2 months ago
Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Juventus striker Jonathan David, with reports from Ekrem Konur suggesting the Italian club could accept £30.07m-£33.74m for the 26-year-old. Manchester United and ***** nal have also been mentioned, but Villa are being presented as the club currently best placed to make a move.
There is one problem with the whole argument, though. Villa's situation has changed dramatically.
Ollie Watkins is no longer the obvious, immovable centre-forward at Villa Park. Al-Hilal are pushing hard for the England international, with Sky Sports reporting that a €45m (£38.5m) offer has already been rejected and negotiations are continuing. That matters a lot.
Morgan Rogers has already left Aston Villa, while Watkins' future is increasingly uncertain after he missed the opening-day defeat by Brighton amid the Saudi interest. So Villa suddenly do need attacking reinforcements, and that makes the David story rather more interesting.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 28: Jonathan David #10 of Canada looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
#california
There is one problem with the whole argument, though. Villa's situation has changed dramatically.
Ollie Watkins is no longer the obvious, immovable centre-forward at Villa Park. Al-Hilal are pushing hard for the England international, with Sky Sports reporting that a €45m (£38.5m) offer has already been rejected and negotiations are continuing. That matters a lot.
Morgan Rogers has already left Aston Villa, while Watkins' future is increasingly uncertain after he missed the opening-day defeat by Brighton amid the Saudi interest. So Villa suddenly do need attacking reinforcements, and that makes the David story rather more interesting.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 28: Jonathan David #10 of Canada looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
#california
3 months ago
Novak Djokovic has reignited the COVID-19 vaccine debate after offering a blunt explanation for his decision not to get vaccinated, despite previously testing positive for the virus.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion refused to take the vaccine, a decision that led to his deportation from Australia in 2022 and the cancellation of his visa. At the time, Djokovic said he was not against vaccination but wanted to exercise his right to decide what he put into his body.
The decision resulted in him missing several high-profile tournaments, including the Australian Open and US Open in 2022, Indian Wells in 2022 and 2023, the Miami Open in 2022 and 2023, the Canadian Open in 2022 and the Cincinnati Masters in 2022.
Now, Djokovic has revisited the controversy in the Amazon Prime documentary Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter, explaining why he decided against getting vaccinated despite having previously contracted COVID-19.
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
#previously
The 24-time Grand Slam champion refused to take the vaccine, a decision that led to his deportation from Australia in 2022 and the cancellation of his visa. At the time, Djokovic said he was not against vaccination but wanted to exercise his right to decide what he put into his body.
The decision resulted in him missing several high-profile tournaments, including the Australian Open and US Open in 2022, Indian Wells in 2022 and 2023, the Miami Open in 2022 and 2023, the Canadian Open in 2022 and the Cincinnati Masters in 2022.
Now, Djokovic has revisited the controversy in the Amazon Prime documentary Novak Djokovic: The Wolf in Winter, explaining why he decided against getting vaccinated despite having previously contracted COVID-19.
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
#previously
3 months ago
Several of the best teams in women's college basketball are heading to Phoenix for the inaugural Scripps Sports Women's Basketball Showcase on Wednesday, Dec. 16, at Mortgage Matchup Center.
The showcase will feature two marquee matchups, with defending national champion UCLA facing Duke and USC taking on Miami.
The Bruins will look different from their national championship team as all five starters graduated. UCLA is still an expected preseason Top 15 program and added Iowa State transfer forward Addy Brown. Brown averaged 11.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.3 ***** ists in her junior season. Returning forward Sienna Betts averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game in her freshman season.
The Blue Devils look like one of the strongest teams, with three of their five starters from last year's ACC Championship squad returning. Duke also added transfer Aaliyah Crump from Texas, who averaged 7.9 points and 41.1% shooting in her freshman season. Crump was the No. 5 recruit in the 2025 class, while returning guard Emilee Skinner was the No. 4 recruit in that same class.
UCLA and Duke will tip off at 5 p.m. to start the showcase, followed by USC and Miami at 7:30 p.m.
#ucla
The showcase will feature two marquee matchups, with defending national champion UCLA facing Duke and USC taking on Miami.
The Bruins will look different from their national championship team as all five starters graduated. UCLA is still an expected preseason Top 15 program and added Iowa State transfer forward Addy Brown. Brown averaged 11.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.3 ***** ists in her junior season. Returning forward Sienna Betts averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds in 14.1 minutes per game in her freshman season.
The Blue Devils look like one of the strongest teams, with three of their five starters from last year's ACC Championship squad returning. Duke also added transfer Aaliyah Crump from Texas, who averaged 7.9 points and 41.1% shooting in her freshman season. Crump was the No. 5 recruit in the 2025 class, while returning guard Emilee Skinner was the No. 4 recruit in that same class.
UCLA and Duke will tip off at 5 p.m. to start the showcase, followed by USC and Miami at 7:30 p.m.
#ucla
3 months ago
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 28: Don Mattingly, interim manager for the Philadelphia Phillies, looks on after a 7-0 win against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park on April 28, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Phillies are adding another layer of depth as they navigate the final weeks of the regular season.
