Lexie Hull remembers what it was like playing for the Indiana Fever before Caitlin Clark arrived in town.

It’s different now. The arenas are louder, the opposing players are more motivated and social media is more volatile.

“The most challenging part is there’s just so much scrutiny. People have opinions online, and, unfortunately, that’s part of the job and the role that we play,” Hull told Fox News Digital about what’s harder about playing in Indiana since 2024.

“People need to know that everyone’s human. We’re real people. I think when things get blown out of proportion, when things get really personal and there’s personal attacks on people’s character, I think that’s where it gets over the line.”

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Lexie Hull, left, and Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever during a game against the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena June 27, 2024, in Seattle. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

When asked if she has been the target of personal attacks online, Hull said, “I’m sure I have. I try not to read comments for that reason.”

Much of the controversial social media discourse about the Fever stems from heated moments on the court over the last two seasons. Clark and Fever fans often expressed outrage at times when an opposing player fouled her or delivered a physical play against Clark without a foul being called.

Hull was drafted by the Fever in 2022 and played two full seasons in a quieter, less-crowded Gainbridge Fieldhouse than the one she has played in the last two years, falling short of the playoffs both years.

But when Clark was drafted in 2024, Hull’s team became the center of the women’s basketball world.

Hull says she noticed a difference in how opposing players started to perform against her team that year, which she credits to the surge in popularity.

“Because of the fans that we’ve gotten since 2024, with the rise in, I think, like, popularity with the Indiana Fever being like a name that people know. … And there’s a million Fever jerseys and Fever shirts. I think, like, as an opposing team, you’d want to win even more because you feel there’s so many people rooting,” Hull said.

“It’s exciting to have that type of following across the country, and I think, like, for other teams, they have great fans and great people that show up for them, and they want to perform for those people, just like we want to perform for ours.”

When asked if she believes games have gotten more physical as a result, Hull said, “I think just the game itself is physical. I don’t know if it’s gotten any more physical. I think social media amplifies a lot of that.

“I think people want to win. I think people just want to win. … [The games] are all physical. … They all get chippy at times. Calls get made, calls don’t get made. That’s just part of the game.”

FEVER’S SOPHIE CUNNINGHAM DROPS ‘NO ONE LIKES US’ TAKE AS INDIANA DEALS WITH ADVERSITY

The Indiana Fevers’ Lexie Hull, Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham watch as the Golden State Valkyries celebrate their 88-77 win in a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco June 19, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

During a game between the Fever and the Connecticut Sun June 17, physicality boiled into a brawl. After Sun guard Jacy Sheldon poked Clark in the eye and fellow Sun player Marina Mabrey shoved Clark to the ground, Fever star Sophie Cunningham committed a hard foul on Sheldon, initiating an on-court fight that resulted in three ejections.

When asked if she believes her team is prepared for a similar incident in 2026, Hull said, “It shouldn’t get to that point.”

Instead, Hull said she is focused on helping her team win a championship. And she embraces all the attention and popularity despite the challenges that come with it.

“Growing up, I didn’t necessarily watch the WNBA as much, didn’t have dreams of playing in the league at a young age, and now girls have the ability to watch us, see us, dream about being professional athletes. And that’s what’s been the most rewarding part about it,” Hull said of the positives that come with the attention.

She came one game shy of reaching the WNBA Finals last year, leading the Fever through the playoffs after Clark and Cunningham were lost for the season with injuries. In a career-best year, Hull averaged career highs in points (7.2), rebounds (4.3), and assists (1.8) while shooting 36.7% from 3-point range and appearing in all 44 games.

In the playoffs, she averaged 10.3 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists in 8 games. It all came to an end in a 107-98 overtime loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals.

With Clark and Cunningham healthy and back this year, the Fever go into 2026 as a top contender for the title.

“Tasting that and being so close and feeling like we have so much more to give, I think that just changes our mindset a little bit,” Hull said.

The trio of Clark, Cunningham and Hull proved to be an efficient and gravitating force in popularity when they were all on the court at the same time last year. Along the way, they earned a mysterious nickname on social media, which they later adopted for themselves — “Tres Leches,” which translates from Spanish to “three milks” and refers to a popular Latin American sponge cake.

