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  • Juan Soto blasts first home run as a Met: Proves $765M deal was worth every penny

    Juan Soto blasts first home run as a Met: Proves $765M deal was worth every penny

    Juan Soto wasted no time proving why the New York Mets handed him the richest contract in sports history. In his very first at-bat with the team, Soto crushed a towering 426-foot home run, electrifying the Spring Training crowd and sending a clear message-he’s worth every penny of that staggering $765 million deal.

    The 26-year-old superstar, who made headlines in December after signing his eye-watering 15-year contract, stepped up to the plate in the first inning of his Mets debut, batting second in the lineup.

    After Francisco Lindor popped out to start the inning, all eyes were on Soto. And he delivered in spectacular fashion. Facing Houston Astros pitcher Colton Gordon, Soto patiently took two balls and then swung and missed at a third pitch.

    But when Gordon left a fastball hanging over the plate, Soto pounced-launching a moonshot over the left-center field wall to give the Mets an early 1-0 lead. The crowd erupted, watching their new franchise star announce his arrival in the most dramatic way possible.

    Soto seems to have found his permanent home

    Soto was the most sought-after free agent this offseason. While the Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, and Blue Jays all pursued him aggressively, the Mets ultimately won the sweepstakes, securing the generational talent with a massive payday that dwarfs even Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal with the Dodgers.

    Unlike Ohtani, who has most of his salary deferred, Soto will enjoy massive annual payouts throughout his contract. After stints with the Nationals, Padres, and Yankees, Soto appears to have finally found his long-term home in Queens.

    And if his first at-bat is any indication, Mets fans are in for something special. With more at-bats to come against Houston, the question now is-how many more fireworks will Soto deliver before Opening Day?



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  • Travis Kelce's new friend Taylor Swift is sure to hate: Will their relationship survive Travis' impulsive decision?

    Travis Kelce's new friend Taylor Swift is sure to hate: Will their relationship survive Travis' impulsive decision?

    What happens when a dog person falls in love with a cat person? Well, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift are about to find out. A recent life decision by the Kansas City Chiefs tight end could put his relationship with the pop superstar, whose love for felines seems to be beyond measure, at risk.

    The famous couple has been through all kinds of situations that have put their relationship to the test. From being on opposite sides of the world for their jobs to Swift’s recent booing at the Super Bowl, their relationship has gone through some pretty stressful times.

    However, former Philadelphia Eagles star Jason Kelce just revealed an unexpected decision by his younger brother that could turn his relationship with the famous singer upside down.

    Travis’ new best friend

    In a recent chat on the Fitz & Whit podcast, the elder Kelce recounted that on a visit to Travis’ house, he saw some very expensive new green velvet couches. However, “I come back maybe six months after that, and one of the couches is pushed against the wall.”

    When Jason asked his brother why he moved the couch, the answer left him speechless. “He just got a puppy,” Jason said with a laugh. “The puppy had chewed a hole in the back of it,” the former Eagles center explained.

    It’s normal for a puppy to need some training to stop it from destroying its human’s things, but that’s easily fixed. The real problem is that Travis’ new furry friend might not fit into the life of the world’s most famous cat lady, his girlfriend, Taylor Swift.

    Taylor and cats

    By now, most of the world knows that Swift is the proud owner of three cats: Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button. The three felines are a constant presence on the singer’s social media, and Benjamin even joined her on the cover of Time magazine’s Person of the Year issue.

    While Taylor has never shown any dislike for dogs, it remains to be seen how her furry life partners react when they inevitably meet Travis’ pup. Relationships have ended for less. What will the lovebirds do if their four-legged friends don’t get along? We’ll probably find out soon enough.



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  • Champions League draw serves up a Madrid derby, Bayern vs. Leverkusen and Liverpool-PSG

    Champions League draw serves up a Madrid derby, Bayern vs. Leverkusen and Liverpool-PSG

    AMadrid derby. A German classic. A rare meeting between Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.

    The Champions League got more heavyweight clashes when the draw for the round of 16 was made Friday.

