The 2025 PGA Championship will be missing one of its most colorful characters next week at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.

John Daly, who first burst onto the PGA Tour scene when he came out of nowhere as an alternate to win the 1991 PGA Championship, won’t be in the field at the sport’s second major. He will instead play in a PGA Tour Champions event.

Daly, 59, plans to be at the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Alabama, which is the first of five majors on the senior tour. He has a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship as a past champion of the Wannamaker Trophy. He cited the scheduling conflict for the decision.

‘I can go there (PGA Championship) and miss the cut and get $6,000,’ Daly told the Associated Press. ‘But I’m playing Birmingham. I love Regions. They’re a great sponsor. But why are they scheduling Regions the same week as the PGA Championship, where I can see Brooks (Koepka) and all the guys?’

Since Daly’s memorable PGA Championship win at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana 34 years ago, he has just one top-20 finish in this event. He hasn’t made the cut since 2012 and withdrew from last year’s PGA Championship.

Daly has struggled in four Champions Tour starts this season while returning from hand surgery, but remains undeterred and a popular figure when he’s on the course thanks to his unorthodox rise, eclectic outfits and everyman appeal. He has continued playing despite injury issues in recent years, and previously had to overcome alcohol and gambling problems that nearly took down his career.

Daly said he plans to miss next year’s PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in the Philadelphia area, but wants to return in 2027 when the tournament is held at PGA Frisco in Texas.

‘I’m like Lazarus – I keep coming back from the dead,’ Daly said. ‘Waking up is a win for me.’

Bird, 44, is one of the most successful players in women’s basketball history. She won five Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles for USA Basketball. In the WNBA, she led the Seattle Storm to four championships throughout her 20-year career after helping the UConn Huskies win two NCAA championships in college.

Bird, who will be inducted in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this September, will be responsible for a hefty chunk of the women’s team’s success, taking on the ‘Grant Hill’ role for the team, making her in charge of things like player roster and coaching staff decisions for events like the Olympics and World Cup.

“It’s really exciting,’ the 13-time WNBA All-Star said. ‘I know what it feels like to represent your country as a player. I know what it feels like to stand on the podium as a player. So now that I’m retired, to continue to be able to have impact, to continue to be a part of representing (this) country and part of a gold medal organization feels like a natural next step for me.”  

In previous years, a committee had been used to determine the rosters and coaches for these events. However, Bird’s expertise and respect in the basketball community seemingly has earned her the power to make those decisions on her own moving forward.

“At this point really every experience that I had along my journey as a player is going to play a role,” Bird said. “There are just certain situations I’ve been in; there are certain experiences I’ve had throughout my time as a player that I’m sure at some point will show up and I’ll be able to tap into.  

“I know myself and I am a quick learner. The way that I played the game had a lot of understanding in it, so I expect the learning curve to go quickly.” 

Bird won Olympic gold medals at Athens in 2004, Beijing in 2008, London in 2012, Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021.

Will the men’s national team make the same shift?

The men’s national team does not need to. They’ve operated with a managing director for nearly two decades at this point, dating back to Jeff Colangelo, who took on the role from 2005 to 2021. Grant Hill took over the role in 2021, hence why Bird’s new position is being referred to as the ‘Grant Hill role.’

Much like how Hill now reports to the men’s national team day-to-day operations manager Sean Ford, Bird will now report to Briana Weiss in a similar manner.

When does the women’s national team play next?

The next big event for the women’s national team will be the FIBA World Cup in September 2026, with the first qualifying event for the tournament set to take place in November this year.

The short timeframe between now and the qualifying event makes Bird’s life much tougher as she’ll have to navigate a field of worthy candidates for the roster and coaching staff all while meandering through politics in her decisions. It’s hard to forget the drama that ensued ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics when it was announced that Caitlin Clark had been left off the roster.

