Howard Webb, the chief refereeing officer of the Premier League, admitted that West Ham United were wrongly awarded a penalty through VAR which gave them a 2-1 win at home to Manchester United that resulted in the firing of manager Erik ten Hag.

The Premier League game on Oct. 27 was locked at 1-1 in the 89th minute when Matthijs de Ligt clashed with Danny Ings inside the penalty area. Referee David Coote played on, but was sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR, Michael Oliver, to award a spot kick. Jarrod Bowen dispatched the penalty to give the Hammers victory.

Ten Hag, who had been under immense pressure with United suffering their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, was fired the following morning. Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim was appointed as his replacement and started in the role this week.

Speaking on the Match Officials Mic'd Up show, Webb admitted that the incident did not reach the high bar for a VAR intervention.

"I thought it was a misread by the VAR, a VAR that's normally really talented and reliable, but gets uber-focused in this situation on De Ligt's leg," Webb said. "His [De Ligt's] leg coming through on to Danny Ings, not making any contact with the ball. The ball's already past De Ligt as he as he makes contact with Danny Ings.

"And the VAR sees that as a clear foul. I think he was too focused on that aspect. I don't think he should have got involved. I think this is a situation where we'd leave the on-field decision as it is, probably whichever way it's called. On balance, I don't think it's a penalty kick. I would prefer no foul being given, no penalty."

Webb also backed the decision for the VAR to advise a red card to Arsenal's William Saliba against AFC Bournemouth for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO).

"I think that the offence committed by William Saliba in this situation did deny Evanilson an obvious goal-scoring opportunity," Webb explained. "I think the yellow card that was issued by Rob Jones on the field was clearly and obviously wrong.

"It's a poor pass back by Leandro Trossard that puts Evanilson in and then Saliba grabs him. So suddenly from Arsenal having possession, the referees are faced with having to make a decision very quickly. Sometimes with DOGSO you have time to prepare your mind for what's going happen.

"Initially they believe that Ben White was closer than he actually was. And they also weren't convinced that Evanilson would control the ball.

"There's two things that VAR can do here to prove that the on-field decision was wrong. Firstly, you can see that Ben White is a long way away. He's not going to get to Evanlison from that position. And then secondly, they can see that David Raya is backing off and when the ball dies in front of Evanilson, even though it's some distance from goal, he's going to get on to that ball. He's going to have time to gain nice control just for the goalkeeper to beat.

"So, for me, a good intervention by the VAR, a clear and obvious error in not showing a red card on the field."

So far this season the Premier League's Key Match Incidents Panel, which assesses all matches, had identified only three VAR errors -- the other two being AFC Bournemouth's late "winner" at home to Newcastle United which was incorrectly disallowed for handball, and the missed intervention when Bruno Fernandes' red card should have been rescinded in Man United's home game against Tottenham Hotspur. At the same stage last season, 13 mistakes had been recorded.

This campaign has also seen five on-field errors which didn't reach the threshold for VAR intervention, two incorrect second yellow cards, and one missed second caution.

MIAMI -- Disbelief dawned upon more than 20,000 fans at Chase Stadium on Saturday night when the referee blew the final whistle and ended Inter Miami's 2024 MLS season. The favorites to win the MLS Cup crashed out of the playoffs in the first round, losing to Atlanta United in the best-of-three series.

How could a team that concluded the regular season in ninth place in the Eastern Conference, with 34 fewer points than Miami registered, overpower a lineup captained by Lionel Messi and supported by Luis Suárez?

Although Miami's brilliance in attack often overshadowed their weaknesses, signs of a potential downfall emerged long before Saturday night.

Bitten by the injury bug

Inter Miami saw initial signs of struggle before their 2024 MLS season began in February, with issues emerging during the extensive preseason campaign. Players logged more than 28,000 miles in the air, across three continents, and trained on some questionable surfaces.

"This year I didn't have [a good preseason] because we had a lot of traveling from one place to another," Messi said in October. "Which was what the club needed, but it wasn't a good preseason."

The weeks-long tour of Central America and Asia provided the club with global exposure and gave fans an opportunity to see the Herons, but it came at a cost.

Midfielder Facundo Farías, who contributed three goals and two assists in 11 promising matches after joining Miami in July 2023, suffered an ACL tear during the first preseason friendly against El Salvador. He was ruled out of the entire 2024 campaign before it had even begun.

By March 30, little more than a month into the regular season, Miami had played 15 matches: seven friendlies, six in league play and two in the Concacaf Champions Cup. On that date, Inter had more players listed as unavailable on the league's injury report (seven) than any other club in MLS.

To that point in the year, eight players (including Messi, Farías, breakout Homegrown star Benjamin Cremaschi, defensive stalwart Serhiy Kryvtsov and Argentina U23 midfielder Federico Redondo) had already missed at least one game through injury and combined for 38 absences.

The injuries stemmed from different issues, but several players experienced exhaustion and muscular burnout after just six weeks of the 2024 season. The calendar hadn't yet turned to April and the club had already cited "load management" as the reason for some of Messi's absences.

It didn't get any better as the campaign unfolded.

Messi, Farías, Redondo and standout 2023 midfield signing Diego Gómez all would miss at least 10 matches through injury. All told, Miami players accumulated 184 matches' worth of injury absences, with 17 of the 26 players the squad would most count on sitting out at least one game while returning to fitness.

Beyond the obvious day-to-day impact of those absences, the long injury list forced Martino and sporting director Chris Henderson into the transfer market. The two suddenly felt the need to make emergency signings to combat the longtime absences of Farías and Nicolás Freire (ACL), while also muting the immediate dangers of a backline without Kryvtsov and Tomás Avilés, whose availability came and went throughout the season.

Marcelo Weigandt, a figure who saw little time on the pitch with Boca Juniors, joined with the expectation that he would make an instant impact. MLS SuperDraft additions Yannick Bright and Leo Afonso earned contracts and appeared for a combined 1,870 first-team minutes, a scenario that would've seemed improbable on draft day considering Inter's loft expectations.

