Mickey Togs

The New York State Gaming Commission has unanimously approved licenses for three new casinos in New York City. The decision paves the way for Bally’s in the Bronx, Hard Rock Metropolitan Park near Citi Field, and Resorts World near the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens to begin development. 

According to Gaming Commission Chairman Bryan O’Dwyer, the licensing fees are expected to generate $1.5 billion for the state.

The Hard Rock Metropolitan Park, a significant part of the approved projects, is a partnership between Hard Rock International and New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. The $8.1 billion project will transform 50 acres of parking lots around Citi Field into a large-scale entertainment and gaming complex.

The complex will feature a Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, a Hard Rock Live concert center, multiple restaurants and bars, a retail store, and a 25-acre public park. Jim Allen, CEO of Hard Rock International, expressed excitement about extending their reputation as a world-class entertainment company to Queens.

Michigan won its second national championship in men’s college basketball, defeating Connecticut 69-63 on Monday in Indianapolis in the title game.

After a 31-3 regular season, the Wolverines were dominant during their tournament run, winning each of their first five games by double digits. Michigan’s average margin of victory in the NCAA Tournament before Monday was 21.6 points.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” Wolverines head coach Dusty May said during the trophy presentation. “These guys have done it all year.”

The Wolverines proved to be too physical for the Huskies in the championship matchup. Michigan shot 28 free throws, compared with only 16 for Connecticut. The Wolverines also dominated inside, outscoring the Huskies in the paint 36 to 22.

Junior guard Elliot Cadeau led Michigan with 19 points. Senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg had 13, while sophomore forward Morez Johnson Jr. added 12. Though UConn cut the deficit to as little as four in the final minute, the Wolverines largely controlled the action, leading for 75% of the game.

Clay Holmes and Tobias Myers combined on a three-hitter and the New  York Mets beat the San Francisco Giants 9-0 on Saturday night.

Holmes (2-0) matched his career high with seven innings and allowed only one runner past first base. The right-hander gave up three hits and had four strikeouts with two walks.

Myers retired the final six batters in order for the Mets’ first shutout of the season.

Mark Vientos had three hits, and Tyrone Taylor hit a pinch three-run homer and drove in four runs. Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette and Brett Baty each had two hits.

Major League Baseball’s pitch clock was no match for the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins.

New York’s 9-7 win Saturday night lasted 3 hours, 49 minutes, the longest nine-inning game since the pitch clock was instituted for the 2023 season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

MLB had not had a nine-inning game that long since Boston’s 13-9 with over Baltimore went 3:57 on Sept. 27, 2022, according to Elias.

The previous high for a nine-inning game since the pitch clock started in 2023 was 3:45 for the Oakland Athletics’ 7-6 win at the New York Mets on Aug. 15, 2024.

New York and Miami combined for 379 pitches by 13 pitchers, and Marlins pitchers walked 10, increasing their total to 21 in the first two games of the series. There were 21 runners left on base, including 12 by Miami.

NEW YORK — You are invited to Hoops Cabaret New York, called the world’s sexiest sports bar, to watch UFC 327 featuring seven announced fights, broadcast live from the Kaseya Center in Miami, on Saturday night, April 11th.  

Hoops Cabaret combines the fun of a sports bar with the excitement of a strip club. Hoops girl Jessica said, “The girls and I will be performing on stage and up close and personal for you all through the night. And the after-party will be awesome!” 

The fan-favorite Hoops Cabaret with multiple giant HD TVs, and its gigantic Mega-Tron Video Wall is the ideal place to watch this great night of UFC matches. Every seat has a clear view of all the action. 

With a title fight, several notable returns, and generational clashes, UFC 327 stands as one of the key events of spring 2026 for the organization. The top of the card will feature Joshua Van versus Tatsuro Taira in a championship fight.

After his surprise victory over Alexandre Pantoja, Joshua Van returns directly to the main event. Facing him is Tatsuro Taira, presented as one of the most promising profiles of his generation. Two strong dynamics, two fast trajectories, and a belt on the line.

The light heavyweight category holds an important place at UFC 327 with Dominick Reyes, former title challenger, meeting Johnny Walker.

Hoops Cabaret for the ultimate fan experience. Check out the Hoops ‘VIP Man Cave,’ the VIP suites, the new “Trophy Room,” and be sure to pop some bottles, and make it rain on the beautiful Hoops girls!

