Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon says her ‘heart’s a little heavy’ for Gregg Popovich, who officially stepped down as the head coach of the San Antonio Spurs after 29 seasons.

“My heart’s a little heavy for him because I know how much he loves it,” Hammon said on Friday ahead of the Aces’ preseason matchup against the Dallas Wings. She said Popovich, who will transition into the role of the Spurs’ president of basketball operations, is ‘one of the greatest to do it. Arguably, the greatest to do it.” 

Hammon said she texted Popovich following the news, telling her 76-year-old mentor that she’s ‘thinking about him and love(s) him’ because she’s sure it was ‘a heavy, heavy decision for him’ to step away. Hammon said she has no doubt that Popovich will ‘crush this new role just as much.’

‘I know he’ll still be running around that facility and be heavily involved with the everyday decisions. He will always be the most competitive person in the building, whatever building he’s in,’ Hammon said. ‘That part doesn’t change just because you get a little bit older.’

GREGG POPOVICH STEPS DOWN: Six ways he left his footprint on the Spurs and NBA

Hammon got her start in coaching after Popovich hired her as an assistant coach in August 2014, making her only the second female coach in NBA history. Hammon coached the Spurs to a Summer League title in 2015, the first woman to do so. When Popovich was ejected in the second quarter of the Spurs’ loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 30, 2020, Hammon became the first female acting head coach in league history.

Hammon interviewed for the Milwaukee Bucks’ general manager position in 2017 and the Portland Trail Blazers’ head coaching vacancy in 2021, before accepting the Las Vegas Aces’ head coaching job in December 2021.

“He’s a huge reason why I got this job,” said Hammon, who won back-to-back WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023 and is 87-29 in three seasons as the head coach of the Aces. ‘That’s who mentored me. That’s who spent literally thousands of hours with me.’

Hammon said Popovich’s leadership always stood out to her during the eight years she spent on his staff.

‘I think what was always so amazing about Pop was how he led,’ she said. ‘People have different leadership styles, but I thought he got the absolute most out of his roster. Whatever his roster looked like. Turns out, he had some really good players.’

After news of Popovich stepping down hit the airwaves, many sports reporters endorsed Hammon as his successor and recommended she be named the Spurs’ next head coach to continue his legacy. The job is going to Mitch Johnson, who has served as the interim head coach since Popovich suffered a mild stroke on Nov. 2.

Hammon said she’s ‘super happy where I’m at.’

‘This opportunity for me, I couldn’t pass on it. … I bet on myself instead of, maybe waiting it out for a maybe (in the NBA). I’ve enjoyed being back on the women’s side. You guys know I’m effusive about my love for this team and being back in the women’s game,’ Hammon said. ‘If I were to ever make that jump again, it would just have to be the right fit, right time and for the right people with the right team.’

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After winning gold in the 100m hurdles at the 2024 Paris Olympics with a time of 12.33 seconds, Russell bested herself and turned in a personal best time of 12.17 seconds at the Grand Slam Track Miami meet on Friday, which sets an American record and becomes the second-fastest time in world history.

Russell, 24, appeared to surprise herself, saying she’s ‘in shock’ over the result after the race.

‘I wasn’t expecting that,’ Russell said. ‘I just went out there and competed. These women force you to be your best self. It brings the best out of you. I’m just floating on cloud nine right now.’

Fellow American Tia Jones finished second in the race with a time of 12.19, which marks the third-fastest time in world history. Both Russell and Jones beat the previous American record of 12.20 seconds set by Keni Harrison in 2016. Nigerian Tobi Amusan currently holds the world record in 100m hurdles with a time of 12.12, which she turned in at the 2022 World Championships.

On Thursday, U.S. Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley was arrested for misdemeanor battery after allegedly striking a woman with a closed fist at a hotel ahead of this weekend’s Grand Slam Track event in Miami.

