ESPN identified DJ Moore as the Buffalo Bills' most significant offseason addition after Week 7, highlighting the wide receiver's expected impact on the team's passing game. Although Buffalo was on its bye, Moore's role remained central to the discussion of the club's offensive outlook.
Moore joined Buffalo after being acquired from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2026 second-round draft pick. The veteran receiver has been sidelined while recovering from a shoulder injury, but his anticipated return could add another dimension to an offense that has continued to produce without him. The team's bye week also provided additional time for his recovery. The Bills entered its bye at 5-1 and ranked second, one spot higher than the previous week in ESPN's poll.
Jan 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) reacts after making a first down against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
His value is tied to his ability to stretch the field and create opportunities beyond the catch. Moore's routes can force opposing defenses to cover more ground, opening ******* e underneath and making it more difficult to crowd the line of scrimmage. That added room could benefit the running game as well as the passing attack.
Through the first portion of the season, Moore averaged 2.47 yards per route run while recording an average depth of target of 15.9 yards. Those figures led the league, underscoring his ability to generate downfield production. His presence gives the offense a receiver capable of drawing coverage away from other targets and creating explosive-play opportunities.

#week #receiver #bills

PETOSKEY — Lily Flynn could have had a totally different approach to her senior season on the volleyball court.
An outside hitter for Petoskey throughout her career, Flynn was asked to change positions, leaving behind the glory of racking up kills for the back row as a libero.
She would also spend most of the season surrounded by players she didn't grow up playing with, as freshmen and sophomores filled the court, including a pair that would step into that outside job.
"I kept asking, 'Yes, no? Are you good with this?' And she was," Petoskey coach Erin Luckhardt said. "That's not a role that she's played before. She's played back row, but playing back row exclusively is different for her and she's stepped into it and done a great job."
Flynn's attitude to change and an up and down 2026 campaign wasn't the kind you might expect.

#flynn #season #change

The New York Yankees entered the offseason facing familiar questions about their offensive identity after another frustrating end to their season. Despite the talent in their lineup, the Yankees were swept by the division rival Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series, leaving the franchise to confront concerns about its execution, approach and ability to deliver when the stakes are highest.
The team's reliance on superstar slugger Aaron Judge was laid bare, as the offense struggled to produce while he was sidelined by an injury. And its failure to execute fundamental defensive and baserunning plays has come under fire as well, particularly after the Rays and World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers succeeded with such a different style.
Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi articulated many of the criticisms surrounding the Yankees shortly after their season ended.
"Joe Girardi isn't blaming Aaron Boone for the Yankees' shortcomings, but believes a deeper-rooted culture issue might have contributed to the team being swept in the ALDS," Mark Suleymanov wrote for the New York Post. "Girardi cited Austin Wells' baserunning blunder in Game 1 and Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s disastrous throw in an error-filled Game 2 as examples of the team's fundamental failures — and the concerning response to those mistakes."
And with the Yankees under fire for a power-heavy offense and poor fundamentals, one of their most intriguing infield prospects has spoken out about the kind of change he'd like to see in the sport.

#series #division

Ja Morant's first game against Grizzlies takes painful turn after Trail Blazers star exits originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ja Morant's first game against the Memphis Grizzlies was always going to attract attention. The former face of the franchise spent seven seasons in Memphis, developed into one of the NBA's most electrifying guards and became one of basketball's most recognizable personalities.
His departure in June marked a significant change for both Morant and the organization that selected him with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Thursday night provided the first opportunity for the two sides to face each other.
Unfortunately for Morant, the reunion did not end the way he hoped. The Portland Trail Blazers guard exited with a left hamstring injury during the fourth quarter of a 124-103 loss to Memphis.