Sue Bird making moves as a podcaster as well

Coincidentally, news of Bird’s new position comes at a time when Bird also is announcing the start of a new WNBA podcast with Vox Media titled ‘Bird’s Eye View.’ The podcast is set to debut May 16 and will be available on most major podcast platforms such as Spotify, YouTube and Apple.

The show will cover WNBA news with Bird offering her expert opinions and analysis while speaking with several influential figures from around the league.

‘It’s going to be rooted in the ways in which the conversation that I can have might be different from an analyst or journalist. It’s going to be player to player, in a sense,’ Bird told The Hollywood Reporter.

(This story has been updated with official announcement and quotes.)

Five Major League Soccer teams are valued at more than $1 billion, and 14 others are among the top 50 most valuable soccer clubs in the world, according to evaluations released by Sportico this week.

Los Angeles FC ($1.28 billion), Inter Miami ($1.19 billion), L.A. Galaxy ($1.11 billion), Atlanta United ($1.08 billion) and New York City FC ($1 billion) are the most valuable franchises in MLS.

When Sportico first released its listing in 2023, no MLS team eclipsed the $1 billion valuation. LAFC, Atlanta United, Inter Miami and the Galaxy were the only clubs to reach the threshold in 2024. New York City FC, which will open its new stadium Etihad Park in 2027, is a newcomer to the list in 2025.

While MLS is unable to match revenue levels like the top clubs in Europe, factors like cost controls, modern stadiums, a single-entity structure that fosters ownership collaboration and the lack of relegation keep MLS values stable and on the rise, according to Sportico. The values also include real estate and related businesses.

Among the other 14 MLS clubs on the top 50 list:

– Two clubs exceed $800 million: Austin FC ($865 million) and Seattle Sounders ($825 million) are ranked 23rd and 25th, respectively.

– Seven clubs exceed $700 million: Columbus Crew ($730 million), Toronto FC ($725 million), FC Cincinnati ($725 million), D.C. United ($720 million), Portland Timbers ($720 million), Charlotte FC ($705 million), Philadelphia Union ($705 million).

– Five others exceed $600 million in value: St. Louis City SC ($655 million), Minnesota United ($655 million), Sporting Kansas City ($650 million), New York Red Bulls ($645 million), Nashville SC ($640 million).

Real Madrid ($6.53 billion), Manchester United ($6.09 billion), FC Barcelona ($5.71 billion), Liverpool ($5.59 billion) and Bayern Munich ($5.21 billion) make up the Top 5.

Top MLS club valuations

LAFC: $1.28 billion (16)
Inter Miami: $1.19 billion (17)
L.A. Galaxy: $1.11 billion (18)
Atlanta United: $1.08 billion (19)
New York City FC: $1 billion (20)
Austin FC: $865 million (23)
Seattle Sounders: $825 million (25)
Columbus Crew: $730 million (33)
Toronto FC: $725 million (34)
FC Cincinnati: $725 million (35)
D.C. United: $720 million (36)
Portland Timbers: $720 million (37)
Charlotte FC: $705 million (39)
Philadelphia Union: $705 million (40)
St. Louis City SC: $655 million (42)
Minnesota United: $655 million (43)
Sporting Kansas City: $650 million (44)
New York Red Bulls: $645 million (45)
Nashville SC: $640 million (46)

Most valuable soccer clubs in the world

Real Madrid: $6.53 billion
Manchester United: $6.09 billion
FC Barcelona: $5.71 billion
Liverpool: $5.59 billion
Bayern Munich: $5.21 billion
Manchester City: $5.16 billion
Arsenal: $4.49 billion
Paris Saint-Germain: $4.26 billion
Tottenham Hotspur: $3.68 billion
Chelsea: $3.57 billion  
Atletico de Madrid: $1.85 billion
Borussia Dortmund: $1.83 billion
Juventus: $1.81 billion
AC Milan: $1.34 billion
Inter Milan: $1.3 billion
LAFC: $1.28 billion
Inter Miami: $1.19 billion
L.A. Galaxy: $1.11 billion
Atlanta United: $1.08 billion
New York City FC: $1 billion

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For the second game in a row, the Boston Celtics blew a massive lead. And, for the second game in a row, the New York Knicks stunned Boston on its home floor.