Grand Slam Track confirmed in a statement that Kerley, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist in the men’s 100-meter dash would no longer compete at this weekend’s event and declined further comment. He was scheduled to compete in the 100-meter dash on Saturday and the 200-meter dash on Sunday.

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SOUTH BEND, IN – All basketball eyes Friday were on WNBA rookie Paige Bueckers. 

Except those on former Notre Dame All-American guard Arike Ogunbowale. Or former Irish guards Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young. The three veterans received warm welcome back receptions during the first WNBA game played at Purcell Pavilion, an exhibition Friday between the Las Vegas Aces and the Dallas Wings. 

Bueckers, the top pick by Dallas in last month’s WNBA draft, wasn’t far behind. She was cheered when she was the second Wings starter announced. She was cheered after her first bucket with 6:12 left in the first quarter. 

She was usually jeered during two previous trips to Notre Dame, which both ended in UConn losses. 

“It wasn’t UConn playing Notre Dame so it was a littel bit different energy from the crowd,” Bueckers said. 

Twenty-six days after leading Connecticut to its 12th national championship, the Dallas rookie looked Friday like a rookie. In 22:37 on the court, Bueckers had 10 points, four rebounds and one assist. She made four of seven shots from the floor and two of three from 3. She did not attempt a free throw and finished with a plus/minus of (-23). 

Bueckers left the game for good with 5:31 remaining and Dallas down 94-75. 

“It’s super surreal in terms of the turnaround from where I was two weeks to where I am today,” Bueckers said. “I’m just excited to play basketball again.” 

Las Vegas won 112-78. 

Bueckers matched up much of the night against Young, one of the game’s elite guards. Young, also a No. 1 pick, admitted earlier in the day that it took years to adjust to the speed and style of the WNBA game. It’s nothing like college, something all rookies learn. 

The pace, the flow, the talent level on the other team and the physicality all were adjustments for Bueckers. 

“She’s just very poised and composed all the time,” said Dallas coach Chris Koclanes, also making his WNBA debut on Friday. “Just another game for her.” 

Koclanes’ pre-game message to Bueckers was simple — go and play in the present, don’t worry about being perfect. Nobody is. 

It looked like a game where Bueckers was still trying to figure it all out. Not trying to do too much, she often did too little. The Wings fell into an early eight-point deficit with Bueckers on the floor, then took the lead with her on the bench. 

Not long after she returned, the Aces built a double-digit lead. Dallas trailed by 19 at halftime and by as many as 34. Bueckers settled down a bit in the second half, where she banged in a pair of wing 3-pointers. 

It’s a long year for someone who’s already had a long basketball run. There will be ups and downs, wins and losses. Bueckers will be better for all of it down the line. 

“This is just the start,” she said. “You want to build off that.” 

The construction continues. 

Follow South Bend Tribune and NDInsider columnist Tom Noie on X (formerly Twitter): @tnoieNDI. Contact Noie at tnoie@sbtinfo.com

The first round of the NHL’s Stanley Cup playoffs has two games left as Game 7s on Saturday and Sunday will determine the fourth and final series for the second round.

That second round will begin on Monday when the defending champion Florida Panthers visit the Atlantic Division champion Toronto Maple Leafs. The game will start at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN.

The Carolina Hurricanes visit the Metropolitan Division champion Washington Capitals on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, but the start time isn’t available yet. The rest of the second-round series will fill in later.

The other known series is the Pacific Division champion Vegas Golden Knights vs. the Edmonton Oilers.

Saturday, the Colorado Avalanche visit the Dallas Stars (8 p.m. ET, ABC) in Game 7 of the first round. The winner of that game will face the winner of the St. Louis Blues-Winnipeg Jets game on Sunday in Winnipeg (7 p.m. ET, TBS).

The Houston Rockets have forced a Game 7 against the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors held a commanding 3-1 lead over the Rockets, but Golden State failed to close out Houston on the road in Game 5 Wednesday and at home on Friday in a 115-107 loss in Game 6 at the Chase Center. 

