ESPN accused of 'desecrating' The Masters with controversial coverage decision

ESPN is once again taking heat after one of the broadcaster featured a non-golf star prominently during its Masters coverage.

TheMastersis widely regarded as one of the most prestigious events in the sport. ESPN already was shut down by Augusta National Golf Club when theydenied contributor Pat McAfee a studio spot on their grounds during the tournament.

During Thursday's opening round, viewers on social media were outraged after WWE wrestler Michael Gregory Mizanin, or The Miz, sat alongside longtime ESPN reporter Laura Rutledge during the Masters broadcast.

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“Just a continuation of how ESPN has degraded over a number of years,” wrote one user on X.

“I don't think ESPN actually employs golf analysts/personalities anymore. So they just take from what they have and these folks are all about it. Who wouldn't want to get paid to be at the Masters,” wrote another.

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Another angry social media user wrote, “ESPN has desecrated the Masters with their coverage this week.”

The Miz wasn't the only non-golf athlete on site this week. Jason Kelce was at Augusta for ESPN as a sideline reporter during the Par 3 Contest on Wednesday. He made his introduction on the broadcast in a caddie outfit, unfolding a lawn chair and talking noticeably loud at an otherwise quiet and calm course.

The most prestigious event in golf approved for Kelce to be there — although it denied his fellow ESPN star McAfee and his broadcast crew — while Scott Van Pelt and Marty Smith performed more traditional interviews along the sidelines as Kelce wandered the grounds, and viewers on social media weren’t in favor of the retired NFL star being on their televisions.

"I’ll lose my mind if I see Jason Kelce hit a golf shot during this par 3 contest," one X user wrote. "Jason Kelce just absolutely brutal in his first appearance at Augusta," wrote another.

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Kelce's appearance started with him walking in the midst of fans, screaming about his lawn chair as the Par 3 Contest kicked off behind him. He unfolded a Masters lawn chair and sat down as the camera spun around him with patrons blatantly staring in awkward silence.

"1) Absolutely no one wants to hear or see from Jason Kelce during Masters week. Really bad choice to allow that. 2) It’s time for @LPGA ladies to have a go at your beautiful little piece of heaven. Not an exhib either. Full on battle," wrote someone else.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 10, 2026

ESPN accused of 'desecrating' The Masters with controversial coverage decision

ESPN is once again taking heat after one of the broadcaster featured a non-golf star prominently during its Masters coverage. The...

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Supreme Court's Sotomayor slams colleague Kavanaugh for ICE ruling

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayortook a swipe at fellow Justice Brett Kavanaugh at an event on April 7, criticizing her bench-mate for his recent opinion in an immigration case.

Speaking at an event hosted by the University of Kansas School of Law,Bloomberg Lawreported Sotomayor spoke about the court's divided decision in September 2025 that allowed the Trump administration to resume indiscriminate immigration-related stops in Los Angeles. The stops sparked widespread protests in California and many people criticized them, saying they were based on racial profiling.

Over the objections of the court's three liberal justices, including Sotomayor's, the court blocked a lower court ruling that said federal agents need to have reasonable suspicion that the person they’re questioning is in the country illegally.

“I had a colleague in that case who wrote, you know, these are only temporary stops,” Sotomayor said, referencing Kavanaugh's concurring opinion, though she did not name him explicitly. “This is from a man whose parents were professionals. And probably doesn’t really know any person who works by the hour.”

Sotomayor added, “Those hours that they took you away, nobody’s paying that person,” she said of those detained. “And that makes a difference between a meal for him and his kids that night and maybe just cold supper," Bloomberg Law reported she told the crowd.

In his opinion for the court, Kavanaugh said that legal residents’ encounters with immigration agents are “typically brief,” and impacted individuals “promptly go free," according to Bloomberg Law.

The legal challenge came after the Trump administrationramped up immigration raidsacross California starting in June 2025, widening its focus from those with criminal records to abroader sweepfor anyone in the country without authorization.

