At the stroke of midnight, it’ll be March, the time of year where Knicks fans are usually glued to tankathon.com while waiting for another season to mercifully end. This year, however, Knicks fans will wake tomorrow to a team currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference at 18-17. Sure, the NBA schedule has been pushed back, but we’re above .500 after 35 games for the first time in eight years.
Sunday’s contest with the lowly Detroit Pistons reeked of a trap game, with the Knicks on the second night of a back-to-back following a 48-minute war with the Pacers one night earlier. The first half was butt-ugly, though the good guys walked away with a 48-37 advantage thanks to some timely three-point shooting.
In recent weeks, this club has struggled coming out of halftime. That was not the case Sunday, however, as Julius Randle and RJ Barrett dominated the Pistons while the Knicks stretched their lead past 20 points.
Julius toyed with the Pistons in the second half, canning jab-step jumpers like prime Melo.
Coming into tonight, I thought RJ Barrett would be a big key for the Knicks, as the one pair of young legs in the starting lineup. He certainly stepped up for the Knicks, with 21 points on 8-13 shooting.
Let’s also give some credit to Nerlens Noel, who was a beast yet again, playing huge minutes with Taj Gibson out.
I’ll say it again: We’re above .500 folks. Recap to come.
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Knicks 109, Pistons 90: Scenes from a tired Knicks team getting the job done with gusto - Posting and Toasting
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"While we are disappointed at Iran's response, we remain ready to reengage in meaningful diplomacy to achieve a mutual return to compliance with JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) commitments," a White House spokesperson said.
"We will be consulting with our P5+1 partners on the best way forward," the spokesperson added. The P5+1 refers to the permanent members of the UN Security Council -- China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States -- and Germany.
Iran's rejection of the Biden administration's first effort to jumpstart diplomacy and begin drawing both Iran and the US back into compliance with the nuclear deal signals how long and complicated the diplomatic process aimed at salvaging the deal is expected to be.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Sunday that now is not a good time for the meeting.
The rejection comes just days after the US military struck a site in Syria used by Iranian-backed militia groups in response to recent rocket attacks on American forces in the region in the past two weeks.
"Up to a handful" of militants were killed in the strikes, a US official previously told CNN. The site was not specifically tied to the rocket attacks, but Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said he was "confident" it was used by the same Iranian-backed Shia militias targeting US and coalition forces in Iraq with rocket attacks.
"This is not very encouraging," said a European diplomat familiar with Iran's rejection. Iran wants a guarantee of sanctions relief after the meeting, the diplomat said.
The Biden administration, which views this move by Iran as part of the diplomatic process, has maintained that they are flexible about the format of these talks. But the longer it takes to get Iran to the table for talks, the more challenging it will be to salvage the situation, the European diplomat said.
The International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran reached a "technical understanding" last weekend in an effort to prevent a complete breakdown of the deal that will be in place for up to three months. The agreement had to be put into place because Iran moved forward with one of its most egregious violations of the JCPOA to date: curbing short-notice inspectors.
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Biden administration disappointed after Iran rejects invite to discuss nuclear deal with US and other nations - CNN
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CBS Sports analyst and commentator and former NFL player Irv Cross passed away at the age of 81, CBS Sports announced Sunday.
"Irv was a pioneer who made significant contributions to the storied history and tradition of CBS Sports and, along with Phyllis George and Brent Musburger, set the standard for NFL pregame shows with THE NFL TODAY," CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said in a statement.
"He was a true gentleman and a trailblazer in the sports television industry and will be remembered for his accomplishments and the paths he paved for those who followed."
Cross was hired by CBS Sports in 1971 as a game analyst, but his role with the company grew to include the covering of other sports. Cross was a staple on "The NFL Today" for 14 years, spending a total of 23 years with the network.
In 2009, Cross became the first Black recipient of the Pete Rozelle Award, an annual honor given by the Pro Football Hall of Fame to a member of the media.
As a player, Cross was drafted by the Eagles in 1961, spending the first five seasons of his career in Philadelphia. He also played for the Los Angeles Rams for three years. The defensive back's play earned him Pro Bowl honors in 1964 and 1965.
Julius Randle became an All-Star last week. He became a winner Sunday in Detroit.
After six previous seasons being part of losing teams, Randle has spearheaded the Knicks to a winning record — achieved Sunday with a 109-90 rout of the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.
The Knicks moved to 18-17 and hold fourth place in the bunched-up Eastern Conference. It’s the latest they’ve been over .500 in a season since the 54-win campaign of 2012-13.
“The reaction to the winning record, honestly in our locker room it’s expected,’’ said Randle, who racked up his usual gemstone numbers of 25 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals. “I said all year, we feel like every time we go out we have a chance to win the game. I’m not really surprised where we’re at as a team. We have a certain level of focus on a night-to-night basis that gives us a shot every night.’’
The Knicks led by 11 at halftime before Randle punched the Pistons’ lights out with a brilliant 12-point third quarter. Randle finished 10 of 17 shooting as his bustout season roared on one night after dominating All-Star Domantas Sabonis of the Pacers.