Rockets veteran Fred VanVleet led the way with 29 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Alperen Şengün recorded his second straight double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Amen Thompson added 14 points. Steven Adams played a season-high 31 minutes off the bench and scored 17 points.

The Warriors had a tough shooting night. The team collectively shot 41.1% from the field and 30.6% from 3. Steph Curry, who finished with a team-high 29 points, shot 9-of-23 from the field and 6-of-16 from 3. 

Game 7 is set for Sunday. The winner will move on to face the Minnesota Timberwolves, who clinched their first-round series against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, 4-1.

Final: Rockets 115, Warriors 107

USA TODAY Sports provides a recap of Game 6 in San Francisco:

Rockets vs. Warriors highlights

End of 3Q: Rockets 86, Warriors 84

The Rockets and the Warriors have kept the game close through the first three quarters of play.

The Warriors outscored the Rockets 36-33, but it’s Houston that held the lead at the end of each quarter so far.

Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler are not only the two leading scorers for the Warriors but for the game so far. Curry has scored 26 points while shooting 8-of-16 from the field. Butler has produced 22 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 20 points while shooting 5-of-8 from the field but has been effective from long range, making four of five attempts. VanVleet has also made all six free throw attempts.

Jalen Green continues to be a non-factor, being limited to just two points in the third quarter.

Steven Adams stats

Adams missed the entire 2023-24 season after undergoing surgery on his PCL, but returned to the court in the 2024-25 season averaging 3.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 58 games this season (three starts). He’s averaging 19.6 minutes through the first five games of the playoffs, with 4.0 points and 6.8 rebounds per game.

Halftime: Rockets 53, Warriors 48

The Rockets built a lead as large as 11 in the second quarter, but the Warriors are also playing with a sense of urgency with the intention of finishing the series at home. 

The Warriors have not held a lead larger than two points in the first half.

Fred VanVleet leads the Rockets with 10 points as Houston takes a five-point lead into the locker room for halftime. It’s been a slow start for Jalen Green, who has shot 2-of-8 from the field and finished the second quarter with seven points. 

Stephen Curry has a game-high 16 points for the Warriors, but finished the first half with three fouls.

The Warriors produced an 11-0 run to close the gap and tied the game at 46 with three minutes left in the half before the Rockets went on an 8-2 scoring run of their own to end the quarter.

End of 1Q: Rockets 25, Warriors 21

Alperen Sengun and Fred VanVleet each scored eight points for the Rockets in the first quarter. The Rockets find themselves in a win-or-go-home situation tonight.

Jimmy Butler leads the Warriors with six points. Stephen Curry added five points.

The Rockets won the turnover battle in the opening period 5-3.

Alperen Şengün stats

Şengün averaged 19.1 points, 10.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 76 games (all starts) this season. Through the first five playoff games, Şengün is averaging a double-double, with 20.8 points and 11 rebounds, in addition to 5.2 assists. His best performance came in Houston’s Game 4 loss against the Warriors after he dropped 31 points and 10 rebounds. 

Golden State Warriors’ starting lineup

Gary Payton II is in the starting lineup tonight for the Golden State Warriors, replacing Brandin Podziemski. Veterans Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield are back in the lineup after starting in Game 5.

Houston Rockets’ starting lineup

Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson make up the starting lineup for the Houston Rockets tonight in Game 6.

What time is Warriors vs. Rockets?

Game 6 between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors will tip-off at 9 p.m. ET on May 2 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California.

How to watch Warriors vs. Rockets playoff game: TV, stream

Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Chase Center (San Francisco, California)
TV: ESPN
Stream: Sling TV

Warriors vs. Rockets NBA playoff schedule, results

Warriors lead series 2-1

Game 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85
Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94
Game 3: Warriors 104, Rockets 93
Game 4: Warriors 109, Rockets 106
Game 5: Rockets 131, Warriors 116
Game 6: Rockets at Warriors | Friday, May 2, TBD | TBD*
Game 7: Warriors at Rockets | Sunday, May 4, TBD | TBD*

*if necessary

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It’s geaux time at the 2025 Kentucky Oaks.

