JOSÉ MOURINHO REVEALS HE SIGNED CONTRACT TO SUCCEEDED ALEX FERGUSON AT MAN UTD

 

The Portuguese has said in a new Netflix documentary about his life he had agreed to move to Old Trafford in 2013.

José Mourinho has revealed he signed a contract to succeed Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in 2013 only to tearfully renege on the deal and return to Chelsea.

The football world was rocked when the Scottish great announced he was retiring having overseen a 13th Premier League title triumph win during a spell of unrivalled dominance at Old Trafford.

United have failed to return to the top of the English game since Ferguson stepped down, with successor David Moyes sacked after only 10 months in charge.

David Moyes did not last long as Alex Ferguson’s successor at Manchester United (Martin Rickett/PA)

Mourinho was later brought in, spending two and a half years in charge from 2016, but revealed in a new Netflix documentary about his life that he had agreed to come earlier.

“I go to Chelsea in 2013 but in that period there is something nobody knows,” the Portuguese said in ‘Mourinho’.

“I think I can say because I don’t hurt anyone with the truth, and I think the objective of this work that we are doing is to tell the truth.

“When I left Real Madrid, I signed with Manchester United to go to Manchester United after .”

Mourinho continued: “I was, of course, very flattered, because Manchester United has an incredible appeal.

“When I say Real Madrid is the biggest club in the world, I have to say that Manchester United is very, very close.

Jose Mourinho celebrates Real Madrid scoring against Ferguson’s United (Martin Rickett/PA)

“But one thing is love for football, and another thing is love for a certain club.

“I think this is more powerful than love for football and, fundamentally, after Real Madrid, I needed to feel that I’m loved.”

Ferguson was one of the footballing figures interviewed for the new documentary and admits he was under the illusion Mourinho was accepting the offer, only for the situation to change in a matter of hours.

“Early evening he phoned me and he was crying,” the United great said. “And he says, ‘Alex, I can’t take it – I’ve given my word to Chelsea, and I’m not going to break my word’.

“The reason he gave to me I could understand, but I was disappointed.”

Mourinho had a strong bond with Chelsea after leading them to two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two League Cups during an unforgettable first spell.

The Portuguese parked differences with owner Roman Abramovich to return to Stamford Bridge after leaving Real Madrid, winning another league crown and League Cup before being sacked in December 2015.

Mourinho took in two spells as Chelsea boss (John Walton/PA

“For me to lose the chance to be the coach to succeed Alex Ferguson was dramatic, but I don’t regret because it was a decision that I made with my heart,” Mourinho, now back in charge of Real Madrid, said.

“And I think it is nature that says something that when you do something for love, you are never doing anything wrong. I think it’s nature. I did it for love.

“I went back with the feeling of, yes, I go home, but with big responsibility because what I did before is history, and you don’t want to destroy your legacy.”

- Simon Peach

MBAPPÉ BREAKS RONALDO'S RECORDS, REWRITES WORLD CUP HISTORY

Kylian Mbappé has once again proven why he is regarded as the defining footballer of his generation after smashing a string of records once held by his childhood idol, Cristiano Ronaldo, while simultaneously rewriting FIFA World Cup history.

The France captain delivered another breathtaking performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in Les Bleus' commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 to become the greatest goalscorer in World Cup knockout-stage history.

His latest double took his tally to 10 goals in World Cup knockout matches, eclipsing the long-standing record of nine and moving him clear of Brazilian legends Ronaldo Nazário and Leônidas, who had each scored eight in the competition's elimination rounds.

The achievement further cements Mbappé's growing reputation as football's ultimate big-game player. Reports also noted that his overall World Cup tally had risen to 18 goals, leaving him within touching distance of the all-time tournament scoring record.

The performance against Sweden was not just another victory for France. It marked yet another milestone in a career already overflowing with silverware, individual honours and records that many believed would stand for decades.

Away from international football, Mbappé has also been rewriting the history books at Real Madrid.

In his first full calendar year with the Spanish giants, the French forward broke Cristiano Ronaldo's iconic club record by scoring 59 goals in a single calendar year, surpassing the Portuguese legend's mark set in 2013.

The symbolic moment came on his 27th birthday when Mbappé converted a late penalty against Sevilla to draw level with Ronaldo before later moving ahead, celebrating with Ronaldo's famous "Siuuu" celebration—a heartfelt tribute to the player he has long described as his inspiration.

The remarkable scoring spree has underlined just how seamlessly Mbappé has adapted to life in Madrid following his highly anticipated move from Paris Saint-Germain.

His record-breaking campaign has not been limited to domestic football.

Earlier in the season, Mbappé also surpassed another Ronaldo benchmark in the UEFA Champions League by scoring 13 goals in a single group-stage campaign, breaking Ronaldo's previous record of 11 set during the 2015–16 season.

It is another indication that the French superstar is steadily dismantling records previously considered untouchable.

For years, comparisons between Mbappé, Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated football debates.

Now, rather than merely being compared with the game's greatest icons, Mbappé is beginning to replace them at the top of the record books.

Still only 27 years old, the French captain continues to add to a career that already includes a FIFA World Cup title, a World Cup Golden Boot, multiple domestic league crowns and European honours.

France's progress at the ongoing World Cup also means more records could soon fall.

With the tournament entering its decisive stages, Mbappé remains one of the favourites for the Golden Boot, while France are among the strongest contenders to lift another world title.

Should Les Bleus continue their march, the man who once idolised Cristiano Ronaldo may soon own even more of the records that made the Portuguese legend one of football's immortals.

- TONY MBALLA

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT NEW METS INTERIM MANAGER AFTER CARLOS MENDOZA'S FIRING

Mar 30, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) looks on before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Fans of the New York Mets can exhale now that Carlos Mendoza has been let go.

But who is the Mets’ new manager, and what is New York getting in interim manager Andy Green?

Green, the former Mets player who has been a coach since 2012, is taking over for Mendoza, who was fired Friday after the Mets went 34-47 in their first 81 games.

Mets fans of a certain age will remember Green from his one-season tenure in Queens (2009) or his three seasons as a player for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Or you may recall his three-plus years as the manager of the San Diego Padres.

Andy Green Played for the Mets and Managed the Padres

Getty
New Mets interim manager Andy Green finished his playing career with the Mets and managed the San Diego Padres for four seasons between 2016-19.

Green came up in the D-backs system as a scrappy 5-9, 165-pound infielder who was chosen in the 24th round of the 2000 MLB Draft — a round that doesn’t even exist anymore.

