ZANDVOORT, Netherlands (AP) — Lando Norris says he doesn't yet have a car capable of vying for the Formula 1 **** le despite back-to-back Grand Prix wins but he could "win every race" remaining this season if McLaren manages to solve its biggest vulnerability.
The F1 defending champion boosted his **** le chances with victory at the Dutch GP on Sunday after a daring pass on standings leader Kimi Antonelli in the process.
"I know I've just won two races in a row and had two poles in a row, but at the minute I don't have the car I need to fight for a championship," Norris said after the race. He added that the right changes to target McLaren's troubles in slow-speed corners could set him up to chase down Mercedes driver Antonelli.
"We're very, very strong in high-speed (corners), and that's the place we've improved the car the most ... No one matches us in high speed, and that's a good thing," Norris said.
However, Norris added that "Mercedes' advantage that they have to us in slow speed is also crazy."

#mercedes #race #corners

Richard A. Brooks/Getty Images
Shein is asking some of its existing investors to invest in an initial public offering that is supposed to give them an exit. While it's a welcome development for some, a series of failed attempts to go public means skepticism remains.
Bloomberg reported on Thursday that Chinese investment manager Boyu Capital and UBS ***** et Management are in talks to become cornerstone investors in the online fast-fashion retailer's Hong Kong listing. Shein has set aside at least $400 million of stock for cornerstone investors and is seeking to raise about $2 billion overall at a valuation of $26 billion to $27 billion.
Tencent and General Atlantic are among the other existing investors weighing commitments, according to the report.
Boyu is one of Shein's largest identifiable shareholders, owning Series D and D+ preferred shares at prices implying a value of roughly $815 million, according to Shein's draft IPO prospectus. The Hong Kong firm was founded in 2010 by partners including Alvin Jiang, a grandson of Jiang Zemin, leader of the Chinese Communist Party from 1989 to 2002.

#kong #jiang

If there's a habit I've picked up from watching markets, it's that when everyone is looking at the loudest trade, I start wondering what's happening in the quiet corners.
The biggest clues aren't always found in a soaring stock that's already overvalued or a famous **** yst calling for a breakout. Sometimes they're buried somewhere else that investors never bother to open. I'd put this one in the last category.
The latest 13F filing from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust shows a new $352.7 million position in The Home Depot (HD). At the same time, the trust cut its stake in Berkshire Hathaway by about $818 million.
That's not pocket change, and it's certainly not the kind of portfolio move I'd scroll past without asking why.
Why? This is big money moving from one of the market's most iconic investments into a home-improvement giant. There must be a story hiding underneath the numbers. The trust just bought the shares while everyone else seems to be waiting for the housing market to come back to life.

#else #bill

A top-three finish in a Formula 1 Sprint is typically a solid platform to build on, but for Lando Norris, stepping out of the car at Zandvoort brought a stark reality check.
Despite securing third place and banking valuable championship points in the 2026 Dutch Grand Prix Sprint, Norris bypassed the usual post-session pleasantries to deliver an unvarnished diagnosis of McLaren's current machinery. For all the team's aerodynamic strides, the twisty Dutch circuit has laid bare a critical, ongoing limitation in the car's operating envelope: a glaring deficit in slow-speed corners.
When quizzed after the Sprint about whether tyre balance on the medium compound had hindered his run, Norris was quick to dismiss surface-level excuses.
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Norris made it clear that the shortfall was rooted in pure mechanical and aerodynamic fundamentals rather than rubber management.
"Yeah, not a bad result, not the best," Norris admitted. "It would have been nice to be a little bit faster today… I don't think it was the tyres, just real race pace. We're not quick enough, and we have some work to do".

