Florida State Athletics has moved on from Athletic Director Michael Alford after four years leading the program, and the news has taken the Seminoles fanbase by surprise.
While Alford's dismissal itself isn't a surprise given the recent underperformance of the Seminoles football program under head coach Mike Norvell, the timing of the firing was a shock. His firing was announced Monday morning, and it comes the week of FSU's trip to face No. 10 Alabama, a game of significance for the future of Norvell.
Alford's tenure included significant accomplishments across FSU athletics and several marquee coaching hires. Yet the struggles of the football program under Norvell since 2024, an 8-18 record, have overshadowed much of that success, emerging as the most prominent challenge of his time as athletics director.
He also faced scrutiny regarding the department's handling of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) and roster funding, particularly in football, and the department's massive debt.
(Current Record 1-1, 0-1 ACC)

#record #surprise

By the time Lincoln Financial Field's clock struck 0:00 late Sunday afternoon and the Eagles had survived a 24-22 Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders, a palpable sense of relief could be felt by the fanbase.
For the sixth straight time under Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts, the Eagles won their opening game. It is the longest active streak in the NFL and it is always better to start 1-0 than 0-1.
Just ask the Dallas Cowboys.
While the Eagles' defense looked absolutely gassed by the end of it, they managed one last goal-line, two-point conversion stand, and spent the better part of the first three quarters limiting Jayden Daniels and the Washington offense for most of the afternoon.
It was reminiscent of a season ago, when the defense carried an offense that had trouble maintaining consistency.

#washington #better #defense #offense

Is it possible to build hype around a new professional sport franchise if it does not play in its home city?
Those behind the Belfast Wolves, founding members of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), think 'yes it is' and they have ambitions to attract new audiences to the sport.
Stormont was packed during a summer of international cricket, but the Wolves are so-far playing exclusively on the road. Its owners hope Belfast will host matches next year.
Until it gets its ducks in a row, the franchise's backers are working hard to get the brand known and build a fanbase.
Large crowds enjoyed a summer of international cricket at Stormont [Getty Images]

#sport #summer #Cricket

The deafening roar of Kroger Field that fueled a 17-13 halftime lead eventually gave way to a much heavier, quieter reality. When the final whistle blew on a 45-17 loss to Alabama, the scoreboard reflected a fractured dream of an upset, leaving players and fans alike processing the sting of what could have been yet again.
For Will Stein, the immediate aftermath wasn't about pointing fingers; it was about raw accountability and a profound gratitude for a fanbase that delivered a championship-level atmosphere.
The fans showed up in full force, selling out Kroger Field for Will Stein's SEC debut, creating an environment that Stein described as "unbelievable," "loud," and "energetic." Recognizing the massive emotional investment of the crowd, he didn't mince words. "I apologize to our fans for the way that we finished," he admitted, fully aware of the collective heartbreak echoing through the stands and the locker room. "I know our guys are hurting."
That hurt can't carry on too long; the SEC is an unforgiving league, and the 2nd-half performance against Alabama can't bleed over to next week.
The first half offered a vivid glimpse into the program's potential that Will Stein spoke on before the season started. The defense hunted the ball, securing three takeaways, while the offense capitalized to carry a lead into the locker room. But the second half brought stalled drives and exhausted defenders. Pinned back by short fields, the defense was asked to hold back the Tide a few too many times. "When you're defending a short field virtually the entire half, and we weren't converting on third downs, that was tough on our defense," Stein noted, acknowledging the brutal physical toll.

