Basketball fans, get ready to witness history! FreeBets.com, your go-to destination for sports betting insights, is thrilled to announce our hand-picked “Ultimate American NBA Team” – a dream roster of the greatest U.S.-born players to ever grace the hardwood. This star-studded 13-man squad, coached by a legend, is our take on the perfect lineup that would dominate any court, any era. We’ve poured over stats, debated clutch moments, and considered team chemistry to bring you a roster that’s as exciting as a game-winning buzzer-beater.
Why this team? At FreeBets.com, we love the thrill of the game and the passion of building a winner. Our experts crafted this lineup to blend unstoppable offense, lockdown defense, and championship swagger. Here’s the squad that would have opponents shaking in their sneakers:
Starting Five:
Point Guard: Magic Johnson (Lansing, MI) – The 6’9” maestro who ran the Showtime Lakers to five titles. His vision (11.2 assists per game) and clutch play (1980 Finals MVP as a rookie) make him the ultimate floor general.
Shooting Guard: Michael Jordan (Brooklyn, NY) – The GOAT. Six rings, five MVPs, and a 30.1 PPG career average. Jordan’s scoring and defense (nine All-Defensive First Teams) are unmatched.
Small Forward: LeBron James (Akron, OH) – Four titles, four MVPs, and 20 All-NBA nods. LeBron’s versatility (27.1 PPG, 7.4 APG) and 2016 Finals heroics make him a must-have.
Power Forward: Tim Duncan (Saint Croix, USVI) – The Big Fundamental. Five championships, two MVPs, and 15 All-Defensive selections. Duncan’s quiet dominance anchors the frontcourt.
Center: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (New York, NY) – Six titles, six MVPs, and the NBA’s all-time scoring leader (38,387 points). Kareem’s skyhook and rim protection are timeless.
Sixth Man:
Kevin Durant (Washington, D.C.) – A 6’10” scoring machine with two titles and four scoring titles. KD’s 27.3 PPG and clutch shooting (2017 Finals MVP) bring instant offense off the bench.
Bench:
Kobe Bryant (Philadelphia, PA) – Five rings, 2008 MVP, and an 81-point game. Kobe’s Mamba Mentality and two-way play (12 All-Defensive nods) ignite the second unit.
Stephen Curry (Akron, OH) – Four titles, two MVPs, and the 3-point king (3,747 made). Curry’s shooting and 2022 Finals MVP performance stretch defenses to the limit.
Shaquille O’Neal (Newark, NJ) – Four titles, three Finals MVPs, and pure dominance (23.7 PPG, 58.2% FG). Shaq’s paint presence overwhelms.
Larry Bird (West Baden Springs, IN) – Three titles, three MVPs, and clutch magic (1987 ECF steal). Bird’s scoring and passing (24.3 PPG, 6.3 APG) add versatility.
Chris Paul (Winston-Salem, NC) – 12 All-NBA selections and 9.4 APG. Paul’s leadership and defensive grit (4.6 steals per 36 peak) steady the backup point guard spot.
Bill Russell (Monroe, LA) – 11 rings and five MVPs. Russell’s rebounding (22.5 RPG) and defense redefine winning.
Dwyane Wade (Chicago, IL) – Three titles, 2006 Finals MVP, and slashing brilliance (22.0 PPG). Wade’s athleticism and defense shine in reserve.
Coach: Phil Jackson (Deer Lodge, MT) – With 11 championships, the Zen Master knows how to unite superstars. His triangle offense and ego-wrangling skills make this team unstoppable.
Why these guys? Magic and LeBron’s playmaking sets up Jordan and KD for buckets. Duncan and Russell lock down the paint, while Curry’s shooting opens the floor. Kobe and Wade bring that killer instinct, and Kareem and Shaq ensure no one dares drive the lane. Under Jackson’s guidance, this team’s 47 combined championships scream dominance.
At FreeBets.com, we’re all about celebrating the game’s greatest moments and giving fans the edge. Check out our site for betting tips, odds, and more to fuel your NBA passion.
IMOLA, Italy (AP) — Here’s a guide that tells you what you need to know about Sunday’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix. It’s the seventh round of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
— Sunday: Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, 63 laps on the 4.91-kilometer (3.05-mile) Imola circuit. Starts at 9 a.m. ET (1300 GMT).
Where is the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix taking place?
The Imola circuit — officially the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari — is a narrow, old-school circuit which is a favorite with many drivers. It’s a venue with a history of tragedy after three-time F1 champion Ayrton Senna and Austrian driver Roland Ratzenberger were both killed during the 1994 race weekend. Italy is the only country other than the United States with more than one race on the 2025 F1 calendar. The Italian Grand Prix name belongs to Monza, which hosts in September, so this week’s race is named after the Emilia-Romagna region. Imola is in the last year of its contract.
