Logo
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
15 hours ago
Franco Mastantuono is one of the players in the Real Madrid first team who has been outright informed that he is not in Jose Mourinho's plans.
The teenager , after all, endured a difficult first season at the club and did not impress as he would have liked with injuries playing a part in keeping him from his best version.
Pressed to look for a departure, the Argentine star seemingly preferred a move back to River Plate but Los Blancos preferred that his next destination be somewhere in Europe.
As reported by Mundo Deportivo now, Mastantuono has agreed to leave to a European club but demands that it be in Italy.
On that front, one club sounds strong, and it is surprisingly the same team Los Blancos face in their first pre-season friendly – Fiorentina.

#blancos #franco #real
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
2 days ago
Man City have made an offer of around €2M for Rulli, with Marseille seeking around €3.5M
Discussions are ongoing between the two clubs, with an agreement expected in the coming days
Rulli is said to want to join Man City, making a return to the Etihad Stadium more than a decade on
Manchester City are closing in on the signing of Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, with the two clubs in advanced discussions over a fee and an agreement expected in the coming days, as per a new report from France.
The 34-year-old Argentina international has emerged as Manchester City's preferred option to fill the backup goalkeeper role left vacant by James Trafford's move to Leeds United earlier in the summer, with director of football Hugo Viana identifying the experienced Argentine as the ideal short-term solution behind Gianluigi Donnarumma at the Etihad Stadium.

#around
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
2 days ago
England forward Aggie Beever-Jones had her "hardest" season in 2025-26 and when it ended, she had a big decision to make about her future.
Successive ankle injuries meant lengthy periods out of action as Chelsea's ****** le defence faltered, all while her contract was running down.
But despite interest from other Women's Super League clubs, the 23-year-old signed a new four-year deal at Chelsea and intends to play a key role this season as the Blues try to bounce back from a disappointing campaign.
"I look at my career at Chelsea so far and I had quite a successful start," she told BBC Sport.
"Last year, as a club, it was probably our hardest season. We got one trophy, which isn't up to our standards.

#england
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
2 days ago
The Las Vegas Raiders look to be an improved team heading into this season, and the way in which the team is approaching their preparation for the upcoming slate ahead has second year back Ashton Jeanty encouraged by what he's seen so far.
"There's different energy and urgency in the building, and I truly believe that it starts from the top down," said Jeanty. "So, I love what I'm seeing so far from everybody and it's only gonna continue to grow and get better."
The Raiders earned a 3-14 record in Jeanty's rookie season in 2025. He and former QB Geno Smith struggled behind a poorly coached patchwork offensive line. Jeanty finished averaging just 3.7 per carry for the year and Smith was sacked 55 times. A gutted Las Vegas defense also showed room for improvement around Pro Bowl EDGE Maxx Crosby.
This offseason saw a far more aggressive approach led by the hiring of reigning Super Bowl champion Kubiak to be their next head coach this offseason. Big free agent acquisitions included veteran Kirk Cousins and center Tyler Linderbaum on offense and big upgrades at linebacker, edge rusher, and cornerback.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders 2nd year star sees 'Different energy and urgency' this year

#smith #different
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
3 days ago
Eddie Howe was described as "detached from reality" by one Newcastle United fan, with another unsure "what game he was watching" after giving his final interview before leaving his role as Magpies boss.
Newcastle were thrashed 4-1 by Championship side Bristol City in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday evening and Howe was interviewed by the club's official website in the aftermath.
He appeared surprisingly upbeat despite the heavy loss yet, on Thursday morning, news emerged that he would be leaving his job just weeks before the start of the new Premier League season.
The Englishman guided Newcastle to their first domestic trophy in 70 years when they won the Carabao Cup in 2025 but last season was a disappointment as they finished 12th and failed to secure European football, meaning Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have been sold this summer, while captain Bruno Guimaraes has been linked with ***** nal.
Eddie Howe has now left Newcastle (PA)

#championship #bristol #city
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
4 days ago
The European Union has joined the Union of European Football ***** ociations (UEFA) in criticising FIFA's controversial plan to launch a new commercial company with external investment to sell a stake in the World Cup.
"The relentless commercialisation of football has become corrosive," EU Commissioner for Sport Glenn Micallef wrote on X on Wednesday. He added that a possible alignment of FIFA's regulatory powers with the financial interests of private entities is a concern for the European Commission.
FIFA announced on Tuesday it plans to create a $20 billion (around €17.6 billion) subsidiary to run the World Cup and other events, offering stakes of up to 20% to external investors. This would give FIFA members the chance "to access up to $20 million in one-off capital," according to the statement on the plan.
The move provoked a furious response from UEFA, which accused the football governing body of putting the game's "soul" up for sale.
"The European Commission will study these proposals carefully," Micallef said in response to the announcement, flagging that under EU treaties sporting rules are subject to EU law where they may have an impact on the European economy.

