Football is life! Cristo Fernandez from 'Ted Lasso' trying out for USL team

In the category of "life imitates art," it appears Dani Rojas is looking to take his talents to a real soccer field.

Rojas lines up at center forward for AFC Richmond in the wildly popular Apple TV show "Ted Lasso."

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Now the actor who portrays Rojas, Cristo Fernández, is on trial with USL Championship side El Paso Locomotive, per multiple reports.

Fernández, 35, has been training with El Paso since last week and,per KTSM 9 News, he played 30 minutes in Saturday's preseason scrimmage against New Mexico United.

The Mexican actor can be seen prominently in the club's Instagram post following the matchup against New Mexico.

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March 03, 2026

Football is life! Cristo Fernandez from 'Ted Lasso' trying out for USL team

In the category of "life imitates art," it appears Dani Rojas is looking to take his talents to a real soccer f...

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Chase Pistone, NASCAR driver in the 2000s, dies at 42

Former NASCAR driver Chase Pistone has died at the age of 42.

Martin Chivers, soccer, 1945-2026

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Sports figures we lost in 2026

His older brother, Nick Pistone, posted a message on social media, announcing his death, which did not include a cause or where he died.

But Chase's brothers, Tom and Nick, requested that Legends Nation "post the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is 988 on a phone or text."

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"Chase was not only a wheelman in Legends and Late Models, but his Chase Pistone Inc. Legends team was a force to be reckoned with every time they showed up at a track, and they usually walked away with the winner's trophy,"Legends Nation postedon social media.

During his career, Pistone, who is the grandson of two-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner Tom Pistone, competed in the ARCA Menards Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and NASCAR Xfinity (now NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts) Series.

"Well, my young brother and best friend is gone,"Nick Pastone saidon social media. "I'm broken-hearted and don't know if I'll ever get over this. I miss you Chase already and I hope you are you are in a better place. I love you and I miss you so much already!!!!!!!"

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Former NASCAR racer Chase Pistone dies at 42

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March 03, 2026

Chase Pistone, NASCAR driver in the 2000s, dies at 42

Former NASCAR driver Chase Pistone has died at the age of 42. Martin Chivers, soccer, 1945-2026 " styl...

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Britain sends destroyer and helicopters with counter-drone tech to Cyprus

LONDON, March 3 (Reuters) - Britain is deploying HMS Dragon, an air defence destroyer, to Cyprus ‌after the runway of its Akrotiri base ‌there was hit by an Iranian-made drone.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said ​on Tuesday he was sending the naval vessel along with helicopters with counter-drone capabilities to the region, as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies.

France and ‌Greece said they ⁠would also send anti-missile and anti-drone systems after the British base on the island ⁠was hit on Monday.

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"The UK is fully committed to the security of Cyprus and British military personnel ​based there," ​Starmer said in a ​post on X, adding ‌that he had spoken with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides about the move.

"We're continuing our defensive operations and I've just spoken with the President of Cyprus to let him know that we are sending helicopters ‌with counter drone capabilities and ​HMS Dragon is to be ​deployed to the ​region," the British prime minister said.

HMS ‌Dragon is a Type 45 ​air-defence destroyer equipped ​with the Sea Viper missile system and advanced radar designed to track and neutralise airborne ​threats, according to ‌the Royal Navy's website.

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti, ​Sarah Young and Elizabeth Piper, editing by William ​James and Kate Holton)

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March 03, 2026

Britain sends destroyer and helicopters with counter-drone tech to Cyprus

LONDON, March 3 (Reuters) - Britain is deploying HMS Dragon, an air defence destroyer, to Cyprus ‌after the runway of its...

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UConn caps its 11th unbeaten regular season, but coach Geno Auriemma warns tougher March ahead

NEW YORK (AP) — UConn completed its 11th undefeated regular season with avictory over St. John'son Sunday night and is nine wins from repeating as national champion with a seventh perfect season.