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In dissenting remarks in 2025, Sotomayor slammed the court's decision.

“We should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish, and appears to work a low wage job,” Sotomayor wrote. “Rather than stand idly by while our constitutional freedoms are lost, I dissent."

Kavanaugh wasborn and raised in Washington, DC,where he attended the all-boys Georgetown Preparatory School. In 1987, Kavanaugh earned a bachelor’s degree from Yale College. He earned his law degree from Yale Law School in 1990. He served as a judge on the DC Circuit before Trump tapped him for theSupreme Court. He was confirmed to the Supreme Court in 2018. He previously served as a top aide to President George W. Bush when he was in office.

Sotomayor made history in 2009 by becomingthe first Latina to serve on the Supreme Court. She was nominated by former President Barack Obama. Sotomayor is a Spanish-speaking Bronx native, born to working-class Puerto Rican parents. She earned her bachelor's degree from Princeton University in 1976 and her law degree from Yale Law School in 1979. Before joining the highest court, she served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, the District Court in New York and as an assistant district attorney in Manhattan.

Contributing: Maureen Groppe, USA TODAY.

Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her atkapalmer@usatoday.comand on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletterhere.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor slams Justice Brett Kavanaugh

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 10, 2026

Supreme Court's Sotomayor slams colleague Kavanaugh for ICE ruling

Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayortook a swipe at fellow Justice Brett Kavanaugh at an event on April 7, criticizing her bench-mate ...

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An ailing dog, goal and 'inappropriate' celebration: MLS player's wild week

Before last Saturday's game against San Diego FC, San Jose Earthquakes forward Preston Judd had a premonition.

"I told my girlfriend, my family that there's no way I don't score in this game," Judd tells USA TODAY Sports.

Just before halftime, Judd's vision came to fruition. Beau Leroux played an outstanding low cross from the left flank and Judd, as any good striker does, timed his run to perfection and finished unerringly.

There was still one more act before Judd's full plan could be completed. The striker went to the corner flag, got on his knees, lifted his leg and — like any dog owner would recognize — marked his territory.

A little impolite? Maybe. But there was a deeper meaning behind Judd's antics.

Just days before the game, Juddstarted a GoFundMefor his dog Poppy, who had been admitted to the ICU in critical condition after visits to several vets.

Poppy was diagnosed with a mesenteric torsion, a "rare and life threatening condition where the intestines twist and cut off their own blood supply," the GoFundMe said.

Judd was prepared to do whatever it took to save Poppy, a three-year-old English Sheepdog/Poodle mix (aka a Sheepadoodle).

"She's really good dog," he said. "She's always around me, she's there for me. She's helped me in multiple situations like dogs do — they're always there for you. They can tell when you're down, when you're happy, when you need somebody, when they just need to be there.

"She's really family to me, and I love her like I love my family."

For Judd, scoring that goal was vital, not just because it helped the upstart Quakes move into third place in the Western Conference.

"I had to use a celebration that would honor Poppy and be sort of fun and get recognized," he said.

"I think some people took it in the wrong aspect, where it was disrespectful, but it was meant to honor my dog and other dogs and create awareness for situations like I was just in."

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Some of those who found the celebration to be disrespectful apparently reside in the MLS Disciplinary Committee, which fined Judd an undisclosed amount this week for his "inappropriate gesture" after his goal.

Judd admitted that he found the fine to be "a little surprising."

"After MLS posted the celebration on their Twitter, I thought maybe I wasn't going to [get fined]," he said.

The fine slightly depleted Judd's savings but not nearly as much as Poppy's medical bills, which he said set him back more than $30,000.

That led to the creation of the GoFundMe, which may be seen as a surprise move coming from a professional athlete.

Judd got some financial support from his family but the bill, which was all due upfront, was a shock to his financial system.