#memphis #grizzlies

Megan Rapinoe has never been shy about speaking up for transgender athletes, even as the issue has become one of the most heated debates in sports. And in a recent interview, the United States Women's National Team legend made it clear that her stance hasn't changed.
In a recent podcast, Rapinoe pushed back on the idea that trans women threaten fairness in women's sports, arguing that sports have never been fair in the first place and claiming that fairness shouldn't matter more than people's human rights.
The debate over transgender athletes in women's sports has only intensified over the past couple of years, with Republicans making it a central political issue and many states passing laws that ban trans girls and women from competing in girls' and women's sports.
The issue has spilled into the sports world, too. Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham sparked a nationwide conversation this year when she voiced her opposition to trans women competing in women's sports.
Even some Democrats have distanced themselves from the issue. Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, for example, has said that he opposes trans athletes playing in girls' sports "if it endangers safety or fairness."

#ISSUE #athletes #women

In his surprise return to the ATP 500 event in Basel this year, Novak Djokovic could not quite produce the run he would have hoped for, as he fell to Jan-Lennard Struff in his second match of the tournament.
Although it was a tightly contested encounter, with all three sets reaching the 5-5 mark, Djokovic eventually lost after making some uncharacteristic errors in the final-set tiebreak, handing Struff his first-ever victory against him in their ninth meeting.
At this stage of his career, Djokovic is far removed from needing results at ATP 500 tournaments. However, he has consistently stated that, regardless of his age, he always plays to win. More importantly, this defeat has dented his hopes of achieving something he was particularly keen on when returning to Basel: securing his place at the ATP Finals in Turin in just over two weeks.
Djokovic entered Basel ranked 12th in the Race to Turin, an event for which only the top eight players qualify. This is a significant change from previous years, when the Serbian would typically have secured his qualification by this stage of the season, even if he subsequently chose not to participate, as he did in each of the past two years. The Serbian needed a deep run in Basel to strengthen his position and avoid having to rely entirely on the Paris Masters to secure qualification.
However, following this defeat, Djokovic will now have to do precisely that. Given the current landscape of the live rankings, he will need a deep run in Paris to put himself in a strong position to qualify. At the time of writing, Djokovic sits 11th in the Race to Turin, with Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Ben Shelton already having secured their places.

#djokovic #turin #struff #serbian

FC Barcelona completed their final training session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Friday. The Blaugrana are putting the finishing touches to their tactical preparations before hosting Deportivo Alavés in another crucial league fixture, especially after the heavy blow suffered in El Clásico.
The main news from the training ground was the confirmed absence of Jules Koundé. The French defender did not join the rest of the squad for training and has been ruled out of the match against the Vitoria-based side.
The full-back joins an already lengthy injury list. Players including Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Xavi Espart, Dani Olmo and Roony Bardghji continue their recovery programmes away from the main group.
With so many players unavailable, the coaching staff have had to reorganise the defence and midfield. Tactical changes to the starting line-up are expected to keep the team competitive.
All eyes now turn to the press room. German coach Hansi Flick will address the media at 13:00 to preview the match and ******* s the squad's fitness.

#training #players

Dejan Kulusevski has revealed how a "change to my nervous system" enabled him to return with Tottenham after a 17-month injury layoff left him fearing the end of his football career.
The Swedish midfielder was introduced to a rapturous reception in the 87th minute of the club's 3-1 home victory against Coventry last week and followed that up with another substitute appearance in Saturday's win at Chelsea as Spurs continued their improvement after a poor start to the Premier League season.
Kulusevski had multiple setbacks after knee surgery in May 2025. But a second procedure in March finally set him on the road to recovery.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's match against Crystal Palace, the 26-year-old Kulusveski told SpursPlay: "It had been like one year and a couple of months and I still can't walk on the stairs. I can't walk on the stairs like a normal guy. I have to play football so in my head I'm not going to give up, but I have to think that if this doesn't work out, what do I do?
"I went to a physio in Sweden. He was able to change my nervous system and then it felt different. When I did the exercises, I said, 'I don't have pain, like this hurt yesterday. Why is this not hurting today?'