With the club continuing to wrestle with uncertainty throughout its pitching staff, Philadelphia has turned to a veteran with both major league experience and a strong connection to the region. And the move gave the team a veteran option shortly after it lost a significant pickup to a season-ending injury.
Dodgers Acquire Long-Time Braves Backstop After Release
On Friday, the Phillies signed right-hander Casey Lawrence to a minor league contract, according to the official transaction tracker.
#Giants
The Philadelphia Phillies are adding another layer of depth as they navigate the final weeks of the regular season.
With the club continuing to wrestle with uncertainty throughout its pitching staff, Philadelphia has turned to a veteran with both major league experience and a strong connection to the region. And the move gave the team a veteran option shortly after it lost a significant pickup to a season-ending injury.
Dodgers Acquire Long-Time Braves Backstop After Release
On Friday, the Phillies signed right-hander Casey Lawrence to a minor league contract, according to the official transaction tracker.
#Giants
3 months ago
Tyrese Maxey revealed exactly how he approached LeBron James to join the Philadelphia 76ers after leaving the LA Lakers.
James joined the 76ers on a two-year, $8 million contract, taking the veteran minimum salary to form one of the most stacked starting fives in the NBA.
Maxey has had a close relationship with LeBron for years and leveraged his connection with the superstar to bring him to the team.
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
Speaking on the Numbers on the Board podcast, Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey revealed that he had been trying to recruit LeBron James to the team for years.
#lebron #tyrese #years #emilee
James joined the 76ers on a two-year, $8 million contract, taking the veteran minimum salary to form one of the most stacked starting fives in the NBA.
Maxey has had a close relationship with LeBron for years and leveraged his connection with the superstar to bring him to the team.
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
Speaking on the Numbers on the Board podcast, Philadelphia 76ers star Tyrese Maxey revealed that he had been trying to recruit LeBron James to the team for years.
#lebron #tyrese #years #emilee
3 months ago
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 18: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles runs to first base during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on July 18, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Getty
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 17: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles runs after hitting a double during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on July 17, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Getty
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles grounds out to the shortstop during the eighth inning of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) Getty
The Boston Red Sox are slated to begin a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Monday.
Ahead of the series, the Boston Red Sox revealed major Adley Rutschman news to reporters.
#adley
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JULY 17: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles runs after hitting a double during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on July 17, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images) Getty
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JULY 14: Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles grounds out to the shortstop during the eighth inning of the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) Getty
The Boston Red Sox are slated to begin a four-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Monday.
Ahead of the series, the Boston Red Sox revealed major Adley Rutschman news to reporters.
#adley
3 months ago
LeBron James is yet to play a game for the Philadelphia 76ers, but the city is massively celebrating his arrival.
LeBron James will likely finish his NBA career in Philadelphia after signing a two-year deal with the 76ers. The announcement has sent a wave of happiness through the city.
James may spend the next two seasons in Philly, but the King will not be living in the same city. Instead, James will reportedly live in New York City and take helicopter rides during game days and training.
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
The 4x NBA champion may not live in the city, but it hasn't stopped Philly restaurants from giving massive offers to LBJ, per a report from The Athletic.
#james #city #live #instead
LeBron James will likely finish his NBA career in Philadelphia after signing a two-year deal with the 76ers. The announcement has sent a wave of happiness through the city.
James may spend the next two seasons in Philly, but the King will not be living in the same city. Instead, James will reportedly live in New York City and take helicopter rides during game days and training.
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
The 4x NBA champion may not live in the city, but it hasn't stopped Philly restaurants from giving massive offers to LBJ, per a report from The Athletic.
#james #city #live #instead
4 months ago
Jordan Walker of the St. Louis Cardinals poses with the trophy after winning the 2026 Home Run Derby. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Philadelphia fans pride themselves on their blue collar nature; on their up by the bootstraps always the underdog, never fully respected position in the sports firmament. And their ardor runs deep; no visitor is safe – not even Santa Clause – from their vitriol.
On Monday night in Philly, in the 40th iteration of the Home Run Derby since it was brought back in 1985, those fans showed up to Citizens Bank Park for their hometown players Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, and showed out for everyone else. The more than 43,000 in attendance ******* ily booed everyone not wearing Phillies red, with the loudest saved for Ben Rice of the Yankees (a “Yankees suck” chant, usually reserved for Fenway Park, even erupted at one point).
During the introductions, Schwarber and Harper were saved for last, and the crowd erupted as each climbed into the home plate shaped ring erected behind second base. And then it was on.
The nearly three-hour event, broadcast for the first time on Netflix, started off with a bang. Boston’s Willson Contreras led things off with 13 home runs – seven in his first ten swings – with four traveling at least 470 feet, and one landing 490 feet from home. Jordan Walker of the Cardinals matched him with 13 of his own. All of that was prologue for what was to come.
Philadelphia fans pride themselves on their blue collar nature; on their up by the bootstraps always the underdog, never fully respected position in the sports firmament. And their ardor runs deep; no visitor is safe – not even Santa Clause – from their vitriol.