"The reality is, not all professional athletes are millionaires. Just like anyone else, an unexpected emergency —especially something as serious as this — can put you in a very difficult financial position," he said in his GoFundMe posting.

As of Thursday, April 9, Judd is nearly at his $13,000 goal, but the response he's received has led him to widen his scope. Judd is launching a nonprofit called Poppy's Promise, which is designed to provide financial assistance to owners making costly life-or-death decisions over their pet's health.

"My love for dogs is just so great and if I can use my platform to help other dogs and other families, I'm going to do it," Judd said.

Thankfully for Judd, he'll get to continue building his foundation — and his burgeoning MLS career — with Poppy by his side.

"She's doing a lot better now, she's improved a lot," he said.

"Her life will change just a little bit with diet restrictions and how she uses the potty. But other than that, she's doing really good. She's making a full recovery. So I'm very happy and relieved."

March 21: Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crapeau (71) blocks the header by Nashville SC's Sam Surridge during the first half at Geodis Park. Nashville SC won the match, 5-0.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> March 1: Inter Miami's German Berterame controls the ball against Orlando City during the second half at Inter&Co Stadium. Inter Miami won the game, 4-2.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Feb. 28: Los Angeles FC's Denis Bouanga and the Houston Dynamo's Antonio Carlos (left) compete for possession during the first half at Shell Energy Stadium. LAFC won the match, 2-0.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Feb. 21: Fans watch during the national anthem before the game between Los Angeles FC and Inter Miami CF at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. LAFC won the game, 3-0, knocking off the defending MLS champs.

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

MLS action, goals, scenes and drama from 2026 season

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:SJ Earthquakes' Preston Judd explains 'inappropriate' dog celebration

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 10, 2026

An ailing dog, goal and 'inappropriate' celebration: MLS player's wild week

Before last Saturday's game against San Diego FC, San Jose Earthquakes forward Preston Judd had a premonition. "I told m...

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The Latest: Iran rejects ceasefire deal as Trump's deadline for attacks on infrastructure nears

Tehranrejected a45-day ceasefire proposaland said it wants a permanent end to the war as U.S. PresidentDonald Trump's ultimatum to make a deal ticked closer with an expanded threat of strikes against the Islamic Republic to include all power plants and bridges.

APTOPIX Lebanon Israel Iran War

Trump said Mondayhe’s “not at all” concernedabout committing possible war crimes as he again threatened to destroy Iranian infrastructure if Tehran does not meet his Tuesday 8 p.m. ET deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned the U.S. that attacking civilian infrastructure is banned under international law, his spokesperson said Monday.

Israel carried out a new wave of attacks on Iran early Tuesday, while Iran responded with missile fire on Israel and its Gulf Arab neighbors.

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began, but the government has not updated the toll for days.

InLebanon, more than 1,400 peoplehave been killedand more than 1 million peoplehave been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died there.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel and 13 U.S.service membershave been killed.

Here is the latest:

South Korean presidential official to visit Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia to secure oil

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is dispatching his chief of staff as a special envoy to Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia in a diplomatic push to secure more fuel and mitigate the energy crunch caused by the war in the Middle East.

Kang Hoon-sik said he will depart Tuesday evening, with the visits aimed at securing additional sources of crude oil and naphtha, a key petroleum product used in plastics manufacturing.

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South Korea last month reached an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to receive 24 million barrels of crude from that country and initial shipments have arrived in recent weeks.

More than 60% of crude and 50% of naphtha supplies imported by South Korea last year passed through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that’s now largely blocked by Iran as it seeks to exert leverage against the United States and Israel.

Key bridge linking Saudi Arabia to the island of Bahrain closes over threats from Iranian attacks

The King Fahd Causeway, a key bridge linking Saudi Arabia to the island kingdom of Bahrain, closed early Tuesday over threats from Iranian attacks.

The King Fahd Causeway Authority made the announcement in a post on X.

