Professional Sports
Former MLB World Series winner Octavio Dotel dies in nightclub collapse in Dominican Republic
Former MLB World Series winner Octavio Dotel died Tuesday. He was 51. Dotel was reportedly one of at least 58 people who died as a result of a nightclub collapse in the Dominican Republic, a spokesman for the country’s sports ministry confirmed to USA Today. The Jet Set nightclub roof collapsed early Tuesday morning during […]

Former MLB World Series winner Octavio Dotel died Tuesday. He was 51.
Dotel was reportedly one of at least 58 people who died as a result of a nightclub collapse in the Dominican Republic, a spokesman for the country’s sports ministry confirmed to USA Today. The Jet Set nightclub roof collapsed early Tuesday morning during a concert. At least 160 people were injured in the incident, per the Associated Press. It is unclear what caused the roof to collapse.
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There were reports Tuesday that Dotel was among those trapped in the rubble following the collapse. Rescue crews searched for survivors Tuesday, per the Associated Press.
“We presume that many of them are still alive, and that is why the authorities here will not give up until not a single person remains under the rubble,” said Juan Manual Méndez, director of the Center of Emergency Operations.
Nelsy Cruz, governor of the northwestern province of Montecristi and sister of former MLB All-Star Nelson Cruz, was also killed in the collapse, as was former MLB player Tony Blanco, per AP. Blanco, 43, played in 56 games for the Washington Nationals in 2005.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred mourned Dotel, Cruz, Blanco and the remaining victims in a statement released Tuesday evening:
“Major League Baseball is deeply saddened by the passings of Octavio Dotel, Tony Blanco, Nelsy Cruz, and all the victims of last night’s tragedy in Santo Domingo. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of all those who have been affected and to our colleague Nelson and his entire family. The connection between baseball and the Dominican Republic runs deep, and we are thinking of all the Dominican players and fans across the game today.”
A standout reliever, Dotel spent 15 seasons in the majors. After breaking in with the New York Mets, Dotel spent five seasons with the Houston Astros. He developed into a strong late-innings option, posting a 3.25 ERA over 449 innings with the Astros. He was used as the team’s primary closer in 2004 before being traded to the Athletics. He saved a career-high 36 games that season.
Following another strong season with the Athletics, Dotel began to bounce around the league. He spent time with the New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers.
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His most notable stop during that period came in the 2011 season, when he joined the Cardinals in a midseason trade. The 2011 Cardinals went on to win the World Series. Dotel pitched 10 1/3 innings during the postseason that year, with a 2.61 ERA and 14 strikeouts.
Dotel’s final season in the majors came in 2013. He appeared in just six games with the Tigers before going on the IL with an elbow injury. He failed to latch on to a team for the 2014 season and retired that October. When Dotel retired, he held the major-league record by playing for 13 different MLB clubs. Dotel’s record was broken by his former teammate Edwin Jackson, who appeared in the majors with 14 different clubs.
Professional Sports
Red Sox Acquire Ryan Noda
Infielder/outfielder Ryan Noda has been traded from the Angels to the Red Sox, according to announcements from both clubs. The Halos, who designated Noda for assignment a few days ago, receive cash considerations in return. The Red Sox optioned Noda to Triple-A Worcester and transferred outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida to the 60-day injured list to […]