#change #year

Leeds United fans of a certain vintage might bristle at Ao Tanaka's choice of adjective for Bournemouth, but current reality backs him up.
The ****** an international was asked this week about Saturday's game against the Cherries and described both it and the opponent as 'massive.'
The word massive is an emotive one in football. Some fanbases use it sincerely with whole-hearted belief that it applies to their club. Others use it slightly more ironically. Even when it is reasonably applied, the word means different things to different people. Some might take into consideration a club's global presence, stadium size, average attendance or historical success. Others, like Tanaka, look not at Bournemouth's circa 12k capacity ground or historic honours board, but progression up the Premier League table over the last three years, last season's top-six finish and back-to-back-to-back 3-0 wins over AC Milan, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
"This is a massive opponent," said Tanaka. "This is a massive challenge. Bournemouth is such a good team, especially recently, the results have been so good. And it's a massive game for us as well, because we didn't win four games. So we want to win the game. So this is a massive game, massive opponent. [They are] a bit different than last season, because they changed the manager. But still, they have a quality players, quality tactics. So I'm looking forward to playing against them."
Unlike Bournemouth, Leeds cannot boast of nine seasons at Premier League level in the last 11 years but by any other metric can be considered a massive club. Three historic top flight ****** les, an FA Cup, European success, a soon-to-be 53k capacity stadium and a fanbase to fill it are all significant pieces of evidence. Daniel Farke often cautions that the club must learn to walk again in the Premier League before it can run, yet seventh place after eight games can be cautiously described as a step forward from last season.

#game #premier

CLEVELAND — Jose Ramirez rescued the Guardians in the American League Division Series with a tremendous three-game run to lift Cleveland to the ALCS, but with their playoff journey coming to an end all the focus turns to an injury that hamstrung him for the second half of the season.
Ramirez underwent hamate bone surgery in mid-June and returned to the lineup July 22, but he was struggling to be as productive while playing through the left wrist/hand issue. It can often be difficult for hitters to fully return to form in the aftermath of a hamate bone surgery.
His season numbers had already been a bit down from his career averages, but after the procedure he hit just .229 with a .598 OPS over the final 53 games, a stretch that included only two home runs, as his power seemed to be sapped.
It was painfully clear Ramirez was playing while hurt and the procedure was having a negative impact. It was also unlikely he'd do further damage, and the Guardians appreciated anything the star third baseman might be able to give them. A one-handed Ramirez is still a better sight in the everyday lineup than calling someone off the bench, especially as he insisted to play every day.
"I mean, obviously, it took a toll on him," said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, who also reiterated his commitment to Cleveland while some rumors about the Seattle Mariners had stated to run rampant. "He was out there giving us everything he had. He wasn't playing at 100 percent, but that never changed his demeanor or the way he went about his business. And I think that just speaks to who he is as a person and a baseball player.

#surgery

Alessandro Bastoni remains a potential option for Barcelona as the Catalan club considers reinforcing its central defence, but any attempt to bring the Inter Milan defender to Camp Nou could hinge on a conversation with Hansi Flick.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the 27-year-old Italian is still willing to listen to an approach from Barça despite the disappointment he experienced during last summer's transfer discussions.
Bastoni was previously identified as a priority target by Barcelona's sporting department, with Deco particularly keen to secure his services.
However, the situation changed when Flick decided against making the defender a priority.
Months later, however, Barcelona's interest could return, although the circumstances surrounding a possible transfer have also changed.