“We saw it on Twitter at some point, and people ran with it,” Hull said of the nickname. “It was funny.”

In terms of navigating the attention, Hull, Clark and their teammates now have two years of conditioning in that arena.

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Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10), Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham laugh near the team bench June 3, 2025, during a game against the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (IMAGN Syndication: The Indianapolis Star)

“I think everyone does a really good job of not giving the rise in attention any attention. I think we’re just showing up the same we do everyday,” Hull said.

“Knowing that there’s more eyes on us, knowing that there’s more seats in the stands, all of that is exciting, but I don’t think that necessarily changes how we go about the game, go about our relationships, go about what we post on social media. It just adds to the engagement.”

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Bryson DeChambeau had a tumultuous first round of the Masters.

DeChambeau, 32, who shot 4 over par on the day, hit a patron with a tee shot on the sixth hole before later struggling to get out of a bunker on the 11th hole, hitting out of the sand three times before escaping the trap.

On the 180-yard, par 3, DeChambeau pulled his tee shot toward the left and hit a patron in the leg. The ball bounced back toward the hole and ended up settling off the green.

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Bryson DeChambeau watches his tee shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 9, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

DeChambeau covered his mouth with his hand when he saw the ball strike the patron. When he walked toward the green, he found the patron, gave him a golf ball and shook his hand.

DeChambeau, who was even par at the time, made an outstanding recovery, chipping the ball to three feet from the hole despite being 24 yards out and eventually saved par by making the ensuing putt.

The Clovis, California, native, remained at even par until the 11th hole, when he had difficulty escaping a greenside bunker.

DeChambeau’s second shot was from the fairway, hitting down toward a green that was flanked by a pond and a bunker. DeChambeau stayed far away from the pond, and his ball ended up rolling in the bunker.

KEVIN HART CADDIES FOR BRYSON DECHAMBEAU IN AUGUSTA NATIONAL DEBUT, DELIVERING HILARIOUS PAR 3 CONTEST MOMENTS

Bryson DeChambeau hits from the bunker on the 11th hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 9, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

The LIV Golf star hit his first bunker shot just three yards, not even nearing the lip of the bunker. His second bunker shot went nowhere, and he appeared to completely miss the ball.

DeChambeau finally escaped the bunker on his third attempt, hitting the ball just over the ledge of the sand trap before letting it roll about 15 feet away. He ended up two-putting for triple bogey, bringing him to three over par for the day.

His struggles continued on the 16th hole, when he three-putted for bogey to bring him to four over par on the day. DeChambeau erased the stroke gained with a birdie on the 17th hole after a great iron shot from the rough left him eight feet from the hole.

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Bryson DeChambeau hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the first round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., April 9, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)

However, DeChambeau bogeyed the 18th hole, finishing with a 4-over 76 for the day.

For DeChambeau, his start to the Masters was similar to last year’s, when he shot an opening-round 73. DeChambeau rallied in the second and third rounds, and he entered the final round in the final pairing with Rory McIlroy before shooting a 75 on Sunday to end in a tie for fifth place.

DeChambeau will look to turn things around Friday, when he tees off at 1:20 p.m. ET.

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If he is not knocking a blocker onto his backside, Christen Miller is singing.

If he is not closing off running lanes, Miller is testing his fashion sense.

If he is not in full-speed pursuit of the ball, Miller is enjoying a scenic rooftop view, especially when there is old-school architecture nearby to appreciate.

“People get caught up in perception,” Miller told The Post. “They think they have to be a certain way because of their status, because of who they are and how they look. That’s not what I live by. I just live by being genuine. I don’t ever put all my eggs in one basket and box myself in.”

Miller’s two faces could rival those of Batman villain Harvey Dent.

On the field? That’s his Mean Mug — necessary to thrive in the SEC trenches at Georgia, where he had 7.5 tackles for loss over his two seasons as a starter after reversing course on his brief intent to transfer.