#field #defense #room

For the second straight week, Aday Mara was in-person at Oklahoma's college football game. But for reasons that the football-crazy fanbase wants to know. The 7-foot-3 center made the trip to Michigan to cheer for his Wolverines and celebrate his collegiate year there.
Mara attended No. 11 Oklahoma's shocking 17-10 loss to Michigan on Saturday. At halftime, the Wolverines' men's basketball team was honored. They had a dominant 37-3 record and brought home the 2026 national championship. Alongside Yaxel Lendeborg and Morez Johnson Jr., Mara was part of a monstrous three-headed frontcourt.
Mara's decision to transfer to Michigan was life-altering. He became a household name and eventually the No. 12 pick of the 2026 NBA draft. He averaged 12.1 points on 66.8% shooting, 6.8 rebounds, 2.4 ***** ists and 2.6 blocks in his sole collegiate season there.
The Oklahoma City Thunder hope Mara can have a similar type of impact at the NBA level. The 21-year-old is one of the tallest players in the league already. Because of that, he should be a constant paint-scoring threat and be one of the best shot-blockers.
Now, the conditioning and shooting are the main areas of concern. The Thunder hope he can improve both aspects in his rookie season. In an ideal world, he won't be relied upon to help from the jump. Rather, spend the year working on his craft in low-leverage situations.

#year #collegiate #season

College football, in its purest form, is a remarkable game full of tradition, pageantry and so much fun. At the apex of that purity sits rivalry games. Texas-Oklahoma. Ohio State-Michigan. Iowa-Iowa State. There are generations of tradition and hatred built up among the fanbases and the games just bring more juice.
Tonight marks the 73rd meeting of the Cy-Hawk series, which dates back to 1894. The Hawkeyes lead the all-time series 46-25, officially.
But things have been tight recently. Iowa hasn't officially won this game since 2021 (the 2023 win was vacated) and they haven't won it at home since 2018.
Dating back to 2017, every game in this series has been decided by 10 or fewer points. The Cyclones haven't won this matchup by more than 3 since 2005. The last time either team won by more than 10 in this series was in 2016, when the Hawkeyes emerged victorious 42-3.
This week, we've been exploring the parallels to that 2016 season for this series and there certainly are a few. For starters, that 2016 season marked year one of the Matt Campbell era. Now, 2026 marks year one of the Jimmy Rogers era after Campbell departed for Penn State.

#game #since #games #marks

On Saturday, Lazio will be aiming to preserve their perfect Serie A record when they host fellow undefeated AC Milan.
This will be Gennaro Gattuso's biggest test to date as Biancocelesti manager, as he prepares to host the club he called home for 14 years. The Calabrian will be engaged in a thrilling tactical battle against his opposite number Ruben Amorim, who is enjoying a positive start to his maiden year in Italian football. Nevertheless, the outcome will be determined by the 22 men on the pitch.
Hence, it's time to take a closer look at some of the most interesting duels that are expected to take place all over the pitch when Lazio and Milan lock horns at the Stadio Olimpico.
Among Lazio's seven summer signings, Danilho Doekhi was probably the least exciting arrival, as the fanbase was quick to label him as a depth player rather than a protagonist. Perhaps this will be the case once Josip Sutalo is up and running, but in the meantime, the Dutchman has been solid at the back, forming a good understanding with Oliver Provstgaard.
Danilho Doekhi (Photo by Marco Rosi – SS Lazio/Getty Images)

#lazio #take

NBA ticket prices are turning live basketball into a luxury appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NBA sells access to its biggest moments, but opening-week prices for the 2026-27 season suggest that access increasingly belongs to fans with deep pockets. SeatPick examined the 41 games on the schedule from Oct. 20 through Oct. 25 and calculated a $326 average ticket price across the league.
That figure already represents a serious commitment for one seat. The market becomes even more extreme around marquee teams and matchups. At the opposite end, several fanbases can enter the building for a fraction of that amount. The result resembles two different NBA experiences: one that invites broad participation and another that treats entry as a luxury purchase.
Demand will always separate a major event from an ordinary night on the schedule. Still, a league fueled by emotional investment should care when its most devoted supporters can follow the moment more easily than they can afford to witness it.
Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial)