So you can bet Green will want to push the Mets to be scrappier, hungrier and more intense over the second half of this season.

The Mets will be Green’s second role as a major-league manager. He spent three-plus seasons managing the Padres (2016-19) and finished with a .428 win% before he was fired with one week remaining in the 2019 season, posting a 69-85 record before being let go in September.

The Padres then made the playoffs in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, going 37-23.

Green only played 140 big-league games and finished his big-league career with a .547 OPS and two home runs. His attitude was enough to earn a job in the D-backs system as the manager in Missoula of the Pioneer League.

He won the title there in 2012 then was named Southern League manager of the year in 2013 and 2014 before being promoted to D-backs third base coach.

The Mets’ Manager Search is Officially on

Getty
Alex Cora is likely to be high on the list of candidates for the Mets’ manager role.

The Mets may have put Andy Green in place to ride out the rest of the season, but you can bet they will leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of their next manager.

Mendoza was well-thought-of candidate from the New York Yankees organization that pushed all the right buttons in 2024, when they went to the NLCS. But owner Steve Cohen has already flexed his financial might in signing Juan Soto and luring David Stearns from the Milwaukee Brewers.

You can be sure he’ll do the same when finding his next manager.

So Alex Cora immediately comes to mind as the top candidate for the Mets job. He, of course, was fired by the Boston Red Sox in April then turned down the Philadelphia Phillies role, which ultimately went to former-Yankees great and 2020 NL manager of the year Don Mattingly.

Cora could again be a candidate for the Phillies role, which makes it imperative that the Mets at least bring him in for an interview — especially with the Phillies playing well under Mattingly.

Cora, of course, won the World Series in Boston in 2018 and boasts a .534 win% over his 1,161-game tenure as a manager. Other candidates will arise, including Mattingly if he is not retained by the Phillies.

But Cora has to be the first option for the Mets.

- Pat Pickens

CHELSEA LEGEND PAYS HEARTWARMING TRIBUTE TO BOBBY TAMBLING AFTER ICON'S DEATH

Ron Harris has paid tribute to former Chelsea team-mate Bobby Tambling after his sad passing.

The Blues legend, who spent 13 years at Stamford Bridge, has died aged 84

Chelsea legend Tambling has sadly passed away aged 84Credit: Getty

.Tambling scored 202 goals in 370 appearances for Chelsea between 1957 and 1970.

His tally made him the club's all-time top scorer until he was surpassed by Frank Lampard in 2013.

The former England striker also won the League Cup alongside Harris in 1965.

After leaving Chelsea, Tambling joined Crystal Palace before ending his career in the Republic of Ireland.

During his time in Ireland, he had spells with Cork Celtic, Waterford, Shamrock Rovers and Cork Alberts.

Tambling tribute

Following Tambling's death, Harris joined Ally McCoist and Gabby Agbonlahor on Thursday's talkSPORT Breakfast show.

Paying tribute to his former team-mate, the Chelsea icon said: "I played with Bob for many years.

"He was a fantastic player. A good trainer, came in every day, very seldom missed games and scored goals left, right and centre.

"I think he would have a field day today with people not allowed to tackle, whereas years ago in our time, people used to put some stick around and that.

"Bob was a fantastic trainer, a fantastic lad and a fantastic player."

Harris and Tambling were Chelsea team-mates for eight years during the 1960sCredit: Getty

Tambling had been tasked with replacing Jimmy Greaves in the side after his move to AC Milan in 1961.

Asked if those were big shoes to fill, Harris added: "That is true for somebody to do that, but Bob very seldom missed games.

"He was a good trainer, good lad and always worth a goal or two in games. He’s a fantastic lad. It’s sad that he’s passed away."

The former Chelsea captain continued: "Most of the lads were mingled together and had a laugh and a giggle.

"If somebody got invited out to a function or anything like that, Bob would be one of the first ones to put his name down to go and do a presentation and things like that.

"He was a great lad, Bob, on and off the field."

Harris played alongside Tambling at Chelsea for eight years after making his first-team debut in 1962.

The defender went on to become the club's all-time record appearance maker with 795 outings for the Blues.

As well as winning the League Cup with Tambling, Harris also lifted the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1971.

He left the club in 1980 to join Brentford before retiring three years later.

- Ciaran Wiseman

REAL MADRID PREPARING FAREWELL TRIBUTE FOR CLUB CAPTAIN AT THE BERNABEU

 

Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images

According to journalist Alberto Pereiro, Real Madrid are finalising preparations for a grand farewell tribute to club captain Dani Carvajal during the final home match of the season against Athletic Club on 24 May.

The veteran right-back is set to leave the club upon the expiration of his contract this June, with no renewal being offered to the 34-year-old.

His departure stems from a difficult final campaign marred by persistent injuries and a significant reduction in playing time following the arrival of new defensive reinforcements in Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Santiago Bernabeu says goodbye to a legend

A recent foot fracture has sidelined him, casting doubt on whether he can physically participate in the final league fixtures.

Regardless of his fitness, the Bernabeu tribute will celebrate a legendary career that began as a ten-year-old in the club’s academy.

An icon says goodbye. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Since his first-team debut in 2013, Carvajal has amassed over 430 appearances and won a joint-record 27 major trophies, including six Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns.

His legacy as one of the club’s greatest-ever defenders remains untouchable, even amidst a tense final few months for the squad defined by internal friction with manager Alvaro Arbeloa and some of his staff members.

The tribute on the final matchday against Athletic Club is expected to be a highly emotional affair, marking the departure of the last active member of the squad that secured the historic “La Decima” in 2014.

Fans attending the Santiago Bernabeu will have the opportunity to show their appreciation for a player who set an example for every young prospect coming through the Real Madrid youth academy.

- Raghavendra Goudar

FIA PRESIDENT SAYS V8 ENGINES COULD RETURN TO F1 BY 2030: 'IT IS COMING'

Photo: Race Pictures

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem has said F1 could return to V8 engines as early as 2030. The Emirati said it is "only a matter of time" before the iconic roar of the V8 makes it way back into the sport, having last featured from 2006 to 2013.

F1's engine future has been the subject of heavy debate for some time now, only more so since the introduction of the 2026 regulations, which introduced a 50:50 split between electrical power and the internal combustion engine, and has been widely criticised by drivers and fans alike.

During the three opening rounds, chief among the concerns in 2026 were the need to lift and coast in qualifying, as opposed to pushing flat-out, super-clipping - when the MGU-K diverts its attention to slowing the car down and harvesting energy at high speed - as well as dangerous closing speeds, as seen in the 50G crash suffered by Haas' Ollie Bearman at Suzuka.