Infielder/outfielder Ryan Noda has been traded from the Angels to the Red Sox, according to announcements from both clubs. The Halos, who designated Noda for assignment a few days ago, receive cash considerations in return. The Red Sox optioned Noda to Triple-A Worcester and transferred outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida to the 60-day injured list to open a 40-man roster spot.
Noda, 29, was a Rule 5 success story just over a year ago. Going into 2023, the Athletics plucked him from the Dodgers and put him at first base almost every day, in addition to occasional time in the outfield corners. He stepped to the plate 495 times that year and posted an awful 34.3% strikeout rate but he also drew walks at a 15.6% clip and hit 16 home runs. Despite all those punchouts, he was on-base enough and had enough power to produce a .229/.364/.406 line and 122 wRC+.
That was generally in line with his previous minor league performance. In Triple-A with the Dodgers the year prior, he had a 16% walk rate, 28.2% strikeout rate and 25 home runs, leading to a .259/.395/.474 line and 125 wRC+.
But Noda got out to a slow start in 2024. He had a .128/.242/.198 line on May 2nd when the A’s sent him down to the minors. From then on, he did his usual thing. He had 447 Triple-A plate appearances last year with 22 home runs, a 19.9% walk rate and a 30% strikeout rate.
The A’s put him on waivers in November and the Angels claimed him. The Halos kept him in Triple-A to start the year, where he continued in his particular fashion, though with some apparent bad luck. He has a 20.1% walk rate and 34.4% strikeout rate so far this year with four home runs but a .224 batting average on balls in play, leading to a .148/.364/.270 line and 81 wRC+.
For the Red Sox, first base is an obvious target area. Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury a few weeks ago. Designated hitter Rafael Devers was approached about trying to learn the position but he didn’t take well to that request. Second baseman/outfielder Kristian Campbell has been doing first base drills but hasn’t yet appeared there in a game. Romy González took over the position for a few days before landing on the IL with a a left quad contusion. Glove-first utility guys like Abraham Toro and Nick Sogard have been covering the position in recent weeks.
Noda is a proper first baseman with a bit of major league success and options, so he’s a logical depth add for the Sox. They can get a close-up look at him in Worcester and decide whether they want to call him up for major league at-bats at some point.
As for Yoshida, this doesn’t change anything about his timeline. He has been on the 10-day IL all season, struggling to get his shoulder healthy after last year’s surgery. His 60-day count is retroactive to his initial IL placement, so he’ll be eligible for activation in about a week. He has not begun a rehab assignment, so a return in the near future doesn’t seem likely. As of yesterday, manager Alex Cora said Yoshida would be restarting his throwing program after receiving a cortisone shot, per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.
Photo courtesy of Rick Scuteri, Imagn Images
College Sports
Where to watch 'The Fall of Diddy' documentary
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting […]


Hip Hop was king in the Nineties and Noughties, with some of the most infamous albums of the rap genre emerging during this time from the likes of Biggie Smalls and Jay-Z to Mary J Blige and Usher. But, if you flip any of those album covers over, the likelihood is you’ll see the same name over and over again – Sean Combs (aka Diddy), a rapper and music producer who generated countless hip-hop hits under his Bad Boy Records label, which he founded in 1993.
Now though, the man who once ruled the music industry finds himself behind bars awaiting trial, accused of sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution and racketeering conspiracy.
The documentary – essential watching in light of the first day of his abuse trial – maps out his ascension to power and the allegations of violence and abuse that were kept quiet for years. The Fall of Diddy is a five-part documentary and comes from the same producers as Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV – a documentary series that went viral last year for exposing child abuse allegations from Nickelodeon TV sets in the 90s and early 00s.
The Diddy documentary, which is available to stream right now, includes testimonies of alleged victims and those who have worked closely with the rapper over the years, including his personal assistant. The series also shows and investigates security footage of Combs physically abusing his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, whose lawsuit against the mogul led to his ultimate arrest in September 2024.
To catch the full story of Diddy’s rise to power and the details of his alleged crimes, here’s how to stream the entire series now.
Where to watch ‘The Fall of Diddy’ in the UK?
The documentary series began streaming in the UK on 28 January, releasing all five episodes immediately onto Discovery+.
Discovery+ is an American streaming service that UK audiences can access by attaching it to an existing Amazon account for £3.99 per month or £39.99 annually. Included in your Discovery+ subscription you will also have access to live channels, including Animal Planet, Discovery, Discovery History, Discovery Science, DMAX, Food Network, HGTV, Quest, Quest Red, TLC, Turbo and ID.
A subscription to Discovery+ is also free for any Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky
Watch the trailer for ‘The Fall of Diddy’:
The documentary can be watched through Discovery+ in the UK, where a description of the documentary reads: “Pull back the curtain on music mogul Sean Combs, and the allegations of violence and abuse kept quiet for years. This chilling chronicle redefines the music mogul and business titan everyone thinks they know.” Many of the interviews featured are from those who claim to have experienced the violence and manipulation of Diddy firsthand, including rappers and singers within the music industry and former employees of his record label.
Your TV doesn’t support apps? Give it a new lease of life with one of the best streaming devices
College Sports
Finals frenzy
With only two rounds left in the Super Rugby Pacific regular season, fans are buzzing about which teams will make it to the playoffs. This year has been a close competition, with only six spots in the finals and a tight race for the top positions. The Brumbies, Chiefs, and Crusaders have pulled ahead and are […]
With only two rounds left in the Super Rugby Pacific regular season, fans are buzzing about which teams will make it to the playoffs.
This year has been a close competition, with only six spots in the finals and a tight race for the top positions.
The Brumbies, Chiefs, and Crusaders have pulled ahead and are currently leading the pack.
Let’s break down the potential scenarios for the finals, looking at which teams are safe, which are in danger of missing out, and who still has a chance:
Out of the running: Fijian Drua and Western Force
The Fijian Drua and Western Force are officially out of the finals race, as they are too far behind sixth-placed Moana Pasifika. They have byes this weekend and next.