#aerodynamic #despite #grand

George Russell backed up the pole position he secured yesterday by winning the Dutch Grand Prix Sprint, finishing ahead of Charles Leclerc and Lando Norris. Below is a full recap of the race.
The polesitter made a clean start to retain the lead of the Dutch GP Sprint into the opening corners, with Lando Norris holding second ahead of Charles Leclerc in third.
Behind the leading trio, Kimi Antonelli made immediate progress, getting past Oscar Piastri to move into fourth place. The Mercedes driver quickly closed onto the back of Leclerc and began putting the Monegasque under pressure in the battle for the final podium position.
Piastri dropped to fifth following Antonelli's move, while Max Verstappen held sixth ahead of Lewis Hamilton. The field made it through the opening lap without any incidents, with Russell remaining in control at the front.
Photo: Race Pictures

#charles #piastri

The Jaguars returned to the stadium Friday night for their first preseason home game against the Carolina Panthers.
But with Everbank Stadium under construction until the Stadium of the Future opens in August 2028, fans can expect a slightly different experience this season.
There will be 27,000 fewer seats than usual with the Upper Bowl, Lower Corners, Spa Deck and Sky Patio closed, bringing their capacity to just over 42,000.
Parking and traffic are expected to be similar to last season, but as always, fans are asked to come out two to three hours before each home game to avoid traffic delays.
If you weren't able to buy a parking pass this season, there are several other options within walking distance from the stadium, like the Tailgaters Parking Lot and Sports Complex Garage.

#parking #home #game

A viral middle school football clip in Tennessee has turned into a juvenile court case, school sanctions and a dispute between two families over what happened before a 16-year-old spectator ran onto the field.
Addison Hunnicutt faces ******* ault and disorderly conduct allegations after entering the field during an Aug. 18 game between South Middle School and Cornersville Middle School in Winchester and tackling a 13-year-old South Middle player. Video of the incident spread widely online.
Hunnicutt does not deny running onto the field. She told NewsChannel 5 that she believed the other player was hurting her younger brother and that no one was stopping it.
Her own mother has acknowledged that running onto the field was inappropriate. But Hunnicutt, her family and her attorney argue that the short viral clip begins too late to explain why she acted, while school officials and law enforcement are focused on the fact that a spectator entered the field and struck a middle school player.
The game was being played at Franklin County High School, where South Middle plays its home games. WSMV reported that South Middle scored a touchdown and extra point at about 8 p.m. before two players became involved in a scuffle near the end zone. Video showed referees throwing flags as the players began moving away from the confrontation.

#onto

The Orioles were swept away tonight, ruining every bit of goodwill and excitement they had built up with their series against the Rays last weekend. Tonight's game, a 6-1 loss to the Yankees, had a little bit of everything bad. The offense could not solve Gerrit Cole. One big error cost the team a couple runs. And Kyle Bradish struggled for his second straight start. It was not an uplifting game, to say the least.
Let's start with Bradish. He faced just three batters in the first inning, but there was foreshadowing for the rest of his game. He walked leadoff batter Trent Grisham on six pitches. To make matters worse, Carlos Narváez challenged ball four and lost. On the first batter of the game. Bradish then went 3-2 to Ben Rice, but Rice bailed him out by swinging at ball four and popping out. Heliot Ramos grounded into the first of three Yankees double plays to end the inning.
The third inning was the worst one for Bradish, with an ***** ist to Gunnar Henderson. Back-to-back singles put runners on the corners with no outs. José Caballero hit a groundball to Jackson Holliday, who fired to Henderson to start the double play, but Henderson missed the catch. No outs were recorded and a run scored. The next batter did hit into a double play, but Bradish couldn't close out the inning. Three batters and three hits later, the Orioles were down 3-0.
Bradish allowed two more baserunners in the fifth inning but was once again saved by a double play ball. He ended the fifth inning with 89 pitches. After his struggles, I thought that might be the end of his night. Unfortunately for him, he went back out for the sixth. He faced four batters and retired two of them. The other two hit home runs. Whoops! He was pulled after the second one. His final pitching line: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. Henderson's error led to the unearned runs, but Bradish did allow three more hits in the inning after that play. Not great.
The way that the Orioles' offense played, Bradish could have been a lot better and it wouldn't have mattered. They looked like they might have something cooking in the first inning with Pete Alonso singled and Gunnar Henderson walked, but they were stranded.