Prior to Wednesday night, no team had rallied from 20-point deficits to win consecutive playoff games, but the Knicks made history behind oppressive defense, crisp offensive execution and resourceful play in their 91-90 triumph at the TD Garden.

The Knicks outscored the Celtics by 13 in the fourth quarter and closed the game on an extended 38-17 run to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series, with Game 3 set for Saturday afternoon in Madison Square Garden.

Here are the winners and losers from Game 2 between the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics.

WINNERS

Comeback Knicks

For the fifth time — out of their six victories this postseason — the Knicks erased a fourth-quarter deficit to secure a come-from-behind victory. Although logic suggests this pace to be wildly risky and unsustainable, New York keeps finding ways to win in the clutch.

It’s starting with defense, with the Knicks ramping up their intensity down low, tempting opposing teams to settle for perimeter jumpers. And then, on offense, the Knicks are operating with speed, ruthless efficiency and are selecting high-percentage shots.

Mikal Bridges: closer

He had entered the fourth quarter having missed all eight of his shot attempts and hadn’t recorded a single point. Yet, Mikal Bridges willed New York’s comeback, going 6-of-10 and scoring all 14 of his points in the final period.

And, for the second consecutive game, Bridges sealed a New York victory on a steal, highlighting his value as a two-way player.

LOSERS

Celtics collapse (again) in fourth

The Celtics have lost both fourth quarters in this series by a combined margin of 55-33, a staggering net margin of -22. Boston has been in a shooting slump, yes, but its apathy and avoidance of contact and physicality in fourth quarters is alarming. Boston held a 73-53 lead with 2:15 left in the third quarter.

That means the Celtics allowed New York to outscore them by a margin of 38-17 in just a little more than 14 minutes of game time. It’s one thing to miss shots; it’s entirely different when a team — the defending champions, at that — is outworked on its home floor for the second game in a row.

3-point shooting is costing Celtics the series

On Monday, the Celtics set a record for most missed 3-pointers in a single playoff game, with 45. On Wednesday, Boston missed 30 more, making even more history; that now marks the most misses from beyond the arc in consecutive postseason games.

The Celtics have combined to go 25-of-100 from 3-point range in Games 1 and 2. Sometimes teams go cold. The issue is that Boston is not doing nearly enough to overcome its sluggish perimeter shooting. If anything, the Celtics are doubling down, settling for far too many 3s in fourth quarters.

In both fourth quarters, the Celtics are now a combined 4-of-26 (15.4%) from beyond the arc. Boston has elite wings who can carve into the paint and score. At its best, it moves the ball crisply to find mismatches and open looks. Yet the Celtics are letting the ball stagnate and are hoisting up 3s deep in the shot clock. It’s costing them the series.

Knicks start slowly

Perhaps there was some comfort or complacency that came from stealing Game 1, but the Knicks missed the first seven shots they took and fell into a 7-0 deficit just minutes into the game.

New York finished the first period shooting just 26.1% from the field (6-of-23), including 12.5% from 3-point range (1-of-8). The 13 points New York scored in the frame was its lowest scoring first quarter in a postseason game since 2003.

Boston missing extended Kristaps Porziņģis minutes

Stretch center Kristaps Porziņģis, arguably, is Boston’s X-factor. At 7-foot-2, he’s a decent rim protector, but his real value lies in his range and ability to draw out opposing bigs to the perimeter. Yet, Porziņģis, who’s managing a non-COVID upper respiratory illness that forced him to miss eight games in early March, didn’t start Wednesday and played just 13:53.