Even in Miami, where the 2026 rules have been tweaked following the April break, drivers are still not wholly convinced. Aston Martin's Lance Stroll kicked off the weekend by launching an attack on the "fundamentally flawed" regulations that are "destroying racing," while calling for a return to previous generations of F1 engines.

Ben Sulayem makes F1 engine promise: 'V8 is coming' 

Photo: Race Pictures

If Ben Sulayem's comments at Miami are anything to go by, Stroll might not have to wait too long to get his way. When asked whether F1 could return to V8s or V10s, the FIA President said: “It’s coming. Oh yes, it is coming. At the end of the day, it’s a matter of time," as per RacingNews365.

What's more, however, is that the FIA boss expressed confidence a change could be implemented by 2030 even without the approval of F1's PUMs [power unit manufacturers]. Manufacturers such as Audi and Honda are understood to have joined, or stayed in, F1 as a result of the move to road relevant electrification.

Ben Sulayem said: "In 2031, the FIA will have the power to do it, without any votes from the PUMs. That’s the regulations. But we want to bring it one year earlier, which everyone [externally] now is asking for. When you try to tell them [the PUMs] they say no, but what will come, will come, and it [the power] will come back to the FIA."

Speaking of road relevance, Ben Sulayem said V8s would be the preferred route for F1, given that V10s are becoming less common on production vehicles. There was also the suggestion that electrical power would see a "very, very minor" role in these new changes.

“I feel like a V10…if I ask any of the manufacturers who are in F1 now if they produce any cars with a V10, an era that many of the cars had, but now, no," said Ben Sulayem.The most popular and easiest to work with is the V8. You get the sound, less complexity, lightweight.

"You will hear about it very soon, and it will be with a very, very minor electrification, but the main one will be the engine. It will not be something like now, which is a 46-54 split. There will be very minimal [electric] power."

Once again, the FIA chief was adamant such a move could be made, claiming that even without PUM approval, a change is in the offing. He concluded: "I'm targeting 2030. One year before the maturity [of the regulations]. it will happen. They [manufacturers] want it to happen.

"But let's say the manufacturers don't [vote for it], then one more year and it will be done. It's not a matter of, 'Do I need their support?' No, it will be done. V8 is coming.”

- Henry Eccles

MEGAN THEE STALLION'S HBCU JOURNEY GETS NCAA SPOTLIGHT |

A recent NCAA broadcast involving Megan Thee Stallion sparked a debate about HBCU representation and Prairie View A&M. Commentators tried to bridge sports and pop culture. They named the rap star as a prominent alumna. This well-intentioned namedrop relied entirely on surface-level research.

Megan Thee Stallion’s academic journey 

The rapper did begin her college journey at Prairie View in 2013. She followed a deep family lineage of attendees. However, her academic path quickly took her elsewhere. She clashed with the administration over viral online videos. Eventually, she transferred to Texas Southern University.

In December 2021, Megan Thee Stallion officially graduated from TSU. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration. The broadcast completely omitted Texas Southern. This blurred the identities of two fierce Houston-area rivals. It also left out a verified basketball legend.

The HBCU has a basketball legend 

The commentators also bypassed actual athletic royalty. They failed to recognize Zelmo “Big Z” Beaty. He is a foundational pillar of Prairie View basketball. Beaty was a remarkably dominant center. He led the Panthers to the 1962 NAIA National Championship. Later, he enjoyed a Hall of Fame professional career. Overlooking Beaty erased historical athletic context for a quick pop-culture reference.

Prairie View faced tall task

On the court, the matchup underscored a massive resource gap. The Panthers faced a heavily funded Florida Gators squad. Florida boasted an imposing frontcourt featuring a 7-foot-9 center. Prairie View fought hard early but suffered a 114-55 blowout loss. The size mismatch was undeniably severe. Head coach Byron Smith gave a brutally honest assessment. He admitted his team needed “some help from the Lord.”

A lesson about HBCU legacy

Ultimately, the tournament spotlight proved Black colleges face unique storytelling hurdles. Megan Thee Stallion’s time on “The Hill” shaped her unapologetic persona. Yet, her true collegiate legacy belongs with both HBCUs. The rapper remains fiercely dedicated to her fellow alumni. She plans to open assisted living facilities using her wealth. Furthermore, she intends to hire recent TSU graduates to run them.

The rapper is also releasing an Amazon documentary. It will detail her vulnerable moments as a student. Fans will see exactly how she balanced fame and textbooks. She honors her specific collegiate roots with genuine investment. National media must put that same dedicated effort into their research. Their distinct histories shouldn’t be lumped together on national television.

- Steven J. Gaither

KYLIAN MBAPPÉ MATCHES CRISTIANO RONALDO RECORD AS REAL MADRID BEAT SEVILLA

Kylian Mbappe matched Cristiano Ronaldo's club record for goals in a calendar year and Jude Bellingham also scored as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday in La Liga.

Kylian Mbappe in action. © AFP

Kylian Mbappe matched Cristiano Ronaldo's club record for goals in a calendar year and Jude Bellingham also scored as Real Madrid beat Sevilla 2-0 on Saturday in La Liga. French superstar Mbappe levelled Ronaldo's tally of 59 goals in 2013 by stroking home a late penalty, after Bellingham sent Madrid ahead with a first half header. The victory allowed Los Blancos, second, to cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to one point before the Catalans visit Villarreal on Sunday.

"To do like Cristiano did, my idol, the best player in Real Madrid's history and a world great, it's an honour for me," said Mbappe, who turned 27 on Saturday.

Gaining a third consecutive win across all competitions, after managing just two in the previous eight games, marginally eases the pressure on coach Xabi Alonso even though the performance was still underwhelming.

"We've got some time now to analyse and reflect where we are now," Alonso told reporters ahead of the winter break.

"We want to do better, we're self-critical, we got the three points and now we'll use this time and try to start the year better."

Sevilla, who thrashed champions Barcelona 4-1 in October, started strongly with veteran Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez heavily involved.

Odysseas Vlachodimos made a fine save to thwart Fran Garcia at the other end, and as the minutes ticked by Madrid began to find more of a foothold.

Bellingham headed the hosts in front at the Santiago Bernabeu after Rodrygo Goes whipped in a dangerous free-kick.

The Brazilian forward was booked for diving before the break as he tumbled in the box under little pressure.

Sanchez landed the ball on the roof of Thibaut Courtois's net before the break with an acrobatic effort.

Sevilla coach Matias Almeyda was sent off at half-time for dissent, but his team plugged away in search of an equaliser regardless.