“I’m a monster,” Miller said. “On the field, I’m somebody who loves violence, wants to make plays, wants to win games, wants to put my team in good positions. Ultimately, my whole goal on the field is to run through somebody’s face mask every play. I’m somebody you don’t want to be around. I’m really just annoying. I’m a big head. I’m going to talk smack. I’m going to say some things I shouldn’t say.”

Off the field? That’s the housing development major’s time to make music, research mansions and abandoned homes, and show his values.

“I’m a whole different person,” Miller said. “When I leave the field, I’m happy as ever. I’m going to be what my mom raised me to be — a good kid who respects others and somebody that is joyful and has gratitude. I want to win in life.

“I want people to show up to the games every week and see that animal, and then be able to see ‘Nice Chris,’ ‘Happy Chris.’ ”

Who is “Football Chris,” then? A consensus top-50 prospect who could sneak into the first round in a draft class light on difference-making defensive tackles.

Miller has a Top 30 visit scheduled with the Giants, who have a glaring need for his services.

“He is a great athlete who shows the ability to [pass] rush, but I think he lacks some instincts to find the ball and lacks some anchor versus double-teams,” one NFL defensive coach said. “He has good development upside and will find early success in an attacking front.”

There are times when the lines between his two identities get blurred.

Miller’s YouTube pseudonym is “Percy” — and not just because he was a “Percy Jackson” fan growing up.

“That’s my nickname from high school,” he said. “I used to always yell out, ‘This s–t personal. This is personal.’ All the students just started calling me ‘Percy.’ I just rolled with it.”

It became personal for Miller to be a bridge between his college defensive line teammates who were first-round draft picks — Travon Walker, Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, Jalen Carter, Mykel Williams and Jalon Walker — and the next wave coming in 2027.

“It’s a blessing having somebody that was once in my shoes be able to do great things in the place I want to be — in the NFL,” Miller said. “Having them set the blueprint for me and give me advice and wisdom, there’s no better feeling than knowing that I was able to keep on following it at my pace. We’re all going the same place but taking a different route, and our mile times are different.”

Georgia defensive linemen play fewer snaps than elsewhere because of deep rotations. Transferring and stat-padding with more snaps can sound tempting.

“For the longest [time], I was trying to be the victim, pointing the finger and not holding myself accountable,” Miller said of spending two years on the bench. “When I made that change, I knew I had to stay and fight for what’s mine. From there, I was able to grow. I knew I had to keep working and understanding great things come to those who wait. If football wasn’t here tomorrow, I’d be just fine because of what college taught me and what I became.”

There are 13 more tomorrows before the draft.

“Whoever takes me is getting a dawg,” Miller said. “If you take me first round, they [other teams] are going to pay for it. If they take me second round, they are going to pay for it. Either way, they took somebody before me.”

Better opponents pay than Miller does.

Next up on his off-field to-do list? Learning to cook.

“I just want to be able to be self-sufficient,” he said. “I think I spent my last year in college close to $10,000 on DoorDash. I’m just be trying to be smart and save money — unless DoorDash gives me a sponsorship.”

Florida prosecutors are seeking all records connected to Tiger Woods‘ prescription medications, including dosages and warnings that may caution against driving, according to court documents.

The request comes following the famous golfer’s arrest for a DUI charge, to which he pleaded not guilty last month after a rollover car incident in Florida.

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Tiger Woods crash: New details emerge on alleged cause of the crash

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Prosecutors said Tuesday they intend to issue a subpoena seeking copies of Woods’ prescription records on file at Lewis Pharmacy in Palm Beach, Fla., from the start of the year to the end of March.

They want to establish the times the prescriptions were filled, the number of pills given to Woods, the dosage amounts and the instructions with the medications, according to online court filings, The Associated Press and the New York Times reported.

Any objections to the subpoena must be filed with the State Attorney’s Office within 10 days.

Woods pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge hours after police said they found two pain pills in the golfer’s pocket and identified signs of impairment after he crashed his Land Rover into the back of a trailer in Jupiter Island on March 27.

The legendary golfer was speeding at the time of the accident, authorities said. He agreed to a breathalyzer test, which showed no signs of alcohol, but refused a urine test, they added.

Woods divulged he had consumed prescription medication the morning of the crash, arrest documents show.