What happened in the last race?
Oscar Piastri extended his standings lead with his third win in a row, taking victory at the Miami Grand Prix. That came after his teammate and title rival Lando Norris went head-to-head with defending champion Max Verstappen and ran off track. Norris had taken valuable points a day earlier by winning the sprint race.
6 — The win in Miami was the sixth of Piastri’s career, taking him past teammate Norris’ five career victories. It’s Piastri’s third season in F1, and Norris is in his seventh year.
4 — Piastri can become the first Australian to win four F1 races in a row since Jack Brabham in 1966.
2 — Franco Colapinto has been a mid-season replacement twice now in F1, first with Williams last year and now with Alpine, replacing Pierre Gasly. Just like in 2024, his first race of the year is in Italy.
What they’re saying
“I’ve got good momentum behind me and I’m extremely focused heading into this first race of the European swing of the season.” — Oscar Piastri.
“I am very excited to be going into race week for the first time since December. I am very grateful for this opportunity and now I have to get up to speed and showcase what I am capable of doing in the car.” — Franco Colapinto.
Tampa Bay Lightning, Scripps Sports partner on multi-year agreement to air National Hockey League team’s games. WXPX – TV Tampa Bay 66 new home in 2026
Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Nick Perbix (48) celebrates with the bench after his goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
The Tampa Bay Lightning have entered into a multi-year media rights agreement with Scripps Sports, which will make it easier than ever for fans throughout the Tampa Bay area to watch Lightning hockey games for free beginning with the start of the 2025-26 NHL season this fall.
This new agreement allows The E.W. Scripps Company (NASDAQ: SSP) to produce and distribute all preseason, regular season and first-round playoff Lightning games that are not allocated exclusively to national broadcasts.
Scripps, which owns WFTS-ABC Action News serving the Tampa television market, plans to launch a second full-power local station serving the Tampa-St. Petersburg area, WXPX-TV, which will be the broadcast home of the Lightning. That station will be branded “The Spot – Tampa Bay 66” and will launch locally on July 1, featuring news and entertainment programming in addition to all locally produced Lightning games. Scripps is in discussions with cable and satellite distributors to ensure Lightning games on The Spot will be available on cable, satellite as well as over-the-air television.
In addition to the local TV broadcasts, the Lightning and Scripps Sports will be introducing a new, direct-to-consumer experience where Bolts fans can livestream games within the Lightning app throughout the Bolts’ broadcast territory, powered by ViewLift. More details on the streaming experience will be made available prior to the start of the 2025-26 season.
“The Tampa Bay Lightning are one of the best teams in the NHL, and Bolts fans deserve easy access to all their games via cable, satellite, free over-the-air and streaming,” said Brian Lawlor, president of Scripps Sports. “The complement of broadcast television and streaming guarantees that fans can follow the games from their living room or wherever they are in their busy lives. We look forward to sharing many winning moments with one of the league’s most loyal fan bases.”
“We’re excited to announce Scripps Sports as the new media partner of the Tampa Bay Lightning,” said Vinik Sports Group CEO Steve Griggs. “A world-class fan experience starts with access — and fans have made it clear they want it to be easier to find and watch our games. This partnership delivers on that. We’re looking forward to working with Brian Lawlor and the Scripps Sports team to expand our reach and bring the excitement of Lightning hockey to more homes across Tampa Bay. We’re also incredibly grateful to Steve Tello and the FanDuel Sports team for their partnership and the many unforgettable moments we’ve shared.”
“We are honored to power the streaming experience for the Lightning and expand our support for the NHL and now seven of its teams,” said ViewLift CEO Rick Allen. “We will make it easy for Bolts fans to stream games through their existing Lightning mobile apps and new apps on far more devices, helping the Lightning bring on-ice action and behind-the-scenes information and experiences to fans of all ages, at home or on the move.”
In the NHL, Scripps Sports also has similar media rights agreements with the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers and Utah Mammoth.
eless Joe Jackson were reinstated by baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred on Tuesday, making both eligible for the sport’s Hall of Fame after their careers were tarnished by gambling scandals.
Rose’s permanent ban was lifted eight months after his death and came a day before the Cincinnati Reds will honor baseball’s career hits leader with Pete Rose Night.
Manfred announced Tuesday he was changing the league’s policy on permanent ineligibility, saying bans would expire at death. MLB said 17 individuals had their status changed by the decision, including all eight banned members of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox, former Philadelphia Phillies president Williams D. Cox and former New York Giants outfielder Benny Kauff.
Under the Hall of Fame’s current rules, the earliest Rose or Jackson could be inducted would be in 2028.
Rose agreed with then-Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti to a permanent ban on Aug. 23, 1989, following an investigation commissioned by Major League Baseball concluded Rose repeatedly bet on the Reds as a player and manager of the team from 1985-87, a violation of a long-standing MLB rule.