In the hunt
Highlanders (19 points)
Next matches: Crusaders (away), Chiefs (home)
Best possible finish: Sixth place
Even though they sit at the bottom of the standings, the Highlanders still have a mathematical shot at the playoffs, but it won’t be easy.

Timoci Tavatavanawai charges ahead for the Highlanders against the Hurricanes in Wellington on 16 May 2025. The Hurricanes won 24-20. Photo/Photosport
They need to win their next two matches with bonus points and hope that Moana Pasifika lose their upcoming games against the Chiefs and the Hurricanes.
They will also need the Force to beat the Waratahs, and then the Waratahs to defeat the Blues in the final round and hope that the defending champions from Auckland will not pick up a losing bonus point.
Waratahs (22 points)
Next matches: Force (away), Blues (away)
Best possible finish: Sixth place
Despite their current struggles, the Waratahs can still qualify for the finals. They must win both remaining matches against the Force and the Blues while getting help from other teams.
If they win, they hope for favourable outcomes in matches involving the Reds, Hurricanes, and Moana Pasifika.

The Blues, led by captain Patrick Tuipulotu, will be hoping for a better outing in their next game after their shock 27-21 defeat to Moana Pasifika last weekend. Photo/Photosport
Blues (28 points)
Next matches: Bye, Waratahs (home)
Best possible finish: Fifth place
The Blues have a clearer path to the finals. They hope for a bye this weekend, followed by a victory over the Waratahs in their last game. If things go their way in other matches, they could end up in fifth or possibly higher.
Moana Pasifika (28 points)
Next matches: Chiefs (away), Hurricanes (away)
Best possible finish: Fourth place
Moana Pasifika have done well to reach sixth place, but face tough matches ahead. They must win both upcoming games against the Chiefs and Hurricanes and hope for favourable results in other matches to earn their first playoff spot. They will be keeping an eye on the Reds-Hurricanes clash this weekend. A draw or Reds’ win would be ideal for Tana Umaga’s men; they would climb to fifth combined with a Moana win over the Chiefs. Moana will make their maiden finals appearance if they defeat the Hurricanes in Wellington and the Blues lose to the Waratahs. With two Moana wins, if the Reds lose to the Drua in Brisbane, Moana Pasifika could climb as high as fourth on points differential.

Super Rugby Player of the Year 2025: Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea against the Fijian Drua, will lead his side against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday. Photo/Photosport
Hurricanes (30 points)
Next matches: Reds (away), Moana Pasifika (home)
Best possible finish: 4th
For the Hurricanes, things are looking more straightforward. Winning both their last matches will secure them fourth place. If they lose one but win the other, they still have a strong chance of making the finals, depending on the outcomes of several other matches.
Reds (32 points)
Next matches: Hurricanes (home, Drua (home)
Best possible finish: Second place
The Reds are in a strong position, aiming for the second final spot. They are looking to win their remaining matches to secure their place in the playoffs and potentially improve their position.

Crusaders winger Sevu Reece and his team-mates celebrate their win over the defending champions Blues in Christchurch on 18 April 2025. Photo/Photosport
Finals confirmed
Crusaders (41 points)
Next matches: Highlanders (h), Brumbies (away)
Best possible finish: First place
The race for the top three spots is close, with the Crusaders and Chiefs likely to move up past the Brumbies, who will have a break this weekend.
To secure first place, the Crusaders must win all their remaining games. They also hope the Chiefs will stumble against Moana Pasifika or the Highlanders. If the Crusaders lose to the Brumbies but beat the Highlanders, their final position will depend on how the Chiefs perform in their matches. Even in the worst-case scenario, the Crusaders should still finish in the top four, ensuring a spot in the finals.