With all his statistics, the best one may be having not missed a game, playing big minutes in all 35.
“I take pride in it,’’ said Randle, who averaged 40 minutes a game in the back-to-back. “I take pride in being durable. Being available for my team every night to go out and give an all-out effort.’’
Julius Randle celebrates during the Knicks’ win on Sunday.AP
The Knicks have two games left before the All-Star break — in San Antonio on Tuesday and hosting the Pistons in a rematch on Thursday. It’s safe to say they have a great shot at sliding into their week-long vacation with a winning record.
The Knicks have finished with a winning record just three times in the past 20 years, the worst stretch in their history.
“It’s a proud organization and I was here during the 90s but that doesn’t have anything to do with today,’’ said Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, a former assistant in the 1990s. “So just like I wasn’t looking ahead I don’t want us looking behind and what happened in the past. I think it’s important to know the history of the organization, but our focus has to be exactly on what’s in front of us.’’
Randle had timely help from RJ Barrett, who weaved his second straight powerhouse game with 21 points (8 of 13). Last season, Randle and Barrett had little chemistry. That has all changed in this remarkable first season under Thibodeau.
And they blew out Detroit playing on the second night of a back-to-back, shorthanded, and winning for the seventh time in nine games.
“I think that’s the nature of the league,” Thibodeau said of sweeping the back-to-back. “Sometimes the schedule is in your favor, sometimes it’s against. The challenge is to be ready whenever you have to go. So back-to-back, travel, you get in late, the ball goes up, let’s be ready to roll. Just find a way to get it done. That’s what we did. That’s the type of mental toughness you need. I think we’re getting stronger and stronger.’’
Randle has already made more 3-pointers than he had all last season, going 3 of 5 Sunday. He now has 67 after 35 games. Randle registered just 64 last season in a pandemic-shortened 64-game campaign.
He’s been the point-forward extraordinaire. “KP [assistant Kenny Payne] talks about it all the time — move like a guard, finish like a big,’’ Randle said.
The Knicks moved to 6-2 since starting center Mitchell Robinson broke his hand in Washington. Credit Nerlens Noel for that.
The Knicks had an 11-point halftime lead despite shooting just 36.7 percent from the field. It was an ugly first half — personified by the gritty defense of Noel.
Noel, the last Knicks pivot standing, was a beast in the lane for a defense that held the Pistons to 38.4 percent shooting. He notched eight points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and three steals — including one spectacular stop at the rim on a hard drive by rookie lottery pick Saddiq Bey.
“Just resilience,’’ Noel said of the Knicks’ success.
A massive iceberg, larger than New York City, has broken off from an ice shelf in Antarctica, according to researchers on Friday.
The 490-square mile iceberg broke away from the Brunt Ice Shelf about a decade after scientists started detecting cracks in the ice, wrote the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in a statement. New York City is roughly 302 square miles.
"Our teams at BAS have been prepared for the calving of an iceberg from Brunt Ice Shelf for years," said Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director of British Antarctic Survey.
The first indication that the glacier would break off occurred in November when a new chasm – called North Rift – headed toward another large chasm about 20 miles away. In January, the rift pushed northeast at more than half a mile each day, cutting through the 490-foot thick floating ice shelf.
The iceberg formed after the crack widened on the morning of Feb. 26, "releasing it from the rest of [the] floating ice shelf," according to the BAS.
The BAS monitors the ice shelf daily using an automated network of high-precision GPS instruments surrounding Halley Research Station, which measures how the ice shelf is deforming and moving, Francis said. The teams also use satellite images from ESA, NASA, and the German satellite TerraSAR-X.
"Halley Station is located inland of all the active chasms, on the part of the ice shelf that remains connected to the continent," said Francis. "Our network of GPS instruments will give us early warning if the calving of this iceberg causes changes in the ice around our station."
The 12-person team left Halley Research Station early last month, which is now closed for the Antarctic winter. The station was safe from the break since it relocated inland in 2016 to avoid the paths of two chasms -- named "Chasm 1" and "Halloween Crack."
Francis added that in the coming weeks or months, the iceberg may move away, or aground and remain close to the Brunt Ice Shelf.
"Our job now is to keep a close eye on the situation and assess any potential impact of the present calving on the remaining ice shelf," said Simon Garrod, Director of Operations at BAS. "We continuously review our contingency plans to ensure the safety of our staff, protect our research station, and maintain the delivery of the science we undertake at Halley."
Irv Cross, who spent nine seasons as an NFL cornerback and later became the first Black man to work full-time as a sports analyst on national television, died at 81, CBS Sports announced Sunday night. Cross thrived while working in several different roles during his 23 years at CBS Sports.
"All of us at CBS Sports are saddened by the news of Irv Cross' passing," CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus said in a statement. "Irv was a pioneer who made significant contributions to the storied history and tradition of CBS Sports and, along with Phyllis George and Brent Musburger, set the standard for NFL pregame shows with THE NFL TODAY. He was a true gentleman and a trailblazer in the sports television industry and will be remembered for his accomplishments and the paths he paved for those who followed."