It said vehicle movements had been “suspended as a precautionary measure” over Iranian attacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province.

The 25-kilometer (15.5-mile) bridge is the only connection by road for Bahrain, home to the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, to the Arabian Peninsula.

While there’s been no formal threat against the King Fahd Causeway, some hard-liners within Iran have increasingly identified it as a possible target.

That risk likely would grow if Trump carries out his threatened strikes against bridges in Iran.

Saudi Arabia acknowledges ‘debris’ falls near energy infrastructure

Saudi Arabia said early Tuesday that seven ballistic missiles from Iran targeted the kingdom’s oil-rich Eastern Province, with “debris from the missiles” crashing into the ground near energy facilities.

The brief statement from Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, a spokesman for the Saudi military, did not elaborate on the extent of the damage on the ground, though he said an “assessment is underway.”

It wasn’t clear what energies facilities had been impacted.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 09, 2026

The Latest: Iran rejects ceasefire deal as Trump's deadline for attacks on infrastructure nears

Tehranrejected a45-day ceasefire proposaland said it wants a permanent end to the war as U.S. PresidentDonald Trump's ultimatum to ...

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Masters 2026: After Rory McIlroy’s spectacular win, what’s the best storyline this year?

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy, sporting the green jacket he’d owned for less than an hour, looked out at the assembled media on April 13, 2025, and smiled a weary smile. “I'd like to start this press conference with a question myself,” he said. “What are we all going to talk about next year?”

It’s a fair question. When McIlroy finally won another major, finally won his Masters in try No. 17, finally claimed his career grand slam, it didn’t just represent the culmination of his career. That glorious 2025 victory represented the end of a chapter in Masters history, the best possible conclusion to one of the tournament’s longest-running storylines. With McIlroy’s victory assured, with Tiger Woods now clearly a part of the tournament’s history rather than its present or future, the Masters needs new storylines.

So. Whatarewe going to talk about this year?

Fortunately, Augusta National has a way of creating myths out of the thick Georgia air. No matter what unfolds over the next six days, it will take on the tones and colors of legend.

Broadly speaking, the best Masters stories break down into three categories: ascension, domination and resurrection. In other words: a new champion, an elite champion, or a returning champion. Every one of the finest Masters — 2025, 2019, 1997, 1986 and so on — features some combination of the three. So which will it be this year? Here are our best guesses.

Ascension: Greatness debuts

Augusta National has a way of welcoming future Hall of Famers to the big stage, like Woods and Jordan Spieth. With all due respect to literally every other tournament, there’s something special about a Masters win that elevates a player’s career to another level entirely. Any of these paths would make for a fantastic week:

First-time major winners:Tommy Fleetwood leads the pack here; if the Englishman can claim his first major this week, he’d be one of the golf world’s most popular winners in years. Akshay Bhatia also appears ready to level up. Min Woo Lee, Max Homa and Viktor Hovland would also be crowd favorites if they were atop the leaderboard on Sunday.

First-time Masters winners:Justin Rose really deserves another shot at this, having lost two Masters in playoffs (to Sergio Garcia in 2017 and McIlroy last year). Shane Lowry might set off the finest party Augusta has ever seen. And if Gary Woodland managed to win a green jacket after his personal challenges, there wouldn’t be a dry eye on the grounds.

An amateur:No amateur has ever won the Masters; Ken Venturi came the closest, finishing solo second to Jack Burke in 1956. Sam Burns made a run in 2023 but finished T16. Were any of this year’s six amateurs to get in the weekend mix, they’d be an instant national celebrity.

Domination: Greatness flexes its muscle

Every once in a while, the best have to remind the world why they’re the best. Yes, dramatic 18th-hole playoff finishes are spectacular, but so too is the walk up the 18th fairway when the champion only needs a triple-bogey to win.

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Rory McIlroy:If he were to back up his 2025 nailbiter with a 2026 masterpiece, well, that would be something, wouldn’t it?