Chiefs’ forward Wallace Sititi against the Force in Mount Maunganui on 25 April 2025. Chiefs won 56-22. Photo/Photosport
Chiefs (41 points)
Next matches: Moana Pasifika (h), Highlanders (a)
Best possible finish: First
The Chiefs have a points advantage that could help them finish first. If they manage to win both of their next games, especially with bonus points, they could reach 53 points. However, if the Chiefs lose their two matches while the Crusaders also lose and the Reds win both their games with bonus points, the Chiefs could drop to third place. In any case, the Chiefs are assured of a spot in the finals.
Brumbies (43 points)
Next matches: Bye, Crusaders (away)
Best possible finish: First
The Brumbies have a bye week to rest their players, but this also gives the Crusaders and Chiefs a chance to catch up. They are safe for the finals since the Reds can’t get enough points to surpass them. To solidify their position, the Brumbies must beat the Crusaders in their next match to guarantee they finish in at least second place. They will be watching the Chiefs closely, and if the Chiefs lose their upcoming games and the Brumbies win, it could help them take the top spot. But if the Chiefs win and the Crusaders lose, the Brumbies and Crusaders could be in a crucial match for the top position.
As the final rounds approach, every match counts, and fans are eagerly watching to see how everything plays out – World Rugby

Moana fans will be heading to Hamilton this Saturday to cheer on their side against the Chiefs. Photo/Photosport
Professional Sports
Jon Jones answers UFC retirement speculation as fans accuse champion of 'holding the belt …
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones continues to ponder unifying the heavyweight belts in a showdown with Tom Aspinall. Jon Jones continues to tease UFC fans about his fighting future months after beginning negotiations with the promotion to fight interim titleholder Tom Aspinall. Jones nearly broke the internet earlier this week when a leaked conversation with […]

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones continues to ponder unifying the heavyweight belts in a showdown with Tom Aspinall.
Jon Jones continues to tease UFC fans about his fighting future months after beginning negotiations with the promotion to fight interim titleholder Tom Aspinall. Jones nearly broke the internet earlier this week when a leaked conversation with a fighter featured the heavyweight champ declaring ‘I’m done’ when pushed about his activity in the Octagon.
Jones didn’t take long to reverse course on that declaration, easing fan fears of a UFC retirement in a follow-up social media post. Afterwards, Aspinall shared footage of him ramping up his training camp work, reigniting fan excitement behind the possible Jones matchup.
But hours later, Jones revamped fears of the Aspinall fight not coming to fruition.

Jon Jones shares latest UFC retirement update after week of social media flip flops
Jones teased retirement in the lead-up to his UFC 309 win over Stipe Miocic, in his long-awaited first heavyweight title defense. He briefly eyed a matchup with Alex Pereira, over Aspinall, before Pereira lost the UFC light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313.
After previously dismissing a showdown with Aspinall, due to personal disdain towards the interim titleholder, Jones reversed course in his post-fight interview at UFC 309 with Joe Rogan. But six months removed from UFC 309, Jones and Aspinall don’t seem closer to having a matchup come to fruition.
Jones’s latest comments won’t help quell UFC fans’ fears of the all-time great walking away before fighting Aspinall.
In a recent post on X, Jones answered a fan who asked him about how it feels to be a retired athlete.
“I don’t know if I wanna call it retired, I feel like I’ll always have an ability to pop out and show em. I’ve had many breaks throughout my career, my identity outside of fighting is well intact,” Jones answered.
MORE BLOODY ELBOW NEWS
“I’m genuinely enjoying life, I’m growing in different ways.”
UFC fans weren’t hearing it from Jones after his latest remarks.
“Just stop holding the belt hostage,” one fan replied on X.
“So you don’t want the smoke with Tommy?” another said.
“Your identity outside of fighting is absolutely horrendous, mate. This is the one time in your whole career where you have a fight that the fans truly want to see, you’ll get paid well for it, and you’re running away?”
“Just vacate the title admit retirement and you won’t have to see a British animal in your nightmares any longer.”
“Jon is severely retired.”
“After all your time in the UFC and everything it has given you then don’t you feel you owe it to the company to let the heavyweight division move on?”
“Bro thinks he’s the main character still. Never was the biggest draw and never will be.”
“Terrified of a polite English man.”
As of this writing, Jones hasn’t provided further comment on the state of the Aspinall fight and a potential retirement from MMA.
Jon Jones vs. Nate Diaz reality TV show cancelled after chaotic on-set brawl
Jones’s scheduled reality television showdown with Nate Diaz was abruptly cancelled after a chaotic on-set brawl between fighters and Diaz’s team. After the incident, several Russian fighters stalked Diaz and his team around Thailand on motorcycles in an attempt to intimidate the former UFC superstar.
Diaz and Jones were supposed to square off as coaches on a spinoff of The Ultimate Fighter in Thailand, featuring many promising MMA prospects in the region. Jones coached TUF once during his legendary career opposite Chael Sonnen.
As Jones continues to enjoy some down time in Thailand, many UFC fans are beginning to lose their patience with the UFC heavyweight champion. But UFC CEO Dana White remains adamant that the promotion will book the Jones vs. Aspinall showdown for later this year.
Professional Sports
Out now
May 21, 2025 | Paul Stimpson The final national champions of the season have been crowned and now you can see how they struck gold! Our Rewind highlights package from the Mark Bates Ltd Junior & Under-21 Nationals is available now on YouTube. Watch the best bits from all nine competitions in Kettering and hear […]


