Sports
Starting 17th, Max Verstappen wins Brazil GP to boost points lead
Oracle Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Team Netherlands races in the Formula 1 Pirelli United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas Sunday October 20, 2024. With his sights set on a fourth straight F1 World Drivers’ Championship title, Max Verstappen increased his lead in the standings with a 19-second victory on Sunday at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo.
Despite starting 17th on the grid and driving in wet conditions, the Red Bull driver had no issues securing his eighth win of the season. With the victory, Verstappen widened his lead to 62 points over Lando Norris, who started on the pole for McLaren but finished sixth.
The lead is significant because a 60-point margin is required after the Las Vegas Grand Prix later this month to secure Verstappen his fourth straight title.
“My emotions today have been a rollercoaster,” Verstappen said.
“With qualifying being really unlucky with the red flag, starting 17th, I knew that would be a tough race but we stayed out of trouble, we made the right calls, we stayed calm and we were fine.
“So, all of these things together make that result possible but I think it’s unbelievable to win here from so far back on the grid.”
Verstappen, 27, hadn’t won since the Spanish Grand Prix in June, but easily topped Alpine drivers Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who finished second and third, respectively. For Alpine, it was their first double podium finish since 2013.
Toward the end of the race, Verstappen set a new fastest lap, securing the bonus point, and stretched his lead to 19.4 seconds over Ocon. Meanwhile, Norris was able to move up to sixth but dropped 18 points to Verstappen by the end of the race.
George Russell of Mercedes came in fourth after leading the first 30 laps, followed by Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in fifth. Following Norris, seventh place went to RB’s Yuki Tsunoda, while Norris’ teammate, Oscar Piastri, came in eighth after a 10-second collision penalty. RB’s Liam Lawson and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton rounded out the Top 10.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Broncos sign GM George Paton to new 5-year deal
Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Denver Broncos general manager George Paton speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images The Denver Broncos signed general manager George Paton to a new five-year contract Friday that runs through the 2030 season.
Paton, 56, joined Denver as the GM in 2021 after 14 seasons in the Minnesota Vikings’ front office (2007-20).
“We are pleased to announce a new five-year contract for George Paton that reflects our confidence in his leadership, vision and the overall direction of our team,” owner and CEO Greg Penner said. “As our general manager, George has demonstrated a strong commitment toward building a winning roster while forming a collaborative and supportive partnership with Sean Payton.
“I’ve enjoyed working with George over the last four seasons and appreciate the alignment we share in positioning the Broncos for sustained success.”
Since Paton brought in head coach Payton ahead of the 2023 season, the Broncos have averaged 11 wins per season with back-to-back playoff appearances in 2024 and 2025.
Denver earned the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a 14-3 record last season before losing to the New England Patriots in the conference championship game.
Paton has aggressively worked to improve the Broncos through all avenues during his tenure, including 36 trades, 45 draft selections, 55 unrestricted free agent signings and 13 contract extensions, according to the team.
Paton’s biggest draft hits include 2021 first-round cornerback Patrick Surtain II — the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year — and 2024 first-round choice and franchise quarterback Bo Nix.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Reports: Iowa finalizing 6-year deal with coach Ben McCollum
Mar 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Ben McCollum calls a timeout against the Florida Gators in the second half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Ben McCollum is finalizing a deal with Iowa that would keep him as the Hawkeyes basketball coach for the next six years, ESPN reported Friday.
McCollum is coming off his first season at the helm in Iowa, when he took the Hawkeyes on their deepest NCAA tournament run in almost 40 years.
Compiling a 24-13 record, the Storm Lake, Iowa, native led the No. 9 Hawkeyes on a run to the Elite Eight that included a 73-72 second-round upset win over top-seeded Florida and another win over No. 4 Nebraska before being eliminated by Illinois in the regional final.
McCollum, 45, came to Iowa last spring after one season at Drake, which he led to the NCAA Tournament after guiding the Bulldogs to the Missouri Valley regular season and conference tournament titles in his first year with the program. Drake finished with a 31-4 record after falling to Texas Tech in the second round of the 2025 NCAA tournament.
He previously spent 15 seasons with NCAA Division II power Northwest Missouri State University, helping his alma mater capture four national championships (2017, 2019, 2021, 2022).
During his 17-year coaching career, McCollum has amassed a record of 450-108.
McCollum was reportedly pursued by North Carolina in their search for a head coach to replace Hubert Davis, who was fired after five seasons. Former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone was ultimately hired to coach the Tar Heels.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao agree to rematch
May 2, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Floyd Mayweather (right) talks with Manny Pacquiao as celebrates after his welterweight championship bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao have agreed to terms on an amended deal for a proposed boxing match on Sept. 25 in Las Vegas.
Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur told The Ring magazine on Friday that the sides reached terms to go ahead with the anticipated bout at T-Mobile Arena. The fight will stream live on Netflix.
The initial plan was for the bout to be held at The Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 19, however that fell through. The rock band The Eagles are performing on that date as part of their residency at the venue.
Mayweather could be rather busy given that he has exhibition bouts lined up against Mike Tyson and Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis. The Tyson fight does not have a specific date or location, while the Zambidis bout is set for June 27 in Athens, Greece.
Mayweather, 49, and Pacquiao initially fought in 2015 after years of buildup, with the former winning by unanimous decision. That bout wound up being the highest grossing boxing event of all time.
Pacquiao, 47, retired from boxing in September 2021 as the only eight-division world champion in boxing history before coming out of retirement last year for a WBC welterweight title fight against Mario Barrios, which ended in a majority draw.
Mayweather, who has a perfect 50-0 career record and won 15 world titles, hasn’t fought competitively since his highly controversial boxing match against UFC legend Conor McGregor in August of 2017.
–Field Level Media
Broncos sign GM George Paton to new 5-year deal
Reports: Iowa finalizing 6-year deal with coach Ben McCollum
