Smalltalk

Team USA Stars Reveal What It Would Take for NFL Players to Master Flag Football

  • Velton Brown Jr.’s viral, jukes-filled run helped Team USA go 3-0 and win the inaugural Fanatics Flag Football Classic.
  • Flag football is its own, faster non-contact sport—played on a smaller field and built on finesse, quickness, smart route-running and the unique skill of flag‑pulling.
  • NFL stars are eyeing the 2028 Olympic flag team, but veterans say it takes reps to master—and Team USA welcomes anyone who puts in the work.

Touching Base: Cubs Have a Revamped Look and Even Bigger Expectations

  • The Cubs enter 2026 with much bigger expectations after breakout seasons from Pete Crow‑Armstrong and Cade Horton and big additions like Alex Bregman and Edward Cabrera — the team openly says it should win the division.
  • Most projection systems back that view (Cubs favored over the Brewers), especially after Milwaukee dealt away key pieces like Freddy Peralta — a fourth straight Brewers title would be an upset.
  • Bregman’s arrival has already lifted clubhouse energy with veteran leadership, and players feel this core needs to win now with several key contracts expiring soon.

2026 MLB Odds: 4 Futures Wagers to Make During Opening Week

  • Will the Dodgers pull off a rare three-peat, or will the Yankees finally end their title drought since 2009?
  • Shohei Ohtani is the heavy favorite to win another NL MVP thanks to his elite two‑way production.
  • Longshot World Series pick: Orioles vs. Mets at 86‑1 — two talented clubs that could make a surprise October run.

2026 World Cup Qualifying Brackets, Scenarios: 10 Matches Highlight Thursday Slate

  • All 48 World Cup spots will be filled by next Tuesday — four UEFA mini-playoffs happening now will send winners into 2026 groups, and three of those winners will be paired with host nations (USA, Mexico, Canada).
  • Two separate three-team playoffs in Mexico will decide two more berths; those winners will be placed into groups led by France and the Netherlands.
  • The 2026 World Cup runs June 11–July 19 across the USA, Mexico and Canada (final in East Rutherford, NJ); all 104 matches will air on FOX/FS1 and stream on the FOX apps.

Rotating Points Leaders Means More INDYCAR Parity Heading Into Barber

  • Three races, three different winners (Palou, Newgarden, Kirkwood) and three different points leaders — if the leader changes again after Barber it would be only the second time since 1996, signalling unusual early-season parity.
  • Alex Palou remains the benchmark — teammates and rivals call him “the standard” — even as he says he doesn’t expect to repeat his magical 2025 season.
  • Andretti Global looks stronger on street courses (three cars in the top four at Arlington), making Barber a toss-up with contenders to watch including Scott McLaughlin, Pato O’Ward and Will Power.

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