#schedule #preferred

49ers quietly made massive Kyle Shanahan head coaching job decision this offseason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The San Francisco 49ers began their 2026 NFL season overseas against the Los Angeles Rams and won with a dominant 27-7 victory in Australia.
It was a great way to start the season for the 49ers fanbase, and the next day, the fans got some great news about the leader who was a big help in this Week 1 win.
According to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer and Netflix Sports, the 49ers quietly signed Kyle Shanahan to a long-term contract extension to remain as their head coach well beyond the 2027 season, as his previous deal indicated.
"Stability in San Francisco: The 49ers quietly signed Kyle Shanahan to a contract extension in the offseason, sources tell ringer netflixsports," Pelissero reports. "Shanahan was previously believed to be signed through 2027. Now, one of the NFL's top coaches is locked up for years to come."

#shanahan #francisco #ringer #head

Malik Nabers' injury update could make Giants fans very nervous originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Giants want to win, and this fanbase is hungry for some victories after last season's 4-13 finish. One way to help the case is having wide receiver Malik Nabers healthy and ready to go for the team's first game of the season.
The Giants open their season on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, so this isn't just any season opener. This is two teams who pretty much hate each other, at least in a rivalry way, going at it to get the first win of the regular season.
Nabers suffered a season-ending torn ACL and meniscus injury in September 2025 against the Los Angeles Chargers. So, will he be back on Sunday to open the Giants' season?
On Thursday, Nabers offered up an injury update, but it was more of a non-update, because he didn't say anything that should make New York any less nervous.

#Giants #injury #york #sunday

I come to you in peace.
You'll find zero negative vibes here today — and I have little interest in sparking any kind of intra-fanbase beef or even a mild-mannered debate for that matter.
There'll be no fingers being pointed, blame apportioned, guilt being tripped and absolutely no pontificating whatsoever. My soap box is well and truly collecting dust in the garage, where it shall remain.
To paraphrase Julia Roberts in the otherwise underwhelming romantic comedy Notting Hill…
I am just a man, standing in front of a fanbase, asking them to buy a ticket for tonight's Carabao Cup game against Hull City. How will I present my case? In the form of a list, of course. Everybody loves a list, don't they?

#there 'll

Browns fans have good reason to be NFL's least optimistic fanbase per The Athletic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cleveland Browns are coming into the 2026 NFL season likely to be one of the worst teams in the league. It would be a shocker if they made the playoffs, or even just had close to a .500 winning percentage.
This team just, simply put, isn't good enough right now. Looking into the future, there are plenty of question marks surrounding this team as well. So, for the loyal Browns fans who've stuck through thick and thin, how optimistic should they be?
According to Adam Coleman of The Athletic, a poll conducted among fans of all NFL teams, the Browns fanbase was overwhelmingly the least optimistic in the league. Unfortunately, they have good reason to have such little optimism.
Coleman shared that Browns fans handed out a brutal 2.7 percent optimism score, by far the lowest in the NFL. In 31st place, second-worst in the league, was the Miami Dolphins' fanbase, which at least had 11.1 percent optimism.

#least #Athletic

Jon Sumrall won the offseason for Florida football, as the first-year UF coach re-energized the fanbase with his authentic, energetic demeanor,
Sumrall will begin the process of trying to win the regular season in his coaching debut with the Florida Gators on Saturday, September 5 at The Swamp against Florida Atlantic (7:45 p.m., SEC Network).
Both Florida and FAU are seeking to bounce back from 4-8 seasons. Sumrall was hired from Tulane on November 30, 2025 and has placed the offseason emphasis on physical and mental toughness to help turn around a program that's endured four losing seasons in the last five years.
Florida will play before its 19th straight sellout in Sumrall's debut.
"That gameday opportunity here is unlike many out there," Sumrall said. And so, I'll be amped up. But at the end of the day too, it's really about focusing on us doing our job to the best of our ability and playing really good football. And so, you have to make sure that while you're emotionally charged up and you're hyped, that you don't forget that the main things that go on within the game aren't in the stands; it's in between the white lines."

