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The Texas Rangers will allow full capacity for their first game, with the rest of the league limiting attendance. Biden called the decision "not responsible." President Joe Biden told ESPN on Wednesday it was a mistake for the Texas Rangers to allow full capacity at their ballpark for their first game. Speaking on the eve of opening day, Biden also said he supports discussions between Major League Baseball and the players’ union on moving the All-Star Game from Atlanta over concern about legislation adopted in Georgia restricting voting rights. Fans are set to return to major league stadiums on Thursday after they were kept out during the regular season last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Capacity will be limited to about 12% in Boston and Washington. Twelve teams are at 20%, Colorado at about 43% and Houston at 50%. The only team higher is Texas, at 100%. The Rangers’ Globe Life Field can seat 40,300 people. “Well, that’s a decision they made. I think it’s

Patriots owner Robert Kraft discussed Cam Newton, free agency and Tom Brady in his first meeting with the media since the end of last season. Patriots owner Robert Kraft touched on a variety of issues during Wednesday's Q&A session with the media members, his first since the end of the 2020 season. Among the biggest topics discussed was the Patriots' quarterback situation—which Kraft called an area that the team still must solidify—despite also offering praise for incumbent starter Cam Newton. "In fairness to Cam, I'm not sure he had the proper weapons around him last year," Kraft said, per ESPN's Mike Reiss . "I really do believe Cam getting COVID, and what it did to the team, it changed a lot. Now we'll get a chance to see. "Players on the team, in the locker room, really love the guy. In the end, I trust Coach Belichick's ability to build a team, and put the right players in the best position to succeed." Newton re-signed wit

Lindor's 10-year, $341 million extension begins in 2022 and has no opt-outs. Francisco Lindor and the Mets have agreed to a 10-year, $341 million contract extension, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo . The news comes hours after reports surfaced that the two sides were at an impasse regarding contract negotiations. The Mets had originally offered 10 years and $325 million, with Lindor's team countering at 12 years, $385 million. Lindor, 27, was traded to the Mets in January in exchange for young shortstops Andres Giménez and Ahmed Rosario as well as minor league outfielder Isaiah Greene. Lindor and the Mets were engaged in extension discussions throughout Spring Training prior to Wednesday's deal. The new contract has no opt-outs, according to Tim Britton of The Athletic , and is $1 million more than the extension signed by Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. , which was worth 14 years and $340 million. Lindor's deal reportedly has a limited no-trade clau

The Mets have reportedly offered Lindor a 10-year, $325 million deal, while Lindor is asking for 12 years and $385 million. On the eve of Opening Day, it doesn't appear that the Mets and star shortstop Francisco Lindor will come to an agreement on a new megadeal. Lindor and the team are reportedly at an impasse regarding a contract extension, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com . Unless the two sides come to an agreement, Lindor will enter free agency after the season ends. As things stand, the Mets are unwilling to increase their offer of 10 years, $325 million, while Lindor will reportedly not move off his 12-year, $385 million request. Lindor has imposed a deadline of Opening Day to complete negotiations, though it's possible talks can extend beyond that date. Mets owner Steve Cohen offered his take on the negotiations via Twitter on Tuesday, praising Lindor in the process. Lindor, 27, is one of the faces of baseball and has the perfect personality to be a franc

Redick said on his podcast that he was given an assurance from Pelicans executive David Griffin that he'd be traded to a preferred situation. View the original article to see embedded media. Veteran shooting guard JJ Redick, who was dealt at the NBA trade deadline from New Orleans to Dallas, is not happy over how Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin handled the move, saying he "did not honor his word." Speaking on his podcast,  The Old Man & the Three , Redick explained his reasons for requesting a trade from New Orleans in November, according to ESPN's Andrew Lopez . Among the most important reasons was his desire to be closer to his family in Brooklyn, while he also cited the team's trade of Jrue Holiday as a factor for wanting out. "Griff basically says to me, 'Come down for a month. If you still want to be traded, I give you my word, I'll get you to a situation that you like.' We had four subsequen

Indianapolis's Marriott Downtown hotel will welcome NFL prospects next week for the league's medical combine after the NCAA tournament ends. INDIANAPOLIS — Three weeks ago, during the second week of March, Big Ten basketball teams started to arrive at the Marriott Downtown hotel for an open-ended stay ahead of the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, each happening in this city. Not long afterward, this 650-room, 16-floor place transformed into a veritable bubble, completely closed to the public while shielding two dozen teams from much of the outside world for nearly a month. The Marriott Downtown hosted an initial 16 teams during the NCAA tournament’s first weekend, like three other hotels here, before being designated as the home for all those that advanced to the Sweet 16 and beyond. The Final Four participants are the only ones left, each using an entire floor until they’re bounced from the Big Dance. But this bubbled hotel won’t be popped when the national champion and runne