#World #fifa
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
5 days ago
Former Germany international İlkay Gündoğan said he won't rule out making a return to 1.FC Nürnberg in the future.
"I still have a very close connection to Nürnberg because the club means a lot to me," the midfielder said, speaking to Sky Germany.
"I'm very grateful to the club and the city. I can definitely imagine returning one day, in whatever role that may be.
"Whether it's for one or two years as a player or later as a sporting director or coach, everything is possible," Gündoğan added.
Gündoğan, who currently plays for Turkish Süper Lig side Galatasaray, is contracted to the club until the summer of 2027.

#club #former #galatasaray
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
5 days ago
If you buy something through a link in this article, we may earn commission.
Caitlin Clark helped Team Spoon win the WNBA All-Star Game against Team Coop 129-122 this past weekend, and this week, teams return to their regular in-season competition. On Tuesday, the Indiana Fever will attempt their fourth consecutive regular season win when they face the Seattle Storm. The 6-23 Storm will host at the Climate Pledge Arena, tipoff is at 9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Here's everything you need to know about how to watch the Indiana Fever vs. Seattle Storm game this Tuesday and all the rest of the Fever's schedule for the season.
Date: July 28, 2026
Time: 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT

#storm
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
8 days ago
Spain lifted the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which has now sparked a lot of debate about who could win the Ballon d'Or for the recently concluded season.
It is not necessary for a La Roja player to lift the individual award, but the World Cup usually tends to sway the votes one way or the other.
Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has capped another extraordinary season by helping Spain win the World Cup, strengthening his case for the trophy.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the 19-year-old Barcelona star has emerged as a leading candidate to win football's biggest individual prize after adding the World Cup to another outstanding campaign at club level.
Winning the World Cup has elevated Lamine's candidacy, but it is only one part of an exceptional year.

#Barcelona #season
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
9 days ago
The state that played as important of a role as any in the formation of the United States — the home of the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's midnight ride, the Boston Massacre and the Battles of Lexington and Concord, to name a few major events — has also produced its share of exemplary college athletes.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a bastion of American higher education, with roughly 100 colleges dotted across 7,800 square miles of landmass. And at a number of those schools, there are proud programs with a lengthy history of producing accomplished athletes.
Boston College has produced a Heisman Trophy winner, and future NFL and NHL stars. UMass and Holy Cross have both enjoyed runs as national powerhouses in men's basketball. There are few, if any, places in the country where you'll find better men's and women's college hockey, whether it's the Beanpot quartet of BC, Boston University, Northeastern and Harvard or elsewhere in the commonwealth at places like UMass, UMass Lowell or Merrimack.
Who are the best athletes those schools have produced?
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the birth of the United States, USA TODAY Sports is ranking the top 10 college athletes from each state. The athlete doesn't have to be from the state, but is required to have attended college there to be considered. These rankings are based purely on what an athlete did at the college level, not once they left campus. Tough cuts had to be made, especially somewhere like the Bay State, with so many colleges and universities to consider.

#athletes #umass #produced #states
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
10 days ago
Tom Moore, a key part of the UConn men's basketball team's success for 21 seasons over two different tenures and several job ***** les, will be calling an end to his career.
Moore boasts four national championship rings as an ***** istant coach, two under Jim Calhoun and two under Dan Hurley. He initially joined Calhoun's staff in 1994 and spent 13 seasons as an ***** istant and key recruiter, helping the Huskies to national ***** les in 1999 and 2004. In 2007, he headed down to Quinnipiac to take over the head coaching reins and lasted 10 seasons.
Moore was fired from Quinnipiac in 2017 and joined Hurley's staff at Rhode Island. The following season, he followed Hurley to UConn and was an ***** istant on the 2023 and 2024 repeat national ***** le teams.
Prior to last season, Moore took over the program's newly-created general manager position, in which he handled name, image and likeness (NIL) and transfer portal issues, among many other duties.
Moore, 61, was simply tired of the day-to-day grind that the new world of college athletics has unleashed. For example, barely an hour after the Huskies had lost to Michigan in the national championship game, the transfer portal opened. Throughout the entire flight back to Connecticut, Hurley asked Moore about the amount of money the program might have for this player, for that player. The next day, less than 24 hours after the championship game, the entire staff was back at the Werth Family Champions Center.