Former LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne gave the ‘Riders Up’ call ahead of the Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday. Both the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby, being held Saturday, are the oldest continuously running sports events in the United States.

‘Kentucky Oaks fans, now for the annual tradition we have all been looking forward to, Riders Up!’ Dunne exclaimed. Good Cheer then went on to win the 151st running of the Kentucky Oaks.

Dunne was tapped to give the ‘Riders Up’ call, a legendary command that informs jockeys to mount their horses ahead of the race, after announcing her retirement from gymnastics last month following five seasons at LSU. She donned a pink fascinator and matching mini dress that featured ruffles on her shoulders.

LIVVY DUNNE: After becoming leader in NIL, Livvy Dunne wants to ‘just do everything’ in post-career

Watch: Livvy Dunne gives ‘Riders Up’ call

Kentucky Oaks vs. Kentucky Derby: What’s the difference?

The Kentucky Oaks is held annually on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby, but what’s the difference between the two? It comes down to gender and distance.

While the Kentucky Derby is a 1¼-mile long race for 3-year-old colts or geldings, both male horses, the Kentucky Oaks is a furlong shorter at 1⅛ miles and is exclusively for fillies, female horses. Although fillies can technically enter the Kentucky Derby, it is uncommon as the horses carry 126 pounds in the race, compared to the Kentucky Oaks (121 pounds).

There is also a difference in purse size. The Kentucky Derby has a $5 million purse with $1.86 million going to the winner, while the Kentucky Oaks purse is $1.5 million with $750,000 going to the winner.

Who performed national anthem at Kentucky Oaks?

Singer Gina Miles, the winner of season 23 of NBC’s ‘The Voice,’ was tapped to perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Churchill Downs ahead of the Kentucky Oaks.

Simone Biles set to give ‘Riders Up’ call at Kentucky Derby

Dunne isn’t the only gymnast milling around at Churchill Downs. Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles is set to give the ‘Riders Up’ call ahead of the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday. Grammy-nominated artist Grace Potter will perform the national anthem.

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The scorecards showed Devin Haney won the 12-round welterweight bout by unanimous decision against Jose Ramirez decisively. But the bout lacked sizzle.

The boxers landed a combined 110 punches, according to DAZN’s broadcast.

Haney flinched repeatedly when Ramirez got in close during their fight in Times Square. But his opponent failed to land many punches. and Haney’s quickness and hand speed served him well.

The judges scored it 119-109, 119-109, 118-110 for Haney, who improved to 32-0. The victory helped secure a likely rematch with Ryan Garcia, who was scheduled to fight Rolando ‘Rolly” Romero later in the evening.

Ramirez fell to 29-3.

Devin Haney vs. Jose Ramirez round-by-round

Round 12: Ramirez in need of a knockout, but it looks futile. Just lands a left to the body and fires a couple of shots as Haney darts away. Haney pot shotting. Mercifully, the fight comes to an end. Haney 119, Ramirez 109.

Round 11: Haney throws a big right. And misses. He needs to land a punch like that, if only to prove he’s equipped for a rematch with Garcia. Ramirez lands a right. Haney burning lots of calories, and outpunching Ramirez. Haney 109, Ramirez 100.

Round 10: Haney back to moving rather than standing his ground. The strategy likely is paying off on the scorecards, but this is not vintage Haney. Did Garcia retire vintage Haney? He eats two jabs. Ramirez corners Haney and scores, but Haney’s quickly on the move again. Haney 99, Ramirez 91.

Round 9: Ramirez attacks and lands a body shot. Attacks again and lands a right. Nothing that will stagger Haney, but he needs to land more punches. Haney lands a strong right and darts to his right rather than follow up. Ramirez chasing Haney, but eats a couple of punches when he gets too close. Haney 89, Ramirez 82.

