New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who won his fifth Super Bowl title three months ago, was on Friday named the cover player for video game Madden NFL 18.
The 40-year-old superstar, who is to become the oldest NFL player ever featured on the cover of EA Sports’ American football video game, challenged the notion of a “curse” on Madden cover players in a video on Facebook.
“I’ve heard there are some of you out there who might be worried about something called the ‘Madden Curse,’” Brady said. “There’s no such thing as curses. It’s a total myth.”
Brady broke a mirror with a hammer and walked under a ladder, both bad luck signs, to support his case.
“They wouldn’t let me break the full-length mirror... All good!” Brady said on Facebook.
The video game, available on Aug. 25, just ahead of this season’s September start, is called the “G.O.A.T. Edition” for “Greatest of All Time.” It has a cover with Brady from the waist up in a Patriots jersey and helmet, his mouth open wide and screaming.
Brady follows Patriots teammate Rob Gronkowski, who was on last year’s video game cover, making this the first time teammates have been featured in consecutive years.
However, Gronkowski was limited to only eight games last season because of a back injury, the latest victim of a “curse” that has been said to have claimed victims as such as former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick and then-Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson.
“I’m not one to believe in curses, so I’m ready to take the challenge head on like always,” Brady said. “It doesn’t stand a chance.”
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt knocked reigning champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals on Saturday, while Victor Osimhen starred as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up a clash with hosts Morocco. In Agadir, Morocco, a thrilling last-eight tie saw Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia net in the first half for the Pharaohs before an own goal by Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh brought the Ivorians back into it. Salah then got Egypt’s third early in the second half and they held on after Guela Doue again reduced the deficit. Egypt is to face Senegal
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
The US’ Mikaela Shiffrin speeds down the course during an alpine ski women’s World Cup slalom in Flachau, Austria, on Tuesday. She won the slalom for the sixth time this season.