Former UFC champion and Irish businessman Conor McGregor stopped by the White House on Monday and send well wishes to Americans on St. Patrick&#8217;s Day.
In a clip shared on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHTXl3sRk6k/?igsh=NjZiM2M3MzIxNA%3D%3D">Instagram</a> by the White House, McGregor — who traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak with President Donald Trump about issues facing Ireland — stepped out all decked out in a green pin-striped suit and matching green tie and said, “Happy St. Paddy’s Day America.”
President Trump later posted a photo on <a href="https://x.com/POTUS/status/1901714538384548258">X</a> from their meeting in the Oval Office. In the snap, Trump was sitting behind the Resolute Desk with McGregor and the two shared a hug.
In a clip from their <a href="https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1901706850929635545">meeting</a>, McGregor tells Trump, “I&#8217;ll tell you what. Your work ethic is inspiring.&#8221;
Earlier in the day, the UFC fighter spoke to <a href="https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1901656188565311644">members of the media</a> and talked about the concerns Ireland faces when it comes to immigration.
&#8220;Our government has long since abandoned the voices of the people of Ireland,” McGregor told the press. “And it’s high time that America is made aware of what is going on in Ireland.”
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“What is going on in Ireland is a travesty,” he added. “Our government is the government of zero action with zero accountability. Our money is being spent on overseas issues that have nothing to do with the Irish people.”
“The illegal immigration racket is running ravaged on the country,” the UFC champ continued. “There are rural towns in Ireland that have been overrun in one swoop, that have become a minority in one swoop. So, issues need to be addressed.”
McGregor said that the millions of Irish Americans living in the United States need to know about what has been happening in Ireland because if not, “there will be no place to come home and visit.”
“Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness,” he said. “And I’m here to raise the issue and highlight it.”
Last week, Ireland’s Prime Minister Micheal Martin flew to the United States to meet with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House to discuss the two countries’ relationships and goals.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/whats-with-these-socks-trump-pokes-fun-at-vp-in-oval-office-meeting">A clip from</a> that Oval Office meeting later went viral after the president poked some fun at Vance&#8217;s wardrobe choice for the day, showing him wearing socks with green shamrocks scattered throughout.
“I have to just, speak of inflation, I love these socks,” Trump told the press, as he pointed at Vance’s feet. “What’s with these socks?”
“I’m trying to stay focused, but I’m very impressed with the VP’s socks,” he added, while the Vice President completely cracked up and couldn’t stop laughing.
Martin also seemed to think Trump’s comments were funny, and enjoyed a laugh about the ribbing the president gave to Vance.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ufc-star-conor-mcgregor-warns-trump-of-illegal-immigration-racket-in-ireland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC Star Conor McGregor Warns Trump Of ‘Illegal Immigration Racket’ In Ireland</a>

Conor McGregor

Former UFC Champ Conor McGregor Sends Message From White House To America On St. Patrick’s Day

Celebrities

Donald Trump

Ireland

Sports

St. Patrick's Day

White House

Matt Richtman won the 40th annual Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday, becoming the first American to come in first place in the event in 31 years.
The long-distance runner, an Illinois native, had a personal-best time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, 56 seconds, per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/17/us/matt-richtman-los-angeles-marathon-hnk/index.html">CNN</a>. The Los Angeles Marathon started at Dodger Stadium and continued through downtown LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Brentwood before ending in the Century City neighborhood, the outlet noted.
“I didn’t really have a super big plan coming into this. It’s always so tough, the marathon, just because so much can happen,” Richtman said. “I just told myself to stay in that pack until about the halfway mark and then if I felt good I could make a move. Ended up going a little bit to the lead and no one really came with me.”
Athanas Kioko from Kenya came in second with a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes, 55 seconds. Moses Kurgat, also from Kenya, rounded out the top three with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes, 13 seconds.
&#8220;It’s definitely a surprise,&#8221; Richtman said, per <a href="https://abc7.com/post/matt-richtman-illinois-becomes-1st-american-man-win-los-angeles-marathon-31-years/16033566/">ABC7</a>. &#8220;You know, I came in feeling really good; it’s really hard to judge where you stack up against competition, but it was a really good group out there today, and I was really happy to run with those guys and then ultimately win it.&#8221;
&#8220;It’s such a great day, you know, the 40th anniversary (of the race), there’s so many legacy runners out here, and the crowd out here was amazing,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;There were people throughout the whole course and it really helps. It&#8217;s amazing how much a crowd can change the course of what you’re doing.&#8221; 

Richtman, 25, finished fourth at the Twin Cities Marathon last fall with a time of 2:10:47. He was a cross-country runner while attending Montana State University, earning All-America honors as a junior in 2022-23.
The last time an American won the L.A. Marathon was when Paul Pilkington came in first place in 1994 with a time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 13 seconds.

