Ex-Red Sox Skipper Alex Cora Landing New Job Considered 'All But a Done Deal' originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox have played very well under interim skipper Chad Tracy, though that doesn't necessarily mean they'll hire him as their next head coach.
The Red Sox ultimately have to decide whether to give Tracy more chances or go with a veteran-led head coach.
As of now, the Red Sox have to love what Tracy has done, as everything has gone according to plan since moving on from Alex Cora.
Cora, speaking of which, finds himself in a position of leverage.

#alex #skipper #considered

The mystery surrounding Jameson Williams' unexpected absence from Detroit Lions practice did not last long, and the news appears to be about as good as Detroit could have hoped.
Lions coach Dan Campbell revealed Monday evening that Williams is dealing with a shoulder injury, but he made it clear the issue is not considered serious.
"He's got a little shoulder (injury), he's good to go, though," Campbell said Monday.
Williams was not expected to participate in Monday night's practice, and Campbell did not provide a specific timetable for his return. Still, his description of the injury should ease some of the concern that developed when Williams unexpectedly missed Sunday's padded session.
Any injury involving Williams is going to get the attention of Lions fans considering how important he has become to Detroit's offense.

#lions #Monday #practice

Hayden Panettiere and on-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson may have been closer than people think before the actress was found dead on Sunday, August 16, at age 36.
A source close to Hickerson told TMZ on Monday, August 17, that he and the Nashville alum were together while she was promoting her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, which was released in May.
However, according to the source, Panettiere was advised by her team to distance herself from him because he was "bad for business" while she was doing press for the book.
A separate TMZ source close to Hickerson — with whom she's had a toxic, on-off relationship with since 2018 — claimed they've been together consistently for years and were seen together multiple times in the last year in both L.A. and South Carolina.
According to the outlet, Panettiere allegedly became so close with Hickerson she was considered part of his family in recent years.

#brian

The Philadelphia 76ers continue to be the talk of the league as they have been the most aggressive team in the league in terms of making big additions. The Sixers were able to pull off a big deal to acquire Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics and that move then set up the addition of LeBron James.
James brings his brilliance now to the City of Brotherly Love as he is still one of the best players in the game this late in his career. In year 23, and his eighth with the Los Angeles Lakers, James averaged 20.9 points, 7.2 **** ists, and 6.1 rebounds while guiding the Lakers to Round 2 of the playoffs after a series win over the Houston Rockets.
Plenty of James' former teammates have come forward to speak on how terrific he is a player and a teammate and D'Angelo Russell joined that crowd as he gave his thoughts on James joining the Sixers in free agency:
But also adding a guy like LeBron to a team that did really well last year without a guy like Joel (Embiid). And then you add a healthy Joel, I think that is debatable. LeBron is the greatest of all time. Joel is ex-MVP. Jaylen Brown Finals MVP. (Tyrese) Maxey coming off of the year he had, and (VJ) Edgecombe, the sky is the limit...Philly, to see all those dudes just in attack mode, which is already the style they played in. Like, they're gonna be tough to beat. Tough to beat.
Russell played alongside James to help the Lakers reach the Western Conference finals in 2023. He knows very well what James brings to the table and he knows what the future Hall of Famer will be able to do in Philadelphia. The Sixers will certainly be considered the favorites in a much tougher Eastern Conference as they move forward into the season.

#lebron

The Chicago Bears may be without running back Kyle Monangai for their season opener.
Monangai went down with a right knee injury in practice on Sunday, and will now miss several weeks with a hyperextended knee, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. A specific timeline there is not yet known.
While the outcome of the MRI is apparently being considered positive, it absolutely puts Monangai at risk of missing their regular season opener.
Play Yahoo's new College Fantasy Football game: Create or join a league now!
Monangai got tangled up with Bears defensive tackle Gardy Jarrett near the sideline near the end of a run in practice on Sunday, according to the Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs. The practice, taking place just a day after the team's 34-10 preseason win over the Cleveland Browns, was being held in just shorts and shells.

#season

Around 20 people made it known to the Scottish FA that they wanted to be considered to replace Steve Clarke as Scotland's new head coach.
Not one of them was interviewed.
Not because they weren't capable, but because the computer said no.
The days of board members sifting through applicants and picking the best are long gone thanks to football **** ytics and AI.
Computers don't choose coaches but they are playing a bigger part in the process than ever before.

