Sports
Speed skater Jordan Stolz denied 3rd gold medal, takes silver in 1500m
Jordan Stolz of the United States won the silver medal in the men’s 1500m speed skating event Thursday at the Winter Olympics in Milan. MILAN — China’s Ning Zhongyan won the men’s 1,500 meters at the Winter Olympics on Thursday, denying American Jordan Stolz of his third speed skating gold medal of these Games.
Stolz claimed silver, while two-time defending Olympic 1,500m champion Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands secured bronze to round out a high-caliber podium.
Stolz entered the event as the overwhelming favorite after record-breaking victories in both the 1,000m and 500m. He was undefeated in the 1,500m this season.
But the field was stacked with heavyweights, including Nuis, the 1,500m world record holder; newly crowned 5,000m Olympic champion Sander Eitrem; 10,000m gold medalist Metodej Jilek; as well as Dutchman Joep Wennemars and Poland’s Vladimir Semirunniy.
But Ning, 26, already buoyed by two bronzes at the Milan Cortina Games in the men’s 1,000m and the team pursuit, had other plans.
Skating in the 13th of 15 pairs, Ning started in the inner lane alongside Nuis. On a remarkable day for the distance, the Olympic record fell twice: first to Wennemars in the 11th pair, and then to Ning, who obliterated the new mark moments later.
He stopped the clock at 1 minute, 41.98 seconds, finishing 0.77 seconds ahead of Stolz.
With Ning’s triumph, China now holds three gold medals at these Games, following Mengtao Xu’s victory in the women’s freestyle skiing aerials and Yiming Su’s win in the men’s snowboard slopestyle.
–Reuters, special to Field Level Media
Sports
Drew Rasmussen named Opening Day starter by Rays
Sep 13, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) pitches against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images The Tampa Bay Rays will hand the ball to right-hander Drew Rasmussen on Opening Day.
Manager Kevin Cash told reporters Thursday at spring training in Port Charlotte, Fla., that it was “a pretty easy call” to start Rasmussen against the Cardinals in St. Louis on March 26.
Rasmussen finished the 2025 season with a 10-5 record and a 2.76 ERA in 31 starts. He was selected to the American League All-Star team.
The 30-year-old is a story of perseverance.
He was put on the 60-day injured list with an elbow injury in May 2023 and returned to the Rays in August 2024 after undergoing his third major elbow surgery.
Rasmussen has a career record of 30-17 in 130 appearances (81 starts) and two saves with the Brewers (2020-21) and Rays, who acquired him in the May 2021 trade that sent Willy Adames to Milwaukee.
Other likely members of the starting rotation are Shane McClanahan, Steven Matz, Ryan Pepiot and Nick Martinez.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Cooper Flagg's jersey from NBA debut sells for $1M
Oct 22, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) dribbles the ball as San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) and San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) chase during the first half at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Cooper Flagg’s game-worn jersey from the first half of his Dallas Mavericks debut sold privately for $1 million earlier this month through Sotheby’s, the company announced Thursday.
The amount broke the record for the most expensive NBA debut jersey solid in the same season. San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s jersey from his debut game in 2023 sold for $762,000.
Ironically, Flagg’s NBA debut came against Wembanyana and the Spurs on Oct. 22. He collected 10 points and 10 rebounds in Dallas’ 125-92 loss to San Antonio.
“I think people see Flagg with the potential for an American icon,” said Brahm Wachter, head of modern collectibles at Sotheby’s. “I’m not quite sure that, at least in my time handling sort of young rookie memorabilia, that I’ve seen anything quite like this demand since LeBron (James).”
Flagg, 19, leads all rookies with an average of 20.4 points per game. He also is producing 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 49 games (all starts) this season since being selected by the Mavericks with the top overall pick of the 2025 NBA Draft out of Duke.
Flagg’s 49-point performance in a home loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Jan. 29 broke the NBA record for the highest-scoring outing by a teen.
The most expensive jersey sold from an NBA rookie season belongs to Michael Jordan. An autographed 1984 Chicago Bulls jersey worn during Jordan’s rookie year sold through Sotheby’s for $4.2 million in March 2025.
–Field Level Media
Sports
O's OF Jordan Westburg physically 'unable to participate'
Sep 28, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg (11) hits a solo home run against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg was not on the field with the team for a spring training workout on Thursday, and manager Craig Albernaz doesn’t know when his status will change.
“He’s unable to participate right now,” the first-year manager said Thursday. “Getting evaluated by our medical team and also outside people. See what’s going on with Jordan and get him ready to go.”
Westburg, 27, felt his oblique tighten on the right side early in spring training. Albernaz did not specifically point to the muscle injury as the reason for his absence and wouldn’t say if he had a different injury.
Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias said earlier this month that Westburg’s oblique injury dates to January.
The Baltimore Banner reported Thursday, however, that Westburg had imaging done on his elbow.
“Just physically unable to go,” Albernaz said. “We want to make sure we do our due diligence. Make sure Jordan has the best chance to play this year.”
Injuries have been a hindrance in Westburg’s three seasons in Baltimore, which drafted him 30th overall in 2020 out of Mississippi State.
He played 85 games last season and required injured list stints due to a left hamstring injury and a sprained ankle. He also missed parts of 2025 spring training with back tightness. He played 107 games in 2024 and was named an All-Star, but also missed seven weeks with a fractured hand.
In 260 career games, Westburg has a .264 batting average with 38 home runs and 127 RBIs.
–Field Level Media
Drew Rasmussen named Opening Day starter by Rays
Cooper Flagg's jersey from NBA debut sells for $1M
