Mickey Togs

The NFL’s owners approved plans to expand replay assist and revisit overtime rules, while also opting to stick with the newly implemented kickoff rules, during the NFL League Meetings in Florida.

Regular-season overtime rules will now match the playoffs, allowing both teams the chance to get a possession even if a touchdown is scored on the opening drive. Additionally, overtime was amended to be 10 minutes instead of 15 minutes in play time.

The owners also approved a proposal to allow replay assist to consult on-field officials to overrule objective calls if there was “clear and obvious” evidence that a foul didn’t occur. Additionally, the league will continue to utilize the dynamic kickoff rule, which was implemented last season, while moving the ball on spot on touchbacks from the 30-yard line to the 35-yard line.

For the first time in 25 years, the New York Knicks are heading back to the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks destroyed the Boston Celtics on Friday with a 38-point win in Game 6 of the conference semifinals, to advance to their first conference finals since 2000.

With the Knicks leading the series 3-2, expectations were high for the matchup in Madison Square Garden, with some of the most expensive tickets on record. But New York exceeded expectations, destroying Boston 119-81 to advance to the conference finals.

The Celtics were already at a major disadvantage, with leading scorer Jayson Tatum out with a torn Achilles. But Friday’s game was an absolute smackdown, with New York completely dominating from start to finish.

It was a true team effort for New York: Six Knicks ended with double-digit points, with four of those players putting up 20-point performances. OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson lead the team with 23 points, while Mikal Bridges put up 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns added 21 points and 12 rebounds.

New York outplayed Boston on every stat, but rebounding was particularly lethal: The Knicks out-rebounded the Celtics 55-36.

The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will host the NFC East Division rival Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Kickoff Game at Lincoln Financial Field on September 4, the NFL announced.

The Eagles defeated the Cowboys in both of their two annual division matchups during the 2024 NFL regular season by a combined 75-13 margin. The NFL is scheduled to reveal its full 2025 regular season schedule on Wednesday (May 14) on NFL Network, NFL.com, the NFL app and NFL+.

The Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 40-22, in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw for 221 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 17 of 22 passing, while also recording 72 yards and one touchdown on 11 rushing attempts to be named Super Bowl MVP.

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is coming off a season in which he led the NFL with 2,005 rushing yards and became the ninth player in NFL history to record more than 2,000 yards in a single season. The Cowboys finished the 2024 season at 7-10, having lost quarterback Dak Prescott in Week 9 to a season-ending hamstring injury following a 3-4 start.

The Rockies finally made a change after an abysmal start to the season. 

Colorado announced the firing of manager Bud Black and bench coach Mike Redmond, with the team off to a 7-33 start after beating the Padres 9-3 on Sunday. They were coming off a 21-0 loss to San Diego on Saturday.

“Our play so far this season, especially coming off the last two seasons, has been unacceptable. Our fans deserve better, and we are capable of better,” said a Rockies spokesperson.

“While we all share responsibility in how this season has played out, these changes are necessary. We will use the remainder of 2025 to improve where we can on the field and to evaluate all areas of our operation so we can properly turn the page into the next chapter of Rockies Baseball.” 

Third base coach Waren Schaeffer has been named interim manager and hitting coach Clint Hurdle will take over as interim bench coach.

Baseball fans call it the Subway Series—the New York Mets will play the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 16, 17 and 18. 

Vivid Cabaret New York, the high-energy adult club known for its sexy girls and party atmosphere, will host viewing and “decidedly unofficial” After-Parties for both games at the tri-level club in midtown Manhattan (61 West 37 Street).

Baseball fans will be greeted by the beautiful Vivid girls who perform on the city’s tallest stripper pole (28 feet) and also up close and personal.     

“We really know how to throw a party,” said Vivid girl Carly. “Expect VIP treatment whether you are a Yankee or Met fan. With all the hot girls showing off their perfect bodies, no matter who wins the game, it’s sure to be exciting.” 

Vivid Cabaret provides the ultimate in VIP treatment, featuring private suites and the VIP Ultra Lounge: a discreet hideaway for celebrities and power brokers. Vivid Cabaret is the sister club to the world famous Rick’s Cabaret New York.

Vivid Cabaret New York 

VIP Private Suites 

Roof Deck Cigar Lounge

Basketball Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal has accepted the men’s basketball general manager role at Sacramento State.

O’Neal will be joining in a voluntary role with the program, where his son, Shaqir, recently transferred from Florida A&M following the hiring of former NBA point guard Mike Bibby as head coach.

O’Neal is the latest high-profile athlete to take on a college general manager position following Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who was named as an assistant general manager at his alma mater, Davidson.

Sacramento State went 7-25 under interim head coach Michael Czepol during the 2024-25 season following a combined 28-42 record under former head coach David Patrick, who took the associate head coach position at LSU last year.

The Hornets have never made an NCAA Tournament appearance since being promoted to Division I during the 1991-92 season and have only finished with a winning record twice in that span.

It may not have been as close as last year’s photo finish Kentucky Derby, but the 151st running on Saturday evening still produced plenty of drama down the stretch. Sovereignty was able to edge out the favorite, Journalism, to take the first leg of the Triple Crown. 

It ends up being the second derby win for trainer Bill Mott, who also won the 2019 Derby with Country House.

Conditions were extremely muddy and sloppy due to heavy rains throughout the day at Churchill Downs, severely impacting the conditions. But for as sloppy as the conditions were, they did not slow down Sovereignty as it was able to power through with a frantic finish.

Sovereignty entered the day with 7-1 odds to win.

Journalism was the favorite at 3-1. 

With the New York Yankees rotation struggling with the worst ERA in the majors right now, it is clear that general manager Brian Cashman needs to go out and get some help.

Pablo Lopez is a possible solution.

The 29-year-old Twins right-hander is currently sidelined with a minor hamstring issue, but he’s expected to return well before the trade deadline. And if Minnesota doesn’t get out of its slow start to the season, Lopez could instantly become one of the top starters on the market. He was an All-Star in 2023.

If Lopez returns from injury and regains his form, the Twins may ask for a big name talent to headline a deal. With Gerrit Cole out for the year and the rest of the rotation showing serious cracks, New York might be unable to afford not to make a deal, no matter how high the cost.

Rangers fans still showed up Thursday at Madison Square Garden, as they always do, to witness the end of a season which offered them very little to be proud of.  

They’ve endured a disastrous 2024-25 campaign all the way through.

The Rangers became the fourth team in NHL history to miss the postseason one year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy, dropping from a franchise-record 55 wins all the way down to 39.

They managed a 4-0 win over the Lightning in Thursday’s regular-season finale, but neither team had anything to play for.

Rory McIlroy, the pre-tournament second “choice,” behind Scottie Scheffler, survived a bad last round and won a playoff vs Justin Rose, to win the prestigious Masters golf crown for the first time.

Oh he nearly blew it, but now has won 5 major golf tournaments.

McIlroy is now the sixth golfer ever to win all four majors and achieve the career Grand Slam, joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

Quite good company!