#national #assistant
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
10 days ago
Florida track & field is sending seven Gators to compete at the 2026 Toyota USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships, which will take place July 23-26 at Icahn Stadium in New York.
After wrapping up her freshman season, Claire Stegall is set to compete in the women's 1,500-meter run, with the semifinal round scheduled to begin Thursday at 5:52 p.m. ET. Stegall is coming off a strong summer after winning gold at the 2026 USATF U20 Championships with a school-record time of 4:04.59. She also qualified for the U20 World Championships, scheduled for Aug. 5-9 in Eugene, Oregon.
Other Gator representation includes alumni Pjai Austin, Claire Bryant, Malcolm Clemons, Marquis Dendy, Talitha Diggs and Parker Valby.
Austin will compete in the men's 100 meters, while Diggs will race in the women's 400 meters. Bryant and Valby will compete in the women's long jump and 5,000 meters, respectively, while Clemons and Dendy will compete in the men's long jump.
The championships will air on NBC, Peacock, and USATF.TV for the entirety of the championships.

#compete #austin #clemons #dendy
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
10 days ago
La Familia survived a hard-fought three-game rivalry series against The Ville, punching its ticket to the next round of The Basketball Tournament (TBT) with a 63-57 victory Wednesday night inside Memorial Coliseum.
After splitting the first two games, with La Familia winning 72-68 in Lexington before falling 82-62 in Louisville, everything came down to Game 3. The Ville controlled much of the first half, building a 21-13 first-quarter lead before taking a 30-25 advantage into halftime. La Familia struggled offensively early, especially from beyond the arc, but stayed within striking distance thanks to its defensive effort.
The game completely shifted after halftime.
La Familia opened the third quarter on an 8-2 run, highlighted by a floater and 3-pointer from Archie Goodwin to grab its first lead at 33-32.
Darryl Morsell continued attacking the basket, while Willie Cauley-Stein provided key minutes in the paint before heading to the bench for a breather. Goodwin added a steal and breakaway slam as La Familia stretched its lead to seven points before carrying a 45-40 advantage into the fourth quarter.

#game #advantage
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
11 days ago
With the Texas Longhorns set to appear at SEC Media Days on Thursday and preseason camp less than two weeks away, the school released the updated roster for the 2026 season.
Here are the highlights:
Junior edge Colin Simmons is listed at 246 pounds, up six pounds from last season.
Junior wide receiver Emmett Mosley V is listed at 199 pounds, down 11 pounds from last season but up nine pounds from the spring.
Freshman quarterback Dia Bell is listed at 206 pounds, down six pounds from the spring.

#listed #junior
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
11 days ago
Eric F. Spina is president of the University of Dayton.
Roger J. Thompson is president of Saint Mary’s College of California.
They’re trying to kill Cinderella.
That fairy-tale underdog is the lifeblood of college basketball.
Every March, millions watch because a 16-seed can topple a giant, a mid-major can make an improbable run and a player or coach few had heard of can suddenly become a household name.

#eric #spina #saint #mary
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
12 days ago
Clark Lea and Vanderbilt football aren't backing down from their desire to win a national championship.
Diego Pavia, who spoke openly about that desire, may be gone, but the goal isn't, as Lea made clear at SEC Media Days in Tampa.
"Our objective remains what it's always been, to build the best football program in the country," Lea said in his opening statement. "Progress is encouraged to be dangerous. The moment we turn to protect the ground we cover, we stop our pursuit of what's possible."
Lea cautioned against comparing this year's team to last year's. The roster is different, with Jared Curtis now in the spotlight with Pavia gone. But, he said, part of what's different about this team is the expectation.
"This group has inherited something that previous teams did not," Lea said. "A Vanderbilt football program that expects to win."