    Pascal Siakam shows love for Real Madrid

    Defending champion Real Madrid’s reward for ousting 2023 title winner Manchester City is two city derbies against Atletico Madrid – the team it beat in the final in 2014 and 2016.

    Bayern Munich was paired with Bayer Leverkusen – the Bundesliga leader against its defending champion, who played a tight 0-0 draw just last weekend.

    Liverpool was the top-seeded team in the draw after finishing first in the 36-team standings last month but still got a tough assignment as the Premier League leader was paired with No. 15 seed PSG.

    Liverpool and PSG have never met in knockout games in the Champions League or the old European Cup. Their previous meetings were in the group stage in 2018-19, trading home wins in a season that ended with Liverpool winning its sixth European Cup title.

    The first-leg games will be played March 4-5, with the return games one week later.

    Also in the draw, No. 2 seed Barcelona was paired with Benfica – which it beat 5-4 in Lisbon one month ago – Arsenal will face PSV Eindhoven and Inter Milan plays Feyenoord.

    Club Brugge, which got into the knockout stage in the 24th and final qualification place, will face Aston Villa, which it already beat in November. Borussia Dortmund will play Lille.

    The Madrid and German matchups were not possible in the old Champions League format where teams from the same country could not face each other in the round of 16. The new tennis-style seeded bracket allows for those derbies, and for teams to reunite after already playing each other in the league phase of the competition.



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  • Mbapp hat trick for Real Madrid dumps Man City out of Champions League

    Mbapp hat trick for Real Madrid dumps Man City out of Champions League

    Kylian Mbapp scored a hat trick, Erling Haaland stayed on the bench injured and Real Madrid dumped Manchester City out of the Champions League on Wednesday.

    Mbapp’s stellar trio of goals in the fourth, 33rd and 61st minutes in a 3-1 win padded Madrid’s lead to 6-3 on aggregate score over the 2023 champion in their two-leg knockout playoff.

    One superstar striker was watched by another from the sidelines. Haaland was not fit to start for an ultimately overmatched Man City because of a knee injury suffered late in a Premier League game Saturday.

    Paris Saint-Germain beat French rival Brest 7-0, to run up a 10-0 aggregate score, and will play either Liverpool or Barcelona in the round of 16.

    PSV Eindhoven and Juventus were heading to extra time with the Dutch side leading 2-1 to level the aggregate score at 3-3. United States international Timothy Weah scored for Juventus.

    In the early game Wednesday, Borussia Dortmund started with a 3-0 lead at home to Sporting Lisbon and was barely stretched in a 0-0 draw. Sporting’s Champions League campaign imploded after coach Ruben Amorim left for Manchester United in November.

    Round of 16 draw

    Real Madrid, PSG, Dortmund and PSV/Juventus join Bayern Munich, Benfica, Club Brugge and Feyenoord, which all advanced Tuesday, as playoff round winners who will be unseeded teams in Friday’s draw. They will host the first-leg games on March 4-5.

    The top eight in the 36-team standings three weeks ago – Liverpool, Barcelona, Arsenal, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Lille, Aston Villa – skipped the playoffs round and are seeded in the round of 16 draw. They host second legs on March 11-12.

    The round of 16 is in a new, tennis-like seeded bracket for the knockout stage in the expanded competition format.

    Madrid, as the 11th-place team in the standings and No. 11 seed already knew its next opponent would be Atletico or Leverkusen, who respectively placed fifth and sixth.

    Top-seeded Liverpool will play No. 15 PSG or No. 16 Benfica.



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  • Serena Williams' girls' trip takes a nasty turn-But she's not letting it win

    Serena Williams' girls' trip takes a nasty turn-But she's not letting it win

    Serena Williams was ready for some well-earned relaxation after her surprise cameo at the Super Bowl halftime show, where she stormed the stage during Kendrick Lamar’s performance, setting social media on fire. But her much-anticipated girls’ trip took an unfortunate twist-leaving the tennis icon battling illness instead of basking in the sun.