#steve #clarke #made #known

Despite having a strong young roster and a new front office regime, in place the future outlook for the Atlanta Falcons is pretty bleak, at least according to the national media.
ESPN has come out with their annual future power rankings list for all 32 NFL teams, and the Falcons are near the bottom - coming in at No. 27 on their list. They ranked 21st in overall roster strength not including QB, 31st at quarterback, 17th in coaching and 24th in front office.
The worst of it is that they see no change coming on the horizon. ESPN included this dire bold prediction for Atlanta: they won't make the playoffs through the 2029 season.
"The Falcons will not make the playoffs from 2027 to 2029. Atlanta needs a quarterback, but the current team isn't bad enough to land a top-two pick. The Falcons could draft one next year, but they might have to give up some serious capital to trade up. And though there are building blocks on this team, I fear the Falcons could be caught in the middle -- even in the NFC South." -- Seth Walder, ESPN
The good news is that it's impossible to see that far into the future with any accuracy. If the Falcons were to trade for or sign or draft a perfectly-average starting quarterback some time in the next couple of years they would instantly be considered the favorites to win the NFC South - and the playoff spot that comes with it.

#falcons #espn #future #roster

Ryan Lochte and Michael Phelps spent over a decade racing each other in the pool at the highest level. Not only that, Lochte and Phelps crossed paths in many events, including battling head to head in the 200 Individual Medley and 400 Individual Medley countless times.
They were two of the greatest Olympians of all time, competing on the same timeline, however Lochte never once considered packing up and training alongside Phelps, and he's not shy about why.
"The best training program I've ever had was at the University of Florida, hands down the best," Lochte said on the Night Swim Podcast.
For Lochte, it wasn't close. Legendary coach Gregg Troy ran a program in Gainsville that fit Lochte like a glove, and Lochte says Troy simply understood how to get the most out of him.
"Coach Troy knew how to push my ***** ons, to push me to limits that I didn't know myself," Lochte said.

#phelps #troy

On Friday, Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas had an impressive performance in the team's first preseason game of the 2026 NFL season. On Monday, the Dolphins announced that fellow third-round pass catcher, Chris Bell, would soon join his draft-mate on the practice fields in Miami Gardens.
Bell — the second receiver drafted by Miami in the third-round of this year's selection process — was activated off of the club's active/non-football injury list this morning. The activation allows the Louisville product to begin practicing with his teammates instead of merely working off to the side like he has been doing since training camp started.
Bell tore his ACL in November of last year — causing the player who was once considered a late-first round prospect to drop all the way to the 94th overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. In four college seasons, Bell totaled 151 receptions for 2,166 yards and 12 touchdowns.
On Monday, Bell practiced in a red non-contact jersey, so it remains to be seen when he will be cleared in full, but being able to get valuable reps with his quarterback, Malik Willis, is a positive step forward for the rookie. We will continue to keep you updated on all things Miami Dolphins as the team begins preparation for their second preseason contest taking place this Saturday against the New York Giants.

#first #preseason

American tennis star Jessica Pegula has dreamed about what it would be like to win the first Grand Slam of her career. She said achieving that milestone at the U.S. Open, her favorite of the four slams, would be even sweeter.
"My goal is to win the tournament," Pegula told USA TODAY Sports ahead of the 2026 U.S. Open. "It is my favorite place to play just purely because I am an American and I'm from New York State, and I do think people get behind me and encourage me a lot more than maybe even some other Americans."
Pegula has experienced both triumph and heartbreak at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York. She advanced to the first and only Grand Slam final of her career at the 2024 U.S. Open, but ultimately lost to Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. "I do feel like it adds a little bit more pressure," Pegula added.
Pegula spoke to USA TODAY Sports ahead of the fourth and final major of the year through her partnership with Vital Proteins, the official collagen partner of the U.S. Open.
Pegula, 32, is considered a late-bloomer in the tennis world. She made her professional debut in 2009, but a string of serious injuries delayed her ascension. Pegula broke through and won her first WTA ***** le at age 25 in 2019. She cracked the Top 50 for the first time in 2021, made it into the Top 20 by January 2022 and reached the Top 10 five months later at age 28.