Matt Richtman

An American Wins Los Angeles Marathon For The First Time In 31 Years

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After President Donald Trump became the first sitting president to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/patriotism-is-back-the-big-game-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">attend</a> a Super Bowl, where The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22, the Eagles have now accepted an invitation to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl victory.
Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/press-sec-confirms-philadelphia-eagles-enthusiastically-accepted-white-house-invite" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> that the Philadelphia Eagles will indeed visit the White House on April 28, and that the invitation was “enthusiastically accepted.” This ends weeks of speculation to the contrary when online reports suggested on February 24 that the Super Bowl champions would refrain from attending any celebration hosted by President Trump. Later that same day, the White House issued a statement questioning the veracity of these reports, citing the fact that an invitation to the team had not even been presented at that time. Now, three weeks later, we have much more clarity on the matter, and a date on the schedule. 
And there’s good reason to question whether the team would actually accept the invitation. 
Back in 2018, during President Trump’s first term, the Eagles won their first Super Bowl in franchise history. Shortly after, many players began voicing their intentions to not attend any celebration organized by the White House, and that only a small group of players would accept a visit. This led White House officials to label Philadelphia’s decision a political stunt, and the invitation was revoked completely. Because of this history, the now-debunked claims that the franchise would reject an invite this year certainly seemed plausible. It’s worth noting, however, only four players remain from that 2018 team, so in many respects, this is an entirely different group.
<div id="attachment_891719" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-891719" class="size-large wp-image-891719" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-914686246-864x576.jpg" alt="MINNEAPOLIS, MN - FEBRUARY 04: Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles (9) waves to the fans on the field after winning Super Bowl LII on February 4, 2018, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-914686246-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-914686246-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-914686246-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-914686246.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images</div>
The Eagles were not the only championship team to cause a public stir during President Trump’s first term. Several dozen major sports teams won championships during those four years, many celebrated at the White House, many did not. Of those teams that didn’t visit Washington, not all did so in defiance. Some had scheduling conflicts, some were not invited to begin with for various reasons.
A few of the notable teams to attend were the New England Patriots, Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, the Clemson Tigers, and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama’s then-head coach Nick Saban made the trip a requirement, <a href="https://www.al.com/alabamafootball/2018/04/how_nick_saban_addressed_white.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stating</a>, “We&#8217;re doing this regardless of your political thoughts. We&#8217;re going, just to celebrate this team. It&#8217;s an honor. And just to be able to say that you&#8217;ve gone to the White House is something that you can cherish forever.&#8217; So that was basically the extent of that.&#8221;
Of the teams to reject President Trump publicly, the 2017 Golden State Warriors were the most memorable. Coach Steve Kerr reportedly decided <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/steve-kerr-white-house-visit-decision-warriors-championship-2017-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">months before</a> the playoffs that he would not visit the White House should the team win the NBA championship. Point guard Steph Curry later said he &#8220;wouldn&#8217;t go,&#8221; but said he wanted to talk to his teammates before making a final decision. Following Curry&#8217;s comments, the President posted on social media, &#8220;invitation is withdrawn!&#8221; LeBron James then famously called the President a &#8220;bum&#8221; for withdrawing an invite after Curry already said he wasn&#8217;t going.
Should the Eagles stay the course and follow through with their current plan to visit the White House, President Trump would be two-for-two on championship teams in his second term, as the 2024 Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers traveled to the White House in February.
* * *
David Cone is a co-host and producer of the Daily Wire’s sports show <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/crain-and-company" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crain &amp; Company</a>, as well as a contributor to Morning Wire. David is also a former quarterback for the University of Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @davidadamcone
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Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Championship Parade