"We had to replace important players with two players we selected 60 days ago in a draft," Martino said in April. "I want to have all my players. The sensation is like I'm chasing after the carrot, 'Next week we'll have everyone,' and [Gómez] falls. 'Next week we'll have everyone,' and it's someone else. This is what's happening."

The rest of the season saw a similar pattern. Martino found short-term fixes to navigate immediate concerns, but those solutions came with long-term consequences.

Although the inclusion of Messi, Suárez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba often masked problems, the team faced a harsh reality: the unbalanced approach to roster construction meant Miami lacked the depth needed for a multi-tournament campaign and generated an overdependence on the former Barcelona quartet.

Inter Miami could not keep up with the demands of the Concacaf Champions Cup, falling to Monterrey in the quarterfinals. Winners of the Leagues Cup last year, the Herons crashed out of the 2024 edition in the round of 16. Then there was the Round One capitulation in the MLS Cup playoffs.

Miami's band-aid solution to combat their injury absences proved inefficient. The squad's revolving door of starters generated inconsistency and defensive errors that regularly cost them.

"It's clear that playing a 34-game tournament allows you things that 90 minutes does not," Martino said on Saturday night. "The round was then limited to Saturday's 90 minutes only, and in that time you have to live with mistakes in a different way, there are no new opportunities."

That's what played out in the decisive Game 3 against Atlanta. In order to replace an injured Busquets and Bright in midfield -- Busquets' fitness was a topic of concern right up until kickoff -- Martino opted for a lineup that forced the attack-minded Redondo to take Busquets' place at the base of midfield, and winger Matías Rojas into a central role.

Although the players initially managed well, the game plan crumbled once the need for substitutes arose. Suddenly, forward Leo Campana and winger Robert Taylor found themselves in the heart of Miami's engine room. The Herons' unbalanced roster manifested itself as a Frankenstein-like 4-3-3 with Suárez and Messi desperately leading a makeshift XI full of players operating out of position.

The final 30 minutes of the contest saw Inter Miami scramble to string passes together as players struggled to establish connections, while Messi and Suárez saw their roles limited by Atlanta. With the two forwards struggling to make an impact, the rest of the team could not step up.

Without injuries and at their best, Inter Miami undoubtedly boast the best roster in MLS. The club saw moments of brilliance and beautifully crafted goals that led to the Supporters' Shield and the record for most points recorded in a single season.

Although the regular season proved forgiving of Miami's constant injury issues and uncertain lineups, the playoffs were not. In a win-or-go home situation, the club's lopsided roster cost them.

The supporting cast comes up short

"We've made a lot of mistakes that we can avoid, because many times they were silly mistakes to put it nicely," Messi said last month. "That cannot happen during the playoffs, because the mistakes can cost you and get you eliminated."

How prophetic the GOAT's words proved to be.

Throughout the 2024 season, Miami struggled defensively. The team only managed six clean sheets in 34 games and conceded two or more goals in 12 games. Inter conceded 49 goals across the season, the most by a team that won the Supporters' Shield since the Seattle Sounders let in 50 in 2014.

The Herons' impressive attack often masked the deficiencies of the backline, as Messi or Suárez so often saved the day. Messi scored nine goals this season when Inter trailed, while Suárez contributed another four. The rest of the team combined for nine. The pair also netted eight match-winners, accounting for 27% of Miami's most decisive goals in 2024.

When the greats couldn't perform, though, the team's weaknesses came to the fore.

Miami fell to humiliating losses in the absences of Messi and Suárez, like the 4-0 defeat to the New York Red Bulls and the 6-1 hammering at the hands of FC Cincinnati. The Herons also struggled when opponents found a way to limit the production of their No. 9 and No. 10, as evidenced on Saturday night.

Can Miami win it all in Messi's final season?

The key to winning MLS Cup in 2025 will be found in lessons learned throughout 2024: limiting preseason and more-deliberate roster building.

The team will participate in several tournaments throughout 2025, including MLS, Concacaf Champions Cup, Leagues Cup and the Club World Cup. To navigate those competitions, Miami need to maximize their depth and get their supporting cast to reach their potential.

The team already announced a friendly against Orlando City SC on Feb. 14 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The Herons cannot afford to wear out players ahead of what looks like a grueling 2025, so no matter how tempting the revenue or exposure may be, the club must learn from this season's errors.

As for the squad, Henderson and Martino will need to reevaluate the roster and seek out figures that enable options for rotation. The team already boasts game-changing figures, what it needs is experienced supporting players to come in and provide defensive stability to a weakened backline.

Sixteen players' contracts expire at the end of the year, with 13 possessing an option to extend for a year or two. Óscar Ustari and Ian Fray may see their time with the club come to a close, while Freire's loan from Pumas in Liga MX is now effectively over.

Suárez has confirmed that his agent is negotiating a contract extension with the team, eliminating the need for Miami to chase down a replacement.

And although the clock is ticking, time isn't necessarily running out for Messi. The forward's contract runs through the 2025 season, and although his deal does not include an option for 2026, the door to another season at Inter Miami remains open.

"Well, I actually don't know how limited [Messi's time in this league] is," Martino said on Saturday. "There is a question of time passing but I would not dare to say that it is so short."

Messi and Busquets, the team's two Designated Players, and U22 initiative players Cremaschi, Avilés, Farías and Redondo will return under the same contract structure. Inter must address the contract of Emerson Rodriguez, who will be returning from a loan spell at Vasco de Gama but also holds a U22 slot.

Ahead of 2025, Henderson and Martino must seek out reliable center-backs, to relieve Busquets of his occasional duties in the backline, and an attacking midfielder ahead of the likely departure of Gómez. The 21-year-old Paraguay international is reportedly close to joining Brighton & Hove Albion this offseason, leaving a sizable hole in the team's midfield, having played an integral role in 2024 with six goals and seven assists in 2,153 minutes across all competitions.