#first #play

The big additions for the Philadelphia 76ers are obvious. Everybody has their eyes set on the additions of Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, and for good reason! Those two are set to really change things around this franchise as everybody moves forward and Philadelphia looks to contend for a championship.
However, depth is so key in today's NBA, and President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey made sure he found some in the 2026 offseason.
One under the radar addition is Dean Wade, who coach Nick Nurse is a big fan of, as he is somebody who provides a ton of versatility and can do so without the basketball.
On paper, Wade's numbers don't stand out. He averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2025-26 season. However, the biggest stat is his usage percentage of 9.9%. On a team that will feature high usage players like Brown, James, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid, it's so important to have a guy who doesn't need the ball and find a way to be effective. That's the role Wade will fill.
Per Cleaning the Glass, Wade shot 41% on corner 3-pointers in 2025-26. That 3-point percentage is hugely important when considering the double teams Embiid receives on a regular basis as well as how many times James and Maxey attack the paint and kick it to the corners. He understands how to play the game and find opportunities when they present themselves. Finding role players who don't need the ball will be essential for this group.

#Basketball

Recent weeks on the NFL media rights beat have marked a changing of the tides.
Last September, the NFL publicly acknowledged for the first time that it would seek to strike early renewals with its broadcast partners several years prior to the 2029-30 season, when it has the contractual option to exit most of its agreements. The goal for the league was simple: negotiate higher rights fees now and, in return, remove the exit option at the end of the decade, allowing its partners to guarantee themselves NFL inventory well into the 2030s.
At first, it looked as if new deals were inevitable. After all, NFL programming is borderline existential to legacy broadcast networks like CBS, Fox, and NBC, all of which still rely on lucrative retransmission fees from distributors and local affiliates to fund their businesses. But then, things began to change. The NFL started facing pressure from all corners of Washington. Congress, the FCC, the DOJ, and others all started scrutinizing the shift of live sports off of linear television and onto streaming services. Those roadblocks seemingly bought league partners enough time to where no new deals were finalized prior to the 2026-27 season, as the NFL reportedly wanted.
Now, any early deals would only grant the NFL three additional seasons at higher rights fees (assuming it would otherwise exercise its opt-out clause at the end of the decade). And it seems like the league's broadcast partners are starting to sense they have a bit of leverage to hold out without risk of losing the NFL following the 2029-30 season.
During a recent earnings call, Fox Corporation CEO Lachlan Murdoch outright said his network won't negotiate early, instead saying Fox will negotiate with the NFL on a normal cadence around the 2029-30 timeline. Further reporting suggested that negotiations between CBS and the NFL were "on hold" amid Paramount's ongoing effort to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. And while CBS Sports president David Berson did not outright rule out early negotiations when speaking with Awful Announcing last week, the undertones of his answers suggested nothing was imminent between the two sides.

#broadcast #last

New Hampshire Motor Speedway does not look especially intimidating on paper.
It is not a superspeedway. It does not have towering banking. It does not stretch two miles around. Yet the 1.058-mile oval in Loudon has spent more than three decades building a reputation as one of the more distinctive stops on the NASCAR schedule.
There is a reason drivers treat the so-called "Magic Mile" with respect. Its relatively flat corners leave little margin for error, track position can become enormously important and a car that misses the setup by even a little can make for a very long afternoon.
NASCAR returns to New Hampshire this weekend, with the Cup Series scheduled to run the Dollar Tree 301 at 3 p.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 23, on USA Network. The race is the penultimate event of the 2026 regular season before the field heads to Daytona for the finale.
Before the green flag, here are 10 things every NASCAR fan should know about New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

#nascar #speedway #dollar

San Diego Padres starter Michael King deserved better than he got during a 4-2 loss to the New York Mets at Citi Field on Wednesday. The loss was the second of the series for the Padres who finished their two-city road trip with a 3-3 record against the Cleveland Guardians and the Mets.
King was still not the dominant ace the Friar Faithful have been waiting for him to be, but he was affective. The right-hander worked into the seventh inning, completing 6.2 innings. He allowed two runs on four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. King gave up the two runs on one swing of the bat by Carson Benge in the bottom of the fourth inning. King had two outs and worked to a 3-2 count against Benge before the rookie hit a two-run home run to left field that gave New York a 2-0 lead over San Diego.
The Padres got on the board in the top of the fifth inning when Tatis ripped a line drive double into left-center field that allowed Xander Bogaerts to score from second base to make the score, 2-1. San Diego had opportunities throughout the game to add to its total but never seemed to come up with the big hit in run-scoring situations.
The Padres fought until their last out or outs in this case. San Diego was trailing New York 4-1 in the top of the ninth inning and put two runners on with one out and Gavin Sheets delivered a pinch-hit single to drive in a run and make the score, 4-2. The Padres had runners at the corners with one out and pinch hitter Austin Hays was called on to face Mets reliever Kodai Senga.
Hays hit a ground ball back through the middle of the infield that was fielded by Mets second baseman Marcus Semian. He was able to step on the second base bag to force out Sheets and threw to first in time to get Hays to end the inning and the game.