The Eagles Are Headed To The White House After All

Football

Philadelphia Eagles

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Super Bowl

The following is an excerpt taken from the new book &#8220;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Jester-Became-King-Unauthorized/dp/B0DV3W4QBN/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How the Jester Became King: Dave Portnoy and the Real Unauthorized Story of Barstool Sports.</a>&#8221; by Charlie Stanton (Post Hill Press, December 2024)
* * *
October 2003
Dave was sweaty and beyond exhausted as he bent down to drop off a stack of newspapers next to his bin at the Alewife T-Station in Cambridge. Sporting his questionable goatee and a beat-up Red Sox hat, his skin reeked of the cigar he had smoked inside his maroon 1992 Plymouth minivan while he trudged from station to station. His breath was a mix of tobacco and the hot Italian beef sandwich he’d ordered in between stops. Portnoy needed a shower. As he leaned over to fill the bin, he paused. The sound of fabric ripping echoed across the brown quarry tiles that lined the floors and walls of the subway entrance. Commuters turned their heads at the noise, and their eyes fixated on Portnoy. He knew immediately what had happened:
<blockquote>“It might as well have been like a gunshot went off in Alewife Station. Everybody in Alewife and maybe all of Cambridge just froze. And I was reduced to doing the ‘Oh my god did I just split my pants?’ maneuver. This, of course, is when you have a glazed expression over your face as you feel your ass to see what the damage is. Honestly, it was like time froze for a couple minutes.”</blockquote>
It was an unseasonably warm fall afternoon, just a few months after Mike Portnoy had given his son his $25,000 blessing. Dave, who had quit his sales job and moved back home with his parents to save money, was now spending it hand-delivering his newspapers to more than 100 Barstool Sports bins he had placed around Boston — a job that made grad school look like Margaritaville.
After all of his bins were filled, Portnoy would begin handing out his newspapers to the public, aggressively. The streets of Boston weren’t for the faint of heart. “When we upgraded from black and white to color copies, I would be just screaming things like ‘We got color now! We’re so much better than these other (papers)!’ Whatever the hook was.” Like a vendor peddling overpriced beer at nearby Fenway Park, Portnoy would yell at – borderline berate – commuters to take a copy.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-large wp-image-889947 aligncenter" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/71YW4ed4iL._SL1500_-384x576.jpg" alt="" width="384" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/71YW4ed4iL._SL1500_-384x576.jpg 384w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/71YW4ed4iL._SL1500_-200x300.jpg 200w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/71YW4ed4iL._SL1500_-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/71YW4ed4iL._SL1500_.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" /></div>
Portnoy was on his own when it came to distribution following Barstool’s first issue on August 27, 2003, when the temp company Labor Ready he hired to help him sent him mostly drifters, half of whom didn’t show up. “Let’s just say they weren’t the most dedicated workers to ever come down the pike,” Portnoy explained. And according to Portnoy, the outfit in Atlanta where he bought newspaper bins, Go Plastics, wasn’t able to deliver the bins on time for the day of the launch, which only compounded this calamity. Most commuters were unable to find Portnoy’s newspapers, as Barstool Sports sat inconspicuously inside plastic bags next to other competitors’ fully marked bins.
Of the 40 train stations where workers were supposed to hand out copies of Dave’s paper that day, only about 15 operated as planned. Portnoy would eventually hire local models to hand out his papers, which, to no surprise, worked better but were too expensive to continue with. “Chaotic and nearly disastrous,” is how Dave described his paper’s first days in existence. Unbeknownst to Portnoy, it was a phrase that would become the narrative of Barstool’s entire operation for the next 20 years.
At the start of Portnoy’s maiden voyage, he was able to produce several thousand copies of his weekly newspaper. This was dwarfed by the daily circulation of the 450,000 newspapers The Boston Globe printed, and the 300,000 distributed by both The Boston Herald and Metro Boston, the city’s largest free paper. But eventually Barstool would reach a peak of 40,000 issues every other week, which was on par with most other alt-weekly publications such as The Phoenix or The Improper Bostonian. Reaching this number was an unlikely development to everyone around Dave in those early days, including his production manager Erin Boyce.
Boyce worked at The Daily Item of Lynn, a neighboring town’s paper; she had extensive experience inside the publishing industry and agreed to help Portnoy after connecting through a friend of a friend. “I really only thought it would last six, maybe 12 issues. I’ve been in the newspaper industry for many years, and to start a publication in a dying industry is kind of unheard of. Little did I know 200 issues later, it would become part of my life for almost nine years.”
Boyce’s help was invaluable, but there was no doubt the 26-year-old was doing the work of five people just to produce the meager eight-page publication. Originally, Portnoy published his newspaper once a week. Mondays were the busiest in terms of writing, and Dave often stayed up past 2 a.m. finishing the last articles for that week’s issue. Tuesdays, Portnoy took his work over to the nearby graphic designer, who worked with Boyce to lay out the paper. Later that day, the layout was taken to Boyce’s printer, and once the thousands of copies were printed, Portnoy filled up his beaten-down minivan to the brim. “When I pick up Barstool Sports from our printer company, I swear I can hear her scream. I actually think the bottom of the car scrapes against the cement when it is fully loaded.”
Wednesdays started at 4:30 a.m. Portnoy made the 45-minute drive south down Route 1A to Boston, dropping his publication off at the bins he had placed inside various T-stations. “I had bins at T-stops I didn’t know existed before that,” Portnoy said of his paper route. He also stopped at select stores, bars, and restaurants he somehow convinced to take his newspapers, like the Grand Canal bar near The Boston Garden or Bayview Liquors in Southie.
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After emptying his van around 9:00 a.m., Dave headed to a T station and handed out copies of Barstool Sports to commuters. Around noon, he drove back to Swampscott to write; call potential advertisers (the paper had fake ones and real ones); or fix whatever part of the business was melting down that day. Around 4:00 p.m., he drove back into Boston to hand out papers again until returning home, well after dinner.
As for the rest of the week, Thursday was a repeat of Wednesday, while Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were reserved for writing. And Portnoy would spend each Monday just like the previous one, cramming in last-minute changes until the candle was burned at both ends. Unsurprisingly, this routine began taking a toll on his health, but as 2004 approached, people slowly began to read Portnoy’s paper. “It was always a good reception and when I judged it, it would be 10 people who took the paper and said they enjoyed it the first time I did it. The next issue would be 20 people, and the next issue would be 40, and the next 80. So, it always was slowly growing and there was something in my gut that was like I’m on to something here.”
* * *
This excerpt is taken from &#8220;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/How-Jester-Became-King-Unauthorized/dp/B0DV3W4QBN/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0">How the Jester Became King: Dave Portnoy and the Real Unauthorized Story of Barstool Sports.</a>&#8221; by Charlie Stanton. Published by permission of Post Hill Press. 
Charlie Stanton currently resides in New York City. Stanton graduated from Wake Forest University with Honors in Economics in 2012. In his free time, the author enjoys playing pickleball, paddle, tennis, running, skiing, and spending time with his three younger brothers.
The views expressed in this book excerpt are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Daily Wire.