#tennis #american #sports

The human rights organization FairSquare sent a letter to three members of FIFA's Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee asking them to stop the federation's president Gianni Infantino from running for re-election.
In the letter seen by news portal The Athletic on Monday, FairSquare argues that FIFA statutes don't permit another term for Infantino. A corresponding amendment to the regulations in 2022 was, among other things, not properly published before the vote in the FIFA Council.
The decisive question is whether Infantino's first term, from 2016 to 2019, will be considered a full term. If so, he would be ineligible to run again, as a FIFA president is limited to three terms.
From Infantino's perspective, he only completed the term of his predecessor, Joseph Blatter, and would therefore be eligible to remain in office for another four years, starting in 2027. The 56-year-old is currently the only candidate.
FairSquare's complaint is largely symbolic. The organization had already failed in its attempt to challenge Infantino before the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In that case, he was accused of close ties to US President Donald Trump and the resulting political interference in the federation.

#infantino #fifa #committee

The human rights organization FairSquare sent a letter to three members of FIFA's Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee asking them to stop the federation's president Gianni Infantino from running for re-election.
In the letter seen by news portal The Athletic on Monday, FairSquare argues that FIFA statutes don't permit another term for Infantino. A corresponding amendment to the regulations in 2022 was, among other things, not properly published before the vote in the FIFA Council.
The decisive question is whether Infantino's first term, from 2016 to 2019, will be considered a full term. If so, he would be ineligible to run again, as a FIFA president is limited to three terms.
From Infantino's perspective, he only completed the term of his predecessor, Joseph Blatter, and would therefore be eligible to remain in office for another four years, starting in 2027. The 56-year-old is currently the only candidate.
FairSquare's complaint is largely symbolic. The organization had already failed in its attempt to challenge Infantino before the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In that case, he was accused of close ties to US President Donald Trump and the resulting political interference in the federation.

#committee

Texas A&M's 2026 season-opener vs. Missouri State is less than three weeks away, and entering his third sesaon at the helm, coach Mike Elko should be encouraged by what he's witnessed from the redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed, who has improved accuracy, especially on the deep ball, which was on full display during Saturday's scrimmage after hitting Alabama transfer wideout Isaiah Horton in stride on a 30-plus yard throw.
The only thing preventing Marcel Reed, in my opinion, from matching his 2025 production is whether the revamped offensive line, featuring four new starters, gels early in the year. This group will feature returning starting center Mark Nabou, four new SEC transfers, and several rising offensive linemen from the 2025 signing class.
Again, if this group at least becomes an above-average pass-blocking unit, Marcel Reed will be passing to what is nationally considered one of the deepest wide receiver rotations in the country, now including Alabama transfer Isaiah Horton, who brings much-needed size at 6'4", while Mario Craver, Ashton Bethel-Roman, Terry Bussey, and freshman Aaron Gregory fill out the rotation.
Last season, Reed passed for a career-high 3,169 yards and 25 touchdowns, while 8 of his 12 interceptions came against top-35-ranked defenses, which has been the focus this offseason, working with new OC Holmon Wiggins and QB coach Joey Lynch. Entering the 2026 season with a solid 77.9 QBR, On3 ranks Reed 9th nationally.
"Reed was tremendous in leading Texas A&M to an 11-0 start last season. Then, he was fairly pedestrian — and that might be generous — in the team's two losses to Texas and Miami to close out the 2025 campaign. Decision-making in big moments is the real key for Reed. He needs to avoid costly turnovers in big games. But in terms of raw skill, he's got as much as anyone in the country. And he's probably aptly motivated after the way 2025 ended."

#entering

It doesn't take much for Bailey Ettridge to put things in perspective for himself while living out a dream and competing for a starting spot on Oregon football's makeshift practice fields outside the Ducks' in-progress state-of-the-art indoor practice facility aside Autzen Stadium.
Not even two years ago, the 28-year-old transfer punter was doing that same work in Australia — using torches and plasma cutters to size metal pieces, joining metals and doing various other construction work — though not on any projects of quite that scale.
"When I look out there, I'm like, I could still be doing that in Australia," Ettridge said. "I'm here on the other side, watching them do it, playing football."
One year ago, Ettridge had never played in front a crowd of over 500, had never played in a college football game and until halfway through 2025, had not truly considered punting in America as wholly viable.
The Geelong, Australia-born Ettridge had been playing Australia rules football since he was 5 years old and started work in construction at the age of 16.