#priority #alessandro

Three academy players scored their first goals for Athletic Club's senior side inside four minutes as Edin Terzić's team beat Prat 6-1 in the Copa del Rey. The late burst came from substitutes in a side rotated with the Basque derby in mind.
On Thursday 29 October, Athletic met Prat in the Copa del Rey round of 128. The tie was played at the Estadi La Feixa Llarga in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. Its closing stages belonged to Athletic's academy.
Each of the late scorers had come off the bench. Selton Sánchez finished the night with the sixth goal, teed up by Vizcay, whose own strike had started the flurry.
Aritz Conde earned an 8.2 rating from the data provider for his half-hour on the pitch. Imga, aged just 17, had made his first-team debut alongside Vizcay against Getafe the previous Sunday.
EFE reported that Athletic picked a starting XI shaped by the coming Basque derby, giving chances to players such as Yohaneko, Sannadi and Nico Serrano. Those changes did not slow the visitors.

#academy #first

The Washington Commanders appear to be making a change with their latest addition. Last week, the Commanders hired former NFL head coach and longtime defensive ****** istant Steve Wilks to a role on the coaching staff. According to head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters, Wilks would spend part of the week in Ashburn working on game planning with the coaching staff and would not be involved in on-field player instruction.
For the first time since his hire became official, defensive coordinator Daronte Jones spoke about what Wilks brings to the Commanders.
"That was something that we had talked about back in training camp, but just for the value of experience that he has, we felt like we could use his resources and his expertise in some categories and experience," Jones said on Thursday.
Jones was asked whether Wilks' presence would let him, as a first-time NFL defensive coordinator, focus on other areas.
"Yeah, still working through how. It definitely does free me up in certain ways and just still manufacturing, working through how exactly we wanna disperse that, the workspace. So, we're still working through those a little bit."

#wilks #week #head

Azmatullah Omarzai produced a stunning rescue act with the bat, smashing a record-breaking century to help Afghanistan recover from a disastrous start and post 221/7 against Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Walking in with Afghanistan reeling at 5/4, Omarzai launched a counter-attack that completely changed the course of the innings. He hammered 116 off just 50 **** , striking five fours and 12 sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 232.

With the effort, Omarzai registered the highest individual score by a batter coming in at No. 6 or lower in T20Is involving Full Member nations. He went past the previous record of 89, scored by former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi against Ireland in 2017.

The record-breaking knock also put Omarzai ahead of Sam Billings (87 against West Indies in 2019), Cameron White (85 not out against Sri Lanka in 2010) and David Miller (85 not out against Pakistan in 2021) on the list.

Afghanistan's innings had been in complete disarray after Zimbabwe's bowlers reduced them to 5/4. Several top-order batters departed cheaply, while Sediqullah Atal managed just 17 off 21 deliveries before falling in the ninth over.

Omarzai found an ideal partner in Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, and the duo launched a remarkable recovery. They added 142 runs off only 59 **** for the sixth wicket, with Ijaz contributing a blistering 52 off 27 deliveries, including five fours and three sixes.

The partnership was finally broken when Ijaz fell with the score at 180. Omarzai continued his **** ault before being dismissed in the 19th over, having already produced one of the finest rescue acts in Afghanistan's T20I history.

Captain Rashid Khan provided a spectacular finish, smashing an unbeaten 25 off just six **** , including four sixes. Mujeeb Ur Rahman remained not out on two as Afghanistan closed their innings at 221/7, scoring at 11.05 runs per over.

Rashid also achieved a major milestone during the match, becoming the first bowler to claim 200 wickets in T20Is.

Zimbabwe fall short despite Sikandar Raza's century

Zimbabwe were unable to overcome the imposing target despite a determined effort from captain Sikandar Raza, who scored his second T20I century.

Raza fought till the end, but the visitors ultimately fell short, with Afghanistan's early batting collapse proving to be a distant memory after Omarzai's extraordinary intervention.

Tafadzwa Tsiga offered valuable support on his debut, while the dismissal of Ryan Burl dealt another blow to Zimbabwe's hopes.

The victory also extended Afghanistan's remarkable dominance in the rivalry, marking their eighth consecutive T20I series win against Zimbabwe. The visitors are yet to win a T20I series against Afghanistan.

