.
Elche is just one place above the relegation zone in La Liga.
Real Madrid recently won a UEFA Champions League match against Manchester City 3-0.
Elche has not won any away games this season, losing nine out of 13 away matches.
The game can be followed live on Al Jazeera Sport’s coverage starting at 17:00 GMT.
Newcastle United's head coach, Eddie Howe, explained his decision not to start player Anthony Gordon against Barcelona, noting that Gordon was unwell and missed training. Despite criticisms from well-known figures in football, Howe stated that Gordon was willing to play, but the decision was made for him to enter the game as a substitute.
Key Facts
Eddie Howe is the head coach of Newcastle United.
Anthony Gordon is Newcastle's top scorer with 15 goals this season.
Gordon did not start in the Champions League game against Barcelona due to illness.
Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney, and Roy Keane criticized the decision.
Gordon participated as a substitute during the second half of the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
Gordon has returned to training and might play against Chelsea.
Howe noted that Gordon faces pressure as an England international player.
The coach of China's women's soccer team asked his players to stay calm for their Asian Cup quarterfinal match against Taiwan. China, the current champions, hopes to win their 10th title, while Taiwan has improved in the tournament. Taiwan plays under the name "Chinese Taipei" due to political and sports agreements with China.
Key Facts
China's women's soccer team is playing Taiwan in the Asian Cup quarterfinals.
China is the reigning champion of the Asian Cup and aims to win their 10th title.
China’s coach, Ante Milicic, advised his team to stay calm and follow their game plan.
Taiwan showed strong performance in the tournament, giving Japan a difficult game.
Taiwan competes as "Chinese Taipei" in international sports due to political agreements.
During a recent game, Taiwan's fans protested when their former coach was removed for leading a chant.
The match also impacts qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, with the top six teams advancing.
George Russell secured the top position in the sprint race qualifying at the Chinese Grand Prix for Mercedes. Russell finished ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris from McLaren. Red Bull's Max Verstappen had challenges, placing eighth, while Mercedes continued to show strong performance.
Key Facts
George Russell achieved pole position for the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix.
Mercedes teammates Russell and Kimi Antonelli were the top two qualifiers.
Russell's lap time was 0.289 seconds faster than Antonelli.
Lando Norris from McLaren was the fastest non-Mercedes driver in third place.
Max Verstappen from Red Bull qualified eighth, experiencing difficulties with grip and balance.
Russell's pole was his second in six days, following his win in Australia.
Charles Leclerc of Ferrari noted better race competitiveness despite qualifying gaps.
Teams like Williams and Aston Martin faced performance and reliability issues during the session.
Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev advanced to the semifinals at the Indian Wells tennis tournament, as did Aryna Sabalenka in the women's draw. Alcaraz defeated Cameron Norrie, while Medvedev overcame Jack Draper after a disputed umpire decision.
Key Facts
Carlos Alcaraz beat Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4 to reach the semifinals.
Daniil Medvedev won against Jack Draper 6-1, 7-5 after a controversial umpiring call.
Aryna Sabalenka advanced in the women's draw with a victory over Victoria Mboko.
Iga Swiatek was defeated by Elina Svitolina in a three-set match.
Alexander Zverev also secured a spot in the semifinals, completing appearances in the last four at all ATP Masters 1000 events.
Medvedev's victory involved a disputed call when Draper raised his arm, thinking the ball was out.
Svitolina reentered the semifinals at Indian Wells for the first time in seven years.
Jack Draper lost to Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals at Indian Wells after a controversial call by the umpire. The dispute centered on a decision that Draper had disturbed Medvedev, leading to the loss of a point. Despite the controversy, Draper acknowledged Medvedev's strong performance in the match.
Key Facts
Jack Draper was penalized during a match against Daniil Medvedev for a hindrance call, which is when a player is accused of doing something to distract the opponent.
Draper lost the match with scores of 6-1, 7-5, ending his title defense at Indian Wells.
The hindrance call happened when Draper gestured that a shot had gone long during a rally, leading to a review by the umpire.
The umpire decided against Draper after reviewing the video, awarding the point to Medvedev.
The crowd showed dissatisfaction with the call, booing when it was announced.
Despite the dispute, Draper and Medvedev had a cordial exchange after the match.
Draper will drop from 14th to 26th in the world rankings after this tournament.
Medvedev, who will play Carlos Alcaraz next, admitted he was not completely comfortable with the incident but did not feel he cheated.
England's rugby team experienced a challenging Six Nations tournament under head coach Steve Borthwick. Despite starting strong with a record winning streak, England faced significant losses, including their first-ever defeat against Italy. Defensive weaknesses and unforced errors in attacking played key roles in their underperformance.
Key Facts
England began the Six Nations with a strong record, having won 12 successive matches.
England lost to Italy for the first time in 33 meetings between the two teams.
England's defense struggled, with over 35 missed tackles leading to scoring opportunities for opponents.
Defensive issues have been consistent in Borthwick's time as head coach, with England conceding more than 20 points per game on average.
England's attack suffered from unforced errors, turning over the ball 17 times in crucial areas.
The team scored only seven tries in the last three matches, down from seven against Wales weeks earlier.
England received several yellow cards that contributed to their challenges, being temporarily down players during key moments.
England faced difficulties despite having had success in scoring tries last year and at the start of the tournament.
Michael Owen supports Michael Carrick becoming the permanent manager of Manchester United after Carrick's role as caretaker head coach has led to improved team performance. Carrick, who played for Manchester United, has won most of his games in charge and moved the team higher in the Premier League standings. The club is still considering other candidates for the permanent manager position.
Key Facts
Michael Carrick is currently the caretaker head coach of Manchester United.
Carrick took over after Ruben Amorim was sacked in January.
Under Carrick, the team has won six out of eight matches.
Manchester United moved from sixth to third place in the Premier League with Carrick.
Michael Owen, a former teammate, supports Carrick becoming the permanent manager.
Wayne Rooney also praised Carrick's impact on the team.
The club is still evaluating other candidates for the permanent manager's role.
Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney discussed their early careers on a podcast.
George Russell was the fastest in the only practice session at the Chinese Grand Prix, leading Mercedes to a one-two finish. The session set the stage for the upcoming sprint qualifying in the Formula 1 race weekend.
Key Facts
George Russell led the session with the fastest time for Mercedes at the Chinese Grand Prix practice.
Kimi Antonelli, also from Mercedes, finished second in the practice session.
Oscar Piastri from McLaren came third, 0.736 seconds behind Russell.
Mercedes showed similar speed advantage as in the previous race in Australia.
Lewis Hamilton from Ferrari was sixth, affected by an earlier spin requiring older tires.
Ferrari used a new rear wing design for better speed on straights.
Red Bull's Max Verstappen finished eighth, 1.8 seconds slower than Russell.
British rookie Arvid Lindblad had a technical problem and stopped after only six laps.