The final national champions of the season have been crowned and now you can see how they struck gold!
Our Rewind highlights package from the Mark Bates Ltd Junior & Under-21 Nationals is available now on YouTube.
Watch the best bits from all nine competitions in Kettering and hear from the champions – watch below or head over to our YouTube channel.
Up to seven tables were live-streamed over the weekend. Fancy watching the finals in full? No problem – we’ve got them all at TTE.TV. Click here to choose your match.
Photos from the event, by Table Tennis England’s Official Photographer Michael Loveder, are also available to buy on PhotoShelter.
Click below to browse photos.
To catch up on our reports, click below.
College Sports
Girls soccer
Goals were expected to be in short supply between Geneva and Bartlett on Tuesday. The Class 3A St. Charles East regional semifinal pitted two teams that have struggled to find the back of the net, especially late in the season. The Hawks failed to score a goal in their final two games, losing consecutive games […]

Goals were expected to be in short supply between Geneva and Bartlett on Tuesday.
The Class 3A St. Charles East regional semifinal pitted two teams that have struggled to find the back of the net, especially late in the season. The Hawks failed to score a goal in their final two games, losing consecutive games 1-0 to West Chicago and Geneva.
The Vikings, meanwhile, entered the playoffs with similar issues.
After a late start due to a lightning delay in the opening semifinal, the Hawks and Vikings hooked for up for a scoreless match in the first half. Offensive shots were a rarity, except for the occasional corner or free kick.
Geneva junior forward Audrey Stredde finally stepped to the forefront, scoring a goal from three yards out in the 74th minute for a 1-0 victory over the Hawks. The Vikings (5-11-4) will play St. Charles East for the championship at 6 p.m. Friday.
“The ball came back to me and I just hit it again,” Stredde said. “We had the momentum going and just had to finish it. I was not letting that ball go out of the box, and I got it in. The ball bounced back to me. I was wide open and had two shots and it went in. I wanted to score so bad.”
Geneva coach Megan Owens said the team’s tough schedule helped put them in position to win another regional title. The Vikings and Hawks finished in a scoreless tie earlier in the regular season.
“It feels good because we dominated the run of the play and were on their half of the field for the majority of time,” Owens said. “We graduated 10 seniors last year, so I knew we would be little bit young and it would be a rebuilding year, but I didn’t change our schedule. To beat the best, you have to play the best and you grow as a team. We’ve had a lot of positives, especially in the last two to three weeks of the season. It was a great team victory.”
The Vikings were aggressive in the second half, but Bartlett senior goalie Megan Kron, a captain who was named the Upstate Eight Conference West Division Keeper of the Year, was outstanding. Kron, who had six saves in the second half, had two highlight-reel saves in a three-minute segment right before Stredde’s goal, including a hard shot by Stredde in the 68th minute.
But Stredde found the back of the net following a long free kick by Ella Howard. In the middle of a group of players, Stredde fired a shot that was saved at first, but she managed to score off the rebound.
The Hawks (7-7-4) finished the season with three straight losses after putting together a three-game winning streak.
“We worked hard and were competitive, but the story of our season is we’ve struggled on the offensive end,” Bartlett coach Vince Revak said. “We’ve stayed in games defensively but it’s a matter of time when you are defending for 80 minutes that something will sneak through.”
In the first semifinal, host St. Charles East scored three goals in the first 11 minutes to post an 8-0 victory over Lake Park. The Saints (18-6-2) shrugged off Friday’s 2-0 loss to Wheaton Warrenville South by getting a hat trick and an assist from freshman sensation Mya Leon and two goals plus an assist from Sophia Wollenberg. The Lancers (5-14-1) did not have a single shot on goal.
“It was nice to get some confidence back for some players who haven’t been on the field in some time, and getting those minutes under us and getting some rhythm and finding the back of the net,” St. Charles East coach Vince DiNuzzo said. “Every game you win at this point is not something you take for granted. It’s win or go home.”
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