UConn St Johns Basketball

Despite winning by an average of nearly 38 points per game, coach Geno Auriemma insisted this season hasn't been as easy it's looked from the outside for theNo. 1 teamin the AP women's basketball Top 25. He also knows winning a 13th national championship won't be as easy as last season's title run.

"I do think when the NCAA Tournament begins, it certainly is not going to be as easy as we experienced it last season," he said. "I think somebody like Paige (Bueckers) can (take over the postseason). We have enough good players to have as good a chance as anybody else out there to win a national championship."

The Huskies (31-0), who have won 47 consecutive games, have two of the best players in college basketball in guard Azzi Fudd and forward Sarah Strong.

"Coach came in (the locker room), said he was proud of us," Strong said after the St. John's win. "We also have a lot to work on to get ready for the Big East Tournament, so just enjoy the win now and be ready to get back to work."

The top-seeded Huskies have a bye until the quarterfinals on Saturday. If they do win another Big East Tournament, they'll enter the NCAAs unbeaten for the first time since the 2017 and 2018 seasons. UConn lost in the Final Four both times in heartbreaking fashion on last-second shots.

"Generally, the best team usually wins the national championship, but not always," Auriemma said. "It's the team who comes together at the right time. We've got a great group. We can do a lot of different things, and our defense has been really, really good all season long. So if we stay in that mindset, then we'll have a chance."

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NET rating

UConn stillheld the top spotin the NET ratings Monday ahead of UCLA, South Carolina and Texas. The SEC has four of the top seven teams, while the Big Ten has seven of the first 17.

Richmond and Princeton are the top mid-major teams, coming in at 37 and 38, respectively.

The NET is just one tool the selection committee uses to figure out which teams make the NCAA Tournament and where they are seeded. It has predicted the winner pretty accurately since it first was used in 2021. Four of the five national champions were No. 1 in the NET on Selection Sunday.

NCAA reveal

The NCAA revealed for the second time this season its top 16 teams heading into the start of conference tournaments and UConn, UCLA, South Carolina and Texas were the No. 1 seeds. Fifteen of the 16 teams were the same as the first reveal, with the only exception being Minnesota entered and Ole Miss exited.

Games of the week

The Power Four conference tournaments begin with numerous potential Top 25 matchups in the Big Ten and SEC. If seedings hold, No. 5 Vanderbilt will face fourth-ranked Texas in the SEC semifinals with a potential 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament on the line.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign uphere. AP women's college basketball:https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-pollandhttps://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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March 03, 2026

UConn caps its 11th unbeaten regular season, but coach Geno Auriemma warns tougher March ahead

NEW YORK (AP) — UConn completed its 11th undefeated regular season with avictory over St. John'son Sunday night and i...

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Iran strikes the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia as war expands yet again

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranexpanded its targetsTuesday, striking the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia as Washington began to pull many staff out of the Middle East. The U.S. and Israel battered Iran with airstrikes in what President Donald Trump suggested was just the start of a war that has severely disrupted the world's supply of oil and gas, international shipping, and air travel.

Theconflict escalated furtheron its fourth day, with Israel sending new ground troops into Lebanon and explosions ringing out in Iran's capital. Hundreds of people have been killed, the vast majority in Iran.

The spiraling nature of the war raised questions about when and how it would end. Trump said it could last four to five weeks — but that the U.S. was prepared to go longer. He seemed to leave open the possibility for more extensive U.S. military involvement, telling the New York Post on Monday that he wasnot ruling out the possibilityof boots on the ground.

Still, the administration's objectives remain unclear. The initial U.S.-Israeli strikes killed IranianSupreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneiand Trump urged Iranians to overthrow their government.

Since then, however, senior administration officials have saidregime change was not the goal. Trump's initial announcement of the strikeslisted several grievances, from concerns about Iran's nuclear and missile programs to its leadership.

Iran hits the US Embassy in Riyadh and Washington pulls out staff

An attack from two drones on the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh caused a "limited fire," according to Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry, and the embassy urged Americans to avoid the compound. It followed an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. The embassy announced Tuesday it was closed until further notice.