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Police described Woods as having “glassy” eyes and dilated pupils. His movements were slow and lethargic, and he was sweating as he talked to deputies in the back seat of an air-conditioned car, according to the report.

Bodycam footage released from Woods’ arrest showed him kneeling on a patch of grass and speaking with a Martin County police officer. He can be heard explaining his actions in the lead-up to the crash.

4:56
Tiger Woods crash: Bodycam video shows golfer interacting with police after DUI rollover

“I looked down at my phone and all of a sudden, boom,” he tells the deputy.

His Land Rover, which landed on its side, is visible in the background.

The officer can also be heard talking to the driver of the vehicle — a truck — that Woods hit.

“Are you OK?” he asks, to which the man replies, “I’m fine.”

Four days after his vehicle crashed, Woods announced in an X post that he is “stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health.”

“This is necessary in order for me to prioritize my well-being and work toward lasting recovery,” Woods, who will miss the Masters for the second year in a row, wrote in a statement.

“I’m committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally. I appreciate your understanding and support, and ask for privacy for my family, loved ones and myself at this time.”

Woods was previously injured in a 2021 crash in Rolling Hills Estates in Southern California.

He was driving at twice the speed limit in a 45 mph (74 km/h) zone when he lost control of his SUV and struck a tree, flipping the car onto its side.

Woods seriously injured his right leg during the incident and underwent multiple surgeries.

The golf star has played 11 tournaments since then, not finishing within 16 shots of the winner on any of the four occasions he completed 72 holes.

He was also arrested on a DUI charge in 2017 when South Florida police found him asleep behind the wheel of his car, which was parked awkwardly and had damage on the driver’s side. Woods said he had taken a bad mix of painkillers.

He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving.

— With files from The Associated Press

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Super Bowl champion LeSean McCoy took to the defense of New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and New York Times/The Athletic NFL reporter Dianna Russini.

Photos originally published by the New York Post’s Page Six showed the coach and journalist holding hands, hugging and sitting in a pool in bathing suits at a resort bungalow in Sedona, Arizona. While a lot of people have been highly critical of Vrabel and Russini, McCoy took no issue with it.

“I like Mike, I love Mike. I mind my business. They work together,” McCoy told TMZ Sports.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back LeSean McCoy runs with the football against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on Feb. 7, 2021. (Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports)

“Everybody makes something big out of everything. He’s a big-time coach, he’s a big-time player. He was just in the Super Bowl, they got something to talk about. That’s what happened.”

“I ain’t see nothing wrong with it.”

Both Vrabel and Russini are married, and both denied any wrongdoing. Vrabel married his wife, Jen, in 1999, and they have two sons together. The 50-year-old coach said the interaction was completely innocent.

“These photos show a completely innocent interaction and any suggestion otherwise is laughable,” Vrabel told the New York Post. “This doesn’t deserve any further response.”

EMMITT SMITH GIVES ADVICE TO NFL HOPEFUL SON WHO ONCE ADMITTED TO FEELING PRESSURE OF LIVING UP TO FAMILY NAME

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel watches during the first half of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Russini, who married her husband Kevin Goldschmidt in 2020 and they have two sons together, said the photos misrepresented what actually occurred.

“The photos don’t represent the group of six people who were hanging out during the day. Like most journalists in the NFL, reporters interact with sources away from stadiums and other venues,” Russini told the New York Post.

Vrabel took the Patriots to the Super Bowl in his first season as the Patriots head coach and won NFL Coach of the Year for the second time in his career.

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Dianna Russini attends the 2026 Fanatics Super Bowl Party at Pier 48 in San Francisco, California, on Feb. 7, 2026. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Russini, 43, joined the The Athletic in 2023, leaving ESPN after over eight years.

McCoy played 12 seasons in the NFL. He spent six with the Philadelphia Eagles, four seasons with the Buffalo Bills, one with the Kansas City Chiefs, and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The 37-year-old won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2019 and the Buccaneers in 2020. In 170 games, McCoy ran for 11,102 yards with 73 touchdowns, while catching 518 passes for 3,898 yards and 16 touchdowns.