#pavia #diego
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
18 days ago
A day at the links didn't end the way Kevin Hart had hoped for, and LeBron James and Draymond Green let him know.
Hart joined up with James and Green to play a round of golf after weeks of trash talk between the comedian and the four-time MVP on social media.
Unfortunately for Hart, the game didn't go his way, and LeBron and Green made sure to let him know what they thought of his skills.
While none of the three stars shared the exact scores of the game, a clip of Draymond Green and Kevin Hart circulated around the internet, in which the comedian's score was touted as 119, while Green shot for 123.
In the clip, Green, who seemingly lost to Hart, could be heard telling him that he 'stinks' and that he was only invited because of his name.
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
18 days ago
France's dream of a World Cup championship falls just short.
Les Bleus will not be heading back to the World Cup final after losing to Spain in the semifinals on Tuesday, July 14. Spain scored early in the first half and again in the second half as France was shut out for the first time in the tournament. The loss denies France the chance to be in the ******* le match for the third consecutive tournament as it was trying to win it all for the third time, and first since 2018.
While a loss in the knockout round usually means a team's tournament run is over, that isn't the case for France. Yes, it will not have the chance to win the championship, but there is another match in store for the team.
While France won't win the ******* le, it still is in the World Cup. It will play in the third place match on Saturday, July 18. The opponent will be the loser of the other semifinal between England and Argentina, being played on Wednesday, July 15.
It will be the fourth third-place match France will have played in, with third place finishes in 1958 and 1986.
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
19 days ago
LAS VEGAS -- Brooklyn Nets guard Drake Powell is heading into his second NBA season and after an uneven rookie season, he is looking to show how much he has improved since the 2025-26 campaign. Brooklyn has already seen Powell be an impactful defender, but the team is hoping that he can come along as an offensive threat, something that Powell is trying to prove amidst shooting struggles.
"I've been working a lot with my coaches on my shot. Obviously, they're not going in right now. I'm gonna continue to put them up and just have full confidence that they're gonna go in," Powell said to the media following Monday's practice in Las Vegas, as posted on X by Erik Slater of ClutchPoints. The Nets play their next game on Tuesday against Darius Acuff Jr. and the Sacramento Kings and Powell is hoping that his shots start falling.
"Some nights are obviously hard when I'm by myself in a hotel room, but just constant conversations with my circle, just continue to trust them and then my coaches as well," Powell continued. As of this writing, Powell has played four games between the California Classic and the Las Vegas Summer League and he is averaging just 2.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting just 1-of-28 from the field (3.6%) and 0-for-14 from behind the three-point line.
"Just that we have full confidence in him taking the right shots. I think Drake did take the right shots. He had a great drive, but the ball just didn't go in," Nets summer league coach Dutch Gaitley last week when asked about Powell's shooting struggles. "Defensively, he's been outstanding. He's done everything. It's not easy for a young player to struggle offensively and still give great effort defensively, and he's done that."
To say that Powell has been tough to watch on the offensive end of the floor during the summer circuit is an understatement, but he seems to be in a good headspace to deal with his current struggles. Gaitley and the rest of the coaching staff continue to have confidence in him bouncing back in that area so the hope is that Powell can have a good shooting game before summer league is over.
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
20 days ago
On Monday, On3 and Warchant's Matt LaSerre reported that Tom Herman, a former head coach at Texas, Houston, and FAU, would be joining the Florida State football coaching staff. Herman did not coach in the 2025-26 college football season after being fired from FAU with two games left in the 2024 season.
Herman has an interesting track record, to say the least. He has been part of some extraordinary seasons, including winning a national **** le with Ohio State as offensive coordinator in 2014 and taking home the Sugar Bowl with Texas in 2018. However, there have certainly been some **** ps along the way, such as his most recent stint with FAU, where he went 6-16 across 22 games and almost two seasons with the Owls.
There is also some off-the-field baggage that comes with Herman, such as the frosty handshake with former USF, now Auburn head coach Alex Golesh, two years ago, along with distasteful stories about his personal life during his time at OSU.
The move is certainly an interesting one for head coach Mike Norvell, who clearly feels that he needed more help on his offensive staff after the abrupt retirement of former offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn in February. While certainly a late add in the offseason with fall camp starting in less than a month, Herman should bring a new perspective and take some of the offensive load off of Norvell's plate.
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
20 days ago