#score

Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry knew he needed to rebuild the wide receiver room and add talent after it struggled in 2025. Jerry Jeudy showed some ability but had a bad year holding onto the football, and Isaiah Bond had an up-and-down rookie season, though he showed promise.
ESPN's Ben Solak noted in an article that another wide receiver, rookie Denzel Boston, has shown his physical traits and ability are worth taking note of so far in camp.
"The biggest box for a rookie to check is one of physical benchmarks. Wide receiver Denzel Boston smashes it in this regard. He has clear pro size at 6-foot-4 with a well-built frame, and he knows how to use it. He pushes off with strength, and he attacks throws away from his frame with length and hand size. But it's the smoothness with which he's in and out of his routes that truly stands out. He has shorter strides for a taller receiver, which allows him to gather himself more quickly and sink his weight more easily than other jump-ball specialists. You can tell he'll be a great possession receiver on quick-breaking routes (think Michael Pittman Jr. or Drake London) because of his ability to snap into routes and box smaller corners out from the catch point."
Berry spent two of his top three picks at the position to upgrade the room and help whoever the quarterback ends up being. KC Concepcion was taken in the first round and has shown he is a dynamic playmaker, especially in the preseason opener, but the second guy, Denzel Boston, has really stolen the show at camp.
The Browns are hoping they can step into larger roles than many outside the organization are expecting, especially Boston.

#boston #denzel #room

Seahawks cornerback Devon Witherspoon's approach to the game over his first three seasons landed him a big new contract this month.
Witherspoon became the highest-paid player at the position when he agreed to a four-year, $132 million extension. The agreement came a few months after his fellow 2023 first-round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba landed a huge deal of his own and the two deals cement the players as franchise cornerstones as they come off their Super Bowl win.
During a Monday press conference, Witherspoon was asked if that kind of commitment adds pressure or takes pressure off of him as he heads into the season. Witherspoon fell somewhere in the middle because his feeling is that it won't change anything about his approach to the game.
"I think it's a little bit of both, but I don't think it does nothing to me," Witherspoon said. "I'm going to be me every day. Ain't nothing going to change about me, so I don't really see it no type of way."
Witherspoon's approach has been a winning one so far and not breaking something that doesn't need fixing should be a popular opinion about how to approach the 2026 campaign.

#witherspoon #approach

Real Madrid have in the early stages of an exciting new era, spearheaded by returning head coach Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese was brought back by Jose Mourinho earlier in the summer, and so far, his second spell in charge has gone well, with Sunday's 3-0 victory over Schalke making it four wins and a draw in pre-season.
Thibaut Courtois was one of the Real Madrid players featuring for the first time in pre-season against Schalke, and after the match, he spoke to Real Madrid TV (via MD) to reflect on the victory in Gelsenkirchen, as well as how he is feeling ahead of his ninth season as a Los Blancos player.
"I feel very good. I did a lot of gym on my holidays to be well, I came a couple of days before because I felt that I had to do some individual work to be well, today I tested myself and felt good. Today was the last test before starting the season and it was important to play a good game. I think we did it, we were safe at the back, created many chances, good play. Physically I see everyone very well."
Real Madrid are determined to bounce back after two consecutive seasons without a major trophy, and Courtois believes that this group is the one to turn things around at the Bernabeu during the 2026-27 campaign.
"There is a lot of enthusiasm. After the World Cup we have arrived little by little, but the team is looking forward to it, everyone wants a great season, I see a lot of dedication and a lot of desire to start. (Mourinho asks for) a lot of concentration at every moment of the game, in corners, fouls, every second of the game, playing well and seriously."