Will Geoghegan's bracket is in the top 0.2% of 14M+ brackets on ESPN after calling upsets like USC over Kansas and Houston in the Final Four. If we're being honest, most of our March Madness brackets imploded in some way over the last few weeks and now hold on by a thread with the Final Four in a few days.  However, Will Geoghegan's men's bracket is still intact and in the top 0.2% of more than 14 million brackets on ESPN after training a machine learning model to fill out his bracket for the Big Dance.  "I think it's cool that something like this can work well. Because we look at March Madness and we see all the craziness and all the upsets that no one saw coming, like Oral Roberts and UCLA," Geoghegan says. "But, at the end of the day, it's two one seeds and a two seed in the Final Four. And so these analytics can still be successful even in such a kind of volatile format as March Madness." This isn't the first time the former pro

Beginning on Opening Day 2021, the Miami Marlins will play their home games at the newly-renamed loanDepot park, violating both the rules of fun and capitalization. Say what you want the name "Guaranteed Rate Field"—at least it uses proper capitalization. The same cannot be said for loanDepot park, the new home of the Miami Marlins. Team chief executive officer Derek Jeter announced the move on Wednesday , the day before Opening Day, calling it "beneficial to our organization" and citing the company's belief in the Marlins and greater South Florida community. "I think you've seen what we've been trying to do here in the community and our involvement in the community and saying that this is the community's team," Jeter said, per MLB.com's Christina De Nicola. "And (loanDepot CEO Anthony Hsieh) is on board with that. He wants to make an impact here as well." The 11-year-old mortgage company was founded by Hsieh, who had pre

How to watch England vs. Poland in World Cup Qualifying on Wednesday, March 31. England will face its toughest test yet in World Cup qualifying against Poland on Wednesday. However, the Three Lions will not have to face the reigning Best FIFA Men's Player in Robert Lewandowski.  With two goals on Sunday to give him 47 goals in 42 games in all competitions, the Bayern Munich star led Poland to its latest victory, a 3-0 win against Andorra. But Lewandowski was subbed off with a knee injury that was originally expected to keep him out for five to 10 days. Not only will Lewandowski miss the England match, but the Ballon d'Or favorite has since been ruled out for four weeks . This also sidelines him for Bayern's Bundesliga showdown with second-place RB Leipzig and both Champions League quarterfinals against PSG.  How to Watch: Time:  2:45 p.m. ET TV Channel: ESPN2 Live Stream: You can stream the match on fuboTV. Sign up now for a free seven-day trial . You can also wat

Bueckers is the first freshman to ever be named the AP women's player of the year. Paige Bueckers is in a class all by herself. UConn’s star guard became the first freshman ever to win The Associated Press women’s basketball player of the year award Wednesday. Bueckers helped lead the Huskies to their 13th consecutive Final Four with 28 points in the regional final win over Baylor on Monday night, just the latest star turn for the phenomenol 19-year-old Minnesota native. “It’s amazing, surreal for people to think of me that highly and to be in that position as a freshman,” Bueckers said. “To get this award, I’m extremely humbled and grateful.” Bueckers was informed she won the award by coach Geno Auriemma during a team video session on Monday. She broke down as she accepted it in front of her teammates. “A lot has happened over the past year things that could bring people down,” Bueckers said. “To get a reward and find something positive in these times, you cherish them

The costume of Looie Lookout, the minor league baseball mascot for the  Chattanooga Lookouts, was reported as stolen yesterday. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Police are asking "Where's Looie?" after a minor league baseball team in Tennessee reported its team mascot was stolen from its ballpark. The Chattanooga Lookouts told authorities that the costume of its mascot Looie was stolen from an office at AT&T Field on Tuesday, according to a Facebook post from Chattanooga police. The Lookouts said hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise and equipment were also stolen." Looie's head looks like a big red baseball cap, with a black brim for a nose. Police are asking the public for any tips on the costume's whereabouts, saying callers can remain anonymous. Anyone with tips can call (423) 698-2525. The Lookouts kick off their season at home on May 4.

