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Ilia Malinin: Olympic pressure led to 'inevitable crash'

Olympics: Figure Skating-Mens Singles Free ProgramFeb 13, 2026; Milan, Italy; Ilia Malinin of the United States of America reacts after competing in the men’s singles free program during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

MILAN — Ilia Malinin on Monday said his pressure-packed Olympic debut resulted in an “inevitable crash” and suggested he would release more details about his experience on Saturday, when he will reportedly participate in a skating exhibition in Milan.

The 21-year-old American figure skater came into the Milano Cortina Games surrounded by huge hype as the heavy favorite to win gold in the men’s event.

That dream unraveled in spectacular fashion when he fell twice and struggled with his other jumps to finish a shocking eighth in one of the greatest upsets in Olympic figure skating history.

The two-time world champion posted a video on social media on Monday showing his happiest moments in competition set to gentle piano music interspersed with jarring cuts to a black-and-white shot of him with his head in his hands.

Malinin revealed he had been subjected to abuse online, writing: “On the world’s biggest stage, those who appear the strongest may still be fighting invisible battles on the inside.

“Even your happiest memories can end up tainted by the noise. Vile online hatred attacks the mind and fear lures it into the darkness, no matter how hard you try to stay sane through the endless insurmountable pressure,” he wrote.

“It all builds up as these moments flash before your eyes, resulting in an inevitable crash. This is that version of the story.

“Coming February 21, 2026.”

USA Today on Monday reported that Malinin would take part in Saturday’s gala.

For two years, the American “Quad God” had seemed unstoppable, owning a two-plus-year unbeaten streak and seemingly stepping on to the ice as one of the biggest certainties for Olympic gold the sport had seen in decades, but it was not to be.

Despite his disastrous performance in Friday’s free skate, he played a key role in the U.S. winning team gold earlier in the Milano Cortina Games, and his dominance has drawn new fans to the sport.

Malinin was in the stands of the Milano Ice Skating Arena on Sunday for the first day of the Olympic figure skating pairs competition, taking in the action alongside Mexican figure skater Donovan Carrillo and Canadian ice dancer Piper Gilles.

He will defend his title at next month’s world championships in Prague, according to the NBC broadcast.

–Reuters, special to Field Level Media

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Two more improve to 2-0 at CDL Stage 2 major qualifying

ESports: League of Legends World ChampionshipNov 5, 2022; San Francisco, California, USA; Fans hold signs for T1 mid laner Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok (not pictured) during the League of Legends World Championships against DRX at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Thieves and Paris Gentle Mates joined OpTic Texas atop the standings at the Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major on Sunday, each team winning to improve to 2-0 in the qualifying round.

Boston Breach and G2 Minnesota were the day’s other winners, both teams getting their first win of the event to improve to 1-1.

The 12 Call of Duty League teams are playing a full qualifying round robin to determine seeding for the second major of the season, to be held March 27-29 in Marston Green, England, as part of the DreamHack Birmingham event.

The top six teams in qualifying head straight into the Stage 2 Major playoffs, while the teams in seventh through 10th place will compete in a play-in round.

The Stage 2 Major champion will receive $150,000 and 100 Call of Duty League points, while the runner-up will get $90,000 and 75 CDL points.

Paris got things started against the Miami Heretics on Sunday, winning 250-224 on Scar Hardpoint before dropping Raid Search and Destroy 6-4. After edging Miami 2-1 on Scar Overload, the Gentle Mates took the match with a 250-172 win on Den Hardpoint.

Daunte “Sib” Gray led the way for Paris, posting 101 kills with 93 deaths for a plus-8 kill-death differential. Only one player for Miami finished with a positive differential. David “RenKoR” Isern of Spain posted a plus-20 differential that was the highest by any player on Sunday.

In the next match, the Riyadh Falcons took the lead against Boston with a 250-204 win on Exposure Hardpoint. But it was all Breach after that, with Boston winning 6-5 on Colossus Search and Destroy, 4-3 on Den Overload and 250-217 on Colossus Hardpoint.

Byron “Nastie” Plumridge of the UK was the match MVP, posting a match-high plus-8 differential in the win. Amer “Pred” Zulbeari of Australia was the only Falcons player with a positive differential — and just barely at plus-1.

The Thieves were never really threatened their matchup of 1-0 teams against Carolina Royal Ravens, with all four players posting positive differential while winning 250-201 on Colossus Hardpoint, 6-4 on Exposure Search and Destroy, and again 6-4 on Den Overload.

Tyler “aBeZy” Pharris was the best of the LA squad, posting a plus-15 differential with 55 kills as each of the Thieves recorded between 53 and 55 kills. Dylan “Nero” Koch was the only Royal Raven to finish in the black in differential at plus-3. The rest of the Carolina team was a cumulative minus-46 differential.

In the final match of the day, Minnesota topped Cloud9 New York in the latter’s first match of the tournament, winning 250-215 on Den Hardpoint, 6-2 on Exposure Search and Destroy, and 3-2 on Scar Overload.

Justice “Estreal” McMillan was the player of the match, posting high totals of 70 kills and a plus-17 differential. Puerto Rico’s Jonathan “Nejra” Pabo’n was the best player on the losing side, posting a plus-3 differential for New York.

Play resumes next week with another three-day slate of 11 matches.

Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major week 2 schedule

Friday

–Vancouver Surge vs. FaZe Vegas

–Riyadh Falcons vs. Cloud9 New York

–Toronto KOI vs. Los Angeles Thieves

Saturday

–Toronto KOI vs. G2 Minnesota

–Los Angeles Thieves vs. Boston Breach

–Paris Gentle Mates vs. Carolina Royal Ravens

–OpTic Texas vs. Miami Heretics

Sunday

–Riyadh Falcons vs. Carolina Royal Ravens

–Vancouver Surge vs. Boston Breach

–OpTic Texas vs. Cloud9 New York

–G2 Minnesota vs. FaZe Vegas

Call of Duty League Stage 2 Major qualifiers standings (match record, map differential)

1. Los Angeles Thieves, 2-0, +5

T2. OpTic Texas, 2-0, +4

T2. Paris Gentle Mates, 2-0, +4

4. G2 Minnesota, 1-1, +2

5. Miami Heretics, 1-1, +1

T6. Carolina Royal Ravens, 1-1, even

T6. FaZe Vegas, 1-1, even

8. Boston Breach, 1-1, -1

9. Vancouver Surge, 0-1, -2

10. Cloud9 New York, 0-1, -3

11. Riyadh Falcons, 0-2, -4

12. Toronto KOI, 0-2, -6

–Field Level Media

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Seahawks lose Andrew Janocko to Raiders, reportedly hire Brian Fleury as OC

NFL: Los Angeles Chargers at San Francisco 49ersAugust 23, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers run game coordinator/tight ends coach Brian Fleury before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

The Seattle Seahawks are hiring San Francisco 49ers tight ends coach Brian Fleury as their next offensive coordinator, ESPN and NFL Network reported Sunday.

The reigning Super Bowl champions had a vacancy to fill when Klint Kubiak departed to become the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach. In turn, Kubiak hired Seattle quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator, Las Vegas announced on Sunday night.

Fleury changes NFC West allegiances after spending the past seven seasons with the 49ers in varying roles. He became their tight ends coach in 2022 and added the title of run game coordinator this past season. His tight end room in San Francisco starred seven-time Pro Bowler George Kittle.

Fleury’s first NFL job was as a quality control coach for the Buffalo Bills in 2013. He coached linebackers for the Cleveland Browns the next two seasons and worked in analyst roles for the Miami Dolphins 2016-18.

Janocko spent just one season in Seattle on Kubiak’s offensive staff. He also worked under Kubiak as quarterbacks coach of the New Orleans Saints in 2024 and the Minnesota Vikings in 2021. In between, he served as the Chicago Bears’ quarterbacks coach in 2022-23. This will be his first time in a coordinator role.

The Raiders also are hiring Matt Robinson as defensive secondary coach, according to multiple reports on Sunday.

Robinson, 32, was announced on Friday as assistant defensive line coach with the Giants, one of 15 coaches who followed new head coach John Harbaugh from the Baltimore Ravens to New York.

The Giants gave permission, per league rules, for Robinson to make a lateral move to the Raiders, according to reports.

Rob Leonard, officially promoted by Las Vegas on Sunday to defensive coordinator under Kubiak, worked with Robinson in Baltimore in 2022 when Leonard was outside linebackers coach.

Robinson was the Ravens’ outside linebackers coach the past two seasons as well as assistant defensive line coach in 2024. He was on a coaching fellowship with Baltimore in 2021-22 and a defensive quality control coach in 2023 after gaining experience coaching at the college level in 2017-20.

–Field Level Media

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Jaylen Brown: Beverly Hills PD's account of event shutdown not true

NBA: 75th All Star GameFeb 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Team USA Stripes forward Jaylen Brown (7) of the Boston Celtics shoots a lay up in game four against Team Stars during the 75th NBA All Star Game at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

When Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown spoke with reporters after Sunday’s All-Star Game in Inglewood, Calif., the topic quickly went from basketball to an incident between Brown and the Beverly Hills Police Department a night earlier.

And Brown’s account of events stands in stark contrast to those of the Beverly Hills PD.

On Saturday night, police were called to a home where Brown was hosting what he called a “panel” — an event for his personal brand, 741, and Oakley, of which Brown says he is a brand partner.

But when police showed up, they said the event had to end because a permit for the event was previously denied.

“On Saturday, February 14, the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) responded to an event taking place at a private residence in the Trousdale neighborhood of (Beverly Hills),” the BHPD told The Boston Globe in statement Sunday. “An event permit had been applied for and denied by the City due to previous violations associated with events at the address.

“Despite the fact that the permit was denied, organizers still chose to proceed with inviting hundreds of guests knowing that it was not allowed to occur. BHPD responded and shut down the unpermitted event.”

The claim about the permit was one of the issues that angered Brown.

“That was not true,” Brown told reporters. “We didn’t need a permit because the owner of the house, that was his space. We were family friends. He opened up the festivities to us so we didn’t have to. We never applied for one. … I didn’t have to pay for the house or anything. They just opened it up. I had to pay for the build-out, but it was hundreds of thousands of dollars wasted for an event that was supposed to be positive.”

Saturday night, a video showing Brown speaking with a police officer at the house was posted to social media. In the video, Brown is seen repeatedly asking why the event was being shut down, with the officer said “the City” was shutting down the event.

“(I’m) in LA, we’re just trying to have an event, a panel, talking about culture, talking about future, talking about leadership, and for whatever reason I feel like we’re being targeted,” Brown told the camera.

Back at the All-Star Game, Brown said the house belonged to Jim Jannard, the founder of Oakley, and that he did not have to pay to use the house for the event.

“I’m offended by Beverly Hills, by the statement they put out, like we applied for something and didn’t get it and we did it anyway,” Brown added. “Like we were insubordinate. I know how to follow the rules. … It just seemed like somebody, you know, didn’t want whatever we had going on, to go on. Because out of everyone to be doing something (in the neighborhood), I was the only one that gets shut down.”

During the interview, Brown repeated that several hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent setting up the event, and that the owner of the house is considering filing a lawsuit.

“It just leaves a bad taste in your mouth,” he added. “I don’t think the BPDH made the right call here. The statement they put out was not accurate.”

–Field Level Media

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