Round 8: With all the moving, Haney treating Ramirez as if he’s a Hall of Famer. Then finally slows and throws. Lands. Haney opening up. Ramirez has no answers. Haney 79, Ramirez 73.

Round 7: With all this running, Haney is definitely getting in his steps. Ramirez lands a left and then eats a right counter. Haney landing more punches but taking few chances. Ramirez showing underwhelming ability to score. Haney 69, Ramirez 64.

Round 6: Ramirez opens with a left that grazes Haney. Hey, it’s progress. Haney stays on the move and quickly covers up at the sight of any punch. Ramirez bleeding from under his left eye, and he scores with a left. Haney responds with a combination, followed up with a solid body shot. Haney 59, Ramirez 55.

Round 5: Almost non-existent action here. Ramirez struggling to catch up to Haney, and Haney staying on the move without punching. Well, just like that, Haney lands a combination. Haney 49, Ramirez 46.

Round 4: Haney staying on the move, as if in fear of getting hit. Just when he seemed ready to assert himself, Haney backtracks. Not a dynamic fight, to say the least. Ramirez showing little ability to hit Haney with any authority. Haney 39, Ramirez 37.

Round 3: Haney’s corner has put tape over the uncooperative Velcro, according to DAZN’s Jim Lampley. Haney throwing more punches, but still looks tentative when Ramirez attacks – not often enough. Haney unleashes a hard left hook. Then lands a solid right. Ramirez looks mostly flat footed and slow. Haney 29, Ramirez 28.

Round 2: The Velcro strap still flapping on Haney’s right shoe. Haney finally fires a crisp left, but he’s still looking oddly tentative. The result of a year-long layoff or haunted by getting knocked down by Ryan Garcia three times? Nice left from Haney, and the good thing for him is Ramirez is doing very little. Haney lands a solid right as he comes alive. Ramirez 19, Haney 19.

Round 1: A muscular Devin Haney doesn’t look ready to flex them immediately. He backpedals in the opening moments. Jose Ramirez scores with a couple of lefts. Haney’s looking strangely tentative. Ramirez misses with an overhand right. Haney’s fists looked holstered. Velcro strap comes loose from Haney’s right shoe. Wardrobe malfunction? Ramirez 10, Haney 9.

Gregg Popovich was a head coach in the NBA during the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s, winning five championships with the San Antonio Spurs where he established a remarkable modern-day benchmark for coaching success.

Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich announced Friday he is stepping down as head coach and moving into the role of president of basketball operations.

Though he will still be a vital part of the Spurs and is done coaching (“While my love and passion for the game remain, I’ve decided it’s time to step away as head coach,” he said in a statement), the three-time coach of the year leaves an indelible mark on coaching that extends throughout the NBA and beyond.

Here are six ways Popovich impacted the NBA:

How Gregg Popovich impacted the NBA

Changing with the times hallmark of Gregg Popovich career

Popovic won two titles with two towering big men – David Robinson and Tim Duncan – in an era when massive centers and power forwards roamed the court, playing at the same time and dominating. But as the game changed, so did Popovich. He wasn’t the biggest fan of the 3-point shot but also understood its importance.

When he won his last title in 2014, the Spurs shot 46.6% on 3s and made 11 per game in a five-game series victory against the Miami Heat. With Duncan nearing the end of his career, Popovich designed an offense around Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili, Patty Mills and Danny Green and let them shoot 3s.

Popovich won titles in 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014.

Gregg Popovich mastered mining international talent

Popovich didn’t introduce international players to the NBA, but his worldview and open-mindedness – he had a degree in Soviet studies and underwent intelligence training at the U.S. Air Force Academy – understood how basketball was played in Europe and how it could impact the NBA.

Parker, Ginobili, Boris Diaw and Mills were instrumental in San Antonio’s success.

By the time the Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft, international players were not only a common presence on every roster, they were winning regular-season and Finals MVPs and teams had a regular scouting presence throughout the world.