    Williams initially appeared to be living her best life, sharing a sun-kissed snap from her getaway, draped in a chic green-and-white bikini top with matching accessories. “Unfiltered untouched magic at magic hour #girlstrip,” she captioned.

    However, just as her fans envied her vacation glow, she hit them with an unexpected update: she had been sick the entire time! Taking to X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “Girls trip and sick the entire time?”-a sentiment anyone who’s had their holiday plans derailed could relate to.

    Serena does not let health problems defeat her

    Despite the setback, Serena remains the definition of resilience. The 43-year-old has faced her fair share of health struggles over the years-from a pulmonary embolism in 2011 to childbirth complications in 2017 and even undergoing surgery to remove a large cyst in 2024.

    Yet, she continues to power through life’s challenges with the same determination that made her a 23-time Grand Slam champion. Williams has long been vocal about the difficulties of balancing work, motherhood, and personal time.

    Serena is synonymous with resilience

    Even after stepping away from professional tennis, she admits the juggling act hasn’t gotten any easier. But her mantra remains the same: “Resilience is something that you kind of just have to stand up and do.”

    Whether she’s dominating on the court, expanding her business empire, or dealing with an unexpected vacation disaster, Serena Williams never backs down. Even a ruined girls’ trip won’t keep her down for long!



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  • ESPN analyst predicts Dallas Cowboys' shocking Super Bowl LX victory: It's the “best bet”

    ESPN analyst predicts Dallas Cowboys' shocking Super Bowl LX victory: It's the “best bet”

    The Dallas Cowboys haven’t won a Super Bowl in 30 years. In fact, the closest they’ve come to returning to the NFL’s big game has been the seven times they’ve lost in the Divisional Round. However, all that is about to change, or at least that’s what ESPN’s betting experts say.

    The Cowboys’ history has been one of disappointments over the past 30 years. Head coach Mike McCarthy managed three straight 12-5 seasons between 2021 and 2023 that did little to help the team, and last season they didn’t even advance to the postseason, finishing with a lackluster 7-10 record.

    The team’s future looks even grimmer. With quarterback Dak Prescott battling injuries, linebacker Micah Parsons alone on defense, and receiver CeeDee Lamb shouldering the weight of the receiver room, there’s no way the Cowboys will hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy in 2026. Or is there?

    Enter the ESPN analysts

    Despite all the odds, analyst Joe Fortenbaugh is willing to bet that the team will win Super Bowl LX, but not for the reasons you might think. While the rest of us would bet on the team with the best odds, Fortenbaugh is part of a new breed of bettors who advocate the “value” of a bet.

    According to them, the best bet is not the one that gives you the least profit but is the safest, or the one that is the riskiest but gives you the biggest profit, but the one that has the best “value.” The concept is so vague that it has different meanings to different analysts.

    In Fortenbaugh’s case, the Cowboys are the “best bet,” even though their odds are +5000, meaning you’d win $5,000 on a $100 bet. But when it comes to longshots, the New York Giants offer $25,000 for a $100 bet.

    The best odds for next season, according to ESPN Bet Sportsbook, are on the Ravens, Chiefs, and defending champion Eagles. They all offer +650, meaning you’d win $650 for every $100 you bet. The payoff is lower, but so is the risk.

    Will the Cowboys Win Super Bowl LX?

    Fortenbaugh’s ESPN colleague Seth Walder is betting they will. However, after placing his bet, he declared, “Do I think the Cowboys are going to win the Super Bowl next year? I do not.” This makes the concept of “value” in betting even more confusing, but it is what it is.

    Fans of America’s Team might be confused, as might the rest of us mere mortals. But even if the Cowobys don’t win Super Bowl LX, the fans can take solace in the fact that their team is the “best bet,” whatever that means.



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  • Tragic Turn at Eagles Parade: Man arrested after shooting leaves two wounded

    Tragic Turn at Eagles Parade: Man arrested after shooting leaves two wounded

    The Philadelphia Eagles’ parade for their victory in Super Bowl LIX took a tragic turn when a man fired a shot in the middle of the crowd. After several hours of hard police work, authorities reported the arrest of the person allegedly responsible for the shooting.