Cross was born in Hammond, Indiana in 1939, and attended Northwestern University, where he participated in track and field and also football. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 1961 NFL Draft, and would spend six years in Philly and three with the Rams before hanging up his cleats following the 1969 season. Cross made two Pro Bowls and picked off 22 passes in his nine NFL seasons.
After retiring, Cross worked with the Eagles as an assistant coach and then joined CBS in 1971, when he became the first Black network sports show anchor. CBS Sports put together a crew of Musburger, George, Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder and Cross for THE NFL TODAY show, which made a large impact on how pregame shows were planned and executed.
"He knew that it was important for him to do well," said Clifton Brown, who worked with Cross on his memoir, Bearing the Cross, via the Eagles' official website. "Irv knew that if the show had failed, that it might hurt down the road for other Black sportscasters to get a similar opportunity. He was carrying that weight and he did it so superbly.
"It's just a seamless transition now. We're just so used to seeing former athletes on television. But all of them, particularly those who are African-American, whether they know it or not, I believe they owe a debt to Irv Cross."
In 2009, Cross was named as the recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award. This honor is given annually by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and recognizes "long-time exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football," according to its website.
Humble, hard-working and insightful no matter which role he was filling, Cross was a television great who will certainly be missed.
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Irv Cross, broadcasting legend with CBS Sports and Pro Bowl NFL cornerback, dies at 81 - CBS Sports
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Woods responded on Twitter to the gesture made by many in the golf community, including Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Thomas and Cameron Champ, who wore Woods' signature outfit.
"It is hard to explain how touching today was when I turned on the tv and saw all the red shirts," Woods wrote Sunday. "To every golfer and every fan, you are truly helping me get through this tough time."
Golfers at the Gainbridge LPGA on Sunday, including Annika Sorenstam, also wore red and black in support of Woods.
PGA Tour Communications tweeted a picture Sunday of maintenance staff at the Puerto Rico Open wearing red and black to honor Woods.
And golfer Bryson DeChambeau tweeted a picture of a golf ball with the name "Tiger" and a red line on it.
"We're all pulling for you @tigerwoods," DeChambeau wrote. "A mentor, idol and role model to my career, there's no one that could come out of this stronger. We're glad you're here. See you soon."
Woods suffered serious leg injuries in a single-vehicle rollover accident last week near Los Angeles, where his SUV crossed a median, went across two lanes of road, then hit a tree and landed on the driver's side in the brush.
After initial treatment at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Woods was moved to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he received follow-up procedures, a tweet posted Friday to Woods' Twitter account said. "The procedures were successful, and he is now recovering and in good spirits."
Woods' injuries included open fractures to his tibia and fibula that required a rod to be inserted, and additional injuries to the bones of the foot and ankle that were stabilized with screws and pins.
CNN's Jacob Lev, Stella Chan, Cheri Mossburg and Steve Almasy contributed to this report.
Mike Lam King-nam, who participated in the 2020 pro-democracy primary elections, gives a hug to his wife ahead of reporting to police on Sunday in Hong Kong. Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
Anthony Kwan/Getty Images
The Hong Kong government charged 47 democracy advocates Sunday with violating a national security law that prohibits "conspiracy to commit subversion."
The activists were among a group of more than 50 people arrested in January for organizing and taking part in a primary election last July. The mass arrests last month were the most extensive roundup since the law was introduced last summer.
The law criminalizes four types of activity: secession, subversion of state power, terrorism and collusion with foreign entities. In practice, it ends whatever autonomy that Hong Kong had previously enjoyed under Chinese rule.
Those arrested were among Hong Kong's most vocal democracy advocates, a group that includes many opposition lawmakers. The group of 39 men and eight women had been asked to check in with police on Sunday in preparation for a court appearance Monday morning. If convicted, they could face life in prison.
According to the South China Morning Post, those charged included Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai; Civic Party leader Alvin Yeung Ngok-kiu; and legal scholar Benny Tai, the architect of July's primary election, which brought more than 600,000 people to the polls.
Activist Joshua Wong, who is currently serving more than a year in prison for organizing a protest, was also charged.
International observers have expressed concern that China is going to great lengths to stamp out opposition. In a statement, the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao said the charges "make clear that legitimate political pluralism will no longer be tolerated" there.
U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan wrote that the detentions underscore China's "broken promises to the world about Hong Kong's autonomy & democratic rights. We stand in solidarity with these brave activists." U.K. foreign secretary Dominic Raab said the charges were "deeply disturbing" and that the national security law is "being used to eliminate political dissent rather than restore order - contrary to what the Chinese Government promised."
In the days leading up to Sunday's charges, the activists said goodbye to loved ones, and made peace with their fate. As they entered the police station, many gave statements to the media.
"Democracy is never a gift from heaven. It must be earned by many with strong will," said 33-year-old Jimmy Sham, the BBC reported. Sham, of the Civil Human Rights Front, helped organize major protests in 2019. "We will remain strong and fight for what we want."