#playing

Michael Jordan played in the NBA for 15 seasons between 1984 and 2003, and was widely considered one of the greatest athletes of his generation. But he wasn't the best.
That would have been his contemporary, Bo Jackson. Jackson played both professional baseball and football, and was an All-Star in each.
His professional baseball career started in 1986, and his NFL career in 1987.
His career – both of them – were full of legendary moments. Negro Leagues legend Buck O'Neill said that when Jackson hit the ball, he connected with a ferocity that he had only ever heard from two players: Babe Ruth and Josh Gibson.
Then there was the wall running and the insane passes.

#Baseball #michael #jordan

Indiana football shocked the world and went undefeated with its first national championship in program history last season. Coach Curt Cignetti lost a long list of players to the NFL Draft, but has since reloaded the roster with impact transfer portal additions.
Across the Big Ten, Oregon and Ohio State are considered top national ***** le contenders in 2026, along with Indiana. All three schools have made impact additions via the portal.
UCLA also added an impressive portal class after hiring Bob Chesney from James Madison, which made the College Football Playoff in 2025. Michigan also added some pieces after hiring Kyle Whittingham from Utah.
From 1-11 to Playoff? 5 unranked teams who could surprise their way into 2026 CFP
Can't-miss games: Top 10 games this season include big dose of Arch Manning

#portal #Football #national #additions

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay discussed the potential of Aaron Donald returning for the 2026 NFL season after his retirement in 2024.
Donald spent 10 years with the Rams, winning three Defensive Player of the Year awards and Super Bowl LVI. He walked away from the game at 32 years old in 2024, but the itch to return has re-emerged.
After the Rams' acquisition of reigning DPOY Myles Garrett, Donald has seriously considered a return to the franchise for one more Super Bowl push.
Rams head coach McVay spoke to reporters after practice and revealed where things stand with Donald's return.
"He's put himself in a position to be able to say yes or no. I think he's earned that right to have clarity on that. We're not at that point quite yet. We have some loose things where we've identified, you know, dates that we'd like to be able to hit. But what I don't want to have is any sort of unnecessary pressure on him if there are some unforeseen circumstances."

#mcvay

Two Ohio State players continue to receive preseason recognition on the offensive side of the ball, and that continued with ESPN unveiling its preseason college football All-American team last week. The "worldwide leader" only selected a First and Second Team, with special teams included, so it was an exclusive group. Eli Lederman and Max Olson only went into detail with the First Team.
The Buckeyes are expected to have one of the best offenses in the country this year with so much returning production, and it's that side of the ball that saw players named by ESPN. As you would expect, quarterback Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith were the two players that made the cut.
"A compelling case can be made that Ohio State's star pass catcher is the best all-around player in college football entering the season, regardless of position. Smith recorded 87 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 touchdowns last fall and returns for his junior season on the heels of back-to-back first-team All-America selections. Equipped with an elite combination of speed, explosiveness, and size at 6-foot-3, Smith is a matchup nightmare for opposing defensive coordinators, a go-to target for Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin and one of the top prospects in the 2027 NFL draft class for good reason. No current FBS pass catcher has logged more receiving yards (2,258) and touchdowns (27) than Smith since the start of the 2024 campaign."
Even the most casual fan knows about Smith. Widely considered the best player in the country despite what the awards say, Smith has already put together two of the best seasons we've ever seen a wide receiver do. So far, he has totaled 163 receptions for 2,558 yards (15.7 avg.) and 27 touchdowns. He's also rushed for two scores. He is expected to have another huge year and is closing in on breaking some of the biggest all-time receiving records in Columbus.
"Sayin took over as the Buckeyes' starter a year ago and immediately established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Prolifically accurate -- his FBS-best 77% completion percentage last fall ranks third in NCAA history -- Sayin threw for 3,610 yards and 42 touchdowns and flashed situational poise in his debut season. His third-down passing conversion rate of 47.8% trailed only those of USC's Jayden Maiava (48.5%) and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza (48.1%) among FBS quarterbacks with at least 250 attempts, per ESPN Research. Sayin will be tested by a more challenging schedule and a new system under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith this fall. But supported by elite pass catchers (see: Jeremiah Smith) and a promising running game, Sayin should be even better in 2026."

