ROCKETS’ ALPEREN SENGUN ISSUES PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR OUTBURST AGAINST REFEREE JENNA RENEAU
Alperen Sengun apologised to referee Jenna Reneau for his "immature" behaviour before being named a 2026 NBA All-Star replacement.
Referee Jenna Reneau, wearing number 93, watched over the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls game at Barclays Centre on November 1, 2024, right in the heart of Brooklyn.
But the bigger story lately involves Houston Rockets centre Alperen Sengun. He found himself in hot water after he called NBA official Jenna Reneau a “b——” several times during a game against the Boston Celtics on February 4, a night when the Rockets lost 114-93. The moment blew up online after audio caught exactly what Sengun said.
Sengun didn’t dodge the fallout. After the Rockets’ win against the Thunder on Saturday, he admitted he messed up. He called his outburst “immature” and said he has to do better. “It was just the heat of the moment, and I said some stuff I shouldn’t have said,” Sengun told William Guillory from The Athletic.
He didn’t stop there. Sengun went straight to the referees’ locker room after the game to apologise to Reneau in person. “I felt bad about it,” he said. “I shook her hand and apologised. That was immature of me. I should know better.”
“Sometimes, you can’t control yourself, but I should have known better,” he added. “It just happened in the heat of the moment. Then, she understood, and it was good on both ends.”
Sengun got tossed from the game late in the fourth quarter—just over six minutes left—after he yelled about a missed call when he didn’t get to the free-throw line. He’d blown by Luke Garza, only for Neemias Queta to block him at the rim. The Rockets were down by 25 at that point, and Sengun later admitted that the frustration from the loss boiled over.
On a brighter note, Sengun just locked in an All-Star spot. He’ll replace the injured Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, making this his second All-Star appearance. He’s joining Team World, stepping into the slot left open by the reigning MVP under the NBA’s new All-Star setup.
Sengun’s numbers back it up—he’s averaging 20.8 points, 9.4 rebounds, and a career-high 6.3 assists. A lot of fans thought he got snubbed when the All-Star reserves were first announced, especially with newcomers like Jamal Murray, Chet Holmgren, and Deni Avdija making the cut. Some even argued Sengun deserved a nod over LeBron James or his teammate, Kevin Durant.
Last week, Sengun talked about being left out. “It was disappointing for me, but it happens,” he told BasketNews. “There’s a lot of talent in the league, and I’m still young. I’m going to make it eventually, and it just makes me work harder.
“I still have goals; I’ve got to make it, and stuff like this just pushes me in a good way. I just have to work harder and stay disciplined, and hopefully I’ll have a lot of years in the NBA and a lot more All-Star games ahead.”
Meanwhile, the NBA might have to name another All-Star replacement if Giannis Antetokounmpo can’t return from his calf injury. That’s still up in the air.
TY SIMPSON OFFICIALLY ENTERS QB1 CONVERSATION FOR 2026 NFL DRAFT AFTER BAMA RUN
Ty Simpson challenges Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza for QB1 status in the 2026 NFL Draft after a breakout Bama season.
After waiting behind Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson’s only season as Alabama’s starter has propelled him into serious first-round talk for the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s even being discussed as the top quarterback prospect over Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, according to ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.
But not everyone agrees. Former LSU standout Breiden Fehoko tweeted his scepticism: 'Ty Simpson wasn’t even going to start at Bama in 2026, and here y’all go calling him QB1 this draft.' This is how GMs get fired. Watch.
Orlovsky, however, stands by his view that Simpson holds the edge over Mendoza. He pointed out that when comparing their bodies of work, Simpson carried more of the load for his team. The gap, he says, is clear when you consider who had to do more and who won more games during the season: that’s Simpson, no contest.
Mendoza enters the draft after an extraordinary season. He led Indiana to an undefeated national championship and took home the Heisman Trophy. Scouts see him as the most pro-ready passer but have concerns over his pressure-to-sack rate, which hovers around 18.9%, potentially an issue for teams with weak offensive lines.
Meanwhile, Simpson’s draft stock rose sharply during a strong four-game run facing Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee. His upcoming performance at Alabama’s Pro Day could be crucial, especially for teams looking at quarterbacks who bring mobility and playmaking alongside pocket passing.
Simpson’s experience is limited to just 15 college games, thanks to the stacked quarterback depth at Alabama. Still, once he became the starter, he delivered solid numbers: 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions in the 2025 season.
Former NFL safety Louis Riddick has been vocal about Simpson’s potential. Speaking on ESPN, Riddick said that seeing him throw in person reveals the kind of physical talent Simpson has. He’s confident in Simpson’s mental game but notes the physical attributes will really stand out when seen up close. Riddick expects Simpson to continue improving his draft stock.
Simpson will get another chance to impress scouts at Alabama’s Pro Day on Wednesday, which could be pivotal in shaping his position ahead of the draft.
MASTERS UPDATE: TIGER WOODS CONFIRMS HE WILL ATTEND AUGUSTA NATIONAL "EITHER WAY" FOR 2026
Tiger Woods admits to a "rough road" after a frustrated TGL return, leaving his 2026 Masters status in serious doubt.
Tiger Woods says he’s still trying to get fit for The Masters next month, but he knows the clock’s not exactly on his side.
He made his golf comeback with Jupiter Links GC in Tomorrow’s Golf League, teaming up with Tom Kim and Max Homa. It’s been a while since Woods last played TGL in February 2025, when he tore his Achilles and had disc replacement surgery in his back. So, yeah, it’s been a rough road.
After his return on Tuesday, Woods didn’t sugarcoat things. He gave a pretty honest update about his chances at Augusta this year. You can tell he’s been keeping the door open for the 2026 Masters, but honestly, his appearance for Jupiter Links might’ve shaken up those plans.
Things actually started off looking good. Woods smashed a 279-yard drive on the second hole; it felt like a flash from the old Tiger. But that faded fast. His game unravelled, and by the seventh hole, he missed a three-yard putt, slammed his club into the ground, and his frustration was obvious.
Woods and his teammates just couldn’t keep up, and Jupiter Links ended up losing 9-2 to the Los Angeles Golf Club trio of Justin Rose, Sahith Theegala, and Tommy Fleetwood.
Afterwards, Tiger didn’t hold back: “We got our arse kicked. Three eagles in a row… I missed a short one to give them momentum, and we never got it back.”
Reporters quickly shifted the focus to The Masters. Even after a disappointing night, Woods still wants to play at Augusta National. “I want to play. I love the tournament. I’m going to be there either way with The Loop that's going up there, as well as the champions dinner. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll be practising and playing at home this week and keep trying to make progress.”
Honestly, it’s obvious why Woods wants to tee it up at Augusta. He’s won The Masters five times (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2019) and made the cut a record 24 times. Looking at how things went in his latest outing, though, it’s hard to picture him adding to those numbers in a few weeks. But if anyone can surprise people, it’s probably Tiger.