    Official reports explain that the incident began when a couple tried to cut the line for a portable toilet installed for the celebration. According to witnesses, this sparked a fight in which the suspect hit the man who was getting in line and then pulled out a firearm, shooting into the crowd.

    The incident left two people wounded by gunfire. One of them was a 27-year-old woman, girlfriend of the man who tried to cut in line. The other was a 20-year-old passerby who was shot in the thigh. Both were taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where they are reported to be in stable condition.

    The arrest of the perpetrator

    Although they have not provided details about the arrest, Philadelphia authorities reported that an unidentified 28-year-old male suspect is in custody pending charges.

    The incident occurred at around 2:30 p.m. in the vicinity of the 2300 block of Benjamin Franklin Parkway. A few meters away, the Eagles players, coaches, and managers were addressing the crowd, celebrating the victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

    The 2024 shooting

    This is the second consecutive year that violence has marred the champions’ victory parade. In 2024, the Chiefs’ celebration for their victory in Super Bowl LVIII was interrupted when a mass shooting broke out in the crowd, leaving one dead and 22 injured by gunfire.

    A few days after the incident, authorities filed charges against two adults and two juveniles in connection with the incident. The adults were charged with murder.



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  • Kanye West's past comes back to haunt him amidst controversial Social Media posts

    Kanye West's past comes back to haunt him amidst controversial Social Media posts

    Kanye West recently addressed claims about an alleged resurfaced sex tape involving him, after Hollywood fixer Kevin “KB” Blatt took to social media to share details. Blatt, who has a history in the adult entertainment industry as a marketing and PR specialist, claimed he prevented the tape from going public over a decade ago. Responding to the allegations on X (formerly Twitter), Kanye quipped, “THAT WAS A FUN NIGHT CANT WAIT TO SEE IT AGAIN,” adding a touch of his signature unpredictability to the situation.

    Blatt’s Instagram story, which featured a shirtless Kanye West in a Las Vegas hotel room, accused the rapper of hypocrisy, bringing up his past antisemitic remarks. “Hey @ye Remember that sex tape I helped take off the market for you in 2012 … in Vegas?” Blatt wrote, before adding a jab: “Yeah this JEW didn’t forget about what a horrible performance and small d… u had…” Blatt later told Page Six that his post was intended to “teach West a lesson.”

    Outrageous! Kanye’s actions expose AI’s dangerous potential

    The tape allegedly originated from a laptop Kanye had gifted to a family member. According to his cousin Lawrence Franklin, the laptop was stolen and later returned after Kanye paid $250,000 to ensure the video wouldn’t be released. The incident was even referenced in Kanye’s 2016 song “Real Friends,” where he raps, “I had a cousin that stole my laptop that I was f-kin’ bitches on / Paid that n-a 250,000 just to get it from him.” The tape reportedly surfaced around the time Kanye began dating his first wife, Kim Kardashian.

    West addresses alleged sex tape on X

    Blatt’s claims coincided with reports of Kanye’s split from his second wife, Bianca Censori. The couple had recently made headlines for their red-carpet appearance at the Grammys, where Censori wore a completely see-through dress. According to an insider, their breakup was fueled by Kanye’s increasingly controversial behavior, including selling swastika merchandise on his website.

    “She’s been an awesome wife and awesome collaborator,” the insider shared with Page Six, but noted that Kanye’s actions had left her “exhausted.” They added that while Censori had endured many “crazy moments,” this particular incident might have been “unsurvivable.”

    Kanye’s recent social media activity has been erratic, with posts like his response to Blatt’s allegations being deleted shortly after they appeared. The saga adds yet another layer of controversy to the rapper’s already tumultuous public image.



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  • LeBron James warns that this could be his last All-Star Game: “It's coming to an end soon”

    LeBron James warns that this could be his last All-Star Game: “It's coming to an end soon”

    LeBron James has been a staple of the NBA All-Star Game for the last 21 years. However, with each passing year, the chances increase that next year we will no longer see the “King” leading the cream of the crop of the NBA, and LeBron himself knows it.

