Sports
Max Verstappen not liking new F1 cars, enjoys 'positive distractions'
Nov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) celebrates his victory of the Las Vegas Grand Prix at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Max Verstappen admitted that he is having more fun with his endurance racing projects as opposed to competing in Formula 1.
That’s a tricky spot given Verstappen is under contract until 2028.
“I don’t want to leave,” the four-time world champion said Thursday of competing with Red Bull. “I wish I had a bit more time and a bit more fun, for sure, but I’m also doing other stuff that is a lot of fun.
“I get to race the Nordschleife. I hope, in the coming years, I can do Spa, Le Mans, so I’m combining stuff to find other stuff that I find really fun as well. Of course, my team, so I have a lot of distractions at the same time.
“Positive distractions, I would call it. But at the same time, it’s a bit conflicting because I don’t really enjoy the car, but I do enjoy working with all the people in the team and from the engine department as well.”
Verstappen, 28, was voted the Formula 1 Driver of the Year for the fifth straight year in 2025. That said, he admitted to having other career ambitions.
“I don’t need to be only a Formula 1 driver, I can also do other things,” he said. “I’ve done this for a while and I’ve achieved everything that I wanted to achieve, so that’s why I want to explore other things, and I don’t want to do them when I’m 40 years old. So now I think this is the perfect age to do it.”
–Field Level Media
Sports
Ducks D Radko Gudas faces disciplinary hearing
Mar 12, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) looks at an injured Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) after he delivered a knee on knee hit during the second period at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas faces a disciplinary hearing Friday after injuring Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews with a knee-on-knee hit Thursday night.
According to TSN, the hearing with the NHL Player Safety department will be over the phone, meaning Gudas cannot be suspended for more than five games.
Gudas drew a major penalty and a game misconduct for what Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube called a “dirty play” following Toronto’s 6-4 home win.
The incident occurred at the 15:47 mark of the second period when Matthews took a direct shot to his left leg and dropped to the ice. The Toronto captain was helped to the locker room and did not return.
Ducks coach Joel Quenneville said there was “no premeditation” behind Gudas’ actions despite comments made by the 35-year-old blueliner before the contest.
“We got to be on top of him,” Gudas said after Thursday’s morning skate. “We got to make sure that he doesn’t get space in the middle of the ice … make his nights not enjoyable.”
Gudas has two goals, 11 assists and 45 penalty minutes in 52 games this season, his 14th campaign in the NHL and his third with Anaheim.
Matthews, 28, scored his 27th goal of the season in the second period, five minutes before the hit from Gudas. The gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic hockey captain has 53 points in 60 games this season, his 10th with Toronto.
Berube did not have an update on Matthews’ condition after the game.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Fantasy Baseball Sleepers: Mid-Round Picks That Could Win Your League
Winning teams in fantasy baseball always get strong value from their draft picks. Any GM can select obvious stars like Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge with top picks, but savvy selections in later rounds can transform a good team into a champion.
With that in mind, here’s a sample of middle-round possibilities—rookies, veterans, and mid-career players—who could push your fantasy team to the upper tier of the standings.
Sal Stewart (1b) Cincinnati Reds
A consensus top 25-30 prospect at 22 years old, Stewart is a good bet to start opening day at first base for the Reds. He’s a career .287/.386/.470 hitter with 45 home runs and 42 stolen bases in 341 career games, including 18 in the majors late in 2025. Stewart makes a lot of contact with the barrel and should draw a good number of walks. The home-run environment at Great American Ball Park could make him a candidate for 25-30 homers, even in his first full season. Take him higher than his 201 ADP.
Jorge Polanco (2b-3b) New York Mets
A season ago at age 32 he slugged .495 with the Seattle Mariners, clubbing 26 home runs in 471 at-bats. Playing home games at Citi Field won’t hurt his power potential. Polanco qualifies at second base and third base in Yahoo leagues, is set to play a lot of first base for the Mets, and will bat in the middle of the lineup. Fantasy GMs are drafting him in the low 200s, but he has a chance to give value closer to the top 100.