Milwaukee Bucks v Boston Celtics

The Grind Before The Glory: Dave Portnoy’s Sweaty, Cigarette-Stained Rise

Barstool Sports

Books

Boston

Dave Portnoy

Journalism

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday that the Philadelphia Eagles “enthusiastically accepted” an invitation to come to the White House and celebrate the team’s Super Bowl victory.
During the weekly <a href="https://x.com/nicksortor/status/1899520433092727069">press briefing</a>, Leavitt said she wanted to clear up some fake news about whether or not the White House had extended an invitation to the team, making it clear they had, and that the team was coming following the Eagles&#8217; victory against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX.
“I can confirm that the Philadelphia Eagles will be here at the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl victory,&#8221; Leavitt said.
<iframe loading="lazy" title="KAROLINE LEAVITT reveals when the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES will visit the WHITE HOUSE" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8E0WpC3rkkQ?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
&#8220;I know there was a lot of fake news about an invitation that wasn&#8217;t sent or was sent &#8212; we want to correct the record. We sent an invitation. They enthusiastically accepted and you will see them here on April 28.&#8221;
President Donald Trump recently said the Eagles “deserve” to come to the White House and announced that an invite would be extended to the Super Bowl-winning team.
“They will be, we haven’t yet, but we will be,” <a href="https://x.com/PHLEaglesNation/status/1894504092040306744">Trump said</a>. “I thought it was a great performance by them. Absolutely, they’ll be extended that invitation.”
The president then called on one of the members of his team to “do that right away.”
“We’re going to do it sometime today,” Trump said. “And they deserve to be down here. And we hope to see them.”
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter previously went viral when he shut down rumors and reports floating around on social media claiming the Eagles had declined an invite to attend a ceremony at the White House from Trump.
“To those wondering: Eagles sources say the team is planning on visiting the White House this off-season and looks forward to receiving its invitation,” Schefter posted on <a href="https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1894156616246645034">X</a>, making it clear an invitation hadn’t even gone out yet.
In 2018, the Eagles beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII and did not make the trip to the White House due to Trump’s stance that players should stand for the national anthem.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/they-deserve-to-be-down-here-trump-announces-white-house-invite-to-eagles" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘They Deserve To Be Down Here’: Trump Announces White House Invite To Eagles</a>

Jalen Hurts-1

Press Sec Confirms Philadelphia Eagles ‘Enthusiastically Accepted’ White House Invite

Executive

Kansas City Chiefs

Karoline Leavitt

I.C. Norcom High School senior Alaila Everett made headlines when, during a relay event at the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 3 Indoor Championships, she hit Brookville junior Kaelen Tucker over the head with her baton.
In the days since, amid a wave of backlash against her, Everett has claimed that her baton got &#8220;stuck&#8221; behind Tucker&#8217;s back and that she did not strike her on purpose. The impact of the blow was such that, in addition to falling out of the race and off the track, Tucker suffered a concussion and may have sustained a skull fracture.
&#8220;After a couple times of hitting her, my baton got stuck behind her back like this, and it rolled up her back. I lost my balance when I pumped my arms again. She got hit,&#8221; Everett claimed <a href="https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/i-c-norcom-track-star-speaks-out-after-hitting-opponent-in-head-with-baton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">when interviewed</a> by local news outlet WAVY.
Everett also complained that people were responding to her actions without viewing it from multiple angles: &#8220;It’s like they are going off of one angle.&#8221;
&#8220;Everybody has feelings, so you’re physically hurt, but you’re not thinking of my mental, right?&#8221; Everett continued. &#8220;They are assuming my character, calling me ghetto and racial slurs, death threats … all of this off of a nine-second video.&#8221;
Everett&#8217;s mother agreed, although she did not base her assessment on any video at all. &#8220;I didn’t have to see a first video, second video or tenth video. I know 100 percent that she would never do that to nobody,&#8221; she said.
Tucker&#8217;s mother, Tamarrow Tucker, also spoke with a local news outlet and said that she would have liked to see an apology.
&#8220;No apologies. No coaches. No athlete. No anything. Even if it was an accident, which I don&#8217;t believe it was &#8230; nothing,&#8221; she told a local <a href="https://wset.com/sports/high-school-sports/why-havent-you-apologized-a-search-for-answers-after-on-track-attack-at-state-finals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ABC News affiliate</a>.
Everett and her relay team were disqualified for interfering with another runner. The VHSL also released a statement to Fox New Digital, saying, in part, &#8220;The actions taken by the meet director to disqualify the runner were appropriate and correct. We thoroughly review every instance like this that involves player safety with the participating schools. The VHSL membership has always made it a priority to provide student-athletes with a safe environment for competition.”