#smith #sayin #best #players

When is William Saliba back? Projected return date for **** nal defender after surgery for back injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
After winning the Premier League **** le last season, **** nal are on the hunt for bigger and better in the 2026/27 campaign, as the Gunners get ready to run it back.
The English top flight championship was special, as **** nal won their first league **** le since the Invincibles in 2004. Yet they fell in the Champions League final, and are still looking for their first-ever continental trophy. They got the season started off in a big way as they defeated Manchester City by a 3-0 score in the Community Shield, which signaled the start of the new club campaign.
As they get set to start the new season, there are some injuries to contend with stemming not only from the World Cup over the summer, but going back to last season during the **** le charge.
The Sporting News brings you a look at the situation for one of **** nal's most important players, as centre-back William Saliba was a rock along the back line last year and considered one of the best defenders in the world.

#league

Eintracht Frankfurt have reportedly decided to enter the market for a new first-choice goalkeeper following their disastrous pre-season finale against Brentford. Kicker reports that SC Freiburg keeper Noah Atubolu has emerged as the club's preferred solution between the sticks. Frankfurt's goalkeeping situation already generated considerable discussion throughout the 2025/26 campaign.
Brazilian keeper Kauã Santos was expected to succeed long-time No.1 Kevin Trapp, but a combination of injuries and costly errors prevented the 23-year-old from establishing himself. Michael Zetterer, signed from Werder Bremen last summer, similarly failed to make a lasting claim to the starting role. Saturday's humiliating 7-0 friendly defeat away at Brentford has evidently prompted a rethink. Santos endured another difficult outing in England and kicker now reports that Eintracht have resolved to bring in a new No.1 before the transfer window closes.
Atubolu is described as Frankfurt's "Wunschlösung" ("preferred solution") for the position. The 24-year-old remains under contract with Freiburg through 2027, but has been expected to depart the Breisgau club since Mio Backhaus arrived as his prospective successor earlier this summer. The Freiburg academy product had previously appeared destined for a move abroad. The Premier League in particular has long been considered Atubolu's preferred destination.
Get German Football News reported last month on Atubolu's potential Premier League options, with Aston Villa and Bournemouth among the clubs linked with the German youth international. FussballTransfers additionally reports that Italian clubs have maintained interest in the keeper. A move to Frankfurt would therefore represent a somewhat surprising opportunity for Atubolu to remain in the Bundesliga.
Any prospective deal remains at a very early stage. Kicker nevertheless suggests that the situation could develop quickly during the coming week as Frankfurt seek to address one of the most obvious weak points exposed by their heavy Brentford defeat. The potential move would also represent a significant statement from Frankfurt. Bringing Atubolu to Hessen would amount to a clear attempt to settle a position that has remained unsettled since Trapp's departure.

#keeper

A member of the defensive ranks at Real Betis is considered an injury doubt for the club's opening fixture of the new La Liga campaign. This comes owing to developments in the Verdiblancos' latest friendly outing.
Betis were back in action on Saturday, locking horns with Italian champions Inter Milan amid ongoing preparations for the 2026/27 season.
When all was said and done, Manuel Pellegrini's troops were condemned to the wrong side of a 1-0 result. And as alluded to above, their woes did not end with the eventual outcome…
In addition, Real Betis saw an important member of their defensive setup dealt an injury setback. During the opening exchanges on Saturday, Héctor Bellerín was the victim of a blow to the ankle. After attempting to run the problem off, the former **** nal man was ultimately forced to limp off.
And Bellerín, as a result, has been labelled an early doubt for his side's La Liga season opener against Real Sociedad next Friday. As per a report from Mundo Deportivo:

#beller #member

TimesofIndia.com in Galle: The build-up to the second day of the Test focused on how many runs India needed before making Sri Lanka bat. Bat once and bat big had been the undertone of this fixture, and India's solid start on the opening day pointed in that direction. However, just like the weather, the mood changed at a frantic pace when Sri Lanka took the second new ball to dent India's hopes of batting the hosts out of the contest.