Further, Miami lack depth in the right-back, attacking midfield and winger positions, and should look to strengthen those areas this winter.

By reinforcing the backline and adding depth across the field, Inter Miami can look to boast one of the most competitive rosters in all of Concacaf. With a more considered preseason and strengthened squad, the team should be able to balance the multi-tournament demands of the upcoming season and defy expectations across competitions.

Another Messi trophy lift may not be far off, but the Herons must take the appropriate steps to reach the ultimate goal.

EAGAN, Minn. -- Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores left no doubt Tuesday. As the NFL's head coaching carousel ramps up this winter, he wants to be a part of it.

"Look, there's only 32 of these jobs, so I would certainly want to be a head coach in this league again," Flores said on "The Adam Schefter Podcast."

The Vikings' defense ranks No. 1 in the NFL based on DVOA, making Flores one of the NFL's top-performing assistant coaches this season. But before speaking to Schefter, Flores had left questions about his future largely unaddressed since his controversial ouster as the Miami Dolphins' coach after the 2021 season.

He subsequently sued the NFL and several teams, alleging discrimination regarding his interview processes with Denver and New York and his firing by the Miami Dolphins. The NFL stripped the Dolphins of their 2023 draft pick, among other disciplinary measures, after an investigation into accusations of tampering that surfaced in Flores' lawsuit. But the lawsuit itself is still working its way through the legal system and the NFL's arbitration process.

Flores spent the 2022 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Vikings. He confirmed after the 2023 season that no NFL teams requested a head-coaching interview. Since then, he has been forced to address criticism from Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who referred to Flores as a "terrible person" in an interview this summer. Another former Dolphins quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, said in 2023 that Tagovailoa "was broken" by Flores' coaching methods.

Speaking Tuesday to Schefter, Flores said there exists a public misconception of his time with the Dolphins.

"I think a lot of people view the Miami experience as [if] I see it as all negative," he said. "I really don't. I think it was a great experience for me and my family. There's so much that I learned during my time there that's made me a much, much better coach today ... better in a lot of areas. And just in reflecting on that time, there's things that obviously I would like to do better, but there's also a lot of things that I would continue to implement.

"But it wasn't all negative. Obviously, there was some things that I would have done better, but I thought it was a great experience and I've really, really come out of it in positive way and excited about where I am now. I really learned a lot from it."

Flores has spoken often this season about the football and social comfort zone he has found in Minnesota and joked with Schefter on Tuesday that his family might put up "some resistance" to moving away.

"But for me personally," he said, "I think [being a head coach] is something that I would love to do again."

The USC football program has been fined $50,000 and placed on a one-year probation due to a violation of "on- and off-field coaching activities," the NCAA announced Tuesday.

After conducting an investigation, the NCAA found that USC exceeded the permissible number of countable coaches by six during the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

"Eight analysts for the football program engaged in on- and off-field coaching activities during spring 2022, fall 2022 and spring 2023, resulting in the football program exceeding the permissible number of countable coaches by six for two academic years," the NCAA said in its release. "As a result of the violations, the parties also agreed that football head coach Lincoln Riley violated head coach responsibility rules."

The NCAA said that because some of the violations occurred before rule changes in January 2023 that shifted head coach responsibilities from a rebuttable presumption to an automatic attachment, Riley -- who was hired by USC in November 2021 -- will not be suspended.

"Because Riley was not personally involved in the violations and demonstrated that he promoted an atmosphere of compliance and monitored his staff, Riley rebutted his presumed responsibility for the violations occurring before the rules change," the NCAA said. "For the same reasons, the parties also agreed that a suspension penalty for Riley was not appropriate."

Aside from a year of probation and the $50,000 fine, the NCAA Committee on Infractions approved further penalties. USC will be restricted from having the special teams analyst in practice and film review for six consecutive days during two weeks of the 2024-25 season.

A restriction for the remaining analysts from practice and film review for six consecutive days during four weeks of the 2024-25 season will also be imposed and the school will self-impose a reduction in countable athletically related activities for the football program by 24 hours during the 2023-24 season.

"Since learning of potential violations related to our football program in May 2023, USC has worked cooperatively with the NCAA enforcement staff and with the Committee on Infractions, as we identified and acknowledged violations, issued corrective measures, and submitted a negotiated resolution in a timely fashion that was approved by the Committee," USC athletic director Jen Cohen said in a statement. "We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical behavior and integrity in our athletic programs."

MIKE TYSON SAT on the canvas with his back against the ropes, exhausted and defeated.

That was the final image of the once seemingly invincible heavyweight champion in the ring for a sanctioned fight, TKO'd in embarrassing fashion by journeyman Kevin McBride.

Tyson was weeks shy of his 39th birthday for his boxing swan song on June 5, 2005, in Washington, D.C.

"I do not have the guts to be in this sport anymore," Tyson said after that fight. "I don't want to disrespect the sport that I love. My heart is not into this anymore. I'm sorry for the fans who paid for this."

Nearly 20 years later at the age of 58, Tyson will once again lace up the gloves for a sanctioned bout Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Netflix, 8 p.m. ET). His opponent is social media star Jake Paul, who has carved an in-ring career out of novelty fights but has gained respect from top-level boxers such as former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former two-division champion Devin Haney.

Though Paul possessed no boxing background before he turned pro in January 2020, the 27-year-old has developed into a competent boxer, feasting on former UFC fighters with some spectacular KOs. He's competed 11 times over the past four years and has never been stopped or even knocked down. His only loss was a split decision to Tommy Fury in 2023. Paul is a -235 favorite, per ESPN BET, to defeat Tyson, one of the most recognizable people in the world.

Now, Paul will fight on his biggest stage yet, even if this latest novelty boxing match features him in a headliner against a man 31 years older with a history of health issues.