#record #innings

The Los Angeles Kings found a way to win a game they shouldn't have needed to find a way to win on Thursday night. They might have a change in coaching strategy to thank for that.
After blowing a 5-1 third-period lead, the Kings defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-5 in overtime behind Quinton Byfield's game-winner. But almost as interesting as the wild swings of the game was something Drew Doughty revealed after it ended.
"It's the first year in my whole career that we've ever actually worked on three-on-three," the Kings' captain said. "A lot of credit to the coaches in that area. We worked on it in camp. We worked on it before the season started, and they had a bit of a game plan, which we didn't really have before either. So a lot of credit to them for making us work on it."
If the Kings ever had an offseason where they needed to improve that aspect of their game, it was this past one. They lost an NHL-record 20 overtime and shootout games in 2025-26, a huge part of the reason they finished with the Western Conference's second wild-card spot and were swept out of the playoffs in the first round. First-year head coach Peter Laviolette came in and wanted to make sure the Kings didn't post those numbers again.
"There's definitely a method to the madness, and there's got to be a buy-in to that, and I think the players bought in," Laviolette said. "There's a lot of review that went through it, and there's things that we talk about prior to games and then after games — the overtime games — and reviewing that. And I think the players have done a really good job of executing them."

#first #laviolette #wild

New Zealand arrive at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday with little to play for beyond their pride, as the fourth T20I against India begins with the series already out of reach. The hosts will be hoping to take the last two games and salvage something from a difficult few weeks.
India sealed the series with three convincing chases, and each one left the home bowlers searching for answers. They first reached targets of 226 and 181 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, then overhauled 199 in just 13.2 overs in Wellington, the most one-sided of the lot.
The visitors are still without Ishan Kishan, who has missed the last two matches because of a low-grade right adductor strain. According to the BCCI's latest update, he has not yet regained full match fitness, so his availability for Auckland remains in doubt.
New Zealand have their own selection issues to manage. Matt Henry has moved out of the T20I group to link up with the ODI squad, while Lockie Ferguson missed the Wellington game and is expected to be back for the final two matches of the series.
The Black Caps cannot change the result of the series any more, but wins in the remaining fixtures would at least restore some dignity. Ferguson's likely return should add pace and bounce to an attack that has been underwhelming, to say the least.

#least

Michael Carrick has insisted he is "not surprised" to remain in the Manchester United dugout despite the club enduring their most disastrous start to a league season in four decades. The former England international saw his position come under intense scrutiny this week following a dismal 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.
Carrick looked certain to face the axe following Sunday's humiliating loss against the Cherries. That result extended an abysmal winless streak to eight matches in all competition, cementing the club's worst start to a league campaign in 40 years.
However, crisis talks were held on Monday between the 45-year-old and the United hierarchy. Despite widespread anticipation of a managerial change, the boardroom ultimately opted to keep him at the helm.
This backing comes just months after Carrick penned a new permanent two-year deal in the summer. He had earned the permanent role by securing Champions League football, having originally taken over as a short-term successor to Ruben Amorim in January.
When pressed on his survival, the former midfielder maintained a defiant stance. He insisted his sole focus remains on rectifying the current crisis on the pitch rather than fearing for his job.

#united #start

Braves make no-brainer $24M Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies decision to keep core intact for 2027 originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves have another important offseason ahead of them and need to navigate it correctly, as there are still several areas where the team needs to improve. Not only will they have free agency decisions to make, but they will also need to determine which players to bring back before allowing others to test the market.
Atlanta didn't end the season the way it wanted to, losing two consecutive home games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. One of the players who had the toughest time was Ronald Acuña Jr., who was booed by fans. Despite all of that, he made it clear that he wanted to stay in Atlanta.
"I want to stay here, that hasn't changed. But I can't control that," Acuña told the media.
The futures of Ozzie Albies and Acuña are in the Braves' hands, as the team recently had to make decisions on both players. Each had a club option for 2027, and Sports Illustrated's Harrison Smajovits believed exercising them should be an easy decision for Atlanta.