#jose

The USC Trojans started fall camp being dealt a bad hand. Starting center Kilian O'Connor went down with an injury, but it's safe to say the play they will get at tackle will be more than serviceable, with a new 5-star recruit starting training camp with a bang. Keenyi Pepe has been off to a great start, and it will be hard to keep a guy with his traits off the field.
In a recent article, Billy Tucker highlights a freshman who can make a key impact for USC this season in the trenches. Here is what he had to say about Keenyi Pepe:
"Pepe is USC's best offensive tackle recruit since ESPN introduced the rankings in 2006 and the highest-graded offensive tackle to reach campus since Chuma Edoga in 2015. Pepe has excellent size at 6-7, 330 pounds, light feet and savvy technique for being 19 years old. Those are the building blocks for a long-term cornerstone left tackle. USC threw him into the fire in spring ball, getting Pepe reps at both tackle positions, and he could push for early playing time as a swing tackle."
Pepe will be a difference maker for USC with the versatility he has. His size and big frame are one thing that definitely stands out, but how quickly he can move will make a big impact when he gets his chance to start. The Trojans' offense will be even more explosive with someone like him on the offensive line getting out in **** e, wreaking havoc. The 5-star tackle will not wait to make an impact for the Trojans, and with some injuries already taking place in camp, Pepe has a real shot to be a day 1 contributor.
Contact/Follow TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.

#pepe #Trojans #camp #keenyi

"People would be laughing now but it's something that would have worked, no doubt about it."
This weekend, and across each one to follow through the Premier League season, thousands will make the journey from all over the island of Ireland to take in a game from England's top flight.
Indeed, despite increased interest in the league from all four corners of the globe, those making the short trip from across the Irish Sea still account for the greatest number of travelling supporters each season.
Such is the fixation with all things Premier League that the 75,000 fans who packed a sold-out Croke Park for last week's friendly between Manchester United and Leeds represented a record crowd for any football match in the Republic of Ireland.
Earlier in the month, ***** nal also drew a huge crowd to the Aviva Stadium for their own friendly with Real Betis.

#across

Patriots' Christian Gonzalez Could Have New Deal 'Faster' After $132M News originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Amid contract discussions between Christian Gonzalez and the New England Patriots, it's worth looking at other players in the league when they get deals.
It was announced on Saturday that Seattle Seahawks star Devon Witherspoon agreed to a four-year, $132 million deal with the organization.
Witherspoon has been one of the best corners in the NFL since entering the league in 2023, often compared to a guy like Gonzalez because both players are so talented and young. This is a good benchmark for what the young Patriots corner might receive on his new deal, though it still remains uncertain when something will get done.
While many questions remain about what type of deal Gonzalez will get and how long it will take, the latest report suggests it could come faster than some realize after Witherspoon's deal, according to Albert Breer.

#gonzalez

Ireland missed an opportunity to seize control of their World Cup future after losing 3-2 to Spain in a thrilling opening World Cup Pool C game in Wavre.
Ireland went behind twice after goals from Laia Vidosa and Sophia Keenan but fought back with Hannah McLoughlin and Niamh Carey scoring from penalty corners.
Despite Gareth Grundie's side being in the ascendancy, a superb strike from Xantal Gine with five minutes remaining broke Irish hearts.
"We were very disappointed with our second quarter of that game," Irish captain Sarah Hawkshaw told BBC Sport NI.
"We thought we started quite well, and in the second half we dominated most of the momentum of the game. But the second quarter, we were disappointed with that. It put us on the back foot.

#pool

Don't expect to see Din Thomas in-cage, working fighters corners moving forward.
Thomas, a long-time MMA coach now turned UFC ****** yst, announced that he's done cornering fighters following Gillian Robertson's unanimous decision defeat at Saturday's UFC 330 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Thomas was working the UFC broadcast on Paramount+, and stepped out to corner Robertson (17-9 MMA, 14-7 UFC) in her strawweight ****** le fight against champion Mackenzie Dern (17-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) in the co-main event of the card.
After the fights, on the ****** yst desk, Thomas revealed that was his last fight as a corner.
"I do have an announcement for you guys," Thomas said. "I told myself I would continue to do this until I took Gillian as far as she could go. I think that might be as far as she can go, and I am officially retiring from cornering fighters tonight.