outdoor sports track

Teen Track Athlete Claims She ‘Accidentally’ Hit Opponent’s Head With Baton During Relay

Track and Field

Women's sports

Former female volleyball player Payton McNabb, who was injured by a trans-identifying player, has been named as one of the special guests who will attend President Donald Trump’s joint session of Congress on Tuesday.
“Payton is a former high school athlete who had her dreams of competing in college sports crushed in a September 2022 volleyball match when a biological man playing on the opposing women’s team spiked the volleyball at Payton’s face, leaving her with a traumatic brain injury,” a press release from the Office of the First Lady read.
“Payton joined with the Independent Women’s Forum and has made it her mission to put an end to this brutal unfairness,” it added.
McNabb shared the news on <a href="https://x.com/paytonmcnabb_/status/1896942436586516624">X</a> and wrote, it’s “an incredible honor to be a guest of @POTUS and @MELANIATRUMP for the State of the Union. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to be present and to have my story recognized as part of the fight to protect women’s sports. Thank you for giving a voice to this issue!”
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Such an incredible honor to be a guest of <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/MELANIATRUMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MELANIATRUMP</a> for the State of the Union. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to be present and to have my story recognized as part of the fight to protect women’s sports.
Thank you for giving a voice to this issue!!!
— Payton McNabb (@paytonmcnabb_) <a href="https://twitter.com/paytonmcnabb_/status/1896942436586516624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2025</a></blockquote>
The former high school athlete is a vocal advocate for keeping trans-identifying males out of female sports. She previously said she hopes that by speaking up, she can prevent another tragedy like hers from happening again.
In a recent <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/12/17/us-news/female-athlete-permanently-hurt-by-trans-athlete-speaks-out/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">documentary</a> titled, “Kill Shot: How Payton McNabb Turned Tragedy Into Triumph” — created by the Independent Women’s Forum — filmmakers share what happened to McNabb when she was 17 after a trans-identifying player spiked a volleyball at her head, knocking her unconscious.
While the other players on her team finished the game, McNabb was rushed to the hospital with a concussion, a neck injury, and two black eyes.
“If my story can in any way help prevent this from happening to at least just one woman or girl, then it was all worth it,” McNabb said about the documentary. “It was 100% avoidable, if only my rights as a female athlete had been more important than a man’s feelings.”
McNabb, who had dreams of playing college softball, ended up being diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, partial paralysis, a brain bleed, and loss of peripheral vision on her right side. She also suffers from severe headaches, confusion, and memory loss.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/i-still-suffer-high-school-volleyball-star-spiked-in-face-by-trans-player-describes-her-horrific-injuries" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘I Still Suffer’: High School Volleyball Star Spiked In Face By Trans Player Describes Her Horrific Injuries</a>

Teenage volleyball player prepares to serve…

Volleyball Player Injured By Trans-Identifying Player To Be Guest At Trump’s Joint Address