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Flag football and the 2028 Summer Olympics aren’t proving to be a distraction for quarterback Nathan Rourke.

The CFL’s top Canadian and outstanding player last season has started playing flag football to acclimate himself with the sport should Canada qualify when it debuts at the Los Angeles Games. But he’s doing so with the B.C. Lions’ approval.

“They know (flag football) won’t take away from my (CFL) preparation,” Rourke said recently. “I do this on weekends for a couple of hours.

“I wouldn’t do it without their blessing.”

Last season, Rourke became the first Canadian quarterback since Russ Jackson in 1969 to win both the top Canadian and outstanding player awards in the same season. He  joined Jackson, Brady Oliveira, Jon Cornish and Tony Gabriel as the only players to win each honour in the same year.

Rourke, of Victoria, established career-highs in passing yards (5,290, most ever by a Canadian), touchdowns (31), rushing yards (564, tops among quarterbacks) and rushing TDs (10). B.C. (11-7) finished its regular season with six straight wins to take second in the West Division.

After dispatching Calgary 33-30 in the West Division semifinal, B.C.’s season ended with a 24-21 road loss to eventual Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan. That defeat drastically tarnished Rourke’s lofty individual accomplishments.

“That’s always the case and always will be,” he said. “The season is a means to get to the playoffs and that’s where you make your strides of determining what kind of team, what kind of player you want to be.

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“Certainly there’s plenty of work to do.”

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And for Rourke, there’s no better place to start in 2026 than by cutting down on his interceptions. Last season, Rourke and Winnipeg’s Zach Collaros were tied for the most picks at 16 apiece.

“I had too many last year,” Rourke said. “My goal is to be in single digits … I don’t want to continue to give our defence short fields to work with.”

B.C. led the CFL last season in offensive points (31.1 per game), net yards (430.2) and passing (325.4 per game). Receiver Keon Hatcher was tops in targets (145), catches (102), yards (1,688) and yards after catch (611) while adding nine TD grabs and running back James Butler was third in rushing (1,213 yards, 5.3-yard average) and tied for first in rushing TDs (11).

But gone are stellar offensive lineman Jarell Broxton (free agent, Winnipeg) and receiver Ayden Eberhardt (free agent, Ottawa) who had CFL-best 19.3-yard average per catch.

“Eberhardt and Broxton are big losses for us on offence but we’ll find ways, we have to,” Rourke said. “We’ve still got a really good receiver room with Hatcher, Justin McInnis, Jevon Cottoy and Stanley Berryhill III and we’ve got James and Zander Horvath in the backfield so we’ve got some really great weapons.

“We’ve got to figure out who’s going to be the guy up front or in the receiver room but that’s what training camp is for. That’s what’s great about pro sports, the opportunity to compete every single day and earn your spot regardless of how many seasons you’ve played or what you did last year.”

Rourke heads into training camp with a full season under his belt in head coach Buck Pierce’s offence. Instead of learning new schemes, Rourke will be able to build upon what worked — and fix what didn’t — in 2025.

He hopes that helps B.C. finish atop the competitive West Division and host the final rather than be on the road for it.

“I’m not saying that’s why we lost in the West final last year but it doesn’t make it any easier,” Rourke said. “If we could host that playoff game and get a bye late in the year, that would be a huge get for us and be very helpful.

“Every game will be tough but that’s what makes it fun and we’ll be doing some good things if we’re able to host that second game.”

But it’s sustained success Rourke is chasing with the Lions.

“That’s why you look at people like Zach, (Hamilton starter) Bo Levi Mitchell and (Saskatchewan’s) Trevor Harris,” Rourke said. They’re guys who’ve have incredible careers and sustained success, which is why they’re great players.

“If I want to be a great player and to win championships, I have to reach that level of sustained success and do it over multiple seasons. Who cares about one? In pro sports, if you’re not great every year, your job isn’t safe.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 9, 2026.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press

Not everybody representing the red, white and blue sounded necessarily ecstatic about doing so in the Olympics.

Freeskier Hunter Hess said he had “mixed emotions” representing the U.S. in Milan, while skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she wanted to represent her own “values” in Milan, and it was “tough to reconcile” violence in America while “competing for medals at an Olympic event.”