#Braves

One email changed everything for George Spencer.
Eight years after asking how he could get involved in a sport he had watched as a spectator, the 30-year-old is preparing to represent Great Britain at a world championship for the third time.
This weekend, he will travel to Germany to compete against some of the world's best athletes in a sport that involves chopping and sawing through wood with axes, chainsaws and crosscut saws.
What started with a simple email after watching an event in Liverpool in 2018 soon became what Spencer describes as an "obsession".
"My friend said I should see about getting involved so I emailed them and got invited to a newcomers' taster day," he said.

#eight

UFC 324 kicked off the promotion's Paramount era with an absolute thriller, as Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett went to war for five rounds. Gaethje eventually came out on top, securing the interim lightweight ****** le, but the fight wasn't without its controversies.
Several eye pokes and a low blow suffered by Pimblett had fans questioning the referee's decision not to take a point away, especially after two judges scored the contest 49-46. Beyond the officiating debate, another talking point was Pimblett's decision to trade strikes with one of the division's most dangerous punchers instead of making better use of his grappling.
Given his Brazilian jiu-jitsu credentials, many felt he left a major weapon unused. The Liverpudlian has since admitted that he could have approached things differently. Now, with Gaethje having become the undisputed 155lbs champion after beating Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250, Pimblett has opened up about what he would change if the two ever crossed paths inside the Octagon again.
In a recent interview with How U Livin J Piven, Pimblett admitted that he would take a completely different approach if he ever got another shot at Gaethje. "Yeah, if I fought him again, I'd shoot in within 10 seconds. I'd love to get that rematch. If I fought him again, I'd shoot in the first 10 seconds, put him on his back, and choke his ****** out."
That would arguably be a much smarter game plan for the Liverpudlian, who reminded everyone of his grappling prowess with a spectacular comeback at UFC 329.

#pimblett #admitted

LSU's Lane Kiffin staunchly defends 24-team CFP while taking dig at other conferences appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Lane Kiffin can play coy sometimes, as many trolls choose to do, but the LSU head coach is making it perfectly clear where he stands on the proposed 24-team College Football Playoff.
Kiffin is not just in favor of this expected format change. He believes it is essential, particularly for an SEC that is brimming with parity and deeply passionate fan bases.
"I think it had to happen," Kiffin said, per On3's Jonathan Wagner. "You could say 12 is better, but not when you take into account the way college football is set up now. The conferences are so different, the four conferences. They are. They're different stadiums, they're different environments, they're different middle to bottom of them. So you're not playing equal schedules, they're not even close."
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#lane

FORT WALTON BEACH — There was no grandiose celebration of a four-peat, nor was there even acknowledgement of it by Frank Beasley in the postgame huddle.
Instead, after Choctaw (6-2, 4-0) won its sixth straight game and locked up District 1-4A again with a 49-7 win over Booker T. Washington (6-2, 3-1), the Big Green put their head down because they know what's on the horizon.
Region 1-4A is a gauntlet with unbeaten Columbia ranked No. 1, undefeated St. Augustine No. 2, unbeaten Mosley at No. 3 and Ed White 7-2 narrowly ahead of the Big Green at No. 4. That'll likely change between now and the next weekend before the region brackets are revealed, but for now the Big Green can only control what they can control.
Vote now: FPL Athlete of the Week for Oct. 19-24
"We're not affected by who we have to play in the playoffs, and we'll get the job done," senior Carter Marracco said.

#region #fort

Editor's note: This story will be updated with a photo gallery.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Despite entering the postseason with a 20-11 record, their first time with double-digit losses in the regular season since 2019, the Notre Dame Pandas swept through four straight opponents, then pulled off a comeback for the ages against Beechwood (24-26, 22-25, 25-13, 25-14, 15-10) to complete the journey to a fifth straight Ninth Region championship.
For the second straight night, tournament MVP Teagan Kondik had her fingerprints on the final play, putting away her 27th kill to complete the comeback.
"Joy. Doing it for my teammates when we've had a hard season, for sure, faced a lot of adversity. I think ending the region with a kill was super special to do it for them," Kondik said.

