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Good morning! Let an MIT physicist make something for you today.
FIGHT: The lads were scrapping last night
We start this morning not with the Final Four, but with chippiness. Arguments in basketball are routine, as is trash talk. Last night’s brouhaha in Minnesota was so much more — a real brawl. Just look at this:
A fight breaks out in Minnesota between the Timberwolves and Pistons:
🎥 @WolvesClips pic.twitter.com/T1jfvDHF6P
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) March 31, 2025
Those are the Pistons and Timberwolves, spilling into the first row of seats as anger and fists fly. It started after Ron Holland’s hard foul on Naz Reid, who started jawing with Holland. Suddenly, a mob of players and coaches — with Donte DiVincenzo and Isaiah Stewart notably in the middle of it — let loose.
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Five players — Reid, DiVincenzo, Holland, Stewart and Marcus Sasser — were ejected. Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Wolves assistant Pablo Prigioni also got the boot. We’ll probably hear about suspensions this week.
Wild. Read our full story here. On to some calmer hoops:
Final Fours: We’re in the endgame now
Taste that? We’re still digesting plenty of chalk in both the men’s and women’s NCAA Tournaments, with the men’s Final Four set and the women’s halfway there. All six of those Final Four teams are No. 1 seeds; the final two women’s Elite Eight matchups pit Nos. 1 and 2 seeds against each other.
Cinderellas are fun, but cinderellas also don’t win titles. Every single one of these teams left has a shot to take home a ring. There is real intrigue — and real fun — in that.
There’s history at stake going forward:
- On the women’s side, everyone expected No. 1 overall seed UCLA to be here, but its tough win over LSU (😭) was historic anyway — this will be the first Final Four in program history. In a program filled with basketball lore, the women’s team finally has a chapter to add.
- Similar things can be said for men’s No. 1 overall seed Auburn, which advanced to the program’s second Final Four appearance with a gutty victory against Michigan State. The Tigers have never won a national title.
- And then there is Houston, which walloped Tennessee to advance to its second Final Four in five seasons. Cougars coach Kelvin Sampson is a living legend but has never won a national championship. This could finally be the year.
Of course, South Carolina is also here on the women’s side, like usual — but its path has been harder, and yesterday’s close win over Duke could be seen as an internal warning about the road ahead.
The women finish up the Elite Eight tonight. More on that in a bit. While you wait, read Austin Mock’s updated projections on the men’s side, where the data still favors Duke.
News to Know
No timeline for Rodgers
In what has become an excruciating waiting game, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said yesterday there is no indication when free-agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers will make a decision about his future, leaving Pittsburgh in limbo for now. Rodgers met with the Steelers two weeks ago, but left without signing a deal. The Steelers only have Mason Rudolph as a viable QB option right now. More context — including what’s ahead — here.
More news
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Explainers: About those ‘torpedo’ bats
One sentiment swept through baseball fandom this weekend: Wait, they made a new bat? And now everyone is hitting home runs? We’re just figuring that out?
That’s what happens when the Yankees pelt nine home runs in one game. People take notice when the bats are shaped a little differently, looking like torpedoes — or maybe slender bowling pins? — rather than the long, cylindrical barrel shape we’re used to.
Is this cheating? Is it as new as we think? No and no. A few points as this story continues to churn:
- The bats are perfectly legal. Essentially, these bats are the same bats we know, with the placement of the barrel — where the most mass lies in the stick — shifted according to player preference. Adjusting the sweet spot to a player’s swing rather than adjusting the swing to the sweet spot. Revolutionary.
- They’re also not that new. Former Yankees coach and MIT physicist Aaron Leanhardt led the invention of the torpedo bat, which made its debut last season as some Yankees tried it out. Leanhardt’s backstory is fascinating.
- While word about the bats spread around baseball in the offseason, interest obviously exploded over the weekend. Players around the league are already talking about trying them out. I suspect we’ll see more torpedoes shortly.
Just don’t expect Aaron Judge to change his bat, and who could blame him? He has four home runs in three games played this season, and a 2.461 OPS.
