Month: March 2025

The first weekend of the men’s 2025 NCAA tournament just wrapped up the second round on Sunday, with top seeded Florida and Duke moving on, as well as plenty of surprises and upsets.

(per Yahoo Sports): No. 3 Kentucky ousted No. 6 Illinois, while No. 2 Alabama rolled over No. 7 Saint Mary’s. But the most exciting finish of the tournament so far came from No. 4 Maryland, who crushed No. 12 Colorado State’s upset hopes with a last-millisecond buzzer-beater. No. 6 Ole Miss followed with a 13-point upset of No. 3 Iowa State.

For a breakdown of all the games this weekend, head to CBSSports; and NCAA.com.

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Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson will miss opening day on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays as he begins the season on the 10-day injured list.

General manager Mike Elias told reporters Sunday morning that Henderson, 23, has been battling an intercostal strain that he suffered on Feb. 27 during spring training, and has taken just six at-bats in exhibition play, with one hit. However, Elias said Henderson’s absence should be measured in “days, not weeks,” and the team hopes will be ready to return after the minimum stay on the IL.

Henderson was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2023.  In 2024, he slashed .281/.364/.529 in 159 games, and was a first-time All-Star with 37 home runs, 31 doubles, 92 RBIs and an OPS of .893 – finishing fourth in the American League MVP voting.

In 343 career games with Baltimore, Henderson batted .268 with 69 homers and 192 RBIs.

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The Boston Celtics current ownership group, the Grousbeck family, have agreed to sell the franchise to a group led by Bill Chisholm, co-founder of Symphony Technology Group, for a record-breaking $6.1 billion. Chisholm’s agreement to buy the team from Boston Basketball Partners LLC is pending approval by NBA team owners. Current Celtics CEO and governor Wyc Grousbeck will continue in those roles through the 2027-2028 NBA season.

Per ESPN’s Shams Charania: “BREAKING: Bill Chisholm, managing partner at Symphony Technology Group, has agreed to purchase the Boston Celtics from the Grousbeck family for a valuation for $6.1 billion, sources tell ESPN. This now is the largest sale for a sports franchise in North America.”  The Grousbeck-Pagliuca group (aka Boston Basketball Partners LLC) purchased the Celtics in 2002 for $360 million.

Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck said in a statement Thursday, per Business Wire: “Bill is a terrific person and a true Celtics fan, born and raised here in the Boston area. His love for the team and the city of Boston, along with his chemistry with the rest of the Celtics leadership, make him a natural choice to be the next Governor and controlling owner of the team. I know he appreciates the importance of the Celtics and burns with a passion to win on the court while being totally committed to the community. Quite simply, he wants to be a great owner. He has asked me to run the team as CEO and Governor for the first three years, and stay on as his partner, and I am glad to do so.”

Chisholm co-founded Symphony Technology Group in 2002 and serves as its managing partner and chief investment officer.  Prior to co-founding the business, Chisholm worked at The Valent Group, a risk-management company; Bain & Company, a consulting firm; and PaineWebber, Inc., a bank and stock brokerage firm.

Chisholm said: “Growing up on the North Shore and attending college in New England, I have been a die-hard Celtics fan my entire life. I understand how important the Celtics are to the city of Boston — the role the team plays in the community is different than any other city in the country. I also understand that there is a responsibility as a leader of the organization to the people of Boston, and I am up for this challenge.”

The $6.1 billion purchase price surpasses the $6.05 billion price paid to buy the NFL’s Washington Commanders in 2023. It also easily surpasses the record number for the control stake of an NBA team, which was set two years ago when Mat Ishbia bought the Phoenix Suns for $4 billion. (per ESPN.)

The news comes nine months after Celtics majority owner Grousbeck announced he was looking to sell the team, just weeks after the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks to win the 2024 NBA Finals. Under his guidance, the Celtics won two championships and appeared in the NBA Finals four times.

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Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry was elected president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday, becoming the first woman and first African to hold the role.  Coventry is a five-time Olympian, winning seven medals (including two gold and four silver) during her swimming career, and is the most decorated Olympian from Africa.

The IOC posted on social media: “Kirsty Coventry was elected as IOC President, over fellow presidential candidates HRH Prince Feisal Al Hussein, David Lappartient, Johan Eliasch, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Lord Sebastian Coe and Morinari Watanabe.”

Voting took place at the 144th IOC Session in Costa Navarino, Greece. Also in the race were four presidents of sports governing bodies:  track and field’s Lord Sebastian Coe; skiing’s Johan Eliasch; cycling’s David Lappartient, and gymnastics’ Morinari Watanabe, as well as Prince Feisal al Hussein of Jordan. Coventry received 49 of a possible 97 votes, with Samaranch finishing second with 28 votes.

Conventry said after the vote: “I am incredibly honored and excited to be elected as president of the International Olympic Committee. I want to sincerely thank my fellow members for their trust and support. The young girl who first started swimming in Zimbabwe all those years ago could never have dreamt of this moment. I will make all of you very, very proud and hopefully extremely confident in the decision you have taken. Now we have got some work together. I am particularly proud to be the first female IOC President, and also the first from Africa. I hope that this vote will be an inspiration to many people. Glass ceilings have been shattered today, and I am fully aware of my responsibilities as a role model. Sport has an unmatched power to unite, inspire and create opportunities for all, and I am committed to making sure we harness that power to its fullest. Together with the entire Olympic family, including our athletes, fans and sponsors, we will build on our strong foundations, embrace innovation, and champion the values of friendship, excellence and respect. The future of the Olympic Movement is bright, and I can’t wait to get started.”

Coventry has held several roles with the Zimbabwe government, World Anti-Doping Agency, International Surfing Federation and World Aquatics, and served as vice president of the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee. She also was a member of the IOC executive board.

Coventry will formally replace her mentor, outgoing IOC president Thomas Bach, on June 23 (officially ‘Olympic Day’) as the 10th IOC president in its 131-year history. Bach, 71, was first elected in 2013 and re-elected for a four-year term in 2021. He announced last month that he would not seek to extend his tenure. Coventry, 41, will then start an initial eight-year tenure.

Bach said in a statement: “Congratulations to Kirsty Coventry on her election as the 10th IOC president. I warmly welcome the decision of the IOC members and look forward to strong cooperation, particularly during the transition period.  There is no doubt that the future for our Olympic movement is bright and that the values we stand for will continue to guide us through the years to come.”

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