This event, which was organized by Paul's Most Valuable Promotions, features two world title fights on the undercard including a rematch between two-division undisputed champion Katie Taylor and seven-division champ Amanda Serrano. It was originally set for July 20 but was postponed in late May after Tyson suffered an ulcer flareup while on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles.

Ulcers occur when stomach acid damages the lining of the digestive tract and results in abdominal pain. Perhaps more worrisome, Tyson revealed on Netflix's prefight documentary, "Countdown: Paul vs Tyson," that he threw up blood during that same flight.

"I had a big ulcer, two-and-a-half inches, and it was bleeding," Tyson said. "All my friends were calling me like I was dying. I asked the doctor if I was going to die, and she didn't say 'No.' ... You wouldn't believe what I endured from my ulcer. I lost 26 pounds."

Tyson and Paul were unavailable for comment to ESPN.

"That was the moment they [MVP] should have realized that this was actually a bad idea," said Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn, one of the sport's top promoters.

While the fight is sanctioned by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, there are three major caveats. Tyson and Paul will wear 14-ounce gloves rather than the standard 10-ounce gloves for heavyweight fights; the rounds will be two minutes rather than three minutes; and the fight will be contested over eight rounds rather than 10 or 12.

"It was [Tyson's] choice, not that Jake didn't want to do it [as a sanctioned fight]," Nakisa Bidarian, the co-founder of Most Valuable Promotions alongside Paul, told ESPN last week. "We were bringing Mike Tyson back into the sport, and I believe that it was more meaningful as a pro fight."

Hearn will be ringside to support his champion, Taylor, in the co-main event. However, Hearn told BBC Sport last month he will leave his seat before the main event because he doesn't want to support a bout with a fighter Tyson's age.

"The reality is that 20 years ago when Mike Tyson retired from the sport he was shot, completely finished," said Hearn, who sued Paul for defamation in 2022 after the fighter accused him of bribing a boxing judge. "It was actually sad to watch then, 20 years ago.

"...You only need to speak to him and look at him to know this guy should not be in a ring again. ... If I was Jake Paul, I'd just feel a little bit embarrassed to be honest with you. ... This is dangerous, irresponsible and, in my opinion, disrespectful to the sport of boxing."

WHILE OPINIONS ON this event are split, there's one matter everyone can agree on: It's going to generate a lot of interest.

The event has been heavily promoted, from social media, where Tyson and Paul both boast 10s of millions of followers, to larger-than-life, 40-foot floats of the fighters at the State Fair of Texas and on TV spots during nationally televised college football games. The promotion is expecting over 60,000 fans in attendance with a gate that exceeds $15 million, which would be the largest U.S. boxing gate in history outside of Las Vegas. Already, Tyson-Paul is 60% above the previous Texas gate record for a boxing/MMA event, which was $9 million for Canelo Alvarez-Billy Joe Saunders in May 2021, also at AT&T Stadium.

Given the popularity of Tyson and Paul, there's little doubt this will easily become the most-watched boxing match in years, particularly since Netflix reported 282.7 million worldwide subscribers at the end of the year's third quarter.

It was Paul who closed a deal with Netflix in November 2023 to stream its first boxing match -- and first live professional sporting event -- before Tyson was even in the mix.

"Many names were being floated around, but once you hear the name Mike Tyson, it's hard to unhear it," Gabe Spitzer, Netflix's vice president of sports, told ESPN. "Mike is a global superstar, someone who would potentially bring in casual boxing fans or even non-boxing fans, and we are always looking for big, global events that add value for our members.

"... The event is sanctioned by the Texas Athletic Commission and we'll be following all their guidelines and protocols and feel very comfortable working with the commission and MVP on this."

In the promotional social media videos leading up to the fight, Tyson has looked explosive in training clips, but they are edited in such a way that he's shown training in spurts rather than in extended footage of more than a few seconds. When a sparring session was mentioned during the countdown documentary series, the camera panned to his trainer, Rafael Cordeiro, rather than Tyson in the ring.

Just two years ago, Tyson was photographed in a wheelchair and holding a walking stick at the Miami International Airport. Tyson later confirmed in an interview with Newsmax that he has "sciatica every now and then" and when it flares up, he "can't even talk."

Sciatica is pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve, from the glutes down each leg. Usually, it's caused by a herniated disk, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Tyson's back issues are well-documented, none more so than his famous "my back is broken" comment after his first-round KO of Clifford Etienne in 2003. That was the final win of Tyson's Hall of Fame career.

Tela Mange, a spokesperson for the Texas commission, told ESPN that officials evaluated Tyson's fitness to compete during a sparring session. She said MVP first proposed the bout as an exhibition, and the commission responded that it would require two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves.

"Women fight under two minutes most times," Bidarian said. "So there's no reason that the men can't fight two-minute rounds for a championship fight or a pro fight. There's zero difference. If you actually think about equality, there should be zero difference. ... And so for someone to say, 'This is only two-minute rounds' is like saying, 'Ooh, then women's fights aren't pro fights because they're two-minute rounds.'"

Most women aren't competing in two-minute-round fights by choice, though; just the opposite. Last year, more than two dozen women fighters petitioned boxing's commissions and four sanctioning bodies to allow 12 three-minute rounds rather than the standard 10 two-minute rounds. Serrano and her promoter, MVP, helped organize the statement ahead of her fight in October 2023 that became the first women's title unification contested over 12 three-minute rounds.

Once it was shifted to a fully sanctioned fight, the promotion asked if the commission would allow the fight to maintain those same gloves and round requirements, which is highly uncommon for a professional boxing match.

"Our combative sports staff evaluate numerous factors to determine if an event can be held in a manner that is both safe for both contestants and in compliance with Department laws and rules," Mange said. When asked what additional testing or medical clearance the commission required due to Tyson's age and inactivity level, she responded that it "will conduct the usual prefight physicals the day before the fight."

Per the TDLR website, "contestants who are age 36 or older, must submit a report of favorable physical testing including, but not limited to, an EEG (electroencephalography), and an EKG (electrocardiogram)."