Three overnight batters, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul (who retired hurt on Day 1) and centurion Devdutt Padikkal, were dismissed in the first ninety minutes of play after the weather kept both camps confined to the dressing room for over five hours. From 'how much is too much' to 'how long will they survive', the nature of the conversations changed after a period in which the Sri Lanka bowlers sustained pressure.

Debutant Keshara Nuwantha was the wrecker-in-chief, and his adjustment of length proved ideal for the Day 2 surface, which offered sharp turn and encouraging bounce. Day 3 is widely considered the moving day in a multi-day fixture, but it came earlier than usual as Pant couldn't convert his start, Rahul was undone by sharp turn and an even better catch, and Jadeja was trapped in front by a delivery that went on with the arm from the perfect length.

Amid all the first-session chaos, the most **** ured batter from the visitors' camp held fort for a while, continuing from where he had left off, and looked set for a double hundred before falling for 167. Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took the prized wicket of Padikkal and later dismissed another set batter, Dhruv Jurel, who scored a breezy 51. Before being dismissed, Jurel looked very **** ured and added valuable runs with Manav Suthar, pushing India's total to a number that keeps them in a dominant position.
The right-hander remained busy, and there was a sense of urgency in his stand with Suthar as they negotiated the Sri Lanka attack during the closing hour of play. They got together when Jadeja was dismissed in the 99th over, with the scoreboard reading 377/6, and added 55 runs for the seventh wicket. Gill, in the pre-match press conference, had stressed the contributions from the lower order, and the partnership between Jurel and Suthar was the kind of effort he was looking for to keep the momentum on their side.

Galle was gloomy, the skies were angry, and the heavy downpour in the early hours meant the scheduled early start to make up for lost overs wasn't possible. To make matters worse, the constant hide-and-seek between clouds, sun and rain continued for over five hours, and even the groundstaff's best efforts were not enough as the rain refused to relent.
They kept removing the covers after seeing clear skies, but all the hard work was undone as the strong crosswinds kept bringing the dark clouds over the stadium. The moment clear skies ahead offered hope, the darkness in the rearview forced the over-100-member team to keep panning and cr

The barber of former Barcelona star João Cancelo on Sunday dropped a major hint regarding the Portuguese's future at club level. This of course comes amid ongoing speculation linking the defender with a move back to Catalunya's capital.
Full-back Cancelo for his part spent the 2nd half of last season plying his trade on loan in the colours of Barcelona. The 32-year-old went on to impress under the orders of Hansi Flick, establishing himself as an important contributor from left-back.
Deco and the Camp Nou brass, in turn, have long been hard at work to secure a deal with Al-Hilal to make Cancelo's signing a permanent one.
Recent days have seen reports begin to mount that an agreement is now closer than ever, with the transfer considered as all but imminent. And as alluded to above, on Sunday, a fresh hint regarding as much has surfaced, courtesy of a surprise source.
In a post on his official Instagram account, Cancelo's personal barber unveiled a photo of he and the former Manchester City man, accompanied by the caption:

#Barcelona #full

Newcastle United's preseason defeat to Everton provided Matthias Jaissle with another useful look at the squad he inherited, but it also exposed several areas that still appear short of Premier League-level depth ahead of the Aug. 23 opener against Liverpool.
Jaissle acknowledged afterward that Newcastle needs further reinforcements and suggested transfers could come soon, perhaps even before the week is over, although he refused to reveal names or even publicly confirm the positions being targeted.
"You all see the matches," Jaissle said. "You are also smart enough to see the needs in the squad. We handle these things internally. We are aware of what we need. Let's see now. There is still some time."
The Athletic's Chris Waugh reported that a right-back and a veteran, ball-controlling midfielder are Newcastle's immediate priorities, while another attacker could also be considered.
Jaissle would not rule out the possibility of additions arriving before or during this weekend's last preseason friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Strasbourg at St. James' Park, although he stressed that completing deals is outside his direct control.