CPAC proved such a draw, conservative Republicans chose the conference over their constituents. Why it matters: More than a dozen House Republicans voted by proxy on the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill in Washington so they could speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference, known as CPAC. And Sen. Ted Cruz chose to be there instead of his hometown of Houston when President Biden visited to survey storm damage.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for freeThe proxy votes were particularly strident, given the GOP sued to stop the practice when Democrats created it to allow safe voting during the coronavirus pandemic.And Cruz's visit to Florida — which, he joked, wasn't as nice as his much-maligned trip to Cancún — cost him the same facetime that Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) got when he greeted and accompanied the president in Texas.White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Friday: "There was neither an invitation nor a request for (Cruz) to attend. There are a number of members of both parties attending and joining the president on the trip."Cruz's office did not offer immediate comment but added later: "Sen. Cruz was was not invited but remains in close contact with state and local officials and is focused on helping ensure there is a full federal response to these storms."The big picture: CPAC attracted a bevy of Republicans across four days, some simply looking for the party limelight and others positioning themselves for the 2024 presidential campaign.All had to tread the fine line between advancing their own interests and paying homage to former President Trump, who delivered Sunday's closing address.The lure of thousands of attendees — and near gavel-to-gavel coverage on Fox News — prompted some to put their personal politics ahead of constituent responsibilities.At least 13 Republicans in Congress who were scheduled to speak at CPAC requested colleagues cast their votes by proxy — a voting procedure allowing House members to vote remotely during the pandemic. Reps. Ted Budd and Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina and Matt Gaetz and Greg Steube of Florida, who were all scheduled to speak at the conference Friday, requested colleagues to vote on their behalf."I am unable to physically attend proceedings in the House Chamber due to the ongoing public health emergency, and I hereby grant the authority to cast my vote by proxy to the Honorable Scott Franklin (FL-15), who has agreed to serve as my proxy," Gaetz wrote in his explanatory letter.Reps. Jim Banks of Indiana, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Mark Green of Tennessee, Darrell Issa and Devin Nunes of California, Ronny Jackson of Texas, Mike Kelly of Pennsylvania, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Lauren Boebert of Colorado all voted by proxy after being listed as scheduled speakers, CNN reported.A spokesperson for Budd told Yahoo News the congressman still opposes the procedure but was forced to use it because "Democrats rearranged the House schedule with extremely late notice." Budd also donated his day's salary to the North Carolina Restaurant Workers Relief Fund, the spokesperson said.Background: Republicans have been the leading critics of proxy voting, despite their embrace of it over the last few days.Last May, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), 20 other House Republicans and four constituents filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of proxy voting. It was dismissed, but McCarthy filed an appeal.The same day, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) urged his conference to forgo proxy voting if members couldn't appear for an in-person vote.“They are encouraged to submit their vote positions for the Congressional Record rather than utilizing the Democrats’ proxy voting scheme,” he wrote.More than a dozen Republicans did not vote on May 27, including Rep. Don Young, effectively disenfranchising the entire state of Alaska. Overall, more than 9 million constituents were not represented on a vote to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978.Republicans aren't alone in some questionable uses of the procedure. Democratic Reps. Charlie Crist and Darren Soto of Florida attended a rocket launch in their home state after requesting to vote by proxy last Congress. While the launch was canceled due to inclement weather, McCarthy blasted the two by posting a copy of their proxy letter next to the photos of Crist and Soto at the event.Editor's note: This story was updated to reflect John Cornyn accompanying the president only in Texas, Jen Psaki’s comment about Ted Cruz neither asking nor being invited on President Biden's trip to Texas, and the Cruz office's explanation he remains in contact with federal officials.Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free.
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This week has been among the stranger golf weeks in the last few years. Tiger Woods was badly injured in a career-threatening car crash on Tuesday, and has undergone multiple procedures in the days that have followed as athletes from all over the world offered up their well wishes.
On Sunday at the Cologuard Classic, a PGA Tour Champions event, Phil Mickelson paid tribute to his longtime rival and recent pal by going full red and black with his scripting -- a nod to Tiger's Sunday threads. Loads of players playing the WGC-Workday Championship on the PGA Tour also paid tribute to the guy who has changed their sport.
Rory McIlroy, Cameron Champ, Patrick Reed, Tony Finau, Jason Day, Justin Thomas and several other golfers playing in the first WGC event of 2021 at The Concession wore some form of a red top and black pants to let know Tiger they were thinking about him.
Finau even went full "Tiger at the 2018 PGA Championship" look with the backwards hat.
One of the fascinating parts of Tiger's career is this late-stage turn with him playing the role of mentor and friend to so many of the best players in the world who are in their 20s or 30s. Thomas was near tears on Tuesday when being asked about Woods' accident, and everyone throughout the week has been poignant in their effusive praise for the best to ever do it.
"He means a lot to the game of golf," said Finau early in the week. "I can only speak from my experience, he means a lot to my career. I've said it I think time after time, the 1997 Masters changed the course of my life, course of my career. Without that event, I probably wouldn't be here, I wouldn't be playing golf. So he definitely changed the course of my life, my career.
"I think I'm one of hundreds of guys out here probably that would say the same thing. He means a lot to the game, but individually, I think he means a lot to us just individually, especially for me."