MVP failed to comment when ESPN reached out Monday regarding what happens if Tyson were to fail the prefight physical.

"We went through extensive medicals, whether it's scans, whether it's physicals, to ensure that we were comfortable first and then two, that the commission was comfortable," Bidarian said. "There was a reason that when he had an ulcer, we ... pushed it back four months from the actual fight date to ensure that [Tyson] was 100 percent healed.

"We could have done this fight [at the] end of September, and still it would've been good based on his healing timeline, but we wanted to be absolutely comfortable that the ulcer was fully healed before he got back into training. So we've done everything we can to create a safe environment for both athletes. Paul's never been hit by someone like Mike Tyson. So people can say about the danger for Mike Tyson, he's older. What about the danger for Jake Paul, who's never fought at this weight? He's never been in there with a true heavyweight in his career. You could say it to both sides."

Still, not everyone is convinced the fight will be safe for Tyson, given his advanced age and lack of activity. Tyson's last time in the ring was his November 2020 exhibition with fellow boxing legend Roy Jones Jr., during which both fighters mostly threw body punches.

Dr. John Neidecker, a member of the Association of Ringside Physicians, explained that "as people age, changes occur in the brain and its vascular system, increasing the risk of intracranial hemorrhage." However, Neidecker noted that while he clearly doesn't have access to Tyson's medical record to make a full assessment, "he appears to be in far better shape than an average sedentary person of the same age."

Even so, Paul is 31 years younger and far more active, bringing inherent risk to Tyson though the vaunted power puncher has shown off an impressive physique in the lead-up.

"Jake Paul's been relatively active, and he's not a bad boxer either," an acting state athletic commissioner who's sanctioned several world title fights told ESPN. "We need to get away from this stuff that he's a YouTuber or something. He's a good boxer. And I've been impressed with him every time I saw him."

Paul has enjoyed top-level sparring and training at his compound in Dorado, Puerto Rico. And while the MMA fighters he's knocked out aren't experienced boxers, he's displayed solid skills and an ability to deliver a sharp, powerful right hand.

"My concern about this one is Tyson's an iconic figure," the commissioner said. "He's world-renowned and he's one of the most well-known figures on the planet. And I just don't think that it would be good for boxing if he were to get hurt."

PERHAPS THIS IS all much ado about nothing. Maybe neither fighter is in any danger of getting hurt, and this truly is just about entertainment in the vein of WWE, which would be fine normally.

There have been scores of exhibitions in recent years, from Floyd Mayweather-Logan Paul to the aforementioned Tyson-Jones event and even Vitor Belfort-Evander Holyfield, where Belfort did KO the 58-year-old legend in the first round. Holyfield replaced De La Hoya on short notice and when that happened, California refused to sanction the fight, leading to the event's relocation from Los Angeles to South Florida.

In the other two exhibitions, it was clear neither fighter was throwing punches with bad intentions. However, Tyson-Paul is a sanctioned event, meaning the fight will count on their records, there will be three judges ringside and an official winner.

Tyson isn't the only former heavyweight champion who will compete in a sanctioned boxing match over the next week. Oliver McCall, who last competed 5 years ago, is 59. He'll fight 54-year-old Stacy Frazier (a journeyman with a 16-22 record) in a four-round bout on Nov. 19 in Nashville, Tennessee. McCall's last title fight was a TKO loss to Lennox Lewis in a 1997 rematch.

Ike Ibeabuchi, a heavyweight puncher, was on the cusp of a title shot in 1999 when he was imprisoned for attempted sexual assault. Now 51, Ibeabuchi will fight for the first time in 25 years with a Dec. 7 fight against 47-year-old Ayman Farouk Abbas (4-10-1).

One other outcome from a sanctioned fight is that Tyson-Paul allows for betting action, as sports wagering is currently legalized in 38 states and has exploded in popularity. Not all 38 states are on board with taking bets on the fight, however.

New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado are among the seven states that decided not to offer betting action on the fight. A spokesperson for the New York State Gaming Commission told ESPN that the bout wasn't eligible for wagering due to the fight's "non-traditional rules" (two-minute rounds and 14-ounce gloves).

Spokespeople for gaming in Colorado and Pennsylvania echoed that sentiment; Colorado added "that not all fighters are professionally ranked" as another reason, while Pennsylvania added that the number of rounds was also a consideration.

"Given the totality of factors, the decision was made in the best interest of the betting public not to permit wagering in Pennsylvania," a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board told ESPN.

And for the 31 states that are offering action, if this isn't a fight where both contestants are trying their best, it's an issue. One of those states is Nevada. A spokesperson for the Nevada Gaming Control Board told ESPN that the fight passed the state's "three-prong test we give to casinos as guidance when they ask if they can take wagers on a sporting event." That includes whether the results of the event will be published and if there's oversight from a governing body.

"Forget about lying; there's no reason for us to create a federal fraud, a federal crime," Bidarian said. "... These are pro fights that consumers are making legal bets on. I don't think the critic who says these are not real fights, thinks about there would be jail time if we actually did this type of stuff.

"... We have never, and we'll never do anything that's other than above board and 100 percent a pro fight unless we come out clearly and say, 'Hey, this is an exhibition fight that is a show.'"

There's no dispute that Paul has made an impact on boxing with events that have garnered younger fans in droves. He'll also deliver key exposure for the undercard that includes the Taylor-Serrano rematch, the Mario Barrios-Abel Ramos WBC welterweight title fight and featherweight contender Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington. (Barrios and Ramos are with PBC, while Carrington is promoted by Top Rank). But those other events all pale in comparison to his fight Friday with Tyson, where no one really knows what to expect.

"I don't see how that serves the sport's interest. ... It's clearly for entertainment, which is fine," the commissioner said. "But there's all these mitigating circumstances with the inactivity, the age, all these things that make this match more problematic in my view."