Jon Rahm:Just how good is Rahm these days? It’s tough to say because his days are on the LIV circuit, but if the 2023 champion were to come to Augusta National and lap the field, well, a whole lot of the “did he make a mistake?” talk would quiet down.

Scottie Scheffler:Won his two Masters by three and four strokes, respectively. When he finds his groove, there’s nobody that can even slow him down.

Bryson DeChambeau:Also fits in the “First-time Masters winners” category, but man, if DeChambeau were able to back up his talk with a triumphant walk through the pines, well, we’d like to see the YouTube behind-the-scenes videos that would come from that.

Resurrection: Greatness, once lost, is now found

The Masters has a way of bringing greats back onstage for one more turn in the spotlight — think Jack Nicklaus in 1986 or Tiger Woods in 2019. These players are primed for one of those return-to-greatness moments.

Jordan Spieth:The next player in line for a truly great comeback story. After winning a Masters in 2015 and giving one away in 2016, Spieth seemed like the next legend. It hasn’t quite worked out that way, but if he were able to find that winning form for one more weekend, he’d be the most popular contender in the field.

Keegan Bradley:He has just one major to his credit, a PGA Championship all the way back in 2011 … meaning the most notable line on his resume is last year’s catastrophic Ryder Cup captaincy. A green jacket would go a long way toward rehabilitating that.

Brooks Koepka:After spending several seasons on LIV, Koepka has largely been welcomed back by the PGA Tour galleries. He too belongs in the “first-time Masters winners” category, but a Koepka post-LIV victory would have resonance beyond just the leaderboard.

Sergio Garcia & Patrick Reed:Both have severely tested their fans’ patience over the years, but a victory might —might— eliminate some of the hard feelings.

Fred Couples:No, it won’t happen. But man, can you imagine how great another Freddie win would be?

Of course, the best result might just be one where we have no idea what’s going to happen all the way into late Sunday afternoon. Think back to, say, 2011, when eight different players held at least a share of the lead on the tournament’s final day, five simultaneously on the back nine. Charl Schwartzel claimed the green jacket with four straight closing birdies, but it remains one of the most spectacular Masters tournaments ever because of the sheer chaos.

We don’t yet know what the story of this week will be. But it’ll definitely be worth retelling. At Augusta National, a victory always is.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 09, 2026

Masters 2026: After Rory McIlroy’s spectacular win, what’s the best storyline this year?

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy, sporting the green jacket he’d owned for less than an hour, looked out at the assembled media on April 13,...

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WNBA star Angel Reese traded to Atlanta Dream for picks package

Angel Reese's third WNBA season will not be with the Chicago Sky.

On Monday, April 6,Prime's Taylor Rooks broke the newsthat the Sky were moving their star forward. The Sky and Dream later confirmed the move with dual announcements.

"This trade is designed to achieve roster balance and represents a great opportunity for all parties," Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a statement. "We are thankful for her many important contributions to this league and this game, and we know she will continue to have a big impact on the court and beyond. We wish Angel all the best in her next chapter."

“Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta," said Dream general manager Dan Padover. "She has already proven herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans."

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Angel Reese walks runway at Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

Angel Reese trade details

The Dream acquired the two-time WNBA All-Star from the Chicago Sky in exchange for the Dream’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. The Dream will also receive the right to swap second-round picks with the Sky in 2028.

How did Angel Reese react to being traded?

On Monday,Reese posted a video tribute to Chicagoon her Instagram.

"To the city of Chicago, you showed me real love from day one," Reese said in a video montage. "Thank you, Chicago. Always Chi-Town Barbie."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Angel Reese Sky-Dream trade details after WNBA star moved

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 09, 2026

WNBA star Angel Reese traded to Atlanta Dream for picks package

Angel Reese's third WNBA season will not be with the Chicago Sky. On Monday, April 6,Prime's Taylor Rooks broke the newsth...

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