Later in the day on Sunday as the plethora of tributes were making the rounds, Woods took to time to express his gratitude on Twitter.
"It is hard to explain how touching today was when I turned on the TV and saw all the red shirts," Woods said. "To every golfer and every fan, you are truly helping me get through this tough time."
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Cross played for the Eagles from 1961 through 1965, and again in 1969. He spent 1966 through 1968 with the Rams. Cross was a two-time Pro Bowler, in 1964 and 1965.
After his playing career ended, Cross became a broadcaster with CBS in 1971. Cross formed part of the legendary team that launched The NFL Today in 1975. The show became appointment viewing, with Cross joined by Brent Musburger and, eventually, Phyllis George and Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder.
Cross worked on The NFL Today from 1975 through 1989. He received the Hall of Fame’s Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award in 2009.
We extend our condolences to Irv’s family, friends, and colleagues.
NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty ImagesA speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory from the event’s main stage on Sunday, shortly before Donald Trump was scheduled to appear at the conservative movement’s premiere annual event. Former congressional candidate Angela Stanton King, who has frequently boosted the conspiracy theory on social media, called for an investigation into whether QAnon’s bizarre claims about a cabal of cannibal-pedophiles controlling the world and a mysterious figure named Q giving hidden messages to Trump supporters are real.“Let’s address it,” King said. “So we know in this election, there were some things going on in regards to the conspiracy theories with Q, right? And I think, me as a person, before I ever got into the conservative movement, I’ve always been an advocate even if it’s for abused children or it’s for those people that are incarcerated. So I think that any allegations coming forward in regards to any type of abuse when it comes to children deserves to be investigated, it deserves to be made aware of.”The CPAC crowd applauded King’s call for an investigation into the claims made by QAnon believers, which include allegations that Democratic Party leaders and Hollywood celebrities sexually abuse children and drink their blood to stay young. QAnon supporters believe in a moment called “The Storm,” in which they anticipate Trump will order mass arrests or executions of his political opponents.QAnon Incited Her to Kidnap Her Son and Then Hid Her From the Law“I think that, you know, once we find out, you know, whether this is true or not, then we can move on, but we at least have to be able to address it,” King said, claiming that the media had tried to “cancel” her for her beliefs in QAnon.CPAC speaker Angela Stanton-King is straight up promoting QAnon pic.twitter.com/BLGyeqajes— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 28, 2021 King, who served two years in prison over an auto-theft ring and was pardoned by Trump in 2020, once stormed out of an interview after being confronted over her support for QAnon. A positive mention of QAnon from the CPAC stage marks another inroad into the GOP for the conspiracy theory, which has been linked to murders and other crimes. A number of QAnon believers took leading roles in the U.S. Capitol riot, breaking into the building and menacing police officers.The FBI considers the conspiracy theory, which has also been praised in the past by newly elected Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Lauren Boebert (R-CO), as a potential source of domestic terrorism.The CPAC panel King appeared on was already embroiled in controversy, after scheduled speaker “Young Pharaoh” was dropped from the program over tweets attacking Jewish people.Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
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The PGA Tour rarely travels to different golf courses, so when a good one pops up, it's often a treat. And while the quirkiness of Chapultepec Golf Club will be missed, there's a good chance The Concession will look and play like a tough, major championship-like venue.
With all 17 of the top 17 players in the world and most of the top 50 in attendance at the first WGC of 2021, major championship-like is exactly what we're looking for. Scoring here will be interesting, too, as PGA Tour pros normally do a good amount of their work on the par 5s of any course, but the par 5s on this course are among the four toughest holes The Concession has.
This feels like anybody's tournament to win after 54 holes of action as we head into Sunday. Collin Morikawa leads at 15 under, but he has a host of challengers nipping at his heels. Brooks Koepka and Billy Horschel are just two back, Webb Simpson sits three off the pace and Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed are four out when the final round starts on Sunday.
Here's how you can keep up with all the action on Sunday for the first WGC title of 2021.
Want the sharpest DFS advice, picks and data-driven golf analysis? Listen below and subscribe to The First Cut Golf podcast where we explain what's happening on the course so you can win off of it, including a complete recap of third round action and a preview of what to expect on Sunday from the WGC-Workday Championship below.
All times Eastern; streaming start times approximated
Round 4 -- Sunday
Round starts: 8 a.m.
Featured groups and holes: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. -- PGA Tour Live Early TV coverage: Noon-2:30 p.m. on Golf Channel
Live TV coverage: 2:30-6 p.m. on NBC Live simulcast: 2:30-6 p.m. on fuboTV (Try for free) and NBCSports.com
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President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani speaks during the National Combat Board Meeting with Coronavirus (Covid-19) in Tehran, Iran on Nov. 21, 2020.
Iranian Presidency Handout | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
WASHINGTON – Iran rejected on Sunday an invitation from global powers who signed the 2015 nuclear deal to discuss the regime's potential return to the negotiating table, a significant setback in the Biden administration's efforts to revive the agreement.