KLAY THOMPSON BRIEFLY considered bringing a Boston Whaler to Dallas, figuring it would be a good boat to dock at one of the local lakes, allowing him to indulge in his most prominent off-court passion after leaving the San Francisco Bay Area for his new NBA home.

But Thompson thought better of the idea. He wanted to immerse himself in a new experience after choosing to join the Dallas Mavericks in free agency, not attempt to recreate the one he had during his 13-year tenure with the Golden State Warriors.

"Don't need a boat," Thompson told ESPN recently while relaxing at his American Airlines Center locker, situated a couple of stalls to the right of Luka Doncic's locker and a couple to the left of Kyrie Irving's. "That's what summertime is for. I got enough cold-water boating in the Bay to last me some years."

When Thompson wants a water fix and some fresh air these days, he hops on his bicycle and pedals a half-hour from his Dallas home to White Rock Lake, a suitable relaxation replacement to cruising the open water in his Axopar 37 Cabin, which Thompson dubbed the "Nordic Knife" and "Splash Express."

Thompson, who will be feted by his former franchise when he returns to San Francisco on Tuesday night to face the Warriors for the first time (10 p.m. ET, TNT), isn't searching for peace of mind on those occasional bike rides to the lake.

He said he is not just content to have closed the book on his phenomenal Golden State journey, which featured four NBA championship runs alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Thompson felt it was necessary to finish his career with another franchise, after the doubts about his future with the Warriors weighed heavily on his shoulders all last season.

"We're all human," said Thompson, who endured two devastating injuries and a diminished role over his final five years with Golden State. "Every pro athlete's human, and uncertainty can bear on you."

Thompson chose the Mavericks over the Los Angeles Lakers, who also recruited him in free agency, because he believed Dallas provided him the best chance to pursue a fifth championship ring. He believed he could be the missing player after the Mavs, fresh off their five-game NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics, promised him a starting spot. He craved the opportunity to prove that, at 34 years old and with two major injuries on his medical records, he could still play a major role on a contender.

"Honestly, it's rejuvenated me and done something I needed bad just for my mental and my career," Thompson said. "So, I really feel the love here, and I feel highly valued that I can do great things."

SCOTTIE PIPPEN CAME to mind as Thompson was coming to terms with his decision to eliminate the possibility of returning to the Warriors.

Thompson lights up when he talks about when Pippen, a six-time champion as Michael Jordan's co-star with the Chicago Bulls, signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 1999. Thompson was 9 at the time living in Portland, where his father, Mychal, played for the first eight years of his career after the Blazers selected him No. 1 in the 1978 NBA draft. Thompson was ecstatic that the local team had added such an icon, one of his favorite players from childhood.

"That was like the best day of my life," he said. "That was so amazing."

Pippen was 34 at the time, the same age Thompson is now. While Pippen wasn't able to earn another ring in Portland, his success there serves as inspiration for Thompson.

"He did a lot for the Blazers. They were three minutes away from a Finals appearance," Thompson said in reference to Portland's Game 7 loss to the Lakers in the 2000 Western Conference finals.

Pippen had a bridge season with the Houston Rockets between the Bulls being broken up after "The Last Dance" championship run and his arrival in Portland. Pippen also had hard feelings toward his original franchise that Thompson is adamant he does not hold for the Warriors -- no matter how uncomfortable he felt at times in his final season with Golden State.

"I'm so grateful for everything I experienced at Golden State," Thompson said. "But I mean, I've seen some of my favorite athletes pivot and have tremendous success. When I think of Shaq[uille O'Neal] leaving the Lakers and winning a ring or Tom Brady winning one with Tampa Bay, it's been done before.

"That was my main goal at this point in my career. I just want to win, and this team is so close. I just wanted to be a part of that when July 1 hit [free agency]. It's human nature to think about your future. As present as you're supposed to be, we're all human. We all think about that. Now, to know I'm locked in for a few years here, it allows me to be free."

Thompson had endured a choppy final five years with the Warriors. He missed the first half of that span after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in the 2019 NBA Finals then a ruptured right Achilles tendon while training during the following offseason. He recovered to be a major contributor to the Warriors' 2022 championship run -- scoring 32 points in the Western Conference finals elimination win over the Mavs -- but said he felt unappreciated when the front office prioritized other players in the following two years.

The Warriors discussed a two-year, $47 million contract extension before last season, but a deal was never close to happening, sources told ESPN. Green had signed a four-year, $100 million extension months earlier, but the Warriors never indicated the willingness to make that kind of commitment to Thompson at this stage of his career. His potential departure loomed over the franchise last season -- especially when coach Steve Kerr had Thompson come off the bench in February and March for the first time since his rookie year. When Golden State put Thompson on the backburner while attempting to pull off a sign-and-trade for Paul George, his exit became a sure thing.

After meeting with the Mavericks and Lakers on the first night of free agency, Thompson accepted a three-year, $50 million offer from Dallas, even though the Lakers had discussed a longer-term deal for more money. He had said his goodbyes to his Golden State teammates days before, specifically asking Curry and Green not to lobby the front office to make an eleventh-hour attempt to persuade him to stay.

The Warriors and Mavs ended up working with the Charlotte Hornets, Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves to tie a series of separate personnel moves into a record-setting six-team sign-and-trade. As part of that deal, Golden State acquired Buddy Hield to help fill the void left by Thompson's departure. Hield is off to a spectacular start for the 8-2 Warriors, averaging 18.0 points per game while shooting a career-high 48.8% from 3-point range.

"I think about the guys I won with all the time, and I talked to them before I made a decision," Thompson said while sitting at his locker in Dallas, mentioning Curry, Green, Andre Iguodala, Andrew Wiggins and Kevon Looney. "They were very supportive of it. They understand, and there's no bad blood at all.

"With what we did, I'll have a bond forever with those guys. It's just a special bond. That's what I'm trying to do here. When you win, that lasts forever. And that's greater than any salary you could ever earn, in my opinion."