The MLB record for team home runs in one season is 307. The Yankees have 11 in three games, which means they’re on pace for … 594 (lol).
Let’s torpedo our way to the end here:
Watch and Listen
📺 NCAAW: No. 2 TCU vs. No. 1 Texas
7 p.m. ET on ESPN
I had a hard time picking between this and the ensuing game between UConn and USC. I opted for what should be the closer contest, and for watching Hailey Van Lith, who’s been on fire for the Horned Frogs. This is a day when I wish JuJu Watkins was healthy.
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📺 NBA: Celtics at Grizzlies
7:30 p.m. on TNT/Max
I’m still interested to see how the Grizz look after the shocking firing of coach Taylor Jenkins. They’re 0-1 since his dismissal, and get the defending champs here.
Get tickets to games like these here.
🎙️How will USA, Canada and Mexico co-host a World Cup amid the current political climate? Good question. Listen on Apple and Spotify.
Pulse Picks
The A’s begin their awkward residency in Sacramento this week. Evan Drellich spent four days there touring the park and reporting on how things will work. It’s going to be really weird.
The Premier League is back this week, and the race for a top-five finish should please any thrill-seeker.
Shakyla Hill just wanted a law degree. Instead, she became a quadruple-double threat — literally — at Grambling State. Great story from Jason Jones.
Most-clicked in the newsletter yesterday: Our story on the Yankees’ torpedo bats, which still blows my mind.
Most-read on the website yesterday: Lauren Merola’s handy guide on what to know about the men’s Final Four teams.
(Top photo: Matt Krohn / Imagn Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
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Andy Reid erases the Chiefs’ latest defeat to deliver the best news that will allow Patrick Mahomes to lead the best team
The Kansas City Chiefs fell 27-29 to the Chicago Bears on a last-second touchdown, adding another blemish to an 0-3 exhibition record. But inside Arrowhead, there's calm confidence and it starts with Andy Reid. After the game, the longtime Chiefs head coach delivered an update that spoke louder than any scoreline.Patrick Mahomes makes appearance in new State Farm commercial alongside singer Meghan Trainor"Andy Reid just said there was no injuries," reported Brad Hanson Productions, pairing the quote with a celebratory Will Ferrell "Yay!" gif.Mahomes and the starters silence early concernsDespite the final score, Kansas City's first-half performance told a different story. Patrick Mahomes orchestrated three consecutive scoring drives, building a 17-3 lead before the starters were pulled. He looked sharp and composed, completing 8 of 13 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.The highlight of the night came when Mahomes […]
Norští skokani vyfasovali distanc za skandál s kombinézami
FIS úřadujícího mistra světa Lindvika a Forfanga obvinila před necelými dvěma týdny krátce poté, co se oba olympijští vítězové vrátili v letní Grand Prix do národního týmu. Do suspendace se bude oběma skokanům zpětně započítávat i doba, kdy měli bezprostředně po vypuknutí skandálu na MS dočasně zastavenou činnost, což bylo zhruba tři týdny.FIS při vyšetřování nenašla důkaz, že by závodníci o nedovolených úpravách kombinéz věděli, z manipulace proto obviněni nebyli. Oba ale podle federace uznali, že si měli své věci překontrolovat a pokládat otázky.Verdikt nad odpovědnými osobami zatím vynesen nebyl. Norská televizní stanice TV2 ale už dříve informovala, že pro hlavního trenéra Magnuse Breviga a jeho dva asistenty požaduje FIS zákaz činnosti na rok a půl.Aféra s nedovolenými úpravami kombinéz vypukla během březnového šampionátu v Trondheimu krátce po závodu na velkém můstku. Manipulaci s kombinézami Lindvika a Forfanga odhalilo anonymní video. Lindvik, který se o několik dní dříve stal mistrem světa na středním můstku, […]
Statistics indicate that if the New York Yankees don’t hit a home run, they don’t win