Courtois twice denied Isaac Romero early in the second half, while Mbappe intensified his search to emulate Ronaldo's record.

Mbappe headed against the crossbar and whipped a shot narrowly wide, while Vlachodimos fended off another effort from the forward.

Sevilla defender Marcao clumsily slid in to foul Bellingham after 67 minutes and was sent off for a second yellow card, hampering his side's chances of adding to Alonso's struggles.

Madrid almost scored a second when Mbappe teed up Rodrygo, who lifted the ball into the air and then lashed it towards goal, but Vlachodimos superbly tipped it onto the crossbar.

Mbappe's 59th

Eventually Mbappe got the goal he craved from the penalty spot, after Juanlu clumsily brought down Rodrygo.

The forward sent Vlachodimos the wrong way as he stroked in his 59th of the year, to match Ronaldo's record

Mbappe copied Ronaldo's trademark celebration and said it was a nod to the Portuguese great, Madrid's all-time top goalscorer.

"I wanted to give him a wink because he's always been kind to me," said Mbappe.

"He was my idol as a kid, I have a very good relationship with him, he's a friend now."

Madrid were awarded another penalty when Bellingham went down in the box but it was ruled out after a VAR review showed Sevilla defender Oso got the ball.

The referee then gave Madrid another penalty as Sow fouled Rodrygo on the edge of the box, but the offence was just outside the area and it was again scrapped.

Mbappe whipped the free-kick narrowly over the top corner as he battled in vain to go beyond Ronaldo's mark, but he will have to try again in 2026.

"Scoring 59 goals is not easy, he's got quality and talent -- it's hard to stop him in training," said Courtois, who called on the whole team to take a step forward next year.

"Hopefully 2026 comes with trophies, but for that we have to improve our level," he added.

Elsewhere Celta Vigo rose to seventh even though they could only draw 0-0 at struggling Real Oviedo, while Levante held Real Sociedad 1-1. Osasuna thrashed Alaves 3-0 to go 12th.

- Agence France-Presse

WHY NASCAR CHOSE A ‘HYBRID’ APPROACH TO ITS $7.7 BILLION TV RIGHTS DEAL

Industry leaders explained why NASCAR is "well positioned" for the evolving landscape of live sports viewership, while also addressing some lackluster ratings for the Cup Playoffs on USA Network

Carl Edwards and Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Photo by: Logan Riely / Getty Images

Earlier this week, team executives, broadcast partners, and several other prominent figures got together at the NASCAR Hall of Fame for the 2025 Racer's Forum, engaging in fascinating discussions about the evolving business landscape within the multi-billion dollar sport.

There was plenty on the table for discussion. One of the most illuminating panels of speakers consisted of Alex Strand (Sr. Coordinating Producer, Prime Video), Anthony D’Inverno (VP Content Acquisitions, Warner Bros Discovery Sports), Jessica Forrest (Group Vice President, Nielsen Sports), and Brian Herbst (EVP, Chief Media & Revenue Officer at NASCAR).

What they said could change how the sport is viewed, literally.

Four partners sharing the NASCAR Cup season

This year marked the beginning of a seven-year, $7.7 billion TV media rights deal which splits the Cup Series between four partners, and features some Cup races on streaming for the very first time. Brian Herbst shared how this came about.

Top Videos

“We looked at a content landscape and consumption patterns that were changing," explained Herbst about the decision to split up the broadcast rights. "If you look at the last time we did our TV deal in 2013, cable was in 100 million homes and that was kind of peak cable. We saw NASCAR in particular still as a very strong anchor property across the cable ecosystem with FS1 and USA, but we also wanted to make sure that we diversify our content distribution strategy – making sure we had a presence on broadcast TV with FOX and NBC and CW as well (for the Xfinity Series).

”Cable was still where most of the dollars were from a financial perspective. And then we wanted to make sure we had some kind of digital streaming element which we were able to do with Amazon and HBO Max as well. We wanted to distribute our content differently beyond just broadcast and cable.”

He went on to say that a lot of it was simply timing and certain market dynamics. Herbst and his NASCAR colleagues knew FOX and NBC wanted to return, and while FOX was eager to hold onto the Daytona 500 and cross-promote with its other live sports coverage, NBC was keen to have the run-up to the championship again.

What made negotiations last as long as they did was the summer stretch, as Herbst admitted that it “took a lot of time, thought, and effort.” Ultimately, it led to the addition of Amazon and Warner Bros. Discovery as new partners.

Prime Video changes the game

Starting with NASCAR's longest race -- the Coca-Cola 600, Prime Video became the first to stream a Cup race exclusively, beating many earlier ratings projections.

“Feedback has been tremendous," said Strand about their first year with NASCAR. "Pretty exciting to me. Certainly something we probably couldn’t have imagined the positivity we had received, but we certainly spent a lot of time preparing and making sure we got the sport right, and told the story correctly.” 

Amazon was also aggressive in promoting its five-race stretch, leveraging all of the resources at its disposal to advertise these races. And while attracting new and younger eyes to the sport is critical, Strand noted the importance of ensuring existing fans could get to the platform.

Additionally, Prime Video gave fans some relief from constant interruptions due to commercial ad breaks, which has been a common complaint regarding the sport's more traditional network partners.

Most will agree that Prime Video's inaugural season with NASCAR was a success in both viewership and public reception. One of the most popular aspects of it was the extended post-race show with no set end time. Fans had become accustomed to brief or non-existent post-race shows due to time constraints on cable, but it was an issue that did not exist on streaming.

This season also saw the return of NASCAR on TNT, with D’Inverno explaining that there were three main reasons behind it: 1. TNT wanted to continue to invest in prominent sports and capture their audiences; 2. Comfortable relationships with leadership that made things go smoothly; 3. There was a push for them to fill a summer gap in their live coverage, which NASCAR slotted into nicely.

Why Nielsen Sports execs believes NASCAR is 'well-positioned'

Forrest, who represented Nielsen at the forum, applauded the decision by NASCAR to diversify its coverage between traditional media and streaming.

“The hybrid approach that NASCAR has employed is critical in a time where media consumption is as fragmented as it is," she explained. "I think it would be very tough for one rights holder to put all their eggs in one media distribution basket. That would also be very expensive for a media company.

"From a media consumption perspective, while I don’t think linear viewing is going anywhere, we continue to see streaming grow. If we look at total viewing minutes, almost half of those minutes currently are from streaming – 46% as of last month … Streaming certainly can’t be ignored, nor can linear distribution. I think NASCAR is very well positioned.”