But for two-time gold medalist Jordan Stolz, there were no problems.

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Gold medalist Jordan Stolz of the U.S. celebrates after the men’s 500-meter speedskating race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. (Ben Curtis/AP Photo)

In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, the speedskater who won gold twice in Italy, Stolz said he paid no mind to any other athletes’ comments.

“I didn’t really pay attention to it, but I’m always happy to represent the USA,” Stolz said.

“I think we’re the best country.”

It was not just winter Olympians who shared unease about representing the United States on the grandest stage. In an interview with Fox News Digital months before the 2024 Summer Olympics, Noah Lyles said representing the U.S. was “bittersweet” and came with a “heavy heart,” saying Black people in America have “a lot to deal with.”

Noah Lyles of the United States poses after winning the gold medal in the men’s 200 meters final at the World Athletics Championships. The event took place in Tokyo on Sept. 19, 2025. (Matthias Schrader/AP)

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST DISCUSSES BALANCE BETWEEN CELEBRATING ONE VICTORY WHILE VYING FOR OTHERS

Hess said it was “a little hard” to represent the United States, because “there’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of, and I think a lot of people aren’t.” Those comments prompted President Donald Trump to call him a “real loser.”

“Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S. I just kind of want to do it for my friends and my family and the people that support me getting here,” Hess said in February.

Shriffin said, “I think there’s a lot of hardship in the world globally, and there’s a lot of heartbreak. There’s a lot of violence. It can be tough to reconcile that when you’re also competing for medals at an Olympic event.”

Ahead of the World Baseball Classic, Bryce Harper, who played for Team USA, said it was “crazy” to not fully embrace wearing the Stars and Stripes.

United States Bryce Harper celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning in the championship game of the World Baseball Classic against Venezuela, Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Miami. (Lynne Sladky/AP)

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The Philadelphia Phillies first baseman said no matter where one may stand politically, it is always the greatest honor to represent the United States.

“Obviously, there’s things that are going on in the country that, you know, aren’t good or people don’t believe in or whatever, right? Politics aside, for me, when you’re going and representing your country, you’re representing your country, man. Like, block all that out. It’s sports.

“We want to put something on the TV that is happy and good and just great for everybody to watch, right? So, representing your country, there’s nothing greater than representing your country. There’s really nothing at all.

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So much for finally breaking through last year. So much for basically putting the Celtics on the brink even before Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles in Game 4 of the second round, for beating Boston in their first playoff matchup since 2013, for — despite their inability to beat the Celtics consistently during the regular season — signaling the potential for a changing of the guard atop the Eastern Conference. Maybe Boston was still Boston, but the Knicks could do more than just hang.

But so much can change in a year. Tatum is already back from an injury that typically sidelines athletes for a year. He returned in just 298 days. The Celtics have leapfrogged the Knicks in the conference standings and will likely end up as the No. 2 seed, too. And the Knicks have been plagued by rocky stretches and an inability to defeat teams above .500. The decision to fire Tom Thibodeau and hire Mike Brown has paid off at times, but key pieces such as Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges have still been inconsistent — and sometimes invisible.

The Knicks convincingly winning their Eastern Conference semifinals series last year was supposed to vault them to a new tier. But instead, they almost need to beat the Celtics again to establish themselves as a true contender and silence any critics suggesting otherwise. Because until then, the optics suggest that the Knicks are still chasing the Celtics.

Entering the season, this had been pegged as a rebuilding year for Boston. Sure, they still had Jaylen Brown. Sure, they still had Derrick White. But, with an increasingly onerous payroll, they sent Kristaps Porziņģis to the Hawks and shipped Jrue Holiday to the Trail Blazers. The Celtics, like the Pacers without Tyrese Haliburton, were supposed to be outside the tier of contenders. That was supposed to open the door for the Knicks. If there was any year where they’d have a clear path to at least reach the NBA Finals, this was going to be that year.

The Masters’ no-phone policy does not discriminate, even if you are a former major golf champion.

