Mike Vrabel says he's had difficult conversations after publication of photos with NFL reporter
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Mike Vrabel said Tuesday that he’s had “difficult conversations with people I care about,” including his family, his coaching staff and players, following the publication of photos of the Patriots coach and longtime NFL reporter Dianna Russini at an Arizona resort. The photos were of Vrabel and Russini at a Sedona resort and were taken before the annual NFL meetings that began in Phoenix on March 29, according to the New York Post, which published the photos. Vrabel and Russini, who are both married, released written statements to the Post after the publication of the story downplaying what the photos depict. But Russini resigned from The Athletic less than a week later after the Post’s report prompted an internal investigation at The New York Times-owned sports outlet.
Victor Wembanyama has a concussion after falling face-first to court in loss to Blazers
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has a concussion. Wembanyama tumbled face-first to the court and exited in the second quarter of Tuesday night's playoff loss to Portland and was placed in the NBA's concussion protocol. Any extended absence by Wembanyama would be a massive blow to San Antonio, which finished with the league’s second-best record behind the versatile 7-foot-4 center from France. Under league guidelines, a player in the concussion protocol must have at least 48 hours of inactivity and recovery and then hit several benchmarks before returning to play.
Edgecombe, Maxey have big scoring nights, 76ers beat Celtics 111-97 to tie first-round series
BOSTON (AP) — V.J. Edgecombe had 30 points and 10 rebounds while playing through pain after taking a hard fall early in the game, Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points and the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 111-97 on Tuesday night to tie their playoff series at one game apiece. Edgecombe connected on six of the 76ers’ 19 3-pointers. Maxey also had nine assists as Philadelphia bounced back after getting blown out 123-91 in Game 1. The series shifts to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Friday. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 36 points. Jayson Tatum added 19 points, 14 rebounds and nine assists.
Mets fans mostly stay home but fill Citi Field with late boos as New York's skid hits 12 games
NEW YORK (AP) — The flailing Mets returned home Tuesday to a quieter reception than manager Carlos Mendoza and players anticipated with the club trying to snap an 11-game losing streak. The tone changed once it became clear the skid was going to last at least another night. Embattled closer Devin Williams allowed a tiebreaking RBI single to Luke Keaschall in the ninth inning and New York lost its 12th straight, falling 5-3 to the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night. The Mets have the worst record in the majors at 7-16. The skid is their longest since they dropped 12 straight from Aug. 10-23, 2002.
Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan resigns after 6 seasons
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan has resigned after six seasons, opting to step aside rather than work with a new front office. President and CEO Michael Reinsdorf made it clear after firing executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley near the end of the season that he wanted the 60-year-old Donovan to remain on the job. He said anyone who wanted to bring in a new coach was “probably not the right candidate for us.” Now, it looks like whoever the Bulls hire to run their organization will get that opportunity.
Moser scores in OT as Lightning beat Canadiens 3-2 in Game 2 and tie first-round series
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — J.J. Moser scored 12:48 into overtime to give the Tampa Bay Lightning a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night, tying the first-round playoff series at 1-1. The series shifts to Montreal for two games, with Game 3 set for Friday night. Game 4 is Sunday. Brandon Hagel had a Gordie Howe hat trick with a goal, assist and a fight, and teammate Nikita Kucherov also scored for Tampa Bay. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 25 shots. Lane Hutson and Josh Anderson scored for the Canadiens. Jakub Dobes finished with 31 saves.
Brooks Koepka appears to have left LIV Golf at just the right time
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Brooks Koepka had to wait some seven hours to see if he could get in as first alternate at a PGA Tour signature event. He didn't. But it sure beats the waiting game so many players on LIV Golf are playing at the moment. The Saudi-funded league that once had a seemingly endless supply of cash is now facing questions about who will pay for it after this season is over. Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm are still under contract and the PGA Tour isn't ready to contemplate a solution. Meanwhile, Koepka is playing in New Orleans this week.
FIFA to put more more World Cup tickets on sale after adding new, more expensive categories
FIFA is putting more World Cup tickets on sale after angering some fans by adding new, more expensive categories. Soccer’s governing body announced it will make more tickets available at 11 a.m. Eastern Wednesday for all 104 games in Categories 1, 2 and 3 plus the new “front category” pricing it added this month. The new category sparked online complaints from fans who said they thought the better seats in the categories they had bought tickets for were withheld and they were assigned less favorable locations. FIFA in December put tickets on sale at prices ranging from $140 for Category 3 in the first round to $8,680 for the final, then raised prices to as much as $10,990 when sales reopened on April 1.
Trump renews his call for Congress to intervene and pass legislation to control college sports
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump repeated his call for Congress to pass legislation that would rein in college sports at a time athletes are allowed to move freely from school to school and command salaries that put athletic departments in financial peril. Trump’s remarks came at a White House event honoring some 100 athletes from seven teams that won NCAA championships in 2025. Trump this month signed an executive order that would limit eligibility to five years, allow one transfer without penalty for undergraduates, stop pay-for-play schemes and build in protections for women’s and Olympic sports.
Homophobic chant surfaces again in Mexico stadiums as issue looms for World Cup
MEXICO CITY (AP) — FIFA sanctions and campaigns by Mexican soccer officials have failed to stop a homophobic chant in the country’s stadiums. The chant, often heard during goal kicks, resurfaced at the Azteca stadium last month. It was also heard in intercontinental playoff games in Guadalajara and Monterrey even when Mexico wasn’t playing. The slur went viral during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Mexican Federation President Ivar Sisniega says efforts to eradicate the chant continue, but isolated incidents persist. Chants at the World Cup could result in sanctions for Mexico.