#region #despite

Editor's note: This story will be updated with a photo gallery.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Despite entering the postseason with a 20-11 record, their first time with double-digit losses in the regular season since 2019, the Notre Dame Pandas swept through four straight opponents, then pulled off a comeback for the ages against Beechwood (24-26, 22-25, 25-13, 25-14, 15-10) to complete the journey to a fifth straight Ninth Region championship.
For the second straight night, tournament MVP Teagan Kondik had her fingerprints on the final play, putting away her 27th kill to complete the comeback.
"Joy. Doing it for my teammates when we've had a hard season, for sure, faced a lot of adversity. I think ending the region with a kill was super special to do it for them," Kondik said.

#straight #season #kill

I'm a fan of David Samson. The former Marlins executive turned host at Meadowlark Media speaks candidly, and usually supports his positions with solid evidence. He's been gracious with his time to our writers over the years. His prior conversations with Pablo Torre and John Skipper on The Sporting Class always made me think. Whether Marlins and Expos fans like him or his opinions are right more than wrong doesn't change my position.
But earlier this week, David stepped on a landmine. He declared that we don't need baseball on the radio anymore. David said, "We all live by the clock that is kernels of sand through an hourglass. So, radio will go the way of Kodak and Blockbuster. It doesn't mean the voices will go away. The voices will find a different way to get into your brain because you have a different way of engaging with content."
In my opinion, David couldn't be more wrong. The response to those remarks has been huge across social media. Most feel similar to yours truly. I respect David's knowledge of the baseball business. He ran the Miami Marlins for 15 years. He spent a few years with the Expos too. He's been a part of media deals on the team's side pointing out that teams "buy a block of time, and then go out and sell ads." Some clubs do that. But most big brands don't. Let's examine the issue a little deeper.
Reach matters in today's media climate. Nielsen data shows AM/FM radio reaches 87% of U.S. adults every week. Those numbers aren't from 10-15 years ago. They are from the first quarter of 2026. That beat smartphones at 82%, TV-connected devices at 78% and live TV at 71%. Even among adults 18-34, radio reaches 81%.
Is radio's revenue down from its peak? Yes. The industry produced over 21 billion in 2006. BIA projects local radio will earn $12.2 billion in 2026. That's still a lot of money even if it's less than what existed 20 years ago. Still, Samson said there is no money in radio. Twelve billion Benjamin's suggests otherwise.

#still

The Atlanta Hawks' third home game of the season at State Farm Arena initially drew attention for forcing the Atlanta Dream to move Game 6 of the WNBA Finals earlier on Thursday to a 12:30 p.m. ET start.
Thankfully for Atlanta and the fans who rearranged their plans on short notice to attend a daytime game, the Dream won 80-69 to force the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history and give themselves an opportunity to win the franchise's first championship.
However, the Hawks also won their first home game of the season after the arena staff changed courts with a 114-111 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
Onyeka Okongwu scored 29 points (shooting 4 of 6 on 3-pointers) and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Hawks, who improved their season record to 2-3. Nickeil Alexander-Walker followed with 25 points and Aaron Wiggins provided 20 off the bench, hitting 4 of his 7 3-point attempts.
Playing their second of back-to-back games following a 129-117 loss to the Miami Heat on Wednesday, the Hawks initially looked tired out. The Cavs ran out to a 28-16 lead after the first quarter with James Harden scoring nine points and Sam Merrill adding eight.