Making it easier for fans to find NASCAR

However, this move to split races among broadcast partners hasn't come without setbacks. Viewership during the NASCAR Cup Playoffs has been down a considerable amount on NBC's USA Network, which has raised eyebrows. Could part of the issue be the fact that NASCAR is spread across so many platforms and some fans became overwhelmed? 

Forrest believes there is an "adjustment period for fans" and an expected dropoff because of that. 

“I’m going to put on my fan hat here, but obviously it’s something we’re keeping a close eye on too," continued Forrest. "Today’s sports are more accessible than they’ve ever been, but it’s also harder to watch sports than it’s ever been – bouncing back and forth between the apps and the subscriptions, regional networks, streaming, linear. I think what I’m anxious to see is how does the industry adapt to that and how does the industry alleviate some of that frustration for the viewer, and make it easier to watch sports and know where to go to find sports.”

Herbst also commented on the notable drop in ratings this fall. He was quick to note how NASCAR over-performed with FOX and Prime Video, and cited several factors for the current trend.

“Going head-to-head against the NFL (which the NASCAR playoffs do every year), last week we had the Charlie Kirk Memorial, and this week we had the Ryder Cup," said Herbst. "The sports calendar gets more and more competitive with each passing year."

Herbst would like to see more presence digitally and even more cross-promotion to help get stronger ratings for USA, but he also expects viewing habits to continue to rapidly evolve over the next couple of years.

He also essentially ruled out running the Daytona 500 on the same week of the Super Bowl, saying that it would be "very, very, very unlikely."

He then added: "We will follow the data. If the data says that you are taking a bigger hit than you used to (going up against the NFL), then we would take that into consideration with the scheduling process.” 

As for the viewership demographic, Herbst noted that the sport has already seen a real shift in the audience profile as they near the end of Year One with this deal.

"That 18-34 demographic is up double-digits year-to-year, but conversely, the 50+ demo is down," he revealed.

- Nick DeGroot

MAYA MORE | BASKETBALL 🏀 GOAT 🐐

Maya Moore is a retired American professional basketball player who is widely regarded as one of the greatest women’s basketball players of all time.

 • WNBA Career: She played her entire professional career for the Minnesota Lynx (2011–2018, 2020–2021) in the WNBA. During that time, she won four WNBA championships (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) and was named WNBA Finals MVP in 2013.

 • College Success: Before that, she was a superstar at the University of Connecticut (UConn), where she led the Huskies to two NCAA championships (2009, 2010) and finished as a two-time Naismith Player of the Year.

 • Accolades: She was a six-time WNBA All-Star, the 2014 WNBA MVP, and also won Olympic gold medals with Team USA in 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio).

 • Beyond Basketball: In 2019, Moore stepped away from the game at the peak of her career to focus on criminal justice reform. She was instrumental in helping secure the release of Jonathan Irons, a wrongfully convicted man, whom she later married.

Her legacy goes beyond basketball — she is celebrated both as a Hall of Fame-level athlete and as a social justice advocate who used her platform for impact.

SEBASTIAN VETTEL CONFIRMS RED BULL TALKS OVER F1 RETURN

Sebastian Vettel has been tipped as a potential successor for Helmut Marko at Red Bull.

Sebastian Vettel has confirmed that he has been in talks with Red Bull over a potential non-driving return to F1. 

The four-time world champion retired at the end of the 2022 season having won all of his titles with the team between 2010-2013.

In his latter years, Vettel became a fierce advocate for mental health, the environment, and human rights, and has been tipped as a potential successor to Dr Helmut Marko as the head of the Red Bull young driver programme - of which he was the first truly successful graduate.

Marko is 82, with Vettel still only 37, having retired at 35, and has been a presence in the paddock occasionally since. 

Talk of a driving comeback is now fully over, with Vettel addressing links to succeeding Marko.

"There have been a few headlines now, I still get along very well with Helmut, and we are also in exchange on the subject," Vettel told ORF.

"These are not yet so intense, and in-depth, but it may be something where I can play a role, but in what form, it will show. 

"But I have to admit that I haven't been close to F1 in the last few years, but I think Marko knows what he is doing - and no matter what happens, you can still learn a lot from him."

"Marko is not replaceable, let's leave it at that, such as his character, and he has done a very large amount for the team since 2005, and it might not be the goal for someone to replace him. 

"He's said a few times that he is going to stop, but he is still there, and I wish he would stay for a long time, but he will go at some point, and he knows it. 

"He is a brutal realist and can judge things quite well, and he will know when the time is right."

- Jake Nichol

BRADLEY WIGGINS: TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER ADMITS TO COCAINE ADDICTION, WHO IS HIS EX-WIFE CATH, CHILDREN

Sir Bradley Wiggins has revealed he became addicted to cocaine in the years following his retirement from professional cycling.

In an interview with The Observer, the 45-year-old former Tour de France winner and five-time Olympic champion spoke openly about his drug use, which he says nearly killed him.

“There were times my son thought I was going to be found dead in the morning,” Wiggins said. “I was a functioning addict. People wouldn't realise – I was high most of the time for many years.”

Wiggins retired from cycling in 2016 after a storied career that saw him win Olympic golds across the Athens, Beijing, London, and Rio Games, as well as becoming the first Briton to win the Tour de France in 2012. But after his retirement, he spiralled into depression, addiction, and financial ruin.

“I realised I had a huge problem. I had to stop. I'm lucky to be here,” he said. “I already had a lot of self-hatred, but I was amplifying it. It was a form of self-harm and self-sabotage. It was not the person I wanted to be. I realised I was hurting a lot of people around me.”

An Audience with Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sunday February 16. Sir Bradley Marc Wiggins, is a British former professional road and track racing cyclist, who competed professionally between 2001 and 2016 and he is coming to Halifax to share tales of his illustrious career.

“There's no middle ground for me. I can't just have a glass of wine – if I have a glass of wine, then I'm buying drugs. My proclivity to addiction was easing the pain that I lived with.”

Wiggins, who says he has now been clean for a year, also credited disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong for helping him through recovery. Armstrong, stripped of his seven Tour de France titles for doping, has been offering to pay for Wiggins’ therapy. “He’d worried about me for a long time,” Wiggins said, adding that Armstrong also speaks regularly with his son, Ben. “He speaks to Ben a lot about me.”

Despite becoming Britain’s most decorated Olympian, being knighted in 2013, and earning a reported £13 million during his career, Wiggins’ personal life has been marked by deep trauma, family breakdown, and more recently, bankruptcy.

Who is Bradley Wiggins’ ex-wife?