The U.S. State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, the U.S. has urged citizens to leave more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries, though with much of the airspace closed many remained stranded. Several other countries arranged evacuation flights for their citizens.

The U.S.-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. In Israel, where Iranian missiles struck several locations, 11 people were killed. The Iranian-supported militant group Hezbollah has also attacked Israel, whose retaliatory strikes killed 52 people in Lebanon.

The U.S. military has confirmed six deaths of American service members. In addition, three people were killed in the United Arab Emirates, and one each in Kuwait and Bahrain.

Israel and US target nuclear facilities in Iran

Across Iran's capital, explosions rang out throughout the night into Tuesday, with aircraft heard overhead. Strikes caused two explosions at a broadcasting facility in Tehran, Iranian state TV said, adding that no one was injured.

The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, said Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment site had sustained "some recent damage," though there was "no radiological consequence expected."

The U.S. hit Natanz during the 12-day war in June, when Israeli and American strikesgreatly weakenedIran's nuclear program.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintained, however, that Iran was rebuilding "new sites, new places" underground for making atomic bombs. He offered no evidence to support his claim.

"We had to take the action now and we did," Netanyahu told Fox News Channel's "Hannity."

Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June, though it has maintained its right to and says its nuclear program is peaceful.

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Satellite photos analyzed by The Associated Press showed limited activity at two Iranian nuclear sites before the war. Analysts said Tehran was likely assessing damage from the 2025 strikes and possibly salvaging what remained.

It's not clear how long the war will last

The expansion of Iranian retaliation across the Gulf and the intensity of the Israeli and American attacks, Khamenei's killing and the lack of any apparent exit plan suggested the conflict could be prolonged.

Trump said Monday that operations are likely to last four to five weeks but that he was prepared "to go far longer than that." He later added the U.S. had a "virtually unlimited supply" of munitions.

"Wars can be fought 'forever,' and very successfully, using just these supplies," he wrote on social media.

The conflict is roiling business interests in the Mideast

Iran has hit many countriesdeemed safe havensin the Mideast in retaliation for the U.S.-Israeli strikes. Recent targets included two Amazon data centers in the United Arab Emirates and one in Bahrain. The centers in the UAE were hit, while a drone struck near the one Bahrain, causing damage, the company said.

Iran has also struck energy facilities in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and attacked several ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of all oil traded passes, sending global oil and natural gas prices soaring.

"The Strait of Hormuz is closed," declared Iranian Brig. Gen. Ebrahim Jabbari, an adviser to the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, vowing that any ships that passed through it would be set on fire.

Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari vowed that Iranian attacks on the gas-rich country "will not go unanswered."

Israel sends troops into Lebanon

The conflict has spread to Lebanon, where Hezbollah fired missiles at Israel on Monday, prompting Israel to retaliate.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military hit Beirut with more airstrikes and said it had moved additional troops into southern Lebanon and taken new positions on several strategic points close to the border.

The U.N. peacekeeping force in Lebanon later said its peacekeepers saw Israeli troops going into and then out of Lebanon. But Israel's army said its troops are still operating in Lebanon.

This story has been updated to clarify that more than one drone hit the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia. Some instances referred to just one drone.

Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece, and Magdy from Cairo. Konstantin Toropin in Washington, David Rising in Bangkok, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, Hallie Golden in Seattle, and Giovanna Dell'Orto in Miami contributed to this report.

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March 03, 2026

Iran strikes the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia as war expands yet again

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranexpanded its targetsTuesday, striking the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia as Washingt...

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David Montgomery shares emotional goodbye to Lions after Texans trade

TheDetroit Lionshave handedDavid Montgomerya one-way ticket out of the Motor City.

It came a week ahead of the unofficial start of free agency, when theLions agreed to trade the running back to the Houston Texans on March 2. The move ends a three-year run in Detroit, where Montgomery starred alongsideJahmyr Gibbsas part of arguably the league's best backfield duo – officially known as "Sonic and Knuckles."

