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Today’s WOW moments from sports world!

⚾️ ROCKIES DUMP BUD BLACK, DODGERS COACH CALLS IT OUT
🏀 MVP FRONTRUNNERS STUMBLE IN NBA PLAYOFF GRIND
🏎️ KYLE LARSON DOMINATES, BLANEY RUNS OUTTA LAPS (AGAIN)

⚾️ Rockies Fire Bud Black, But the Real Problem’s Still in the Owner’s Box

The Rockies finally made a move, firing manager Bud Black after a miserable 7–33 start. But around the league, nobody’s blaming Bud for this mess. Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts didn’t hold back, saying not even Casey Stengel could’ve done much with this roster.

The bigger issue? Colorado’s front office and an ownership group that flat-out refuses to spend. Roberts, who coached with Black in San Diego, made it clear this wasn’t about bad managing — it’s about a team built to lose.

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The move hit hard inside the Rockies clubhouse too. Ace Germán Márquez, who’s been with Black since 2017, was visibly emotional talking about his former manager. “It’s kind of hard, man,” he admitted after Sunday’s game.

In a fitting moment, Márquez picked up the win in Black’s final game, a rare bright spot in a bleak season. Warren Schaeffer now steps in as interim manager, but unless ownership finally opens their wallet, don’t expect much to change in Denver.

🏀 NBA Playoffs Go 90s — And the MVPs Can’t Keep Up

The NBA playoffs have thrown up a lot of new situations. The return of 90s physical basketball, fatigue and injuries, as well as flipping the script on regular season performances. But the biggest disappointment so far has been the performances of the two MVP frontrunners.

Both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic have been underwhelming. They have dominated games in both their playoff series so far. But the lack of consistency has disappointed fans and analysts alike.

This series between the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder has continued the physical basketball theme of these playoffs. That means, fouls are not called with the same frequency, and players have to do more to succeed.

Battles ensued elsewhere in the league, particularly Game 3 between the Warriors and Timberwolves. Draymond Green’s physicality has helped them win games, but now they are becoming a liability. After he exited Game 3, the Warriors could not defend in the same manner and lost the game.

Another team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, tried to continue its physicality from Game 3. They came into Game 4 fresh off that confidence and started the game with the same vigor, but then, the Indiana Pacers’ offense hit them on the chin.

A 41-point lead at halftime helped both groups of starters sit and avoid expending more energy. On top of that, the Cavs lost Donovan Mitchell to an ankle injury. If he does not return, this humiliating loss might be the last image basketball fans have of the East-leading Cavs.

Which means, the Boston Celtics might not meet them in the East Finals. They managed to find their three-point stroke and won Game 3 to bring back the confidence after two straight losses at home. Now the defending champions have to continue winning to return to the Finals.

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👑 Caitlin & Angel: New Moves, Same Star Power

Caitlin Clark gave Indiana Fever fans a scare after revealing she was nursing a leg injury. But she was practicing with her teammates and made time to donate $300,000 to Feeding America. The superstar also makes it a point to attend Pacers games, who are 6-0 in the playoffs whenever Clark watches them live.

She and her teammates battled the stud Atlanta Dream in their final preseason game. Leg injury or not, she scored 13 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and handed 7 assists in 23 minutes. This performance has fans believing the 23-year-old is about to take off.

Her rival, Angel Reese, is also expected to take off this season after working on her game. She lost the last preseason game against the Lynx. But what caught the attention of fans was her play as a point forward. She dished out five assists, which suggests her head coach is trying to build an overall game for her.

Even if her game is changing, the Chicago Sky star is still the same person. She is trying to help the children of her hometown in Maryland gain financial knowledge before starting to earn money. She is doing this project in collaboration with NBA legend Magic Johnson.

🏁 Larson’s Kansas Clinic, Blaney’s Heartbreak, and NASCAR’s Horsepower Headache

Kyle Larson put on an absolute clinic at Kansas. Pole position, fastest lap, stage wins, and the race win — it was a dominant weekend for the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports star. Ryan Blaney gave it a late go, charging through the field in the final laps, but as Blaney himself put it, he was “five laps too late” to really scare Larson.

It’s been a rough theme for Blaney — always fast at the end, but just short on laps. That missed chance also snapped Team Penske’s two-week win streak after Austin Cindric and Joey Logano’s back-to-back victories.

As for Larson, this marks his third Cup Series win of the season, and he’s now eyeing the Memorial Day weekend “Double” — the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. Last year rain ruined his shot; this time, he’s out to finish both.

Off the track, the horsepower debate is heating up again. Drivers like Larson and Denny Hamlin are calling for a bump to 750 HP, hoping to inject more excitement into Next-Gen racing. NASCAR’s hesitant, concerned about costs and attracting new manufacturers, but some movement might be coming.

All eyes now shift to Indianapolis, where Larson’s wild two-week stretch kicks off.

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