#season #finals

No. 22 Florida State women's soccer bounced back from Saturday's loss to Notre Dame with a 2-1 victory over No. 5 Duke in Tallahassee.
The Seminoles entered the matchup looking to respond after being shut out 2-0 by Notre Dame. Facing another ranked ACC opponent, Florida State came out strong, scoring twice in the opening 13 minutes.
With the win, Florida State improved to 8-2-3, while Duke fell to 9-2-4.
Florida State made several changes to its starting lineup, which included Wrianna Hudson, Shaneil Buckley, Ryder Ajeto, Sam Erbach, Peyton McGovern, Nawreen Ahmad, Tanner Strickland, Grace Hoytink, Bridget Mutipula, Janet Okeke and Kate Ockene.
At 9:24, Buckley used her speed to make a run toward Duke's goal. With the Blue Devils' goalkeeper coming out to challenge, Buckley found an opening and scored to give the Seminoles an early 1-0 lead.

#state

Jake Garcia experienced a disappointing ending to Friday's Love's RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing 26th after being involved in a major accident during the final stage. The ThorSport Racing driver started 11th and led three laps before his afternoon ended prematurely.
Garcia initially showed competitive speed, remaining among the leading trucks as drivers battled through multiple drafting lanes. His No. 98 Ford eventually moved into the lead for three laps, providing an opportunity to establish himself among the contenders.
However, maintaining track position proved difficult as competitors changed drafting lanes and employed different pit strategies. Garcia remained in competition through the opening stages but encountered serious trouble on Lap 57.
An accident sent his Ford hard into the outside wall, triggering a caution and collecting multiple competitors, including Chandler Smith and Conner Jones. The damage prevented Garcia from continuing, ending his afternoon after 56 completed laps. He ultimately finished 26th and earned 11 points.
Garcia remains 11th in the overall NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings with 559 points, the highest-ranked driver who missed the championship Chase. With Martinsville and Homestead-Miami remaining, Garcia will attempt to preserve that position and finish his season strongly.

#garcia #ford #ending #driver

Josh Reaume endured a challenging afternoon in Friday's Love's RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing 22nd after starting 33rd. The Team Reaume driver gained 11 positions during the event and briefly led one lap in his No. 22 Ford.
Reaume began the race near the rear of the field, facing the challenge of advancing through a competitive 36-truck lineup. However, the unpredictable drafting conditions provided several opportunities for competitors to gain positions as the running order constantly changed.
The first major accident occurred on Lap 17, collecting eight trucks and forcing NASCAR to temporarily stop the race. Reaume avoided elimination in that incident and continued battling for track position as the event progressed. His Ford also remained competitive during the second stage, when multiple drivers experienced tire problems and varying pit strategies reshuffled the field.
Reaume eventually moved into the lead for one lap, providing a notable moment during his afternoon. The final stage featured additional accidents and an overtime finish, but Reaume could not remain on the lead lap. He ultimately completed 82 laps and finished 22nd, four laps behind winner Sammy Smith.
The performance earned Reaume 15 points and represented an improvement of 11 positions from his original starting spot.

#Event #field

Justin Haley endured a challenging afternoon during Friday's Love's RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing 20th after an early tire problem disrupted his race. The Kaulig Racing driver started 17th and led two laps before encountering difficulties.
Haley initially demonstrated competitive speed in his No. 16 Ram, moving toward the front during the opening stage. However, his afternoon changed on Lap 13 when a flat tire forced him to slow while running in traffic. Contact from Kaden Honeycutt briefly sent Haley sideways, but he managed to save the truck and return to pit road without triggering a caution.
The unscheduled stop cost Haley valuable track position and forced him to spend much of the remainder of the event attempting to recover. Despite the setback, he remained competitive during the second stage, finishing ninth and collecting two additional points.
The final stage featured multiple accidents and an overtime finish, but Haley could not regain the lost laps. He ultimately completed 84 laps and finished 20th, two laps behind winner Sammy Smith. Haley earned 19 points and maintained 14th in the overall NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series standings with 475 points.
He will look to finish the season strongly at Martinsville and Homestead-Miami.

#haley #stop #truck #tire