How tennis great Steffi Graf got bitten by pickleball’s ‘fun factor’
“I did something that I was so comfortable with, that I’ve done all my life,” Graf, who won 22 grand slam singles titles and spent a women’s record 377 weeks as the world No. 1, tells CNN Sport. “I knew all the ins and outs.” So it was perhaps a surprise, 25 years after retiring from tennis, that Graf found herself suddenly gripped by nerves while playing in front of a big crowd. This time, the circumstances were different to what she had experienced during her professional career: the court was smaller, the racket lighter, and the game was happening at lightning pace. This wasn’t tennis but pickleball, a game with which Graf had only been familiar for a few years. To give of sense of the sport’s burgeoning popularity, a peak ESPN audience of close to one million watched on as she and husband Andre Agassi defeated John McEnroe and Maria Sharapova in Hollywood, Florida, last year.
New York Jets announce they are moving on from quarterback Aaron Rodgers
The New York Jets officially announced on Thursday that they will be “moving forward without” quarterback Aaron Rodgers. “Last week we met with Aaron and shared that our intention was to move in a different direction at quarterback,” new head coach Aaron Glenn and new general Darren Mougey said in a joint statement. “It was important to have this discussion now to provide clarity and enable each of us the proper time to plan for our respective futures. We want to thank him for the leadership, passion, and dedication he brought to the organization and wish him success moving forward.”
'The vibes are not good:' Mavericks fans still in disbelief over Luka Doncic trade
In a battle between two Western Conference rivals jockeying for playoff position, the Dallas Mavericks — missing several key players because of injury — pulled out a big win Wednesday night, defeating the Golden State Warriors 111-107. For most teams, Wednesday’s win would be something to celebrate. For the Mavericks, however, every game for the rest of their season is clouded by the fact that the team traded away generational superstar Luka Dončić this month, a decision that has both upset fans and lacked a convincing explanation.
Eagles star A.J. Brown visits 10-year-old who shielded his little sister in Philadelphia plane crash
A 10-year-old Philadelphia boy who protected his sister when an air ambulance crashed in the city might not be able to go to the Super Bowl victory parade, but he did get a visit from Philadelphia Eagles star wide receiver A.J. Brown in the hospital. Andre "Trey" Howard III required emergency brain surgery after a piece of metal debris embedded in his head as he shielded his younger sister during the crash on Jan. 31. His father, Andre Howard, told NBC News the family was driving to get their weekly Friday afternoon treat when the Jet Rescue Air Ambulance crashed in northeast Philadelphia.
The list of 100 highest-paid athletes for 2024 doesn't include any women
Not a single woman was named to a list of the 100 highest-paid athletes compiled and released by Sportico on Wednesday. The list, which includes players from eight sports and 27 countries, puts soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo at the top with a reported $260 million from his salary, winnings and endorsements during 2024. Following Ronaldo with reported earnings of $153.8 million is Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry. Tyson Fury, Lionel Messi and LeBron James round out the top five.
Aaron Rodgers won't return as New York Jets quarterback
The New York Jets have informed quarterback Aaron Rodgers he will not return to the team next season, the franchise announced Thursday. Rodgers was made aware of the decision in a meeting with New York head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey, both of whom were hired in January.
Eagles star Saquon Barkley defends Taylor Swift after she was booed at the Super Bowl rooting for the Chiefs
Star Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley told fans Wednesday they need to calm down and not boo Taylor Swift for just sitting up in the bleachers, cheering on her boyfriend. Swift, the romantic partner of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, was showered with jeers from the crowd in New Orleans on Sunday when Superdome scoreboard operators showed her at the Super Bowl.
With war still raging in Ukraine, Russian Olympic hopes look bleak
With a little less than one year until the Winter Olympics unfold in Italy, Russia's hope to do battle on snow and ice on the world's biggest sports stage appear to melt by the day. Unless peace quickly comes to Ukraine and the International Olympic Committee and Moscow suddenly repair their long-fraught relationship, Russian athletes could be largely frozen out of their second consecutive Olympics.
Olympic boxer Imane Khelif fights back as boxing association files suit in gender row
Imane Khelif, who won Paris Olympics boxing gold amid a gender-eligibility row, has accused the International Boxing Association of making “false and offensive” accusations after it launched legal action against the International Olympic Committee for allowing her to compete. The IBA announced in a statement on Monday it was filing a complaint with Swiss Attorney General Stefan Blatter against the IOC, citing safety concerns over gender eligibility. Similar complaints are to be filed in France and the U.S..
Teens fighting New Hampshire’s ban on trans girls in sports target Trump’s order next
CONCORD, N.H. — Two students challenging New Hampshire’s ban on transgender athletes on girls sports teams will also fight President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” after a judge approved their request Wednesday. It’s believed to be the first time that the constitutionality of the executive order signed by Trump last week is being challenged in court, according to Boston-based GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, also known as GLAD Law, one of the groups representing the teens.