"Considering the recent actions and statements by the United States and three European powers, Iran does not consider this the time to hold an informal meeting with these countries, which was proposed by the EU foreign policy chief," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said, according to Tehran's state-run media.
The White House said on Sunday that the Biden administration was disappointed with Iran's decision to skip the informal meeting with the U.S. and the other signatories of the 2015 pact — France, Germany, the U.K., Russia and China.
"While we are disappointed at Iran's response, we remain ready to reengage in meaningful diplomacy to achieve a mutual return to compliance with JCPOA commitments," a senior administration official told NBC News.
"We will be consulting with our P5+1 partners on the best way forward," said the official, referring to the five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany.
The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), brokered by the Obama administration, lifted sanctions on Iran that had crippled its economy and cut its oil exports roughly in half. In exchange for billions of dollars in sanctions relief, Iran agreed to dismantle some of its nuclear program and open its facilities to more extensive international inspections.
The U.S. and its European allies believe Iran has ambitions to develop a nuclear bomb. Tehran has denied that allegation.
In 2018, then-President Donald Trump kept a campaign promise and withdrew the United States from the JCPOA calling it the "worst deal ever." Following Washington's exit from the landmark nuclear deal, other signatories of the pact have tried to keep the agreement alive.
U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, June 15, 2020.
Doug Mills | NYTimes | Getty Images
In a letter released Sunda', Republican senators warned President Joe Biden to not rejoin the 2015 nuclear agreement because it is "riddled with problems," and instead pushed for a more comprehensive deal.
"The scope of any agreement with Iran must address the full range of Iranian conduct, including regional terrorism, ballistic missiles, and the detention of U.S. nationals. It comes as no surprise that Iran's proxies support Assad's ongoing atrocities in Syria, attack our troops and diplomats in Iraq, have driven Lebanon to the brink of collapse, threaten our Israeli and Gulf partners, and contribute to the world's largest humanitarian disaster in Yemen," wrote Sens. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, Jim Risch of Idaho, Marco Rubio of Florida, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Rob Portman of Ohio in a joint letter to Biden.
"Despite criticism of the 'maximum pressure' campaign, there is no denying that it has inflicted a cost on Iran for its malign activities and now presents your administration with leverage to obtain a better deal from Iran. We know that Iran cannot be trusted to honor its commitments," the senators wrote.
Washington's ongoing standoff with Tehran
An Iranian walk past landmark graffiti on the walls of the former US embassy in Tehran during a protest on November 4, 2018.
Majid Saeedi | Getty Images
Washington's strained relationship with Tehran took several turns for the worse under the Trump administration.
Last year, the U.S. carried out an airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani, Iran's top military commander. Iran retaliated by launching at least a dozen missiles from its territory on Jan. 7 at two military bases in Iraq that house U.S. troops and coalition forces.
Iranian mourners gather during the final stage of funeral processions for slain top general Qasem Soleimani, in his hometown Kerman on January 7, 2020.
In October, the United States unilaterally re-imposed U.N. sanctions on Tehran through a snapback process, which other U.N. Security Council members have previously said Washington does not have the authority to execute because it withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018.
A view shows the scene of the attack that killed Prominent Iranian scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, outside Tehran, Iran, November 27, 2020.
WANA via Reuters
During the summer of 2019, a string of attacks in the Persian Gulf set the U.S. and Iran on a path toward greater confrontation.
In June, U.S. officials said an Iranian surface-to-air missile shot down an American military surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran said the aircraft was over its territory. That strike came a week after the U.S. blamed Iran for attacks on two oil tankers in the Persian Gulf region and after four tankers were attacked in May.
The U.S. that June slapped new sanctions on Iranian military leaders blamed for shooting down the drone. The measures also aimed to block financial resources for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
Tensions soared again in September of 2019 when the U.S. blamed Iran for strikes in Saudi Arabia on the world's largest crude processing plant and oil field.
That attack forced the kingdom to cut its production operations in half and triggered the largest spike in crude prices in decades and renewed concerns of a new war in the Middle East. Iran maintains that it was not behind the attacks.
An iceberg measuring 492 feet thick and 490 square miles broke off from the Brunt Ice Shelf on Friday, according to a press release from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). The section, measuring larger than New York City, cleaved near BAS's Halley Research Station, which was closed for the season earlier this month.
The research station likely will not be impacted by the break. Researchers say the first indication of calving came last November when a crack known as the North Rift became active, rupturing towards a chasm known as the Stancomb-Wills Glacier Tongue almost 23 miles away.
"The iceberg was formed when the crack widened several hundred meters in a few hours on the morning of 26th Feb, releasing it from the rest of floating ice shelf," BAS noted in a press release.
AvanKINTS
BAS Director of Operations Simon Garrod called the break "a dynamic situation." Three cracks have been detected over the course of a decade, including the Halloween Crack and Chasm 1.
"Our job now is to keep a close eye on the situation and assess any potential impact of the present calving on the remaining ice shelf," Garrod said in a press release.