Gregg Popovich was an elite evaluator of talent

Besides coach, Popovich held a prominent role in the front office. Before he became coach, he was the Spurs’ general manager/vice president of basketball operations. It’s not a surprise he will continue to run basketball operations.

Picking Duncan and Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall picks wasn’t genius, but the Spurs didn’t botch the picks, either. The Spurs discovered Hall of Fame value later in the draft, too. Ginobili was the No. 57 pick in the second round in 1999, Parker was the No. 28 pick in the first round in 2001, and they made a draft-day trade for Kawhi Leonard, the No. 15 pick in 2011.

One-time All-Star Dejounte Murray was the No. 29 pick in the 2016 draft. Derrick White, now a valuable player for Boston and a 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist for USA Basketball, was drafted with the No. 29 pick in the first round in 2017.

Stephon Castle, the No. 4 selection in the 2024 draft, was named Rookie of the Year this week, the fourth Spurs player to win the award and the second consecutive Spur to win the award.

Remarkable consistency with one franchise

Popovich joined the Spurs in 1988, spent a couple of years with Golden State and returned to the Spurs in 1994 and has been with the franchise ever since, creating continuity that has made the small-market Spurs one of the best-run basketball operations departments in the NBA.

He has had a long-time successful partnership with R.C. Buford who is now CEO of the Spurs. When other teams are constantly changing coaches and front-office personnel, the Spurs found a model that works. It doesn’t mean the Spurs will compete for a title every season, but the established vision allows them to operate on short-term and long-term tracks.

It may not work for other franchises, but it works for the Spurs.

Gregg Popovich’s extensive coaching tree

Popovich’s coaching tree is vast, prominent and filled with varying degrees of success. But this much is true: if you have proved yourself on Popovich’s staff – whether as an assistant or video coordinator – your chance of getting a better opportunity with the Spurs or elsewhere is pretty high.

Mike Budenholzer, Quin Snyder, Brett Brown, Mike Brown, Ime Udoka, Becky Hammon, Monty Williams, Taylor Jenkins, Jacque Vaughn, James Borrego, Jim Boylen, Will Hardy and now Mitch Johnson are among the NBA and WNBA head coaches who have been assistants for Popovich or coached the Spurs’ G League team.

Steve Kerr, Doc Rivers and Avery Johnson all played for Popovich. Kerr has guided the Warriors to four titles in eight years since becoming head coach in 2014. And Rivers, coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, has coached four other NBA teams. He led the Boston Celtics to the championship in 2008. Johnson coached the Dallas Mavericks and Brooklyn Nets.

Budenholzer won a title with Milwaukee in 2021 and Budenholzer, Kerr, Rivers, Williams, Mike Brown and Avery Johnson all have won coach of the year.

Hammon led the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 and was named coach of the year in 2022.

Coaches can be more than X’s and O’s 

There is more than basketball to Popovich. He’s an advocate for human rights and social justice and not afraid to say what he wants. He is interested in the world. He is a gourmand and a wine enthusiast – he might object to oenophile.

His dinners – whether with a small group or the entire team – are legendary. But breaking bread and uncorking bottles were just the vessels to something greater: a human connection. Popovich wanted to know his staff and players. He listened to them and learned from them.

He has a cantankerous side. He didn’t suffer fools, and he made that clear. Some of it was schtick, some of it true to who he is. But he is also a tender-hearted human who enjoyed and appreciated the relationships coaching brought to his life.

“I’m forever grateful to the wonderful players, coaches, staff and fans who allowed me to serve them as the Spurs head coach,” Popovich said in a statement Friday, “and am excited for the opportunity to continue to support the organization, community and city that are so meaningful to me.”

There’s something uncomfortable going on with Jordon Hudson, Bill Belichick’s girlfriend. 

Not what you might be thinking, however.

Hudson is the latest in a long line of significant others, parents, siblings, friends and hangers on who’ve had outsized roles and influence in the careers of sports figures. Yet the interest in her and her position now borders on the obsessive and, in too many cases, reeks of misogyny.