#fighters

The lopsided pitching matchup didn't materialize, but it turned out not to matter, as big bats beat big arms.
As he crossed into more innings than he had pitched all of last season (134) Sean Burke had his worst start since June 13, giving up four earned runs on five hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings that took him 72 pitches. His velocity was off a couple of ticks and his command wasn't terrific, either. The first and biggest blow was a two-run triple in the second on Brett Callahan's first major league pitch. Callahan then was knocked in on a Max Clark single to make it 3-0 (Callahan's next time up he was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Adam Beck on a clear ball, but his attempt at a challenge was declared too late by Beck, who had a terrible day overall.)
The Sox got one run back on a Tristan Peters opposite-field pop-up ground-rule double (those corners in Comerica are really short) and two grounders. The Tigers got it back to 4-1 on an opposite-field homer off Sam Antonacci's glove by Colt Keith in the third, then in the fifth they learned why the dreaded leadoff walk is so dreaded: Tigers starter Drew Anderson, at his highest pitch count all year, pinned Peters down 0-2 then threw four straight ****** , followed by a slider that didn't slide that Drew Romo slid 386 feet to right to make it 4-3.
A Randal Grichuk pinch-double and Colson Montgomery broken-bat single in the sixth tied the game. Next, Tigers lefty reliever Todd Holton again proved the dreaded-leadoff-walk rule by giving Antonacci (who doesn't hit lefties well) a five-pitch pass and following that by setting one on a tee for Munetaka Murakami, only to see it land 393 feet away. Make it 6-4, White Sox.
The Tigers cut it to 6-5 in the seventh when Dillon Dingler broke an 0-for-29 slump with a double to score Gleyber Torres, at which point Mune proved he's not just another pretty bat:

#drew

The Vanderbilt Commodores started the 2026 season with a win that left a "bitter" taste in Coach Darren Ambrose's mouth according to his post-game interview. He used the words sluggish, lethargic, and choreographed to describe the performance. Coach Ambrose harped on being proud and happy with the victory, but he kept focusing on different flaws in the performance. If you saw my comments during and after the match, I am proud to say Coach and I are on the same wavelength.
The pushback that I got was that it was just game 1. It was. I am not panicking. My predictions for the season have not changed. My thoughts about the talent on the team have not changed, except for some concern about one particular position. Armas in goal was not very convincing. Again, it was match 1. I am not going to react too strongly yet.
The Commodores had plenty of possession and tons of shot attempts. They spent more than a third of the match (35%) in possession in the attacking half. Attempting 21 shots but with only 7 on target is where the sharpness and intensity that Ambrose found lacking came into play. They generated 11 corners yet did not score off one. Conversely, SMU was able to turn 21% attacking possession and 8 shot attempts into 4 shots on target and 3 goals. Granted, 1 goal for the Mustangs was a cross that deflected off Grace Freeman's leg in a truly unfortunate moment where Armas was diving out to claim the cross.
The number of players used is really intriguing to me. Typically, Coach Ambrose has gone deep into the bench early in seasons. It normally is paired down to 14 to 16 by the time SEC play starts, but early season matches often see 20 or more players. The tightness of the match and dissatisfaction with the performance may have been why the starters played more as they tried to work out the kinks.
Courtney Jones, Olivia Stafford, and Sydney Watts all have 4 shot attempts and a goal is not particularly surprising. I would have expected Pentz to get off more shots, but she had the early goal on her only attempt. I do not think Fullerton at CAM and Pentz at striker beside Watts is the best lineup for this squad based on natural inclinations of the players and how that effects ******* ing.

#goal #performance #possession

The Baltimore Ravens have spent much of training camp managing expectations surrounding Nnamdi Madubuike's recovery. Though some may not admit to this now, few, if they're being honest, expected the two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle to immediately return to full participation this quickly after undergoing neck surgery in April.
Still, each week seems to bring another positive update. The latest came Wednesday when defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver spoke with the media and discussed Madubuike's progress following practice. For Weaver, the signs have been impossible to ignore.
"He looks phenomenal. I know he wants to be just doing everything he can to be back out there, and when he is out there, I expect him to look like the Nnamdi we have grown to know and love throughout the years."
That endorsement carries weight coming from the man responsible for coordinating Baltimore's defense. Those also viewing practice from the field level express similar takeaways. According to ESPN's Jamison Hensley, Madubuike participated in positional drills for the first time during training camp after spending the opening weeks limited primarily to individual work.
There has never been much reason for Baltimore to rush Madubuike's return. The Ravens know exactly what they have in one of the NFL's most disruptive interior defenders. Before the injury setback, Madubuike had established himself as one of the cornerstones of Baltimore's defense and a player capable of impacting games as both a run defender and pass rusher.