Professor Dame Jane Francis, director of British Antarctic Survey, said the team had been preparing for years for such an event, monitoring the Brunt Ice Shelf's movements and deformations even when BAS is not at its Halley Research Station. Researchers stay at the station in the summer only, as the winter months are dark and frigid, making them difficult for observation.
It's anyone's guess what the ice shelf will do next. "Over coming weeks or months, the iceberg may move away; or it could run aground and remain close to Brunt Ice Shelf," Francis added.
On a course that was supposed to keep the world’s best in check, Collin Morikawa still got to 18 under as he won the WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession Golf Club. Here’s everything you need to know from Sunday in Bradenton, Florida:
Leaderboard: Collin Morikawa (-18), Viktor Hovland (-15), Brooks Koepka (-15), Billy Horschel (-15), Scottie Scheffler (-14)
What it means: At just 24 years old, Morikawa is now part of some exclusive company. No, it has nothing to do with the Workday Slam (Morikawa also won the Workday-sponsored event at Muirfield Village last summer). Rather the Cal product is just the second player under the age of 25 to win both a major and a WGC. The first was Tiger Woods.
How it happened: Morikawa entered the final round with a two-shot advantage at 15 under. He got off to a slow start, bogeying No. 2, and briefly lost his lead to Horschel on the fifth green. Horschel birdied first and Morikawa quickly matched to tie. From there, Morikawa’s putter came alive. He sank birdie putts between 7-12 feet on Nos. 7, 9 and 12, but his biggest make was a converted 12-foot par at the par-3 11th hole, which helped Morikawa keep his comfortable cushion on the back. Hovland was the only other player who got close, pulling to within a shot after birdies at Nos. 12 and 13 – his birdie at the latter came after he got up and down from a near impossible spot near the edge of the woods. However, bogeys on two of Hovland’s next three holes ended his chances. Morikawa parred each of his last six holes, including two par 5s, yet still was able to win by three shots. He sunk an 11-footer at the last for good measure.
Round of the day: Carlos Ortiz capped his tournament in eagle-birdie to shoot 6-under 66 and climb 20 spots on the leaderboard to T-15.
Shot of the day: Hovland’s charge may have been short-lived, but we’ll be talking about this up-and-down birdie for a while.
Biggest disappointment: Rory McIlroy. OK, so he didn’t have much of a chance to win on Sunday, but considering he played the front nine in even par and the back side in 12 under for the week, that’s a disappointing split.
Quote of the day: "It just saved my life this week." – Morikawa on an early-week chipping tip from Paul Azinger
Louis Nix, a former NFL player and star at Notre Dame, was found dead Saturday. He was 29.
Nix’s family confirmed his death to multiple newsoutlets in Jacksonville, where he lived and grew up. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has not publicly confirmed the death, saying Saturday only that it had “located” Nix, who had been reported missing Wednesday.
After asking Saturday on Twitter for assistance in hearing from Nix, Notre Dame Coach Brian Kelly shared a remembrance Sunday of the affable former defensive lineman. “We carry these memories until we see you again,” Kelly wrote.
Jacksonville TV station WJAX reported Saturday that a car that matched the description of a vehicle Nix was last seen driving was pulled out of a pond near where he lived. No official cause of death has been released.
Nix’s brother told WJXT that the former Houston Texans and New York Giants player was “gone.” Family members said they last saw him Tuesday, when Nix left his father’s house without telling anyone where he was going.
A subsequent lack of communication from Nix was unusual for him, his brother said. A woman described by WJXT as Nix’s longtime girlfriend said he told her Tuesday that he was coming home after spending time with a friend, but he did not make it back to their residence and she didn’t hear from him again.
“I knew,” Stephanie Wingfield, Nix’s mother, told WTLV on Sunday. “One thing about a mother, we know. And I just started crying and I was like, ‘Lord, if my son, if he’s okay, you give me a peace, but if he’s not okay, you’ll give me a discomfort.’ And I felt sick.”
A high school standout in Jacksonville, Nix went on to help Notre Dame’s 2012 team reach the BCS championship game before making watch lists for several national awards as a senior in 2013. Knee issues cut short his college career, and they followed him to the NFL after Houston made him a third-round draft pick in 2014. He spent one season with the Texans and one with the Giants in 2015, briefly landed on Washington’s practice squad the following year and finished his career in 2017 after one last shot with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In December, Nix posted a video of himself in an ambulance wearing bandages and telling the camera he was “shot and robbed while I was putting air in my tires.” According to a police report, Nix was at a Jacksonville gas station shortly after 9 p.m. when he said two young men demanded something and shot him when he resisted.
“I’m alive everyone. The bullet that hit me ricocheted off my sternum into my lung,” Nix tweeted the next day. “Surgery is the next step so keep praying for me.”
Nix tweeted in December that he spent 10 days in the hospital, and his final posts on the site showed his support for the Fighting Irish.
As Notre Dame noted in a remembrance of Nix, he was “affectionately known as ‘Irish Chocolate’ or ‘Big Lou.’ ” Former teammate Michael Floyd, a wide receiver who played in the NFL from 2012 to 2018, described him on Twitter as “loving, caring, funny, energetic and just a guy everyone loved being around.”