The 24-year-old has been cast as a gold digger and a temptress. One outlet described her as Belichick’s ‘lithe young girlfriend.’ Some have even suggested an intervention is needed, as if Belichick is a 98-year-old getting scammed out of his life savings rather than a fully functioning adult capable of making his own decisions — no matter how questionable the outside world finds them.

There is room to ask if Hudson is qualified to serve as Belichick’s point person and publicist. (Given she allowed him to show up for a national television interview in a ratty sweatshirt from a school that isn’t the one employing him, I’d say no!) It’s fair game to question whether North Carolina, which is paying the six-time Super Bowl champion coach $10 million a year, knew it was getting a package deal or understood the extent to which Hudson would be involved.

But all of that can be done without the salacious innuendo and sneering condescension that’s marked a lot of the discourse about Hudson.

“From what I’ve heard, Jordon is playing the ‘Berj role,’” former Patriot wide receiver Julian Edelman said on his “Dudes on Dudes” podcast, referring to Berj Najarian, Belichick’s chief of staff when he was with New England, “handling all the football ops, handling a lot of his social, a lot of his P.R.

‘When you look at this situation and you say, ‘Oh, this is his girlfriend jumping in,’ I think that’s unfair. I think she’s actually working with Coach Belichick in the professional world.’

Again, Hudson is not above criticism. From the outside, her heavy-handedness appears to be the result of someone getting a job that, at least right now, is too big and under too much scrutiny for her skills and experience. That’s hardly a first, however, in sports or any other industry.

It’s the tone of the criticism, specifically the not-so-thinly-veiled sexist tropes being used to convey it, that’s getting increasingly problematic.

Imagine a 24-year-old man in Hudson’s role, acting exactly as she is. There might be grumblings about his demeanor or complaints about his arrogance, but no one would ever suggest he was taking advantage of Belichick, use his physical appearance to take him down a peg or troll through his high school yearbook to find people to say nasty things about him. Anonymously, of course.

But because Hudson and Belichick are dating, and because she’s young and attractive, she must be a femme fatale who’s got Belichick under her spell. There can be one reason and one reason only that she’s doing what she’s doing, in the position she’s in, and it’s not because she can craft a great marketing plan.

It’s tiresome and it’s lazy.

It’s also misdirected.

Hudson has the power and influence she does because Belichick gave it to her. Wrongly or rightly, and for reasons only he knows, this is what he wants. If there’s blame to be had for the soap opera that’s created, Belichick deserves more than an equal share of it.

Especially since he, far better than Hudson, could have foreseen it coming.

Belichick has always been the subject of fascination. He is arguably the most successful coach in NFL history, winning six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and another two as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants. He also is notoriously surly and suspicious, loathe to give any insight into, well, anything.

Belichick had to know a relationship with someone nearly a half-century younger would be the subject of curiosity if not controversy, even if he hadn’t described her as his muse or made her his de facto chief of staff. And much as he tries to feign ignorance about his public image or act as if he’s above it all, Belichick knows exactly how this game is played.

Remember when his dog Nike became the star of the 2020 NFL draft? The dog didn’t engineer that viral moment, Belichick did.

Belichick and Hudson’s relationship is, to say the least, unconventional. Personally and professionally. The first part is nobody else’s business. The second part might be, but there are ways to debate that without painting Hudson as some villainous vixen.

Unless the point is to tear another woman down.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The consensus around this year’s Kentucky Derby formed quickly on April 5 when Journalism ran down Baeza in the stretch of the Santa Anita Derby. 

The race not only confirmed that Journalism was the best 3-year old in California, but the way he won it — with jockey Umberto Rispoli getting impeded on the rail, forcing him to drop back before swinging outside on the second turn — was impressive enough to make him the clear-cut favorite heading to Churchill Downs. 