Mark Calcavecchia, the winner of the 1989 Open Championship, was allegedly removed by Augusta National Golf Club security for using his phone this week at the Masters.

Golfweek spoke to Calcavecchia, who didn’t deny taking out his phone out on the grounds, which is automatic dismissal.

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Mark Calcavecchia of the United States plays his shot from the ninth tee during the continuation of round one on day two of the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands Golf Club in The Woodlands, Texas, on May 3, 2025. (Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

“I’ve got nothing negative to say about Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, so I think we should literally hang up right now,” he said.

While Calcavecchia, 65, isn’t a previous Masters winner, he did play in the event 18 times during his career from 1987-2008. He even finished in second place in 1988.

JASON DAY ALREADY TOLD TO TONE DOWN HIS BIRD-THEMED MALBON GOLF OUTFITS AT MASTERS: REPORT

Winners of the three other majors like Calcavecchia had do get a five-year exempt invitation to play in the Masters, and then they become “honorary invitees” for life.

But the rules are the rules, especially at Augusta National. No one is above the law on the premises, and the Masters official website says so when it comes to cell phones.

Mark Calcavecchia plays his shot from the fourth tee during the first round of the Boeing Classic at The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge in Snoqualmie, Wash., on Aug. 9, 2024. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)

“The use of any device for phone calls, emails, text messaging, or to record and/or transmit voice, video or data is strictly prohibited,” the website reads.

Augusta National does provide phone service on the grounds. Designated phone banks, where AT&T provides service as a “champion partner” with the Masters, are found on the course to make phone calls if needed.

Any other technological form of communication is strictly forbidden, and Calcavecchia is paying the price.

Mark Calcavecchia of the United States plays his shot from the ninth tee during the continuation of round one on day two of the Insperity Invitational 2025 at The Woodlands Golf Club in The Woodlands, Texas, on May 3, 2025. (Raj Mehta/Getty Images)

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It’s the unfortunate reality for some who don’t abide by the rules, but the Masters is all about logging out and living in the present, adding to the wonder and mystique that is the first golf major of the golf season.

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Paulina Gretzky, the daughter of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky and wife of LIV Golf star Dustin Johnson, was at the Masters Par 3 Contest caddying for her husband on Wednesday.

The Masters Par 3 Contest is the event that takes place before the Masters tees off. It’s one of the lighthearted events of the week as golfers were able to test whether they can get some aces on specific holes at Augusta National. It’s an event meant for fun and family.

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Paulina Gretzky, wife of Dustin Johnson, talks with Nicole Willett, wife of Danny Willett, on the fourth hole during the Par 3 Contest at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 8, 2026. (Michael Madrid/Imagn Images)

Gretzky was pictured with Johnson as he participated in the event. Johnson finished 1-over par during the event, which Aaron Rai won. She was also spotted with Nicole Willett, the wife of Danny Willett.

Gretzky has appeared at the event for several years, including when Johnson won his first green jacket all the way back in 2020. That year, the event was held in November due to the coronavirus pandemic. Johnson set a record with a final score of 20-under par.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER’S FAMILY, INCLUDING 12-DAY-OLD SON, ENJOY MASTERS PAR 3 CONTEST AT AUGUSTA

Nicole Willett, wife of Danny Willett of England, and Paulina Gretzky, wife of Dustin Johnson of the United States, watch the Par Three Contest before the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 8, 2026. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

It was the last time Johnson won an event that also featured PGA Tour competitors. He was one of the first golfers who joined LIV Golf, participating in his first event in June 2022.

In the LIV Golf series, Johnson has picked up three individual wins. He won the LIV Golf Boston Invitational in September 2022, LIV Golf Tulsa in 2023 and LIV Golf Las Vegas in February 2024. He hasn’t won an event since then.

He’s 26th in the standings through five events this season. His best finish came in Singapore where he finished tied for 10th.

Nicole Willett, wife of golfer Danny Willett, talks with Dustin Johnson and Paulina Gretzky on the ninth green during the Par Three Contest before the 2026 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., on April 8, 2026. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)

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Johnson will be in the field for the Masters once more. He tees off in the first round at 9:43 a.m. ET on Thursday.

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