#Football #gators #saturday

Does Milwaukee have the best fans in Major League Baseball?
Yes, with a caveat, says former Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto.
On the MLB Network show "MLB Now" Sept. 4, Votto praised the Milwaukee Brewers for having the best MLB fanbase, Reds fans aside, of course.
"During the [2010s], I remember quite vividly them not being a strong club, and I remember our team, the Cincinnati Reds, having stretches of not being a strong club and our fanbase wouldn't show up," Votto said.
"But I remember in Milwaukee, consistently they showed up when the Brewers weren't a strong team, and I thought to myself, 'This does not get enough credit. This is a fanbase that always supports their team and will at some point have a strong club and be able to reap the rewards from their consistent effort.'

#cincinnati

Michigan State football is back in action tonight and if you're heading to the stadium, here is your game day guide for the day.
The Spartans will open the 2026 season on Friday in a home game from Spartan Stadium against the Toledo Rockets of the Mid-American Conference. This will mark the first game under new head coach Pat Fitzgerald, who is bringing back plenty of excitement to Michigan State football among the fanbase. Now, he'll look to bring that same excitement to the field.
For fans planning to attend the game and be in East Lansing, Mich. today, Michigan State has released a full game day guide and timeline. Game day festivities will begin well before kickoff with parking lots for tailgating opening as early as 11 a.m. ET in some places. All lots will be open by 2 p.m. ET.
Fan pregame events will begin with the Meijer Fan Fest at 5 p.m. ET, which leads into the Team Spartan Walk at 5:40 p.m. ET. Stadium gates will open by 6:30 p.m. ET and kick off will follow not to long after officially set at 8:05 p.m. ET.
Click on the social media post below to see the complete game day guide from Michigan State:

#stadium #back

Motherwell secure a place in Europe and serve up the best football their fanbase has ever experienced - but at what cost?
They lose their transformational manager after just a year in charge and have the spine ripped out of their team.
So then arrives an unknown face in the dugout, 35-year-old Alfred Johansson, and 11 new players.
Yet nothing really changes.
Supporters of provincial sides have long been conditioned into fearing second-season syndrome after enjoying a year of fun but Motherwell continue to defy traditional Scottish football thinking.

#supporters

The names just kept coming, one after the other: Alexia Putellas, a two-time Ballon d'Or winner; Mary Earps, named the best women's goalkeeper by FIFA in 2022 and 2023; Mapi Leon, a four-time Champions League winner; and Kadidiatou Diani, who has earned more than 100 caps for France.
But how are the London City Lionesses, owned by American businesswoman Michele Kang, complying with the Women's Super League's financial rules to pay these big-name players?
Invest before revenue.
Kang, a Korean-American businesswoman, bought the club in 2023, helping them win promotion to the WSL in 2025. Finishing sixth in their debut top-flight season was respectable, but this summer, they have gone big. London City have splashed out on star players — albeit mostly on free transfers — for two reasons: they want to qualify for the Champions League and increase their revenue as soon as possible.
Earnings have to rise so they can afford to pay this set of players. London City are banking on marquee names attracting larger sponsorship deals and a new fanbase that will increase revenue down the line. On Thursday they announced a first-of-its-kind multi-year front-of-shirt partnership with Nike. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Kang, however, said the value exceeds some Premier League men's teams' shirt deals and the $4million (£2.9 m) annual value of the NWSL's Atlanta expansion franchise's recent front-of-shirt agreement, believed to be the wealthiest jersey sponsorship in women's sports.