The Washington Commanders are a team of mystery in 2026. Washington has new offensive and defensive coordinators in 2026. David Blough and Daronte Jones are both first-time NFL coordinators, and Blough is entering only his third season as a coach after last playing in the NFL in 2023.
When you have first-time coordinators, there's a bit of a mystery about what type of schemes they'll run. Jones has worked under several notable defensive minds, such as Mike Zimmer, Lou Anarumo, Marvin Lewis and, most recently, Brian Flores.
As for Blough, he spent time under Ben Johnson, Kevin O'Connell and former Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. While Blough's scheme is expected to feature some of what Kingsbury did, everyone expects a Johnson-influenced offense with more play action, pre-snap motion, and quarterback Jayden Daniels under center more frequently.
One reason head coach Dan Quinn moved on from Kingsbury was that he and GM Adam Peters wanted a different offensive approach. Less of the fast-break, no-huddle approach from Kingsbury, and more of a traditional offense to take advantage of Daniels' dual-threat ability.
There's more mystery about Washington's offensive playmakers around Daniels. Did Peters do enough to improve the offense around Daniels? That's been a featured question throughout the offseason. Peters made significant investments in the defense, which should help Daniels more than anything. Offensively, the Commanders added some interesting names in free agency, including tight end Chig Okonkwo, running back Rachaad White, and receivers Dyami Brown and Van Jefferson, as well as Antonio Williams via the NFL draft.
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
20 days ago
At the start of the offseason, the Golden State Warriors made changes to their coaching staff. Shortly after Steve Kerr agreed to return to the Bay Area for another season as head coach of the Warriors, a pair of **** istants exited the Bay Area. Both Terry Stotts and Jerry Stackhouse left Kerr's coaching staff, leaving an opening on the sideline.
On Sunday, the Warriors added a former NBA head coach to the staff. According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Frank Vogel has agreed to become the **** ociate head coach of the Warriors, joining Kerr's staff in Golden State.
Vogel joined the Boston Celtics as an **** istant coach in 2001 before becoming head coach of the Indiana Pacers in 2010. Vogel has also been the head coach of the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers and the Phoenix Suns. He spent the 2025-26 season as an **** istant on Jason Kidd's staff with the Dallas Mavericks. Vogel will now join Ron Adams to form a formidable defensive scheming duo on Kerr's staff.
In his first season in Los Angeles, Vogel helped the Lakers secure the NBA championship. Vogel spent three seasons coaching LeBron James, winning a championship in 2020. James is currently a noted free-agent target for the Warriors.
This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
20 days ago
Brad Keselowski's hopes for a strong finish at EchoPark Speedway took an early hit Sunday after the RFK Racing driver brushed the outside wall during the opening laps of the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart.
Keselowski, who started 10th after a strong qualifying effort, reported over the radio that his No. 6 Ford became tight before the right-rear tire appeared to lose grip.
The contact with the wall dropped him through the field, although the damage was not severe enough to require an immediate pit stop. Keselowski remained on the track but fell to the back of the running order as the race continued.
The difficult start carries significant implications for Keselowski's playoff hopes.
As the field settled into the opening stage, Keselowski was shown running 37th, a dramatic swing after beginning the afternoon inside the top 10. With the race unfolding, he also slipped to the provisional cutoff area in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings.
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
21 days ago
Man City remain keen on Malo Gusto but will not meet Chelsea's current £75M valuation
Further talks between the two clubs are expected to accelerate once the World Cup concludes
Chelsea are open to a deal at the right price, with Man City pushing to get a move done
Manchester City have responded to Chelsea's £75 million valuation of Malo Gusto by refusing to meet that asking price, as per a new report.
The right-back position has emerged as one of the most persistent and complex areas of Manchester City's summer recruitment, with director of football Hugo Viana and Enzo Maresca united in their desire to bring genuine quality and experience to a position that went unaddressed in any meaningful sense throughout the final season of Pep Guardiola's tenure.
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
21 days ago
Murat Yakin, Switzerland’s head coach, blasted the new football rules after the match that sealed his team’s fate in the World Cup.
"There was no reason for that booking, it was an innocent, harmless situation. The refereeing mistake punished us because of an unacceptable rule that has eliminated us in this way. I don’t know how the referee and VAR came to that conclusion." .
"This rule ruined the match. There was no reason for that yellow card, I repeat. In that situation, play should simply have continued," he told the press.
Switzerland were left with 10 men on the field right at their best moment against Argentina, after Embolo was shown a second yellow card under the “false identity” rule.
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
21 days ago
The Washington Huskies saw one of their most hotly contested offensive line targets in the 2027 class go elsewhere on Saturday afternoon when four-star offensive lineman DaJohn Yarborough announced his pledge to the California Golden Bears