There will be more games, more money guaranteed to the elite clubs and more that's focused on everything except the sanctity of sport and competition. More. Always more. Everything that happens in football now is about expansion. Make every tournament bigger. Play more games. Produce more content. Generate more revenue. On Wednesday, the UEFA Executive Committee discussed plans to reform the Champions League from 2024 onwards, specifically the idea of rejigging the group stage to the so-called Swiss System, which will, of course, ensure more games. A formal announcement had been expected on Wednesday, but that has now been pushed back until April 19, largely because a small group of the super-rich clubs—understood to be a coalition of the Spanish sides and at least two clubs with U.S. owners—has rejected UEFA's proposal for a 50-50 share in a joint venture that would control the commercial rights of the Champions League. That, in turn, has created a backlash from other membe

Emmert: “It's pretty self-evident that we dropped the ball in supporting our women's athletes, and we can't do that." NCAA president Mark Emmert said Wednesday the NCAA has "dropped the ball" regarding its support of woman athletes during the 2021 men's and women's NCAA tournament. Emmert's comments come in the wake of the NCAA's acknowledging unequal accommodations at the women's tournament compared with their male counterparts. The NCAA came under significant fire on March 18 after photos revealed a starkly different weight-room situation between the men's and women's tournament sites. There has also been criticism regarding the difference in the food and gift bags offered to teams at the men's and women's tournaments. "I and everybody in the NCAA have been so disappointed in the shortcomings that have been starkly abundant and recognized here in San Antonio," Emmert told the media on Wednesday. &quo

“I was a champion once I made it to the NBA.” “I was a champion once I made it to the NBA.” After a slow start to the season, Russell Westbrook has been on a tear lately. Over his last 20 games, he’s averaging 24.6 points, 11.7 assists and 11.1 rebounds. Over his last three games, he’s averaging a ridiculous 25.6 points, 16.0 rebounds and 15.0 assists. The only other player to have a three-game stretch averaging at least 25, 15 and 15 is Wilt Chamberlain. On Monday, Westbrook recorded the first 35-point, 20-assist triple double in the history of the NBA. It was a reminder of what Westbrook, even in his current diminished state , is capable of. But for Stephen A. Smith, it was a reminder of what Westbrook hasn’t been capable of: winning a championship. Appearing on First Take on Tuesday morning, Smith said he doesn’t care about Westbrook’s unprecedented triple double because he’s never won a title. “Westbrook’s numbers last night mean absolutely nothing to me because, even tho

Discussing the major points surround the ATP's labor issues—and what it means for tennis as a whole—after tensions flared last week at the Miami Open. Hope everyone is well (and on their way to vaccination): • The most recent SI tennis podcast featured Casper Ruud and he was excellent. • Here’s the Dave Kindred piece a few of you asked about. Onward…. We are lurching toward the business end of the fifth biggest event of the year. Yet most of your questions and chatter revolved around the ATP labor issues. They flared last week when, well, this happened. It strikes me that this discussion encapsulates so much more than labor relations. It’s really a referendum on the entire sport: the fate of tennis after the Big Three; the viability of the men/women combo; the conflicts of interests; who has value and how much; do we go to events to see stars or because we like the tournaments? So here are some scattered points, trying to incorporate as many of your questions as possible.

The GM and coach writes that there is no room in women’s sports for divisiveness and discrimination. Cheryl Reeve As the general manager and head coach of the Minnesota Lynx, I spend a lot of time thinking about what makes a winning team. It takes more than just signing individual athletes, no matter how talented they are or how hard they work. I look for players who are confident enough in themselves to know when the moment calls for them to lead, and also when it’s time to let their teammates shine. Because athletes are leaders on and off the court, I always encourage my team to engage with the issues that affect the world around us. I am proud when my team shows up for Black lives, fights against pay disparities in women’s sports and celebrates our LGBTQ fans. And today, I am proud to speak up in support of the right of transgender women and nonbinary athletes to compete in women’s sports. When we welcome all women athletes, including transgender woman athletes, to bring their

An ode to MLB's free swingers, non-swingers and jacket-wearing runners. In the grillroom of McArthur Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla., this winter, two retired pitchers were talking baseball. Jim Kaat pitched 25 seasons in the big leagues, in four decades, for six teams, while one-time Phillies prospect Bill Parcells topped out as a teenager in New Jersey, only to become a football coach of some renown. Still, both men fondly recalled the oversize sweats—some were feed bags fashioned into baseball pants—they wore to practice sliding in the 1950s should they ever have to leg out a double. “We wanted to be baseball players, not pitchers,” says Kaat, 82. “We wanted to learn to bunt, slide, run the bases and help ourselves out with the bat.” Major league pitchers have been batting for 150 years now. Their walk-up music, in the mind’s ear, is “Entry of the Gladiators,” the theme of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, for pitchers have often looked silly at the plate. Last