Colson Montgomery (ss-3b) Chicago White Sox
Montgomery emerged with huge power as a rookie, hitting 21 homers in just 284 plate appearances, finishing with a .290 ISO. He doesn’t steal bases, and the White Sox don’t have a top lineup to supplement runs scored and RBIs, but Montgomery might be good enough to produce them anyway. His ADP was about 178 at a recent check, but he could sneak into the top 5-6 at short and even higher at third base.
Mike Trout (of) Los Angeles Angels
If you never had Mike Trout on a fantasy team, now is probably your best chance as he nears age 35. After several seasons experiencing declining health and results, he has an ADP of 170. He’s still hitting the ball hard, even if he swings through too many center-cut fastballs. Trout hasn’t been a base stealer for years, but says he feels healthy again for the first time in years, and he’s been posting sub 30-second sprint times in Spring Training. Think: George Springer in 2025.
Trevor Rogers (sp) Baltimore Orioles
Fantasy GMs prefer O’s right-hander Kyle Bradish, whose 80 ADP ranks about 20th among all starting pitchers. Rogers comes in an average of 70 spots later, yet could finish with stats just as good. Finally healthy, he posted a 1.80 ERA with rejuvenated strikeout numbers and career-best walk numbers in 2025, though it came in just 18 starts. A .228 batting average on balls in play indicates regression is coming, but if he DID approach his ’25 results over 32 starts, Rogers would finish in the top three in AL Cy Young voting. Take him in the low 100s, sit back, and profit!
Carter Jensen (c) Kansas City Royals
Even in his mid-30s, Salvador Perez is still the man behind the plate in KC. But Jensen will get lots of opportunities to hit in the Royals lineup, possibly as the primary DH. He has a chance to hit for power and draw walks. With eligibility behind the plate, Jensen could be a top-five catcher that costs only an ADP in the 230s right now.
Kenley Jansen (rp) Detroit Tigers
It’s not necessarily reflected in his 160-ish ADP, but the Tigers are going to use Jansen to close games. He’s on a Hall-of-Fame track with 476 career saves, including 29 a season ago with a terrible Angels team. Jansen showed signs of wear too, like his career-low 24.4% K% and career-worst 44.6% hard-hit percentage. But he still allowed opposing hitters a .175/.245/.321 slash line. Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest also had 20-plus saves, and their presence also gives fantasy GMs pause. But if Jansen can keep fly balls in the park and doesn’t regress more with his strikeouts, he could lead the league in saves at age 38.
Sports
Sirens, Victoire to play in PWHL's first game televised nationally in US
Dec 3, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of a hockey net with pucks during warm ups prior to a game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images The Professional Women’s Hockey League will make its debut on national television in the United States on March 28 when the New York Sirens play the Montreal Victoire.
The game will be at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit at 1 p.m., part of the PWHL Takeover Tour that introduces the league to fans in communities that potentially could be targeted for an expansion team.
“We are continuing to fuel this rocket ship that is the PWHL as we expand the reach and exposure of our league to new fans,” said Amy Scheer, the league’s executive vice president of business operations. “This first ever national broadcast is a truly historic moment for our league.”
The game will be televised by ION, which is available in more than 126 million U.S. households.
“Fan interest in women’s hockey is at an all-time high, buoyed by the amazing success of Team USA in this year’s Winter Olympics Games,” said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports, which owns ION. “We are thrilled to be teaming with the PWHL and Ally Financial on this milestone event and to bring the excitement of this league to a national audience for the first time.”
The PWHL, in its third season, is approaching two million fans through the turnstiles, with a 20% increase in year-over-year attendance this season. In all, 61 PWHL players were on rosters at the recent Milan Cortina Olympics.
–Field Level Media