On Monday night in Philly, in the 40th iteration of the Home Run Derby since it was brought back in 1985, those fans showed up to Citizens Bank Park for their hometown players Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, and showed out for everyone else. The more than 43,000 in attendance ******* ily booed everyone not wearing Phillies red, with the loudest saved for Ben Rice of the Yankees (a “Yankees suck” chant, usually reserved for Fenway Park, even erupted at one point).
During the introductions, Schwarber and Harper were saved for last, and the crowd erupted as each climbed into the home plate shaped ring erected behind second base. And then it was on.
The nearly three-hour event, broadcast for the first time on Netflix, started off with a bang. Boston’s Willson Contreras led things off with 13 home runs – seven in his first ten swings – with four traveling at least 470 feet, and one landing 490 feet from home. Jordan Walker of the Cardinals matched him with 13 of his own. All of that was prologue for what was to come.
4 months ago
Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images
After a very poor performance, Belgium found themselves going into the second-half hydration break two goals down and with frustrations boiling over.
Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard ended up in an aggressive verbal confrontation with Youri Tielemans as they made their way towards the sideline, with teammates having to separate the pair.
Trossard was frustrated by Tielemans’ decision to play a poor cross into the box rather than a short pass to the ***** nal man on the edge of the area, and Tielemans didn’t take kindly to the feedback.
Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images
After a very poor performance, Belgium found themselves going into the second-half hydration break two goals down and with frustrations boiling over.
Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard ended up in an aggressive verbal confrontation with Youri Tielemans as they made their way towards the sideline, with teammates having to separate the pair.
Trossard was frustrated by Tielemans’ decision to play a poor cross into the box rather than a short pass to the ***** nal man on the edge of the area, and Tielemans didn’t take kindly to the feedback.
Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images
4 months ago
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 19: Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever argues a call with a referee during a game against the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 19, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Each time a WNBA opponent makes hard contact with Caitlin Clark , a familiar sequence of events typically follows. Over the past few weeks that sequence has consisted of a missed whistle, a viral clip, a wave of outrage, a quiet league review, followed by an outpouring of commentary from coaches, teammates, broadcasters, and fans insisting that the sport's most visible player must be protected. And while the implicit instinct behind some of that chorus is largely understandable, and in many cases may be sincere, the language used often unknowingly relies on sentiments and language that perpetuate decades of harmful stereotypes about women athletes.
Specifically, what we are seeing as people attempt to protect Cailtin Clark is the harmful framing of women athletes as either fragile and in need of protection, while simultaneously characterizing other's as too physical and classless. The outcome of these storylines is also increasingly becoming harmful to the growth of the sport. Given that women's professional sport continues to grow at historic rates, it is unfortunate that one of the biggest storylines is being told through a frame that is reviving harmful stereotypes about women athletes.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 22: Valeriane Ayayi #11 of the Phoenix Mercury reaches for the ball against Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 22, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The most recent example of protection came on June 24, when Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas pressed a closed fist into Clark's neck during a scramble for a loose ball and drew no whistle. The league reviewed the play the next day, upgraded it to a Flagrant 2, and suspended Thomas for one game . In the hours between, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White described the no-calls as "absolutely unacceptable," "egregious," and "utterly disrespectful," and accused WNBA officials of failing to safeguard a "generational talent." It was not the first such moment. The Chennedy Carter hip-check, Angel Reese's forearm, and the Jacy Sheldon–Marina Mabrey physicality followed similar sequences, and each became a national conversation on whether Clark, specifically, was being adequately protected.
Each time a WNBA opponent makes hard contact with Caitlin Clark , a familiar sequence of events typically follows. Over the past few weeks that sequence has consisted of a missed whistle, a viral clip, a wave of outrage, a quiet league review, followed by an outpouring of commentary from coaches, teammates, broadcasters, and fans insisting that the sport's most visible player must be protected. And while the implicit instinct behind some of that chorus is largely understandable, and in many cases may be sincere, the language used often unknowingly relies on sentiments and language that perpetuate decades of harmful stereotypes about women athletes.
Specifically, what we are seeing as people attempt to protect Cailtin Clark is the harmful framing of women athletes as either fragile and in need of protection, while simultaneously characterizing other's as too physical and classless. The outcome of these storylines is also increasingly becoming harmful to the growth of the sport. Given that women's professional sport continues to grow at historic rates, it is unfortunate that one of the biggest storylines is being told through a frame that is reviving harmful stereotypes about women athletes.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - JUNE 22: Valeriane Ayayi #11 of the Phoenix Mercury reaches for the ball against Caitlin Clark #22 of the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June 22, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The most recent example of protection came on June 24, when Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas pressed a closed fist into Clark's neck during a scramble for a loose ball and drew no whistle. The league reviewed the play the next day, upgraded it to a Flagrant 2, and suspended Thomas for one game . In the hours between, Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White described the no-calls as "absolutely unacceptable," "egregious," and "utterly disrespectful," and accused WNBA officials of failing to safeguard a "generational talent." It was not the first such moment. The Chennedy Carter hip-check, Angel Reese's forearm, and the Jacy Sheldon–Marina Mabrey physicality followed similar sequences, and each became a national conversation on whether Clark, specifically, was being adequately protected.