Hours after the news broke, Montgomery bid farewell to the Lions in anemotional tribute posted to his Instagram:

"It's hard to find the right words for a goodbye like this," Montgomery wrote. "Detroit has never just been a location to me – it's been a community. And you all have been more than supporters or a team. You've been steady hands, loud cheers, honest feedback, and quiet strength when I needed it most.

"You believed in me when things were uncertain. You stood beside me through challenges. You showed up – consistently, fiercely, unapologetically. There is something special about the people here. The resilience. The loyalty. The way you don't just support someone – you ride with them. I have felt that from each of you, and I will never take that lightly.

"This isn't goodbye because something ended. It's goodbye because something grew. And growth sometimes calls us forward. Please know this: Everything I do next carries a piece of Detroit with it. The work ethic. The edge. The heart. Thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me. Thank you for walking this chapter with me.

"I'm beyond grateful – and I'll always be proud to say I was shaped by this city and by you."

Gibbs also shared a post on social media, posting a photo of Sonic and Knuckles walking away from one another, crying. He captioned it with a broken-heart emoji.

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2. New York Jets – OLB/DE David Bailey, Texas Tech

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 3. Arizona Cardinals – OLB/DE Arvell Reese, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 4. Tennessee Titans – RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 5. New York Giants – LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 6. Cleveland Browns – OL Francis Mauigoa, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 7. Washington Commanders – S Caleb Downs, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 8. New Orleans Saints – WR Carnell Tate, Ohio State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 9. Kansas City Chiefs – OT Spencer Fano, Utah

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 10. Cincinnati Bengals – DE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 11. Miami Dolphins – CB Mansoor Delane, LSU

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 12. Dallas Cowboys – CB Jermod McCoy, Tennessee

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 13. Los Angeles Rams (from Atlanta Falcons) – WR Denzel Boston, Washington

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 14. Baltimore Ravens – DL Caleb Banks, Florida

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 16. New York Jets (from Indianapolis Colts) – WR Makai Lemon, USC

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 17. Detroit Lions – OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 18. Minnesota Vikings – S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 19. Carolina Panthers – DT Peter Woods, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 20. Dallas Cowboys (from Green Bay Packers) – OLB/DE T.J. Parker, Clemson

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 21. Pittsburgh Steelers – WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 22. Los Angeles Chargers – G Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 23. Philadelphia Eagles – DE/OLB Akheem Mesidor, Miami (Fla.)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 24. Cleveland Browns (from Jacksonville Jaguars) – WR Omar Cooper Jr., Indiana

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 30. Denver Broncos – WR KC Concepcion, Texas A&M

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 31. New England Patriots – DE Keldric Faulk, Auburn

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

NFL mock draft: First-round projection following the scouting combine

Montgomery's workload took a major hit in 2025 as the running back posted a career-low 158 carries, sparking trade rumors ahead of the offseason.

General manager Brad Holmes told reporters at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine that Montgomery's future with the Lions was "fluid."

"We'd love to have him. Kind of want to put last year in the rearview and just move forward," Holmes said at a Feb. 24 media availability. "But obviously, a player has to want to be at a certain place as well. So those conversations are still fluid and we'll just kind of see how it goes."

On March 1,Montgomery addressed the rumors on social media after ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reportedthe running back wanted out of Detroit. He dismissed them, but didn't elaborate. He previously mentioned his desire to stick around with the Lions.

Ahead of Super Bowl 60, Montgomery told USA TODAY Sports that he hoped to return to Detroit in 2026.

"I sure hope so," Montgomery said, when asked if he was confident about a return to the Lions. "I love the Lions, I love the team, I love the city of Detroit. I would love to be there, but it's in the air so I'm just ready and waiting for the ride."

Now that ride has taken him to Houston, where he figures to sit atop theTexans' running back depth chart heading into the 2026 season.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:David Montgomery shares goodbye post to Lions after trade to Texans

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March 03, 2026

David Montgomery shares emotional goodbye to Lions after Texans trade

TheDetroit Lionshave handedDavid Montgomerya one-way ticket out of the Motor City. It came a week ahead of the...

Read More