Rose first applied for reinstatement in September 1997, but Commissioner Bud Selig never ruled on the request. Manfred in 2015 rejected a petition for reinstatement, saying “Rose has not presented credible evidence of a reconfigured life.”
Rose died Sept. 30 at age 83, and a new petition was filed Jan. 8 by Jeffrey Lenkov, a lawyer who represented Rose. Lenkov and Rose’s daughter Fawn had met with Manfred on Dec. 17.
Rose’s supporters have included U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said he intends to pardon Rose posthumously. Manfred discussed Rose with Trump when the pair met in April, but he hasn’t disclosed specifics of their conversation.
In a letter to Lenkov, Manfred wrote, “In my view, a determination must be made regarding how the phrase ‘permanently ineligible’ should be interpreted in light of the purposes and policies behind Rule 21, which are to: (1) protect the game from individuals who pose a risk to the integrity of the sport by prohibiting the participation of such individuals; and (2) create a deterrent effect that reduces the likelihood of future violations by others.
Cincinnati Reds’ Pete Rose of the follows through after a long fly-out to the outfield during the first inning of a baseball game agains the New York Mets at New York’s Shea Stadium, July 24, 1978. (AP Photo/G. Paul Burnett, File)
“In my view, once an individual has passed away, the purposes of Rule 21 have been served.”
Marcus Giamatti, son of the former commissioner who signed the agreement banning Rose, said in a statement he was “incredibly disappointed” in Manfred’s decision.
“I am also disappointed that my family was not consulted prior to this decision,” he said. “The Commissioner’s decision makes this a very dark day for baseball, the country and the fans.
“My father’s mission by banning Rose was to uphold the integrity of the game. Therefore, reinstating Rose in this manner puts that integrity, Rule 21 and everything that my father fought to uphold in peril.”
A 17-time All-Star during a playing career from 1963-86, Rose holds record for hits (4,256), games (3,562), at-bats (14,053), plate appearances (15,890) and singles (3,215). He was the 1963 NL Rookie of the Year, 1973 MVP and 1975 World Series MVP. A three-time NL batting champion, he broke the prior hits record of 4,191 set by Ty Cobb from 1905-28.
Jackson was a .356 career hitter who was among the eight Black Sox banned for throwing the 1919 World Series. He died in 1951, but he remains one of baseball’s most recognizable names in part for his depiction by Ray Liotta in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams.
What else needs to happen for Rose or Jackson to reach the Hall of Fame?
Under a rule adopted by the Hall’s board of directors in 1991, anyone on the permanently ineligible list can’t be considered for election to the Hall. Jackson was twice considered on ballots by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, but received just 0.9% in 1936 and 1% of a nominating vote in 1940.
This undated file photo shows baseball player player Shoeless Joe Jackson. (AP Photo/File)
Rose’s reinstatement occurred too late for him to be considered for the BBWAA ballot. If not on the permanently banned list, Rose would have been eligible on the ballots each from 1992 through 2006. He was written in on 41 votes in 1992 and on 243 of 7,232 ballots (3.4%) over the 15 years, votes that were not counted.
Without the ban, both players are eligible for the Hall’s Classic Baseball Era, which next meets to consider players in December 2027 and considers those whose greatest contributions to the sport were before 1980.
A 10-person historical overview committee selects eight ballot candidates with the approval of the Hall’s board, and the ballot is considered by 16 members at the winter meetings, with a 75% or higher vote needed. The committee members include Hall of Fame members, team executives and media/historians.
Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark confirmed in a statement that players affected by Manfred’s ruling Tuesday would be considered.
“The National Baseball Hall of Fame has always maintained that anyone removed from Baseball’s permanently ineligible list will become eligible for Hall of Fame consideration,” she said. “Major League Baseball’s decision to remove deceased individuals from the permanently ineligible list will allow for the Hall of Fame candidacy of such individuals to now be considered.”
Among the players in the 2028 class eligible for the BBWAA ballot are Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina.
Former Cincinnati Reds player and guest Pete Ross acknowledges spectators during a Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame induction ceremony before a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Saturday, July 21, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
Did Trump help get Rose reinstated?
Trump has said he would pardon Rose, but it’s not clear what a presidential pardon for Rose would entail.
Rose entered guilty pleas on April 20, 1990, to two counts of filing false tax returns, admitting he failed to report $354,968 during a four-year period. Rose was sentenced on July 19, 1990, by U.S. District Judge S. Arthur Spiegel in Cincinnati to five months in prison. He also was fined $50,000 and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service as a gym teacher’s assistant with inner-city youths in Cincinnati as part of a one-year probation period. The first three months of the probation were to be spent at the halfway house. Rose repaid the Internal Revenue Service $366,042.