In June 2024, Wiggins was declared bankrupt, and earlier this year admitted he had nowhere to live. His marriage to Cath Wiggins, his long-time partner and mother of his two children, had broken down, and a subsequent relationship also ended.

Sir Bradley Wiggins looks on before the start of Stage Four of the 2014 Tour of Britain. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Does Bradley Wiggins have children?

The couple share two children: Ben, 19, a promising cyclist crowned junior world champion in the Madison, and Isabella, 18. Despite Wiggins’ public scandals and personal struggles, both children and his ex-wife have been by his side.

“There were some really extreme moments,” Wiggins said on The High Performance Podcast. “Probably the last one was about a year ago… I was in a very dark place in a very dark room for many days… it was a hotel, and my son actually was the one who kind of intervened and made me realise, recognise the self-destructive mode I was in.”

Cath said previously: “I've no doubt whatsoever in his integrity as an athlete, none whatsoever. Nor did the children. They never once doubted their dad.”

Wiggins has spoken openly in recent years about being sexually abused as a teenager by his coach at the Archer Road Club, Stan Knight, who is now deceased.

He was also raised largely without his father, Gary Wiggins, an alcoholic and abusive former cyclist who walked out when Bradley was just 18 months old. Though the two reconciled briefly in adulthood, Gary was later found dead under suspicious circumstances in Australia in 2008.

- Rahmah Ghazali

POPE FRANCIS WAS A CARD-CARRYING SOCCER FAN. AND A PROMOTER OF THE VALUES IN SPORTS

Vatican Obit Pope Francis
FILE - Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona, left, greets Pope Francis in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Monday, Sept. 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

ROME (AP) — From meetings with Diego Maradona to the passion for his beloved Buenos Aires club, San Lorenzo, Pope Francis was an avid soccer fan. And a promoter of sports in general.

Francis died Monday at 88 and the soccer and sports world immediately paid homage.

All sports events scheduled for Monday in Italy were postponed to mourn Francis, including four top-flight soccer matches. A minute of silence will be observed before all sports events this week, the Italian Olympic Committee said.

“Italian soccer joins in the mourning of millions of people following the death of Pope Francis. He was a great example of Christian caring and dignity in the face of suffering and he was always attentive to the sports world and particularly soccer, of which he was a fan,” said Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina. “He will always remain in the hearts of the faithful and lovers of soccer.”

Vatican Obit Pope Francis
FILE - Pope Francis twirls a soccer ball he was presented by a member of the Circus of Cuba, during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, file) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Francis’ passion for soccer became known almost immediately after he was elected pope in 2013 when San Lorenzo tweeted a photo of him holding up the club’s crest. He was even a card-carrying member of the club, with San Lorenzo ID No. 88,235.

San Lorenzo is nicknamed “the Saints.”

In Italy, there were also suggestions that Francis supported Juventus since his family came from the Piedmont region where the Turin club is based. Francis' father, Mario Bergoglio, was a basketball player.

San Lorenzo, one of the oldest teams in the Argentine Football Association, performed well after Francis was elected as the 266th pope in March 2013. The team won a national title in 2013 and then claimed the South American Copa Libertadores for the first time a year later. Club officials traveled twice to the Vatican carrying trophies to thank Francis for his support.

A planned new San Lorenzo stadium is to be named for Francis.

During a meeting with the Argentina and Italy national teams shortly after he was elected, Francis noted the influence of athletes, especially on youth, and told the players to remember that, “for better or worse” they are role models. “Dear players, you are very popular. People follow you, and not just on the field but also off it,” he said. “That’s a social responsibility.”

Vatican Obit Pope Francis
FILE - Pope Francis blesses faithfuls as he arrives to celebrate the Mass of Assumption of Mary at Daejeon World Cup stadium in Daejeon, South Korea, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, file) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Francis met his fellow Argentine Maradona twice as pope. There was a special audience in connection with a charity soccer match in 2014 when Maradona presented the pontiff with a soccer jersey, emblazoned with the name “Francisco” — Spanish for Francis — and Maradona’s No. 10.

“I think we all now realize he’s a (star),” Maradona said after another meeting in 2015. “I’m Francis’ top fan.”

When Maradona died in 2020, Francis remembered the soccer great in his prayers.

Francis often hailed sports as a way to promote solidarity and inclusion, especially for young people.

During a global conference on faith and sport in 2016, Francis implored leaders to do a better job of keeping corruption off the playing field and said sports must be protected from manipulations and commercial abuse.

“Francis was a special pope, able to illuminate in his time like only the greatest can,” Gianluigi Buffon, the former captain of Italy’s national soccer team who met the pope on multiple occasions, said on Instagram. “He showed us the way with great courage and moved our souls. I will carry his example forever in my heart.”

- ANDREW DAMPF, AP Soccer 

AFTER POPE FRANCIS 'DEATH, WHO WILL HEAD THE CATHOLIC CHURCH? | LIKELY LIST OF SUCCESSORS

The Pope was in a critical state as he battled respiratory complications at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. His ill health cast uncertainty over the Holy Year and the Catholic Church

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88. The news was confirmed by the Vatican. As per this, the Pope died on Monday at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta.

The Pope was in a critical state as he battled respiratory complications at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. His ill health cast uncertainty over the Holy Year and the Catholic Church.

With the Pope now no more, one question comes to everyone's mind - who will replace the Pope?

But first, here's a look at what the Vatican says about choosing a new pope.

How Is A New Pope Elected?

When a Pope dies or resigns, the governance of the Catholic Church is passed on to the College of Cardinals. These cardinals serve as the Pope's closest advisors during their term.

Following this, a papal conclave is held in which the cardinals come together to elect a new bishop of Rome and the new pope is selected on the basis of a two-thirds supermajority vote.

The most recent papal conclave occurred in 2013 when Jorge Mario Bergoglio was elected as Pope Francis, succeeding the retiring Pope Benedict XVI.

Who Will Succeed Pope Francis?

While no official successors have been named, here is a look at the likely successors of Pope Francis.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin

70-year-old Parolin has been the Vatican's secretary of state since 2013. Hailing from Veneto, Parolin is the highest-ranking cardinal in the conclave.

For years, Parolin has also been considered as a sensible moderate figure who does not lean towards the "left" or "right."

Cardinal Peter Erdo

Erdo is a devout Marian (one who devotes his practices to Marh, mother of Jesus Christ), and the former president of the Council of Bishops Conferences of Europe.

The 72-year-old Hungarian is also known as one of the conservative voices within the church and has openly opposed the practice of divorced or remarried Catholics.