    The Los Angeles Lakers forward received his first call to the All-Star Game in 2005, and since then, his name has not been missing a single time from the list of those called up. He has even been named the All-Star Game MVP in 2006, 2008, and 2018.

    This year, with the new All-Star Weekend format, LeBron will be part of Shaq’s OGS along with Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, James Harden, and Damian Lillard. However, now 40 years old, the King admitted that his chances of returning are diminishing with each passing year.

    Is the end near for LeBron?

    Speaking to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, James was the first to admit that he doesn’t have much time left to enjoy the All-Star Game as a player. “There ain’t going to be many times left. So you take it all and you don’t take it for granted. It’s coming to an end soon.”

    There has been a lot of talk in recent years about James’ retirement. The King himself has said he can play at a high level for five to seven more years, but he has also said he doesn’t plan to. He explained that he will retire when he no longer wants to put in the effort required to play at the highest level.

    He wants to retire as a Laker

    With no exact date for his retirement, James has said he wants to retire as a Los Angeles Lakers player; however, he signed his most recent extension in 2024, for just two years and $101.4 million. Thus, James will become a free agent at the end of next season.

    While pundits wonder when James will hang up his sneakers, fans are thrilled to see him play once again in the NBA All-Star Game this Sunday.



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  • Are Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift breaking up? Fans have a 'Wizard of Oz' theory that could signal the end of their relationship

    Are Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift breaking up? Fans have a 'Wizard of Oz' theory that could signal the end of their relationship

    Taylor Swift‘s quick departure from New Orleans after the Kansas City Chiefs‘ Super Bowl defeat has sent her devoted fanbase, the Swifties, into a frenzy of speculation. The pop icon, who attended the game to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, faced an onslaught of booing during the Chiefs’ 40-22 loss.

    On Monday evening, Swift was spotted making a discreet exit from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Shielded by a team of people holding umbrellas, she boarded her private jet in an effort to avoid being photographed. However, one detail didn’t escape the eagle-eyed fans: her ruby red loafers.

    Cause trouble! Taylor Swift’s involvement causes conflict between the Kelce’s and their work team

    The footwear immediately sparked a wave of theories among her followers. Many linked the shoes to the iconic Ruby Red Slippers from The Wizard of Oz, interpreting them as a potential Easter egg tied to her music.

    One TikTok user speculated that Swift’s choice of shoes might signal the end of an era, saying, “The fact that after the Super Bowl, the last game of the season, we see Taylor leaving in her Ruby Red Slippers… the show is over. We’re waking up from the dream.” The user also noted that this could be a metaphorical nod to Dorothy’s journey in The Wizard of Oz, suggesting Swift might be closing one chapter and preparing for another.

    What Taylor’s shoes could really mean

    Others took a more personal angle, theorizing that the ruby slippers were a subtle hint about her relationship with Kelce. Some fans speculated that the shoes referenced Dorothy’s famous line, “We’re not in Kansas anymore,” with Kansas serving as a stand-in for Kansas City. One fan commented, “She woke up from her dream of love and is going home,” implying a possible breakup. Another added, “She really said there’s no place like home-get me outta here.”

    However, not everyone was convinced that Swift and Kelce’s romance had hit a rough patch. Some argued that the slippers might symbolize the opposite: that Kansas, where Kelce resides, now feels like home to Swift. “I mean, ‘there’s no place like home,’ and Dorothy’s home is in Kansas, which is also where Travis lives. Is she not saying home is where Travis is?” one fan questioned.

    Meanwhile, others dismissed relationship-related theories altogether and suggested that Swift’s choice was purely professional. Known for her meticulous planning and penchant for leaving clues, fans speculated this could be a teaser for an upcoming project. Swift’s history of referencing The Wizard of Oz and her recent Instagram posts featuring a “Yellow Brick Road” theme only added fuel to these theories.



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