#jaissle #preseason #needs

It's been busy in Chapel Hill this past week as students have been moving in on and off campus, and the First Day of Class is set for tomorrow. It looks like those classes will include a native of Mali who Michael Malone has high hopes for in terms of much-needed front court depth.
On Saturday, Inside Carolina's Sherrell McMillan had the major scoop that Sayon Keita had obtained his visa to come to the United States, and with that he should be on the ground in time to attend classes this week. That means he should be eligible to play when the 2026-27 basketball season tips off.
It will be interesting to see just how quickly Keita can get up to speed, as the rest of the the first team ***** embled by Malone — sans Cameron Fens — have been able to have informal practices together, allowing them to start to learn how to play together. Keita will be behind in that aspect, and fans will undoubtedly remember how much another late arrival in Luka Bogavac struggled. That Keita plays a different position and is younger might actually help him adjust quicker.
The news means that Malone will now have depth — albeit untested at a high-major college level — in the front court which was considered the major hole of the first ***** embled team. Another international transfer, Alex Samodurov, should also see minutes along with Fens — presuming Fens' ability to play isn't wiped out on appeal to higher courts.
With classes starting and the first public game for the Tar Heels less than two months away, the pressure will be on for Malone's inaugural Tar Heel squad to gel quickly and cohesively. The team is already staring at an announced non-conference schedule of Georgia, Marshall, West Virginia, Arkansas, Butler, Georgetown, Kentucky, and Illinois. Rumors are also out that another major non-conference game will be announced this week, also to be played in Greensboro.

#first #week #team #high

I thought it would be nice to take a pause from the ongoing Bradley Barcola saga and step away from the bad taste of the new investor reality and take a quick look into any rule changes facing the Premier League.
All of the rule changes being adapted were rolled out for the 2026 World Cup Tournament and the focus is very much on preventing time wasting and the footballing dark arts of breaking the rhythm of a match. There is also the hopeful stopping of set piece wrestling, something this writer definitely wants to see less of but ****** nal probably don't.
Referees will now blow the whistle if they deem players are intentionally attempting to disrupt the flow of play by doing things like pretending to take the throw then dropping the ball for another teammate to pick up and take. The whistle will indicate a countdown from five is beginning and the ref will raise his arm to show each second passing. If the player fails to take the throw-in before the countdown finishes then the opposition will be given the throw-in.
The exception will be long throw-ins as they are considered set-piece plays but the ref can still initiate the five second countdown once all the players are set.
With goal-kicks the keeper will be penalized for taking too long (there doesn't appear to be a set time for this unlike the throw-ins) and that would result in a corner being given to the opposition team.

#throw #time #piece #whistle

NBA 2K27, the latest installment in the popular video game franchise, is scheduled to be released on Sept. 4, with some people getting early access starting on Aug. 28. With a few weeks to go before it becomes available, some of its player ratings are being leaked.
Walker Kessler, the Lakers' new starting center, is considered an elite shot-blocker and rebounder, and he should considerably help the team in both categories right away. In NBA 2K27, he is rated as the ninth-best shot blocker with a rating of 93 in that category. San Antonio Spurs superstar center Victor Wembanyama is first in that department with a 99 rating.
Overall, however, Kessler only has an overall rating of 81, which ranks 100th overall among all players.
A few fans on X (formerly Twitter) felt Kessler should have been rated a bit higher.
The 25-year-old has career averages of 9.5 points on 68.1% shooting, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in 25.3 minutes a game. He has never been a big offensive threat other than converting on lob passes and offensive rebounds grabbed near the rim, but in the five games he played last season, he showed very early signs of adding a 3-point shot by hitting six of eight attempts from that range.

#shot #center #blocker

College football is in the air, and we can taste it because of the parade of preseason college football awards watch lists that have been heaped upon us as of late. A program like Ohio State is always represented on these things, and that has certainly been the case this year.
The Buckeyes have had some great centers over the years and again have a good one in Carson Hinzman. The Wisconsin native started during his redshirt freshman season, moved to guard until asked to take over for the injured Seth McGlaughlin during the College Football Playoff run in 2024, and then was the unquestioned starter over the ball all of last season. He is expected to be one of the best centers during the 2026 campaign as well, and because of that, he was listed among the rest of the players appearing on the Rimington Trophy preseason watch list.
The Rimington has been around since the year 2000 and is handed out annually by the Rimington Trophy committee to the player considered to be the best center in college football. Ohio State has already seen four of its players take the award home during its rather short history, with the aforementioned McGlaughlin taking it home in 2024. Before that, LeCharles Bentley (2001), Pat Elflein (2016), and Billy Price (2017) were also honored. No other program has had more Rimington winners than the Buckeyes.
The winner of the Rimington Trophy will be announced along with a whole host of other college football awards during ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show on December 11.
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#home