#baltimore #Ravens #training

Ian Garry had a pretty good showing, but ultimately lost a decision at UFC 330 against Islam Makhachev, who has been breaking records across two divisions. Garry had his moments on the feet, and showed excellent takedown defense and reversals on the ground, but Dana White felt it was the challenger's mindset that could've cost him the fight.
"This is my honest opinion. I felt like tonight was set up for the upset," White said at the UFC 330 post-fight press conference. "Ian is a talented guy, if he had even an ounce of killer instinct — in that fifth round he was beating him to the body. Islam's whole right side was beat up. His face was beat up. You don't come out and hug and shake hands. F— that ***** drives me crazy!
"This is one of those fights that Ian will go back and say 'f—k, I wish I could do that over again.' If he came out and tried to destroy and win that last round with everything he had, it's a totally different fight."
Garry remained cordial with Makhachev throughout the build up and even during the fight itself, where he offered high fives, fist ***** ps, and friendly pats on every break. White criticized this approach while Garry was trying to upset one of the all-time greats.
"I think Ian is a classy guy, is what I think. He always shows class, before the fight he goes over and shakes all their corners' hands. It's great, but when that f—ng bell rings, you've got to switch all that off and go," White exlaimed. "You definitely got to do it in the fifth round.

#fight #felt #even

What do we need to know about the Boston Celtics release of the 2026-27 NBA regular season schedule? Seen in some corners as one of the toughest slates of games to be played by any ball club in the **** ociation, the dates of which teams the Celtics are going to play, where, and when helps us put some order into our expectations for Boston's coming campaign.
What are the toughest parts? The long and easy home stands? How many back-to-back games are there going to be? When are the road trips going to go down?And which national television contests will have the measuring stick games of the season for Boston?
The hosts of the "Still Poddable" podcast, Brian Robb, Sam Packard, and Jay King, took a closer look at all of the above on a recent episode of their show. Check it out below!
Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on:
Blue Wire: https://tiny.ee/CdKp

#going #boston #celtics

The Pittsburgh Steelers are ensuring that their defensive remains formidable in the future after making a clear statement Friday night with Keeanu Benton's new contract.
The Steelers are traditionally known for their tough defenses, especially during the Mike Tomlin era. However, Pittsburgh locked up another cornerstone piece for the defensive side of the ball heading into the 2026 NFL season.
MORE: 'Bachelorette' host Jesse Palmer calls Jayden Daniels immature in LSU jersey dispute
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport details that Benton is set to become the highest-paid defensive lineman in Steelers history. The four-year, $72 million contract extension puts the former second-round pick's average annual value at $18 million.
Pittsburgh's been highly successful with its 2023 NFL Draft selections, including Benton. He becomes the third player from that draft class to receive an extended contract after Nick Herbig and Darnell Washington also garnered more money.

#contract #benton

Malik Willis made his Miami debut in the team's first preseason game.
The Dolphins starting quarterback played one series, and that was all he needed. The Dolphins went 93 yards on 14 plays, with De'Von Achane scoring on a 1-yard run.
Willis went 4-of-5 for 43 yards, and Achane ran for 39 yards on seven carries.
The Dolphins signed Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal in free agency before signing Achane to a four-year, $64 million extension.
The two players are cornerstones in the Dolphins' rebuild.

#went #malik #Miami #de 'von

Ann Arbor — Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham and defensive coordinator Jay Hill have said the defensive line is the strength of the defense heading into this season, but they have also suggested the depth in the secondary is nothing to sleep on.
Returning starters Zeke Berry and Jyaire Hill appear to be set at the corners, while two-time captain Rod Moore, who said he's fully healthy after dealing with multiple knee surgeries since April 2024, and UAB/Memphis transfer Chris Bracy are the safeties. Michigan still has plenty of time left in preseason camp to make determinations at all positions, but the staff is feeling fairly confident about the versatility of the secondary.
"This is the only school I've ever been at where I really believe we could have three great nickels, and I can put different guys in there based on mismatch," Hill told reporters recently. "So Smith Snowden, Zeke Berry, Sug (Hill) … I've never had three interchangeable guys that are so different at that position. It's a fun luxury to have, and I'm kind of excited to see how I come up with how we do it."
There is a versatility required to play nickel requires, and Hill is relishing the options at his disposal as he **** embles his defensive chess board.
"You got to be able to cover man to man," Hill said. "You got to be able to tackle. You got to be very intelligent because we use those guys in a lot of disguises. We use them to blitz. We use them in zone coverages. We use them in man coverages. So those guys really are a real premier spot in this defense, and they got to be pretty adaptable to what we're doing with them."