“Journalism, in my opinion, got in as much trouble in the Santa Anita Derby as he’s liable to get in in the Kentucky Derby,” Hall of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey said this week, making the case for why Journalism’s come-from-behind running style isn’t going to hamper him in the Derby’s 19-horse field. 

But the Derby, as always, is a one-off event where the circumstances that develop during the race are impossible to predict and often lend themselves to a surprising outcome. After a string of favorites dominated in the 2010s, the last three Derby winners have paid $163.60 (Rich Strike), $32.42 (Mage) and $39.22 (Mystik Dan) for a $2 ticket. 

And while Journalism has done little wrong thus far in his career, the fact that his three big stakes wins in California came against five-horse fields combined with Rispoli’s inexperience (he’s only ridden in the Derby twice before) opens up just enough room to take a stand against him as a betting proposition. 

Which is exactly what we’re going to do. 

Given that this Derby does not look on paper like it will produce exceptionally fast early fractions — Rodriguez, one of the few true speed horses, was scratched Thursday — my ideal contender is going to find a comfortable spot in seventh or eight place down the back stretch, steer clear of trouble, hit the accelerator at the 3/8 pole and then open up enough daylight that the late runners like Journalism will have too much work to do coming home. 

And that horse, based on what we’ve seen from his races in Japan, is Luxor Cafe. 

The son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, will attempt to do something Saturday that has never happened in Derby history: Ship in from Asia and win America’s most important horse race. 

It’s a tall task, but not an impossible one. Last year, Forever Young showed the world that the quality of Japanese racing has improved to the point that its top 3-year olds can compete anywhere. If not for a series of bumps in the stretch while running alongside Sierra Leone, Forever Young may well have taken the roses instead of Mystik Dan, who won a three-way photo finish. 

Whether Luxor Cafe belongs in the same class as Forever Young is an unknown, as is the quality of competition he faced back in Japan. How he’ll handle the elements and whether the long trip took anything out of him are additional factors that make it hard to go in with tremendous confidence. 

But what’s clear from watching his prep races is that Luxor Cafe is a major talent who not only possess a tactical running style that typically suits the Derby, he can deploy an immediate response when internationally renowned jockey Joao Moreira signals that it’s time to go. If Luxor Cafe’s turn of foot is as devastating as it looked in Japan, he’ll be flying past horses heading toward the top of the stretch.

Is he good enough to actually win? We’ll see. But in a year where you can poke holes in all of the favorites, a horse as gifted as Luxor Cafe at around 15-1 on the morning line is an enticing proposition around which to build a $100 bettering strategy.

Beyond Luxor Cafe and Journalism, there are a handful of other horses who should have a good chance to win or at least run well.

Sovereignty, trained by Bill Mott, is an impressive-looking athlete who owns a five-length win over the Churchill racetrack last October but needs to improve off the Florida Derby when he ran a clear second without much of an excuse.

Sandman, the winner of the Arkansas Derby, will be running his best late but will need the race to set up perfectly in order to win. American Promise, from the D. Wayne Lukas barn, is an impressive physical specimen much like his sire Justify but hadn’t really accomplished much on the track before winning the Virginia Derby. A few others like Burnam Square, Chunk of Gold and Baeza will have a good chance to hit the board, giving us a chance to build some exotic bets. 

But given the short odds on Journalism and even Sovereignty and the lack of anyone else who truly stands out in this field, the success or failure of the $100 bankroll this year will rest largely on whether Luxor Cafe can make history. If he can, it could be a very profitable evening: 

$30 to win on Luxor Cafe

$8 exacta box Luxor Cafe/Sovereignty ($16 total bet)

$2 trifecta box Luxor Cafe/Sovereignty/Journalism ($12 total bet)

$1 trifecta Luxor Cafe over Sovereignty/Journalism/American Promise/Sandman/Chunk of Gold/Burnam Square/Baeza over Sovereignty/Journalism/American Promise/Sandman/Chunk of Gold/Burnam Square/Baeza ($42 total bet)

As always, enjoy Derby Day and only wager what you can afford to lose. Good luck!

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