Congress

Melania Trump

Payton McNabb

Politics

State of the Union

Transgender

The Senate was set to vote on S. 9, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025, on Monday — but Democrats may put it on pause.
The bill strengthens Republican efforts to keep biological males from participating in women’s and girls’ athletics based on “gender identity,” declaring that gender would be “recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
Two Democrats from Texas, Reps. Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar, crossed over what would have been a straight party line vote to get the bill through the House earlier in the year. Senate Republicans would need seven Democrats to vote with them in order to reach the necessary 60-vote threshold.
Republicans took to X to voice their disappointment in their colleagues’ opposition to the bill.
Bill sponsor Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) called out Democrats who repeatedly insist that women and girls have not lost out on trophies, medals, and scholarships due to males taking over their sports.
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One of Democrats’ most frequent talking points is that men competing in women’s sports doesn’t impact that many people. 
This is a LIE.
Over 900 women’s trophies have gone to men in the past 4 years. 🏆🏆🏆
This doesn’t include the THOUSANDS of women who didn’t earn a spot on…
&mdash; Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) <a href="https://twitter.com/TTuberville/status/1896674266759729167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The Senate Republicans also released a statement, saying, “For four years, Senate Democrats cheered as female athletes were forced to compete against men. Senate Republicans will ALWAYS fight for fairness and safety in women’s sports.”
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For four years, Senate Democrats cheered as female athletes were forced to compete against men.
Senate Republicans will ALWAYS fight for fairness and safety in women’s sports.
&mdash; Senate Republicans (@SenateGOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenateGOP/status/1896688479670849577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“The vast majority of Americans have rejected the farce of men pretending to be women playing in women&#8217;s sports. But not Senate Democrats! Senate Democrats STILL want to force girls to compete against men pretending to be women,” Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) added.
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The vast majority of Americans have rejected the farce of men pretending to be women playing in women&#39;s sports. 
But not Senate Democrats! 
Senate Democrats STILL want to force girls to compete against men pretending to be women.
&mdash; Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomCottonAR/status/1896639713983004953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines — who was forced to compete against and ultimately cede her trophy to trans-identifying male swimmer Lia Thomas — warned Democrats that voting against the bill could backfire on them politically in the midterm elections.
“To the Democrats who plan on voting NO on todays vote to advance the Protection of Women and Girls in Sport Act, prepare for relentless campaign ads in 2026,” she posted.
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To the Democrats who plan on voting NO on todays vote to advance the Protection of Women and Girls in Sport Act, prepare for relentless campaign ads in 2026&#8230;<a href="https://twitter.com/SenateDems?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenateDems</a> <a href="https://t.co/ILaSuoRtO3">https://t.co/ILaSuoRtO3</a>
&mdash; Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Riley_Gaines_/status/1896547674461233661?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) added, “Remember guys— it takes 60 votes to clear the procedural vote and break the filibuster. We have 53 GOP Senators. This is an 80/20 issue. Is your Senator voting YES?”
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Remember guys— it takes 60 votes to clear the procedural vote and break the filibuster. We have 53 GOP Senators. This is an 80/20 issue. Is your Senator voting YES?
&mdash; Markwayne Mullin (@SenMullin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenMullin/status/1896553223634452572?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The White House also officially backed the bill on Monday just ahead of the planned procedural vote.

NCAA SWIMMING: MAR 18 Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships

Senate Republicans Torch Dems For Failing To Protect Women’s Sports

Democrats

Girls

Senate

Social Issues

Transgender Athletes

Women Sports

Fox NFL broadcaster Jimmy Johnson said he’s made the “difficult decision” he’s been weighing for years and announced that he’s retiring.
During Johnson’s Monday appearance on “The Herd,” the former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys said after nearly three decades, he’s leaving the Fox Sports NFL show, <a href="https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jimmy-johnson-announces-retirement-from-fox-sports">NBC Sports</a> reported.
“I’ve made an extremely difficult decision,” Johnson said. “I’ve been thinking about it for the last four or five years, and I’ve decided to retire from Fox.”
“I’m gonna miss it, I’m gonna miss all the guys … but it has been a great run starting 31 years ago,” he added.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
It was a great run! <a href="https://t.co/zk08wQdXu7">https://t.co/zk08wQdXu7</a>
— Jimmy Johnson (@JimmyJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimmyJohnson/status/1896649465664319961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 3, 2025</a></blockquote>
Johnson famously started commenting on what was happening during NFL games on Sundays, after walking away from coaching the Cowboys in March 1994. He then returned to coaching with the Miami Dolphins for a brief run from 1996-1999, before going back into the booth in 2002, per the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-johnson-fox-nfl-retires-f4b6943415d3037e210becc9b098b311" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Associated Press</a>.
&#8220;The Herd&#8221; host Colin Herd asked the 81-year-old former NFL coach, Hall of Famer, and two-time Super Bowl winner about taking on the role of coach behind the scenes on the show.
Johnson agreed and pointed out that it was because he watched those he worked with on the set, like Howie Long and Michael Strahan when they were coming up in the football world, before they became giants in the NFL.
“So, we are all very, very close,” the Fox sports commentator said. “Kurt Menefee [sportscaster], he was in Dallas when I was in Dallas. And so it was just natural for me to be somewhat of a coach … so I just kind of played the same role that I played for many, many years as a head football coach.”
Shortly after the news broke, Strahan shared a touching message on <a href="https://x.com/michaelstrahan/status/1896639546176991623">X</a> to his friend.
“Congratulations on your retirement @JimmyJohnson!&#8221; Strahan wrote. “It has been 17 seasons of fun and laughs sitting next to you. You’re truly one of a kind and thanks for being you and gifting me with one of the best friendships anyone could ever ask for.”
“Hope you enjoy fishing and drinking beers on the boat,” he added. “You deserve it, love you Coach!  @NFLonFOX.”
Former NFL wide receiver Julian Edelman also wished coach well, sharing on <a href="https://x.com/JimmyJohnson/status/1896666953701539952">X</a>, “Coach, I grew up watching you win at every level. Then when I came into the Fox family and saw your work ethic, I got to see first hand why you had so much success.”
“Thanks for welcoming me in, letting me pick your brain each week, and retired or not, you still got the best head of hair in the biz,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Enjoy retirement coach.”
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/travis-kelce-makes-decision-about-nfl-retirement" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Travis Kelce Makes Decision About NFL Retirement</a>