Drew Gilbert had never hit lead-off before. The vast majority of his plate appearances this season have come out of the 8th and 9th spots in the batting order. There's plenty of reasons why Gilbert wouldn't be seriously considered to bat first when constructing a Major League line-up. Mainly, he doesn't hit for average, he doesn't hit for power, nor does he inflate his on-base percentage with walks. Gilbert's barely the same species as a Kyle Schwarber or Shohei Ohtani, the 21st century take on the top spot. Considering he's swiped only 2 bases in 137 Major League games, Gilbert is pretty far from Vince Coleman and the more old-school, light-and-fast model too, aimed at wrecking havoc on the bases after beating out an infield single.
The lead-off man has been a revolving door for the Giants all season. It's been dependent on the opposing starter's arm, who's healthy, or the hot hand. No one has been particularly good at it. San Francisco's lead-off men have posted a .279 OBP — by far the lowest in the Majors. Their overall production, with a 89 wRC+, is well below league average.
The point of the offensive spear being not that pointy could explain some of the team's frustrating inconsistencies and overall struggles.
Game 123 of this doomed season, Tony Vitello is throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks. Dating back to July 30th, in which the Giants have gone 4-10 while dropping four straight series, seven different players have hit lead-off. Pencilling Gilbert's name into the top spot — because why not? — made him the 13th player to serve in the role this year, which is the most in any Giants season since 1901.
13 might be a lucky number because Gilbert transformed himself to fit into the role. The middle schooler hyped-up on Mountain Dew Baja Blast energy he typically emanates at the plate was completely gone. In its place, a stoic figure, a discerning eye. The new number-1 went 3-for-4, with a walk, 3 runs batted in, and 2 runs scored. He worked a lead-off walk, taking six straight pitches, and didn't lift his bat off his shoulder. The Number- 9 hitter Gilbert probably would've swung a dozen times. But that Gilbert is dead now; or at least, repressed, stuffed in the locker of his subconsciousness (for the day at least), because when he came up again in the 3rd, nothing had changed. Gilbert was just as calm and disciplined. He took a first pitch fastball in the dirt for ball one, and an elevated curveball at the letters for ball two. Being ahead in the count matters, and Gilbert specifically needs that breathing room. He's hitting .300 with a 1.014 OPS (70 AB) when he's swinging with count leverage. When he's backed into a corner: .224 with a .585 OPS (85 AB).

#gilbert #major #doesn 't

Finally, Movsar Evloev has gotten his long-awaited shot at the UFC featherweight ******* le.
The undefeated Russian fighter is set to challenge champion Alexander Volkanovski in the main event of UFC 333 – which is set to go down on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi. MMA Junkie confirmed the news with multiple sources following a report from Вестник ММА, and the UFC made it official during Saturday's UFC 330 broadcast.
This bout marks the second ******* le defense of Volkanovski's (28-4 MMA, 15-3 UFC) second reign as UFC featherweight champion. Volkanovski initially held the belt from 2019 to 2023, becoming one of the greatest featherweights of all time. He lost the belt by KO to Ilia Topuria in 2024, and then recovered it when Topuria moved up to lightweight in a vacant ******* le fight against Diego Lopes in April 2025. Volkanovski went on to defend the belt this past February in a rematch against Lopes.
Evloev (20-0 MMA, 10-0 UFC) has been pursuing the UFC ******* le for well over seven years. Despite being considered by many the No. 1 contender in the featherweight division for a couple of years now, Evloev has yet to get a crack at the ******* le. He's gone 20-0 in his professional MMA career, with half of those wins being under the UFC banner. In his last outing back in March, Evloev defeated Lerone Murphy in a majrity decision.
Alexander Volkanovski vs. Movsar Evloev – for featherweight ******* le

#evloev #title #belt #alexander