HOOPS Cabaret and Sports Bar

48 West 33rd Street, New York City

Court-side, Balcony, + VIP seating

Super VIP “Man Cave”

New Hoops Trophy Room 

Next door to Rick’s Cabaret NYC

Just about everyone in the Mets’ lineup got in on the act on Monday night, and it led to a victory to open their seven-game road trip.

With all nine members of the Mets’ lineup reaching base and eight of them collecting hits, the Mets wore down the Cardinals and collected a 4-2 win on Monday night at Busch Stadium.

There were plenty of encouraging signs for the Mets offense along the way. Bo Bichette, who entered the game 1-for-14, picked up his second hit of the season — the go-ahead RBI single in the fifth inning — drove in two of the team’s runs.

In his first start of the season, Jared Young tagged an RBI double into right field and Juan Soto tacked on another RBI on a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning.

Francisco Lindor, who had one triple combined in the last two seasons, laced his second three-base hit in as many games and scored a run in the opening frame.

The Mets pitching staff did not need much support. Clay Holmes allowed two earned runs in 5⅔ innings while Tobias Myers and Brooks Raley combined to allow one hit in 2⅓ innings.

The Mets knocked out NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes in the first inning with a five-run inning and continued to add on runs from there, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates, 11-7, on Opening Day at Citi Field.

The Mets are now 42-23 on Opening Day, the best such winning percentage in MLB.

The Mets’ new-look offense was on full display in the season opener as they made contact in key situations, worked many deep counts in critical at-bats, and produced when it counted, going 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

Call it an early return on David Stearns’ offseason priority to build an offense with “more competitive at-bats 1-through-9″ compared to seasons past.

With that in mind the Mets scored the first nine runs without a home run, as they had traffic on the bases all day. For the game they produced 11 hits while taking nine walks.

The Yankees opened the season with a 7-0 win over the San Francisco Giants, taking a lead early and coasting from there behind 6 shutout innings from starting pitcher Max Fried. It is New York’s fifth straight Opening Day victory.

Facing Giants ace Logan Webb, the Yankees pounced in the second inning, with six straight hits to take a 5-0 lead. Trent Grisham, playing his first game since returning to the team on a qualifying offer last winter, capped the rally with a triple.

Two more runs followed in the fifth inning, enough to raise Webb’s ERA to 10.80. His six earned runs were more than he allowed in any start in 2025.

Every member of the Yankees’ lineup finished the game with a hit, save for one. Reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts, marking the first time since 2024 that he posted that many strikeouts in a game.

The Jets are turning to their quarterback past to make it through the present. The Jets sent the Las Vegas Raiders a sixth-round pick for former Jets quarterback Geno Smith, who was originally drafted by the Jets in 2013. 

As part of the trade, Smith agreed to restructure his contract, and the Raiders are eating most of the deal. He had two years and $66 million remaining on his contract before the restructure. Now, the Raiders will pay him $16.2 million and the Jets are on the hook for $3.3 million.

Smith is the favorite to be the starter for the Jets in 2026. 

The expectation is the Jets will try to find their franchise quarterback in the 2027 draft when they have three first-round picks and the class is expected to be loaded, unlike this year. But they need to get through 2026 first, and that is where Smith’s return comes in.

Smith, 35, had one dismal season with the Raiders after finding success with the Seahawks in 2022 and 2023.

St. John’s is the back-to-back Big East champion after picking up a dominant win in the tournament final over UConn. The Red Storm looked strong in the 72-52 win over the Huskies.

St. John’s went on a 10-0 run to open the game, going up by as many as 17 points in the first half. The Huskies fought back, but they completely failed to score from the field in the final eight minutes of the game. UConn went 1-for-15 down the final stretch.

St. John’s forward Zuby Ejiofor was absolutely dominant on both sides of the court, putting up 18 points as well as 9 rebounds, 7 blocks and 3 steals. Bryce Hopkins also hit 18 points for the Red Storm, while Tarris Reed Jr. led UConn with 17 points.

The victory likely felt extra sweet for St. John’s, who lost to UConn by 32 points at the end of February as the regular season ramped down. Despite entering the tournament as the No. 1 seed, with UConn as the No. 2, the Red Storm were ranked lower than the Huskies in the AP poll — 13th vs. UConn’s sixth.