Jimmy Johnson

Fox Sports Host Jimmy Johnson Makes Decision About Retirement

Broadcasting

Dallas Cowboys

Entertainment

WASHINGTON—Ahead of the Senate vote on legislation protecting women&#8217;s sports, the White House issued a statement supporting the bill, saying that it is an important move that complements the president&#8217;s executive order.
“The Administration strongly supports passage of S. 9, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025,&#8221; the White House statement said. &#8220;Through an amendment to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, this bill would expressly recognize what is already federal law—that it is an illegal act of discrimination for a man to participate in a federally funded athletic program or activity designated for women or girls.&#8221;
The White House also noted that the bill, introduced by Republican Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, recognizes that the word &#8220;sex,&#8221; as &#8220;used in the statutory scheme, is based solely on reproductive biology and genetics.&#8221;
&#8220;Men participating in women’s sports not only is demeaning and dangerous to women and girls, but it erodes the integrity of our Nation’s civil rights laws,&#8221; the White House said. &#8220;Congress’s affirmative vote on this bill would complement both federal court rulings and President Trump’s February 5, 2025, Executive Order, ‘Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.’”
<div id="attachment_886339" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-backs-tubervilles-womens-sports-legislation-ahead-of-senate-vote/former-president-donald-trumps-hush-money-trial-continues-in-new-york-24" rel="attachment wp-att-886339"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-886339" class="wp-image-886339 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2152756945-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2152756945-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2152756945-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2152756945-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2152756945-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2152756945-2048x1366.jpg 2048w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2152756945-1800x1200.jpg 1800w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/03/GettyImages-2152756945-1200x800.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)</div>
On Monday evening, senators will vote on the legislation, which Tuberville introduced in January 2025. The House of Representatives passed similar legislation in January.
Both Tuberville and Trump have repeatedly pointed to polls showing that most Americans do not support men in women&#8217;s sports. The Alabama senator has condemned former President Joe Biden for taking a &#8220;sledgehammer to Title IX&#8221; and allowing men in women&#8217;s sports across the United States — a move that <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/biological-females-have-lost-nearly-900-medals-trans-athletes-un-report">resulted in more than 900 women</a> losing trophies to men who identify as transgender women.
In early February, Trump signed an executive order banning men from competing in women’s sports, a significant moment in the fight to protect the integrity of women’s spaces from gender activists and ideologues.
“From now on,” he said to massive applause from those assembled, “women’s sports will be for only women.”
“With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” he added.
The order itself states that &#8220;it is the policy of the United States to rescind all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities, which results in the endangerment, humiliation, and silencing of women and girls and deprives them of privacy. It shall also be the policy of the United States to oppose male competitive participation in women’s sports more broadly, as a matter of safety, fairness, dignity, and truth.”
Tuberville&#8217;s legislation bolsters that order, and is particularly important, given that executive orders can be reversed by a subsequent administration.
&#8220;73% of Georgia voters do NOT want men competing in women’s sports,&#8221; Tuberville posted on X Monday. &#8220;I hope my colleagues <a class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21" dir="ltr" role="link" href="https://x.com/ReverendWarnock">@ReverendWarnock</a> and <a class="css-1jxf684 r-bcqeeo r-1ttztb7 r-qvutc0 r-poiln3 r-1loqt21" dir="ltr" role="link" href="https://x.com/ossoff">@Ossoff</a> will join me in standing up for the more than 77,000 Georgia high school female athletes who want men OUT of their sports and locker rooms.&#8221;

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Holds Media Opportunity With Newly-Elected GOP Senators

