Venus Williams, the legendary tennis player, has received a wildcard entry for the Auckland Classic in January, marking her first appearance at the tournament since 2015 and continuing her comeback after a 16-month hiatus.
The Detroit Tigers secured a playoff spot for the second consecutive year despite recent struggles, thanks to a crucial win over Boston and favorable outcomes in division and wildcard scenarios. Their postseason fate depends on upcoming games, with possibilities including winning the division, securing the second wildcard, or ending as the third wildcard team, with the first game scheduled for September 30th.
Billionaire Bill Ackman participated in a professional tennis match at the Hall of Fame Open using a wildcard, which was heavily criticized by tennis legends and fans for undermining the sport's meritocracy, with many calling it a publicity stunt and a mockery of professional tennis.
Former pro Andy Roddick criticized billionaire Bill Ackman's debut in professional tennis, calling it a 'joke' after Ackman and partner Jack Sock lost in a match that was widely mocked and considered beneath professional standards, raising questions about the legitimacy of Ackman's wildcard entry.
The Boston Celtics' chances of advancing to the NBA Cup knockout round as an Eastern Conference wildcard depend on the outcomes of two games: the Magic beating the Knicks and either the Bucks defeating the Pistons by at least five points or the Pistons beating the Bucks by at least six points. The Celtics finished pool play with a 3-1 record, tied with the Hawks, but lost the tiebreaker. Their advancement now hinges on point differentials and results from other teams' games.
Indie game Dire Decks has been cloned and released on Steam as Wildcard by Terry Brash, who refuses to take it down despite allegations of theft from the original developer, kindanice. Brash has not addressed the accusations seriously, instead posting memes on social media. The original developer may pursue a DMCA takedown if art assets or code were copied. Users are encouraged to support the original game on Itch.io instead of the cloned version on Steam.
The NFL playoff picture is taking shape as the regular season concludes, with the Steelers clinching a spot after the Jaguars' loss to the Titans. In the AFC, the Texans, Steelers, and Bills have secured playoff berths, while the Jaguars have been eliminated. The NFC playoff race is still open, with the Packers having a chance to clinch the final spot by beating the Bears. The current wild-card matchups include the Steelers facing the Dolphins and the Bills taking on the Chiefs in the AFC, while the Saints would play the Cowboys and the Rams would face the Lions in the NFC.
The Green Bay Packers' path to the NFL playoffs is clear: a win against the Chicago Bears secures their spot. Depending on other game outcomes, the Packers could land either the No. 6 or No. 7 seed, facing potential wild-card opponents such as Detroit, Dallas, or Philadelphia. The Packers hold the tiebreaker over the Rams for seeding, and the NFC East division title race between the Cowboys and Eagles also impacts Green Bay's playoff positioning. While there's a slim chance to make the playoffs with a loss, the Packers aim to control their destiny with a victory.
Heading into Week 18 of the 2023 NFL season, 20 teams remain in playoff contention, marking a non-strike season record since the NFL-AFL merger. Projections based on simulations by Stephen Oh of SportsLine.com suggest a competitive wild card round with matchups including Colts at Bills, Dolphins at Chiefs, Browns at Jaguars in the AFC, and Packers at Cowboys, Rams at Lions, Eagles at Buccaneers in the NFC. The Ravens and 49ers secure byes for the first round.
The Cleveland Browns have secured the fifth seed in the NFL playoffs and will face one of the AFC South teams in the Wild Card round. Unlike a fixed bracket system, the NFL reseeds after the Wild Card weekend, ensuring the top seeds face the lowest remaining seeds. This means the Browns' potential opponents in the Divisional round remain unknown until the Wild Card games conclude. The Browns are currently preparing for their Wild Card matchup and aiming to enter the Divisional round healthy and victorious.
The Detroit Lions are eyeing their potential opponents for the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs, with the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers emerging as the most likely teams they'll face. The Lions' chance to secure the NFC's No. 2 seed is slim following a loss to Dallas and would require both the Eagles and Cowboys to lose their final games. The Rams can clinch the No. 6 seed with a win over the 49ers, while the Packers could overtake them with a win against the Bears and a Rams loss. The Lions' playoff opponent will be determined after the final games of the season, with the Rams and Packers offering compelling storylines due to past player trades and division rivalry.
The Green Bay Packers have the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL, with their next five opponents having a combined win percentage of .333. This gives them a strong chance of making the playoffs as a wildcard team, especially compared to their competitors for the spot who have tougher schedules. If the Packers can win at least three of their remaining games, they are likely to secure a postseason berth. This is a remarkable turnaround for a team that started the season with a 2-5 record.
The 2023 Dodge Durango may not have undergone a redesign since 2011, but it still has a wildcard factor that sets it apart from the competition, according to Edmunds. The SUV's Hell Cat engines, touchscreen, AWD, and low-range gearing make it a standout, but its poor fuel economy, lack of standard safety features, and bulky handling hold it back. Despite this, the Durango received an almost perfect score for being a wildcard, with a 9.0/10 rating. If you want a large SUV with a powerful engine that demands to be seen, the Dodge Durango is a solid choice.
Developer Studio Wildcard announced that it will launch an upgraded version of Ark: Survival Evolved for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC called Ark: Survival Ascended, which will be ported to Unreal Engine 5 by the end of August. However, players will have to purchase the game again, and the old version's official servers will be shut down. The new version will cost $49.99 and include ownership of both Ark: Survival Ascended and Ark 2. The original version of the game will go into stasis at the end of August, and Ascended will continue to get new content and live alongside Ark 2 as separate ongoing live-service games.