OVER HIS 13-YEAR tenure in Golden State, Thompson developed a familiar pregame routine. He'd hit the court a little more than an hour before tipoff. Warriors assistant Chris DeMarco would feed him the ball as hip hop and rap -- "Stir Fry" by Migos was a nightly staple -- carried throughout the facility.

Now, in American Airlines Center, the routine is similar, but small details are different. Mavs assistant coach Jared Dudley, not DeMarco, is on the court with Thompson. And there's another new twist to his pregame shooting session, at least before home games: About five minutes into it, Balkan folk and pop music begins blaring over the arena speakers as a certain Slovenian superstar takes the court.

"It's so familiar for you -- routine, routine -- and then you're in a new city and you're in a new environment," Thompson's new teammate Irving told ESPN, speaking from experience after changing franchises three times in his career, the first time following a six-year run with the Cleveland Cavaliers that featured three Finals appearances and the lone title in the team's history.

Kevin Durant, Thompson's former Warriors teammate, can relate to what Thompson is going through in Dallas.

Durant has been through the experience of leaving a longtime home multiple times, although the circumstances surrounding his early-prime departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Warriors before bouncing -- two titles, three Finals appearances and a few years later -- to the Brooklyn Nets then to the Phoenix Suns are drastically different.

"I felt like he loved playing for the Warriors," Durant told ESPN, "but sometimes in your life you just want to experience something new outside of basketball -- living in a different city, mingle with different people, mix yourself up with different organizations. I think that's healthy for your development as a human being. Sometimes players take advantage of that more so than just like, 'All right, I don't like my team basketballwise.'"

Durant said the most difficult aspect of adjusting to a new franchise is not the new city or the new teammates. It's leaving behind the athletic trainers and strength coaches who know your body as well as you do and the assistant coaches who can conduct your post-practice and pregame shooting routines with their eyes closed and getting to know the new people filling those essential roles.

Thompson, however, described that part of the process as "pretty seamless" and "awesome," crediting the Mavericks organization with being accommodating and welcoming.

During the preseason, Dallas coach Jason Kidd, who changed franchises four times during his Hall of Fame career as a point guard, cautioned that it would be an "82-game journey" to incorporate Thompson into the Mavericks' system that revolves around the creative brilliance of Doncic and Irving. Kidd said the Mavs would consistently tinker with ways to mesh what Thompson does best -- relentless off-ball movement that often results in catch-and-shoot opportunities for a player who ranks sixth in NBA history in 3-pointers made -- with the isolation and pick-and-roll mastery of Doncic, in particular.

But that has never been a worry for Thompson. He came to Dallas with the understanding that he'd fill a complementary role for a team that wanted to upgrade the 3-point shooting around its stars, preparing himself to be patient, anticipating that his shot attempts would fluctuate from game to game.

It didn't take long to see Thompson's potential impact for Dallas -- and how he could benefit from playing alongside two of the league's most productive playmakers. He scored 22 points in the season-opening win over the San Antonio Spurs, going 6-of-10 from long range to set a Dallas record for 3s made in a franchise debut. Doncic fed Thompson on four of his 3s that night.

"From an on-court standpoint, it's been even easier playing with such great talent," Thompson said after his hot start, as he averaged 19.7 points and shot 45.5% on 3s in his first three games for Dallas. "My game fits this team so well as far as stretching the floor, playing hard defense and being that two-way guy again."

On one occasion in the opener, Doncic started jogging back on defense and celebrating as soon as his pass hit Thompson's hands. The Spurs had busted their defensive coverage on the Mavericks' "Stack" play, a set known throughout the league as a Spain pick-and-roll, where a spot-up threat sets a back screen on the opposing big man before popping out to the wing as a wrinkle on the traditional pick-and-roll.

In this instance, Victor Wembanyama and the other two Spurs directly involved in the coverage were all in the paint when Doncic delivered his pass, focused on clogging the All-NBA guard's driving lane and preventing the lob pass to springy 7-foot center Dereck Lively II. There wasn't a Spur within 15 feet of Thompson when he caught the ball on the right wing, dribbled once and swished a shot that was as open as any of the 2,510 3s he has made in his career.

"Happy I made it," Thompson said with a grin that night as he folded the box score into a paper airplane during his postgame news conference, a custom he has carried over from his Warriors tenure. "Made [Doncic] not look stupid."

But Thompson has experienced some of the inconsistency that Kidd cautioned would likely occur. He is averaging 13.8 points per game -- his lowest since his rookie season -- and shooting a career-low 35.4% from 3-point range with the Mavericks sitting at .500 (5-5) entering their San Francisco visit, one he tried to downplay.

"It'll be good to see people you grinded with, obviously. But to me, it's just another regular-season game in November," Thompson said after Sunday's loss in Denver, where he was 4-of-13 from the floor.

Other high-profile players in somewhat similar situations recently -- having left their original franchises after lengthy stints, albeit without the championship hardware Thompson earned -- haven't been able to make smooth transitions with their new teams. But there were extenuating circumstances -- including injuries, personal matters, positional changes, franchise turmoil -- in the cases of players such as Minnesota's Rudy Gobert, Milwaukee's Damian Lillard and Phoenix's Bradley Beal that impacted their adjustments following trades that ended long, decorated tenures with their first teams.

Thompson, on the other hand, is as healthy as he has been in years and happy after getting to pick the place to put him in the best position to add to his legacy.

"You can just kind of see he's in a different mental space, and I know what that's like," Beal told ESPN after the Suns' win over the Mavericks last month. "He's been hurt, wants to be him and the situation is what it is [with the Warriors]. He now is in a spot, in a place mentally where he's just free and clear and you can kind of see that it's like a little weight off his shoulders and he's playing freely. He's playing like Klay."

Thompson got to leave Golden State on his own terms.

"I just, like, freely thought about it at the end. I was like, 'Do I have more to give [the Warriors] or would going somewhere else motivate me to add a new chapter to my legacy?'" Thompson said. "And that's what I decided on. And I haven't looked back since."