Becoming a cardinal in 2003, Erdo also believes that taking in refugees amounts to human trafficking.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle

Tagle is the seventh Filipino to become a cardinal and if elected, would become the world's first Asian pope.

The 67-year-old cardinal serves as the pro-prefect for the section of the

first evangelisation of the dicastery for evangelisation. He was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI.

Similar to Pope Francis, Tagle has shown more left-leaning ideologies and has criticised the church's language and approach towards the LGBTQ community, unwed mothers and divorced/remarried Catholics.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi

Zuppi has been the president of the Episcopal Conference of Italy since May 2022. The 69-year-old was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2019 and is considered to the favourite of the Pope.

Since 2019, Zuppi has been sent to several global missions such as a peace mission to Ukraine and then to the US.

Zuppi has also shared positive views towards the LGBTQ community.

Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke

Cardinal Burke, hailing from Wisconsin, has been regarded as a traditionalist. He was made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010.

Burke has openly and publicly clashed with Pope Francis' liberal philosophies, especially regarding the willingness to allow divorced and remarried couples to receive the Eucharist. (also know as the Holy Communion - it is a central act of Christian worship).

As per Burke, Catholic politicians who support legalised abortion, such as former President Joe Biden, should not receive the Eucharist.

- Outlook Web Desk

ENGLAND CRICKET LEGEND'S WIFE DIES AFTER LONG GETTING WITH CANCER

The tragic news was confirmed on Monday

Stewart's wife Lynn has died at the age of 62 (Image: FIONA HANSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Lynn's death was confirmed by the club on Monday morning with chairman Oli Slipper saying: “The sincere condolences of everyone at Surrey County Cricket Club are with Alec and the whole Stewart family.

"Our very best wishes are with the family and we will continue to offer any support to them that we are able to. In the meantime, we ask that people respect their privacy at this difficult time.”

The club also confirmed that flags would be flown at half-mast for the final day of their County Championship game against Hampshire as a mark of respect.

Stewart is the fifth most-capped English cricketer ever in Test matches, having played in 133 between 1990 and 2003, and was made captain in 1998.

As a player, he won six trophies in 23 years with Surrey, including three Championship titles, while he oversaw three County Championship title wins in his role as director of cricket with the club.

However, at the end of last year he stepped down from that position and took on a part-time role as high-performance cricket advisor, in order for him to spend more time with Lynn.

Describing it as the "toughest decision of my working career," Stewart announced in a statement: "Since 2013, I have given this job my total commitment and it has been an honour and a privilege to be a part of the greatest cricket club in the world. However, the job is not one that you can just leave at the ground, as it demands 24-7 attention.

"As people may know, my wife has been battling cancer since 2013 and I want to give her, and my family, more of my time over the coming years than this job allows."

Shortly after stepping down from his role, he opened up on his wife's illness in an interview with the Telegraph, explaining: "There are bits and pieces that have crept up recently. It's never going away. It's managing it.

"That is, there are some goodish times, and then the last four weeks have been tough for her. And then it's just putting faith in the oncologist we've had from day one, who's been brilliant.

"But yes, now I've got housework duties, cooking duties and other duties on the agenda, which I do to the best of my ability, which isn't great, but you've got to try, haven't you?

'It is two weeks on and two weeks off with chemo and the oncologist has said we will attack it with vigour," he added. "And hopefully make life more pleasant. So it's just managing it really, dealing with it, which is what we've always done. She's the brave one."

The couple were married for over 30 years and had two children, Andrew and Emily, together.

- John Jones

RÚBEN AMORIM TO BE HIRED AS MAN UNITED HEAD COACH - SOURCES

Getty 

Rúben Amorim is set to take charge of Manchester United during the November international break, sources confirmed to ESPN.

United and the Portuguese champions Sporting CP have made significant progress on an agreement for the departure of their head coach to the Premier League club.

Amorim is set to succeed Erik ten Hag, who was sacked on Monday, as head coach at Old Trafford and would be the sixth permanent appointment in the role since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.

Sources told ESPN that United have triggered the former Braga coach's €10 million ($10.87m) release clause at Sporting, and the English club will also pay compensation to enable a number of Amorim's backroom staff to join him at Old Trafford.

But with the terms of Amorim's contract at Sporting including a 30-day notice period, sources have told ESPN that United will be forced to wait until mid-November for Amorim to formally take charge of the team following Sporting's league game away to Braga on Nov. 10.

As a consequence, Amorim will also take charge of Sporting's home game against Estrela on Friday and next Tuesday's Champions League clash against Manchester City, which will be his final home game at Estadio Jose Alvalade.

ESPN sources said that Ruud van Nistelrooy, who guided United to a 5-2 Carabao Cup fourth round win against Leicester City in his first game as interim head coach on Wednesday, will take charge of the team's next three games -- all at Old Trafford -- against Chelsea, PAOK Thessaloniki and Leicester again before handing over the reins to Amorim.

Amorim's first game in charge will be the Premier League fixture against Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Nov 24, sources told ESPN.

United are 14th in the Premier League having won just three of their opening nine games.

Meanwhile, Amorim has said he will address his future after Sporting's game against Estrela Amadora on Friday.

"I know you [journalists] made the journey to talk about this and it's normal. At the end of [Friday's] game I will talk about this and everything will become clearer," he told a news conference on Thursday.

"I want the players' and my focus to be on the game. The focus is on tomorrow's game and then I will talk."

When asked why negotiations are taking longer, Amorim said: "It's a negotiation between two clubs, which is not easy. We will have clarification after the game. Then, the decision will be known."

The 39-year-old has spent his entire coaching career in Portugal and hinted at his desire to step out of his comfort zone.

"All coaches need it [to leave their comfort zone], I don't want to go into too much detail, but here we have very good conditions, six years ago we were at Casa Pia and we paid to work, so it doesn't involve any of that, it's not monetary reasons," he said.

"When I talk about the staff, it's not just my assistants, I'm talking about everyone, physiotherapists, kit men, it's difficult to find these environments, it was one of the reasons I always wanted to stay.

"Regarding about stability, we'll talk tomorrow, but in everyone's life there are also phases in which we are doing well in life but something is missing, or we want to prove something and we have to take a step forward in things that will destabilize us, we don't know whether it will work or not, whether we are ruining what is so good we have. Everyone feels this and coaches go through the same thing."

Information from ESPN's Adriana Garcia contributed to this report.

- Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC

CHINA'S XIAO GUODONG CAPTURES FIRST-EVER RANKING TITLE AT WUHAN OPEN

Xiao Guodong of China prepares to take a shot against Si Jiahui of China in the final at the Wuhan Open in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, October 12, 2024. /CFP

Xiao Guodong of China outlasted compatriot Si Jiahui 10-7 in the final at the World Snooker Tour (WST) Wuhan Open in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, on Saturday, winning the first ranking title of his career.

Both players overcame a series of top opponents to advance to the championship contest. Xiao knocked out World No. 2 Kyren Wilson and world champion Shaun Murphy of England, while Si defeated World No. 1 and 29-time ranking event winner Judd Trump of England.

The match at the China Optics Valley Convention & Exhibition Center marked the third time for two Chinese players to face each other in a final. Eleven years ago, Xiao found himself on the losing end of the first all-Chinese title match on the Tour, when he fell to Ding Junhui 10-6 in the Shanghai Masters final in 2013.

Xiao closed the first session leading 6-3. He took four of the first five frames and tallied breaks of 128 and 73 in the eighth and ninth. Si, despite being outperformed, reeled off a century run of 108, in addition to two breaks of 84, in the three frames he clinched.

Xiao Guodong (R) of China displays the championship trophy after beating Si Jiahui of China 10-7 in the final at the Wuhan Open in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, October 12, 2024. /CFP

Xiao started the second session with an 82-0 run in the 10th frame, but Si immediately responded a break of 109 to take the 11th. Xiao then extended his lead to 9-4 with a century run of 113, and a break of 77, in the following two frames.

Although Si rallied again to claim three straight frames, including rolling in a break of 131 in the 15th, Xiao came back by laying a snooker on the last red ball in the 16th to seal the deal.

"Before winning a title, I thought the moment of victory would be incredibly exciting," the 35-year-old Xiao said. "I'm really happy now, but it's not as overwhelming as I imagined. Nevertheless, I feel that all the hard work over the years has finally paid off. For a player, winning a title is extremely important. I turned professional in 2007, and after 17 years of competing, I've finally won my first ranking title. No matter what, it's all been worth it."

"I was a bit nervous in the final, but I have no regrets. I played well enough. It's a bit of a pity, but it's okay. I'll come back next time and aim to win my first title," Si noted. "The Masters (scheduled for January) is an opportunity to play against the top 16 players, which is a great chance to learn from them. Gaining experiences like these will be very helpful for me in the future."

- CGTN

OH, NELLY! KORDA MAKES A 10 ON ONE HOLE AND POSTS AN 80 IN U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN

AP Photo 

 LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Nelly Korda was not even three holes into the U.S. Women's Open when she dropped to a crouch and bowed her head in disbelief after her third straight shot — all of them from inside 70 feet away — tumbled into a stream.

She walked off the par-3 12th hole at Lancaster Country Club with a 10.

It didn't get much better from there.

“Making a 10 on a par 3 will definitely not do you any good at a U.S. Open,” Korda said when her nightmare start to the biggest championship in women's golf ended with an 80, leaving her 12 shots out of the lead.

“Just a bad day in the office.”

Korda came into the U.S. Women's Open as an overwhelming favorite, with six victories in her last seven tournaments, including a major that tied an LPGA record for five wins in a row.

That's what made the most imperfect 10 so shocking.

AP Photo 

It didn't help that two groups were on the tee at the 161-yard 12th hole — Korda had about a 25-minute wait — and she watched trouble unfold before she pulled a club. In the group ahead, Gaby Lopez came up short of the water. Ingrid Lindblad's tee shot rolled into the water.

Korda curiously chose 6-iron — most players not as long as her hit 7-iron — and it took a hard hop into a back bunker. And then the trouble began.

Korda said she had a leaf under her golf ball, and the bunker shot came out a little hot and rolled — and rolled — past the front pin, off the false front and disappeared into the stream.

“Couldn't really do anything about that,” she said. “Yeah, just hit some really bad chips, over and over again.”

She played a low pitch up the slope, but it banged into the hill and rolled back down into the water. She took another penalty drop, played another low pitch that was only slightly better, still not nearly enough to avoid rolling back into the water.

She got it right the third time, only to miss an 8-foot putt and take septuple-bogey 10. Korda walked off the green, removed her visor and placed her hand over her forehead for a few seconds, then headed to the 13th tee.

A video crew kept the camera fixed on the walking scorer as “+1” was changed to a “+8” next to her name.

She still had 15 holes ahead of her on a course that didn't present a lot of scoring chances. Only three players from the morning wave broke par at 1-under 69. Her objective?

“I just didn't really want to shoot 80,” Korda said. “And I just kept making bogeys.”

It was her second straight round of 80 in the U.S. Women's Open, separated by 11 months and some 3,000 miles — Korda shot 80 in the final round at Pebble Beach last summer.

The only higher rounds in her career were 81 — one at the 2014 Kraft Nabisco Championship when she was 15, the other at the 2013 U.S. Women's Open at age 14.

The 12th hole was playing the toughest for the opening round. The tee was moved forward and the pin was in the front of a green that slopes from back to front, with a slightly more severe pitch that sends balls into the creek.

It was playing nearly a full stroke over par as the afternoon groups began play. There also was some suspect execution on Korda's part, starting with the club selection.

Sei Young Kim also watched the group ahead hit into the water, though that helped her realize the wind was stronger than it might have felt. She had 8-iron in her hand and then switched to a 7-iron, which she hit to 18 feet behind the flag.

Korda was between 7-iron and 6-iron, and took the stronger club, then moved back one length of the club.

“I just didn't really know what to hit,” she said. “Sometimes it's not really good seeing the girls play in front of you because of them — Gaby up short of the water, and I think Ingrid went into the water. It was just a tough day.”

She also flirted with trouble by playing the low pitch instead of a safer shot behind the hole.

Turns out that was only the start of her problems. She laid up in the rough on the par-5 13th and had to two-putt from 55 feet for par. She missed a 3-foot par putt on the 15th and a 5-foot par putt on the 17th.

AP Photo 

Korda didn't make her first birdie until her 12th hole, No. 3, when she holed a 12-foot putt and smiled with a mock celebration. Two holes later, however, she missed a 4-foot par putt and then nearly found the water on the par-3 sixth, leading to bogey.

She finished with an approach up the hill to the ninth that left her 55 feet away with a fast putt to a front pin. She ran that 12 feet by and missed for her sixth bogey, to go along with one septuple bogey on a hole where she left her mark for all the wrong reasons.

“I'm human,” Korda said. “I'm going to have bad days. I played some really solid golf up to this point. Today was just a bad day. That's all I can say.”

- DOUG FERGUSON