The 6-foot-5, 340-pound product of Basha High School in Arizona, who is ranked as the nation's No. 426 overall prospect and No. 25 interior offensive lineman by the 247Sports Composite, picked coach Tosh Lupoi and the Golden Bears out of a final four that also included Florida State, Mississippi State, and UW.
Although his junior year was cut short due to a fractured ankle, Fisch and offensive line coach Michael Switzer kept up a strong relationship with the hulking prospect, who has the size, physicality, and skill set the pair looks for from early contributors up front. However,
"The big man slides smoothly in pass protection and balances his weight well, always finding himself on the winning end of collisions with defenders," Huskies Wire's Alex Katson wrote in an evaluation of his film. "With such prototypical size and technique, Yarborough profiles as a player who could find himself in the NFL rather quickly with the right coaching staff during his time in college."
As Washington continues to build up its offensive line for the rigors of the Big Ten, Yarborough would have been viewed as a promising building block alongside Freshman All-American John Mills, former five-star Kodi Greene, and former four-star Champ Taulealea, who should make up the core of Switzer's unit in 2027.
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
22 days ago
NBA star Victor Wembanyama has signed a long-term deal with the San Antonio Spurs.
The 7ft 4in France centre's deal, according to ESPN, is for five years and worth $252m (£188m), which is the NBA's maximum for a rookie scale player extension.
The 22-year-old reportedly has an option in the fifth season and could have opted for clauses to make the deal worth more but did not do so to give the Spurs more financial flexibility.
"Spurs family, I'm here to stay. Whatever it takes," Wembanyama wrote on social media prior to the deal being announced.
The two-time All-Star, who was the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, helped the Spurs reach the NBA Finals last season but they missed out on the ***** le, beaten 4-1 by the New York Knicks in the best-of-seven series.
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
22 days ago
LAS VEGAS – Conor McGregor doesn't always attend fight week fighter meetings with the UFC broadcast team.
Ahead of UFC 329, however, McGregor (22-6 MMA, 10-4 UFC) elected to make an appearance. Perhaps the most central figure in those meetings is UFC play-by-play commentator Jon Anik, who has long preached that a lot can be taken not only from what the fighters say but how they present themselves.
Anik spoke to both McGregor and opponent Max Holloway (27-9 MMA, 23-9 UFC) days prior to Saturday's event at T-Mobile and peeled back the curtain on his takeaways as he spoke with MMA Junkie and other reporters on the UFC Hall of Fame red carpet Thursday.
"A lot of you guys know Max Holloway told me in 2021 that he wanted to take a fight at middleweight before all was said and done," Anik said. "Not only am I not surprised to see him at 170, I'm not surprised that he looks very good as a welterweight. If you saw the picture of him with Robert Whittaker, they look like they're the same size. We don't always get a fighter meeting with Conor McGregor. We had a fighter meeting with Conor, and I asked him, 'Why are you back?' He's back to prove his love of the game.
"When you have financial freedom like he does, when your Bank of America or Bank of Ireland checking account is that robust, you don't willingly sign up to get punched in the face by Max Holloway unless you're trying to bolster your MMA legacy and prove your love of the game. I couldn't have been more impressed by Conor in our fighting meeting. I know people are more concerned with actions than words. But if the words are a tell, lean into them. Because he was great."
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
23 days ago
As former Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold faces multiple felony charges, his agent revealed there are four teams that have shown some interest in him.
According to the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett, Nicole Lynn, who is Arnold's agent, testified in a virtual court hearing on Friday that the Houston Texans, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts have all been in contact with Arnold to some extent.
The Texans have actually brought Arnold in for a workout, Lynn said, and one other unnamed team has scheduled a visit with the Alabama product. It would appear for now that the other two squads have simply reached out to Arnold.
MORE: Terrion Arnold could lose millions even if he's acquitted
Arnold's attorney, Harvey Steinberg, told the court in an earlier hearing that there were three teams interested in his client but did not name them specifically.
2zhdo9yi7tuk5hc
23 days ago
The first boats in the annual Chicago-to-Mackinac race are set to leave Friday afternoon, launching more than 250 competitors toward the storied finish at Mackinac Island.
Among them is 71yearold sailor Rich Stearns, a veteran of more than 50 of the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac events, who says this year's competition carries a deeper purpose.
Stearns spent the afternoon Thursday checking weather conditions and making final preparations aboard his boat.
After decades of racing, he says the routine is familiar, but the past 10 years have brought challenges far beyond lastminute details.
Diagnosed with prostate cancer about a decade ago, Stearns has undergone years of treatment. He and his wife turned to working on his boat as a way to stay grounded.