At the beginning of the season, the New York Yankees introduced the "bat-torpedo", where it was the sensation after hitting and recording home run records per game. However, the players cooled off and did not take advantage of the innovation of their bats. With just over four months of activity, the Bronx Bombers have a 69-59 record. The statistics show interesting and contrasting numbers when the New Yorkers hit home runs and when they have to make use of batting and base running.If their hitters send the ball over the fence, they have a 58-38 record, but their performance drops dramatically to 11-20 when they don't. This reliance on the home run is evident and could be a crucial factor in their American League wild-card fight. The more than 20 percentage point difference in their winning percentage shows that the […]
Zemřel žokej Turcotte, který jezdil s legendárním Secretariatem
Turcotte se proslavil zejména v roce 1973, kdy se Secretariatem, považovaným za jednoho z nejlepších dostihových koní historie, triumfoval na amerických klasikách Kentucky Derby, Preakness a Belmont Stakes a získal prestižní Trojkorunu. Tehdy to dokázali jako první po 25 letech a od té doby se to povedlo už jen čtyřem dalším dvojicím. V Belmont Stake drží Secretariat dosud rekord dostihu.Turcotte každý z trojice slavných závodů vyhrál dvakrát, celkem si v téměř dvacetileté kariéře připsal 3032 vítězství, z toho 14 se Secretariatem. Podle agentury AP byl posledním žijícím členem „týmu“ slavného koně. Hřebcův život skončil v roce 1989, ošetřovatel Eddie Sweat zemřel v roce 1998, trenér Lucien Laurin v roce 2000, majitelka Penny Cheneryová v roce 2017 a tréninkový jezdec Charlie Davis v roce 2018.
Amorim: Everything feels different this season, I’m excited
With Manchester United, there is hardly ever a middle ground but instead an ever expanding extremes of a scaleLet me explain. Last season, United had a clear problem with their goalscoring and build-up play - that was simply highlighted by their 44 goals scored in the Premier League, only three teams scored fewer.So what did United do in this window? They spent around £200m on addressing that problem with the signings of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.After a positive first performance of the season in their defeat to Arsenal - much of the conversation has now been centred around the opposite end of the pitch with the goalkeeping department the latest area to be under focus after what seemed to be a mistake by Altay Bayindir against Mikel Arteta's side. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible […]
Arteta on his desire to dig for Premier League gold with Arsenal
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reiterated his desire to "dig for gold" this season in the Premier League and feels the club are ready to go to the next level. The Spaniard is entering his fifth full season in north London and is looking to end Arsenal's 22-year wait for a top-flight title - after runners-up finishes in each of the last three years. The Gunners, who host Leeds on Saturday live on Sky Sports, have lost out in three successive title races - twice to Man City and once to Liverpool last season - but started this campaign on a winning note with a gritty 1-0 win at Manchester United.Speaking to Sky Sports News' Gary Cotterill, Arteta said: "We have found a lot of gold in the last few seasons with a lot of the things that we've done. […]
Related
Andy Reid erases the Chiefs’ latest defeat to deliver the best news that will allow Patrick Mahomes to lead the best team
The Kansas City Chiefs fell 27-29 to the Chicago Bears on a last-second touchdown, adding another blemish to an 0-3 exhibition record. But inside Arrowhead, there's calm confidence and it starts with Andy Reid. After the game, the longtime Chiefs head coach delivered an update that spoke louder than any scoreline.Patrick Mahomes makes appearance in new State Farm commercial alongside singer Meghan Trainor"Andy Reid just said there was no injuries," reported Brad Hanson Productions, pairing the quote with a celebratory Will Ferrell "Yay!" gif.Mahomes and the starters silence early concernsDespite the final score, Kansas City's first-half performance told a different story. Patrick Mahomes orchestrated three consecutive scoring drives, building a 17-3 lead before the starters were pulled. He looked sharp and composed, completing 8 of 13 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.The highlight of the night came when Mahomes […]
Norští skokani vyfasovali distanc za skandál s kombinézami