#defense

The Los Angeles Lakers could soon change hands again in a deal that underscores the soaring value of California's most iconic sports brands.
A group led by businessman Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Robert Iger has agreed to purchase the Lakers from owner Mark Walter in a transaction valued at $12 billion, according to statements released by the parties involved. If approved, the sale would set a new record for a North American sports franchise, eclipsing the $10 billion valuation attached to Walter's purchase of the team last year.
"As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored for the opportunity to become stewards of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world," Kushner and Iger said in a joint statement.
The buyers behind the record-setting Lakers deal come from two very different corners of the business world.
Joshua Kushner is a billionaire entrepreneur and venture capitalist best known as the founder of Thrive Capital, a New York-based investment firm that has backed some of the technology industry's biggest companies. Through Thrive and other investments, Kushner has built a reputation as one of the nation's most influential tech investors. He is also part of the Kushner family, a prominent name in real estate and business. Kushner is also the brother of Jared Kushner, who served as a senior adviser in President Donald Trump's first administration and is married to Trump's daughter. His father, real estate developer Charles Kushner, has served as U.S. ambassador to France since 2025.

#Lakers #sports #joshua #purchase

If the Wrigley Chewing Gum company weren't so deeply **** ociated with the arch-rivals of the St. Louis ballclub, they'd probably offer the Cardinals the opportunity to be the new face of Doublemint Gum, on account of all the double killings they turned tonight. In the absence of an endorsement deal, the Redbirds will have to settle for winning the game.
The Phillies put runners on the corners on the first, but didn't convert them into runs. And the same was true in the second, as the Phillies put runners on the corners and saw the inning end on a Justin Crawford 6-4-3 GIDP. The Cardinals soon found themselves in a comparable situation, putting runners on first and third against Cristopher Sánchez on singles from José Fermin and Masyn Winn. And the Redbirds, wanting to be gracious and considerate hosts, chose not to upstage their visitors and promptly hit into a 5-4-3 twin killing. The Phillies, however, misunderstood this kind gesture, thinking that home team was trying to upstage them with a GIDP slightly fancier than the standard 6-4-3. "We can match that," said the Phils. And so it was that in the next inning they did indeed replicate the 5-4-3 DP, via grounder from Bryce Harper.
The **** embled masses, Philadelphia Phaithful and toasted ravioli-eating St. Louis partisans alike, cried "stop! No more!" But their calls went unheeded. The Cardinals, their dander up and their ire drawn, one-upped the Phillies by hitting into a 4-6-3 version of the pitcher's best friend. to conclude the bottom of the third. The arms race was on. Your faithful recapper sprinted to his bookshelf, removed his copy of the **** son Baseball Dictionary, flipped to the entry on double plays, and groaned upon realizing that only four synonyms were listed; one was used two sentences ago, and the others weren't distinct enough to be of use (technically you can shorten double play to just double, but isn't that confusing?)
In the fourth inning, the first two Phillies batters, Luis Arraez and J.T. Realmuto, made outs, thus ensuring the chain of double plays would at last be broken. But while the double plays ended, offense was still hard to find. In the top of the fifth, Alec Bohm sent a slider flying to center, where Everson Pereira leapt and came down with it elegantly; poetry in motion, and frustration in action for the Phillies. The Cardinals proved no more adept at scoring in their portion of the fifth, and then in the sixth the double play chain began again, with the Phillies matching the 4-6-3 their avian foe hit into earlier.
The Phillies faced the Redbird bullpen in the seventh, with Brady Pallante departing after six scoreless, with four hits and just two Ks. His replacement, George Soriano, quickly induced two outs, then allowed a single to Brandon Marsh and a walk to Bohm. That brought up Justin Crawford, who lined out. The scoring drought continued.

#runners #first #justin