White House Backs Tuberville’s Women’s Sports Legislation Ahead Of Senate Vote

LGBTQ

Tommy Tuberville

President Donald Trump said late Friday night that he will move to issue a full pardon for late baseball legend and all-time hit leader Pete Rose, and ripped into Major League Baseball for failing to add Rose to the Hall of Fame before his death last year.
Rose is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time, but was banned from baseball for sports betting. Though, notably, Rose only ever bet on his team winning.
&#8220;Major League Baseball didn’t have the courage or decency to put the late, great, Pete Rose, also known as &#8216;Charlie Hustle,&#8217; into the Baseball Hall of Fame,&#8221; Trump posted to TruthSocial. &#8220;Now he is dead, will never experience the thrill of being selected, even though he was a FAR BETTER PLAYER than most of those who made it, and can only be named posthumously. WHAT A SHAME!&#8221;
&#8220;Anyway, over the next few weeks I will be signing a complete PARDON of Pete Rose, who shouldn’t have been gambling on baseball, but only bet on HIS TEAM WINNING,&#8221; the president said. &#8220;He never betted against himself, or the other team.&#8221;
Trump noted that Rose &#8220;had the most hits, by far, in baseball history, and won more games than anyone in sports history.&#8221;
&#8220;Baseball, which is dying all over the place, should get off its fat, lazy a**, and elect Pete Rose, even though far too late, into the Baseball Hall of Fame!&#8221; the president ended his post.
Before his death, Rose expressed regret over the betting scandal. “There’s only one thing I would change if I had to live it all over again … I would obviously turn my life around and not bet on baseball,” Rose <a href="https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2024/09/30/pete-rose-mlb-hits-leader-obituary/2808469001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the Cincinnati Enquirer back in 2018.
&#8220;Having said that, I feel like I’ve been a pretty good citizen,&#8221; he added. &#8220;You never read about me being in a bar after hours, beating up my wife, or getting into a fight with a fan and I was as gracious to everyone as I could be.”
In 2023, a year before his passing, he spoke about the MLB&#8217;s refusal to forgive him.
“I’ve been suspended over 30 years,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/christianred/2023/02/08/pete-rose-says-hopes-of-reinstatement-and-cooperstown-plaque-have-greatly-diminished/?sh=4c65ddc13238" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Forbes. &#8220;That’s a long time to be suspended for betting on your own team to win. And I was wrong. But that mistake was made. Time usually heals everything. It seems like it does in baseball, except when you talk about the Pete Rose case.”

Washington Nationals v Philadelphia Phillies

Trump Says He’ll Pardon Baseball Legend Pete Rose, Goes Off On ‘Lazy-A**’ MLB For Lack Of ‘Courage’

Trump Says He’ll Pardon Baseball Legend Pete Rose, Goes Off On ‘Lazy Ass’ MLB For Lack Of ‘Courage’ 

Baseball

Major League Baseball

Pete Rose

The National Football League is looking to replace its chain-gang measurement system with the high-tech Hawk-Eye virtual technology to measure first downs starting with the 2025 season.
“Among the interesting items from an NFL football ops session with media: the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement for line to gain is slated to replace the chains as the primary measurement system for the regular season in 2025,” an <a href="https://x.com/MikeGarafolo/status/1894862511955923004" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X</a> post on Wednesday from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo read.
“The chain gang will remain on sidelines as a backup,” he added. “Average time to measure with the chains: 75 seconds. Virtual measurements in the testing phase: 30 seconds.”
The league said that an average of 12 weekly measurements took place during last season, the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/02/26/sports/nfl-is-finally-replacing-antiquated-chain-gang/">New York Post</a> noted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Among the interesting items from an NFL football ops session with media: the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement for line to gain is slated to replace the chains as the primary measurement system for the regular season in 2025.
The chain gang will remain on sidelines as a backup. <a href="https://t.co/v9exggobVc">pic.twitter.com/v9exggobVc</a>
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/1894862511955923004?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote>
The decision can be made without a vote from the owners of the 32 NFL teams, <a href="https://x.com/MarkMaske/status/1894862693628006694">according to The Washington Post</a>.
“The whole effort was to begin taking a look at it, to see what worked, what didn’t work,” Walt Anderson, the NFL’s officiating rules analyst and club communications liaison, said back in August, per the outlet.
Interestingly, the officials must first place the ball on the field manually following the play and then the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement will assess if a ball has made it past the line to gain or not, the Post noted.
“This is post spotting the ball,” NFL senior vice president of football business strategy Kimberly Fields told The Washington Post. “The officials on the field will still determine where forward progress ends.”
The technology was first tested during the 2024 preseason, with a growing group calling for it to become a reality following what some felt was a questionable first-down call during the AFC Championship between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.
However, the Hawk-Eye virtual measurement might not have had an effect on the Chiefs-Buffalo game because the officials on the field are the ones who determine if Bills QB Josh Allen would’ve gained a first down in the game or not. During that playoffs game, the officials determined Allen was indeed short of the first down after he attempted to do a quarterback sneak.
The ball was then handed over to the Chiefs, who went down and scored and eventually went on to win the game, securing the team&#8217;s third straight trip to the Super Bowl.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/insulting-and-preposterous-nfl-goes-on-defense-regarding-ref-calls-for-chiefs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">‘Insulting And Preposterous’: NFL Goes On Defense Regarding Ref Calls For Chiefs</a>

NFL: DEC 15 Dolphins at Giants

NFL To Replace Chains With Tech To Measure First Downs

Buffalo Bills

Referees