FIS úřadujícího mistra světa Lindvika a Forfanga obvinila před necelými dvěma týdny krátce poté, co se oba olympijští vítězové vrátili v letní Grand Prix do národního týmu. Do suspendace se bude oběma skokanům zpětně započítávat i doba, kdy měli bezprostředně po vypuknutí skandálu na MS dočasně zastavenou činnost, což bylo zhruba tři týdny.FIS při vyšetřování nenašla důkaz, že by závodníci o nedovolených úpravách kombinéz věděli, z manipulace proto obviněni nebyli. Oba ale podle federace uznali, že si měli své věci překontrolovat a pokládat otázky.Verdikt nad odpovědnými osobami zatím vynesen nebyl. Norská televizní stanice TV2 ale už dříve informovala, že pro hlavního trenéra Magnuse Breviga a jeho dva asistenty požaduje FIS zákaz činnosti na rok a půl.Aféra s nedovolenými úpravami kombinéz vypukla během březnového šampionátu v Trondheimu krátce po závodu na velkém můstku. Manipulaci s kombinézami Lindvika a Forfanga odhalilo anonymní video. Lindvik, který se o několik dní dříve stal mistrem světa na středním můstku, […]
Statistics indicate that if the New York Yankees don’t hit a home run, they don’t win
At the beginning of the season, the New York Yankees introduced the "bat-torpedo", where it was the sensation after hitting and recording home run records per game. However, the players cooled off and did not take advantage of the innovation of their bats. With just over four months of activity, the Bronx Bombers have a 69-59 record. The statistics show interesting and contrasting numbers when the New Yorkers hit home runs and when they have to make use of batting and base running.If their hitters send the ball over the fence, they have a 58-38 record, but their performance drops dramatically to 11-20 when they don't. This reliance on the home run is evident and could be a crucial factor in their American League wild-card fight. The more than 20 percentage point difference in their winning percentage shows that the […]
Zemřel žokej Turcotte, který jezdil s legendárním Secretariatem
Turcotte se proslavil zejména v roce 1973, kdy se Secretariatem, považovaným za jednoho z nejlepších dostihových koní historie, triumfoval na amerických klasikách Kentucky Derby, Preakness a Belmont Stakes a získal prestižní Trojkorunu. Tehdy to dokázali jako první po 25 letech a od té doby se to povedlo už jen čtyřem dalším dvojicím. V Belmont Stake drží Secretariat dosud rekord dostihu.Turcotte každý z trojice slavných závodů vyhrál dvakrát, celkem si v téměř dvacetileté kariéře připsal 3032 vítězství, z toho 14 se Secretariatem. Podle agentury AP byl posledním žijícím členem „týmu“ slavného koně. Hřebcův život skončil v roce 1989, ošetřovatel Eddie Sweat zemřel v roce 1998, trenér Lucien Laurin v roce 2000, majitelka Penny Cheneryová v roce 2017 a tréninkový jezdec Charlie Davis v roce 2018.
Arteta on his desire to dig for Premier League gold with Arsenal
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reiterated his desire to "dig for gold" this season in the Premier League and feels the club are ready to go to the next level. The Spaniard is entering his fifth full season in north London and is looking to end Arsenal's 22-year wait for a top-flight title - after runners-up finishes in each of the last three years. The Gunners, who host Leeds on Saturday live on Sky Sports, have lost out in three successive title races - twice to Man City and once to Liverpool last season - but started this campaign on a winning note with a gritty 1-0 win at Manchester United.Speaking to Sky Sports News' Gary Cotterill, Arteta said: "We have found a lot of gold in the last few seasons with a lot of the things that we've done. […]
Amorim: Everything feels different this season, I’m excited
With Manchester United, there is hardly ever a middle ground but instead an ever expanding extremes of a scaleLet me explain. Last season, United had a clear problem with their goalscoring and build-up play - that was simply highlighted by their 44 goals scored in the Premier League, only three teams scored fewer.So what did United do in this window? They spent around £200m on addressing that problem with the signings of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.After a positive first performance of the season in their defeat to Arsenal - much of the conversation has now been centred around the opposite end of the pitch with the goalkeeping department the latest area to be under focus after what seemed to be a mistake by Altay Bayindir against Mikel Arteta's side. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible […]
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