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A detailed assessment of the hurricane damage to Tropicana Field concludes that the home of the Tampa Bay Rays is structurally sound and can be repaired for about $55.7 million in time for the 2026 season.

The 412-page report released Tuesday by the city of St. Petersburg, which owns the building, found that the basic structure of the domed stadium "does not appear to have been adversely affected" by Hurricane Milton's winds, which shredded most of its fabric roof.

"The primary structure is serviceable and capable of supporting a replacement tension membrane fabric roof," said the report by Hennessy Construction Services.

Eighteen of the ballpark's 24 fabric panels failed when Milton roared ashore Oct. 9, the report found. There was also damage to interior parts of the Trop, as it's known for short, from rainwater and other storm-related causes. The ballpark opened in 1990 and has been the Rays' home since their inception in 1998.

The Rays did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment. Since the ballpark, under this damage and repair assessment, would not be ready until the 2026 season, the Rays must find another place to play next year.

Major League Baseball wants the Rays to remain in the area near their fan base if at all possible, with several Tampa Bay-area spring training sites suggested. These include ballparks in Clearwater (Phillies), Tampa (Yankees), Dunedin (Blue Jays), Sarasota (Orioles), Lakeland (Tigers) and the Rays' own spring training home in Port Charlotte. Most of these locations host minor league teams in the summer.

Tropicana Field is already scheduled to be demolished when a new, $1.3 billion ballpark is finished in time for the 2028 season. With unforeseen costs to the city and Pinellas County from two hurricanes -- vast amounts of debris removal, damage to parks and infrastructure -- two of the main financial sources for the new ballpark could reconsider those plans or decide not to repair the Trop at all.

The St. Petersburg City Council will discuss the report at its Nov. 21 meeting.

"We have so much need across the city," council member Brandi Gabbard said at a meeting last week. "I love the Rays. I love Tropicana Field. It's not about not wanting to do this. It's about a balance of priorities."

The council recently approved $6.5 million to clean up the ballpark and protect it from any further damage, including waterproofing areas such as the press box, seating areas and scoreboard.

The city does have an insurance claim for the damage and repairs, but it includes a $22 million deductible and probably would cover only part of the overall costs. That means taxpayer dollars would have to be used.

The planned new Rays ballpark is part of a $6.5 billion project that will include affordable housing, a Black history museum, retail and office space, and restaurants and bars. The project is known as the Historic Gas Plant District, which was once a thriving Black community but was displaced by construction of the ballpark and an interstate highway.

SALEM, N.J. -- The driver charged with killing NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew, as they were cycling on a rural New Jersey road briefly appeared in court Tuesday, where the judge extended the window for prosecutors to seek an indictment.

The brief hearing, in which the judge granted prosecutors 30 additional days in which to seek formal charges in the Gaudreaus' Aug. 29 deaths, marked the first time the Gaudreau family and the 44-year-old defendant, Sean M. Higgins, faced one another in court. Previously, Higgins appeared at hearings via video from behind bars.

Authorities say Higgins, who is from Woodstown, in southwestern New Jersey, was impaired after he drank five or six beers on the day he drove into the brothers' bicycles, and that he has a history of road rage and aggressive driving.

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, 29, were killed near their childhood home in South Jersey on Aug. 29, on the eve of their sister's wedding. The family, including their father, Gus Gaudreau, declined to comment on the case Tuesday at the Salem County Courthouse.

Higgins told police that on the day of his arrest, he had been driving around for two hours while talking to a friend on the phone after having an upsetting conversation with his mother.

A driver who was in front of Higgins told police that Higgins had been driving aggressively. When she and the vehicle ahead of her slowed down and moved left to go around the cyclists, Higgins sped up and veered right, striking the Gaudreaus, she said.

Higgins had a blood-alcohol level of .087, which is above the state's .08 legal limit, and he failed a field sobriety test, police said. He faces preliminary charges of two counts of death by auto, reckless driving, possession of an open container, and consuming alcohol in a vehicle.

Higgins faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The judge said that made him a flight risk and ordered him jailed until the trial.

Defense lawyer Matthew Portella has called Higgins "a loving father of two daughters," and a good person who "made a horrible decision that night." Portella declined to comment after Tuesday's hearing.

Johnny Gaudreau, known as "Johnny Hockey," played 10 full seasons in the NHL and was set to start his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews continues to be sidelined by an upper-body injury that has not progressed as expected, forcing him to miss more time.

Matthews has sat out the Leafs' last three games with his ailment, related to a problem he's dealt with since the preseason. Toronto's star center did take part in the team's optional morning skate on Saturday - the first time he'd been on the ice in a week - but hasn't gone out again since then.

Coach Craig Berube said that's by design.

"[The injury] is just not getting to where it needs to get to," said Berube on Tuesday. "So, we're just trying to manage it and just trying to make sure when he comes back, he's good and 100 percent."

Berube said it was "not really" a setback so much for Matthews as just the team being cautious in supporting his recovery.

That echoes what Leafs' GM Brad Treliving said about Matthews' status during a media availability on Monday.

"[There's] no change [with Matthews] day-to-day," said Treliving. "We just want to make sure we get ahead of it and hopefully get it behind us once and for all."

Treliving characterized Matthews' status as "doubtful" for Toronto's game against Ottawa on Tuesday without providing any sort of timeline on whether he'd be ready to go Wednesday against Washington or even Saturday versus Edmonton.

"We'll just keep going down [the] path," said Treliving.

Matthews has been out of Toronto's lineup since appearing in a 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Nov. 3. He was subsequently placed on injured reserve and would have been eligible to be activated from there for Tuesday's game. For now, IR is where Matthews remains, and the Leafs will go for their fourth straight win without him on Tuesday.

"We're all trying to figure it out and work on it and make sure we get him back and this thing doesn't occur again over the course of the year," said Berube. "It's not something you want lingering on throughout the season, so we're trying to do our best to not allow that to happen."