Police gesture toward protesters as security forces crack down on demonstrations against the military coup in Yangon on Sunday. The United Nations says at least 18 protesters were killed Sunday, the deadliest day yet since the military took power earlier this month. Sai Aung Main/AFP via Getty Images
Sai Aung Main/AFP via Getty Images
One week ago, Myanmar military forces warned pro-democracy protesters that if their demonstrations continued, there would be further loss of life.
The military has made good on its threat.
Sunday was the bloodiest day in Myanmar since a military junta seized power there one month ago. According to the United Nations Human Rights Office, at least 18 people were killed and more than 30 wounded after security forces fired live ammunition into crowds of peaceful demonstrators in several cities across the country.
"The people of Myanmar have the right to assemble peacefully and demand the restoration of democracy," U.N. Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement. "These fundamental rights must be respected by the military and police, not met with violent and bloody repression. Use of lethal force against non-violent demonstrators is never justifiable under international human rights norms."
In additional to live rounds, police also used tear gas to disperse thousands of protesters in major cities including Yangon, Dawei and Mandalay. Gruesome images widely shared on social media showed people running for cover as victims lay bleeding on the ground.
One of Sunday's victims was Internet network engineer Nyi Nyi Aung Htet Naing. Reuters reports that one day earlier, he posted a question on Facebook: How many dead bodies before the United Nations takes action? The next day, he was one of five people killed in Yangon.
Another Yangon victim was killed after being shot in the eye. A middle school teacher reportedly died from a heart attack after a police stun grenade went off nearby.
In Mandalay, a man riding a motorbike was killed when a bullet pierced his helmet. A reporter on the front lines quoted one officer telling the crowd: "Get inside your homes if you don't want to die," Reuters reports.
In addition to using force on protesters, the military detained at least 85 medical personnel and students and seven journalists Sunday, the U.N. reported. Since the beginning of the coup on Feb. 1, more than 1,000 people have been "arbitrarily arrested," the U.N. says — and some are still unaccounted for.
Meanwhile, state-run media said police were taking action in order to "protect the safety of people, the rule of law and community peace." The government-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported that police are working to discover who is leading the protests, and will take "serious action" against them.
Aung San Suu Kyi, the civilian leader deposed by Myanmar's military on Feb. 1, has not been seen since she was detained, the BBC reports. She is scheduled to appear in court Monday, but her lawyer says he hasn't been able to speak with her.
On Friday, Myanmar's ambassador to the U.N., who was appointed under the country's civilian government before the coup, pleaded with the world to help. "We still need the strongest possible action from the international community to immediately end the military coup," Kyaw Moe Tun said. He was removed from his position as ambassador the next day.
Rozenstruik (11-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) was outpointed to a unanimous decision by Gane (8-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in their heavyweight headliner, which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. He didn’t produce a single winning round on any of the scorecards, and only landed 42 significant strikes over the course of 25 minutes.
A hesitancy to pull the trigger with his offense proved problematic for Rozenstruik, and it cost him a big moment for his career. He’s aware of as much, and in his first post-fight statement admitted he dropped the ball.
“I just fought and the fight didn’t go my way,” Rozenstruik said on Twitter. “I think it’s my worst performance ever, if you ask me. I’m hard (on) myself. I think I realize this.”
There’s only way one proven method to rebound from a disappointing loss, and that’s to move forward. Rozenstruik said he’s already doing that, and is focused on getting back to the gym to solve the problems that plagued him inside the octagon.
Rozenstruik said he doesn’t know when or against whom he’ll be fighting next, but for now gave credit to Gane for being the better man at UFC Fight Night 186.
“I’m going to go back home and work my ass off for my next fight,” Rozenstruik said. “I don’t know who that’s going to be. Respect to Ciryl. He won the fight.
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Ohio State rounded out an impressive weekend with a shiny new Big Ten title, their second-straight after a drought that had lasted over three decades.
On the final night of competition, all eyes were on the Indiana v. Northwestern battle for third, though. The Hoosiers had a strong showing in the mile, then matching the Wildcats in the pool events before IU’s dynamite diving group pushed them further out of reach.
Even two years since the graduation of World Record-holder and marquee Indiana breaststroker Lilly King, tonight’s 200 breast final showed that the Hoosiers are still carrying on a tradition of breaststroke.
Sophomore Emily Weiss lunged in for the 200 breast title tonight, clocking a 2:07.20 to slice a half-second off of her old best. She was joined on the podium by runner-up and teammate Noelle Peplowski at 2:07.61, while Mac Looze, daughter of head coach Ray Looze, took fourth in 2:08.62 to help stamp out any Wildcat rebellion there.
Looze, who swam the 200 fly at this meet last year, came into the meet with a lifetime best of 2:11.07.
RELAY SPLIT ANALYSIS
The 400 free relay was the final event of the 2021 Big Ten Women’s Championships, and Michigan got the job done, the only team to break 3:12. They had three 47 splits, the most of any team, and making up three of the five sub-48 splits in the field. Northwestern and Ohio State, meanwhile, each got one sub-48 split.