When he was on the court, however, Porziņģis was effective, draining 3-of-5 shots for eight points, adding four rebounds — three of which were offensive.

Former Detroit Tigers center fielder Chet Lemon, a member of the 1984 World Series champions, died May 8 at his home in Apopka, Fla.

He was 70 years old.

‘He was sleeping on his reclining sofa,’ Gigi Lemon, his wife, said. ‘He just wasn’t responsive.’

Since Chet retired from the Tigers in 1990, he suffered a series of clots and at least 13 strokes, leaving him unable to walk or talk.

He was diagnosed with polycythemia vera, a rare blood disease that causes bone marrow to make too many red blood cells. Over the past 30 years, he had been to the hospital more than 300 times.

In September 2024, Lemon returned to Detroit for the Tigers celebration of the 1984 World Series champions. That year, he hit .287 with 20 home runs in 141 games, leading the Tigers alongside Alan Trammell and Kirk Gibson. During the celebration, Lemon and Trammell shared a personal moment in a suite at Comerica Park, surrounded by their teammates.

‘You know how much you were a part of us,’ Trammell said to a giddy Chet. ‘We wouldn’t have won it without you. You know that.’

It was an emotional reunion.

‘I’m so thankful for the time we spent together last summer,’ Trammell said in a statement. ‘Today is a sad day or us. He will be dearly missed.’

‘I think it added some more months,’ Gigi said. ‘He was able to see his teammates. I thought that was so important.’

After returning to Florida, Lemon moved into his own home. He threw out the first pitch at a college baseball game at the University of Central Florida. He was going out to restaurants and spending time with his family.

He seemed happier.

‘The trip to Detroit, I think, it just sparked him,’ Gigi said. ‘I don’t know the medical terms, or if there was such a thing as more blood flowing through some areas, but he just seemed to be so happy.’

Lemon played in MLB from 1975-90, making his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox at age 20. He spent the final nine years of his career, beginning in 1982, with the Tigers — traded from the White Sox to the Tigers for Steve Kemp in November 1981. He was a three time All-Star: 1978-79 with the White Sox, and 1984 on the Tigers’ most recent World Series champion.

‘Chet was the kindest of men and always had that great smile on his face,’ Lance Parrish, former Tigers catcher, said in a statement. ‘He was also a fierce competitor on the baseball field and a great teammate. I loved him like a brother.” 

‘I always believed my job as a pitcher was made easier when Chet was behind me in center,’ pitcher Dan Petry said in a statement. ‘I’ll never forget his laughter and infectious smile. His athleticism on the field always stood out, but he was an even better teammate and friend.’

The Oakland Athletics selected Lemon with the No. 22 overall pick in the first round of the 1972 draft out of Fremont High School in Los Angeles. He was born in Jackson, Miss., but moved to Los Angeles when he was six months old, raised in Compton, Calif.

After his playing career ended, Lemon began coaching youth baseball in Florida.

He served as the head coach at Eustis High School, leading the Panthers to a state championship in 2003. He also founded Chet Lemon’s Juice, an elite travel baseball program that produced many future MLB players, including Prince Fielder and Zack Greinke.

‘The Detroit Tigers join all of baseball in mourning the passing of Chet Lemon,’ the team said in a statement: ‘While he was a World Series Champion and All-Star on the field, perhaps his biggest impact came off of it. That includes creating the Chet Lemon Foundation, and dedicating much of his post-playing career to youth baseball development.’

Lemon was first married to Valerie Jones, with whom he had four children: Geneva, born in 1972, Chester Jr. in 1977, David in 1981, and Marcus in 1988. The couple divorced in 1990. In the early 1990s, Lemon married Gigi Partee, his wife of more than 30 years. They had one daughter, Brianna, born in 1998.

‘At this time, memorial information has not been set,’ Chet’s youngest son, Marcus, shared on Instagram. ‘We will be posting information in the coming days. But at this time as a family we want to thank everyone for their kind words and support.’

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