#city

The Tennessee ***** ans are about to head into game week, and the season will finally kick off in less than two weeks when the New York Jets come to Nissan Stadium.
The ***** ans will enter the regular season as a bit of an unknown after playing things close to the vest in the preseason, which has caused some concerns to ripple through the media and the fanbase. The starting offense led by Cam Ward managed only one touchdown in limited action, and Ward did not complete a pass with over 10 air yards.
Tennessee will only go as far as Ward will take them, and right now, entering the season, the preseason performance has not built confidence. But that doesn't matter to former ***** ans tackle Taylor Lewan, who told DJ Siddiqi in an interview for RG.org that he expects Ward to take a big jump in 2026.
"One of the biggest jumps you can have is year one to year two. He understands the structure, how the football season works. The only thing kind of going against him is the second year, and he has a completely new coaching staff."
While the defense and offensive line will also play a big part in what the ***** ans become this season, Ward's performance will dictate the outcomes, and if he doesn't produce, it will start ugly conversations across the league.

#only

After all the wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth from much of the team's vocal fanbase, the Cowboys are back to the same three quarterbacks they've had all summer long. Joe Milton has made his return to the Dallas practice squad despite reportedly drawing at least some interest from "most" NFL teams. While that means his development can continue, what does it all mean for Sam Howell? According to the 25-year-old, it's simply a matter of getting back to work and learning all he can as Prescott's main understudy.
The front office, meanwhile, is already stirring up drama about next offseason's inevitable George Pickens contract situation, and we're still talking about the Micah Parsons trade: will all the defensive staff changes and personnel moves made since then collectively add up to what the Cowboys lost when they shipped Parsons off? Meanwhile, Emmitt Smith is facing serious allegations of fraud, and CBS is strangely quiet in the wake of Tony Romo's promise to work his way back to the broadcast booth.
Checking in with a few of the Cowboys' upcoming opponents, the Rams will employ a bold travel strategy in their Week 1 trip to Australia, while the 49ers have already boarded the plane to take them to the other side of the world... with a couple of their biggest question marks present and accounted for. The Ravens look to lock up Lamar Jackson, and in his fourth season, Jayden Daniels is getting a crash course in one of the most basic QB functions there is... huddling with his offense.
Elsewhere in league headlines, the Raiders and Chiefs are closing in on opening day with news about their starting quarterbacks, and the NFL continues to scour the globe for their next international gameday destination. (Konnichiwa, ****** an? Maybe.)
QB Joe Milton rejoins Cowboys practice squad after being waived :: Cowboys Wire (Link)

#back

The Brooklyn Nets came into the 2026 NBA offseason with the goal of improving the team as much as possible following a 2025-26 campaign in which they finished with a 20-62 record. Brooklyn made some interesting moves this summer, headlined by trading for Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, and the Nets fanbase is wondering what the outlook for the 2026-27 season looks like.
"A year ago, the Nets kept and used all five of their first-round draft picks. This summer, Brooklyn chose to give overworked forward Michael Porter Jr. some immediate help instead," Shaun Powell wrote on the Nets for NBA.com. Powell's outlook seems to center on the fact that Randle and forward Michael Porter Jr. will be tasked with being the leaders of the team while also developing the youngest players on the team.
"It resulted in a trade for Randle, a former All-NBA player who is no stranger to New York; some of his best years were spent with the Knicks," Powell continued. "[Mikel] Brown Jr. was taken at No. 6 and brings solid combo guard skills from his college days at Louisville. He has a decent chance to earn front-end rotational minutes right away; such is the benefit of joining a team in transition."
As Powell mentioned, the Nets invested heavily in the 2025 NBA Draft as they acquired five first-round picks and used each of them on players they hoped would form the core of the roster. Guard Egor Demin appears to be the standout member of the five-person class at this point, but next season will be time for the other four players to show their potential given the stakes of the rebuild.
Randle and Porter will be able to provide enough scoring and shooting to make the team formidable on some nights, but the goal of the season would be to see how quickly players like Demin and Brown develop. Every member of the Nets organization is hoping for the kind of season that everyone can be proud of and the preparation for the season will begin towards the end of September.

#powell #forward

Texas Tech football coach Joey McGuire started his response to reporters on Monday, Aug. 31 by noting his respect for Southern California coach Lincoln Riley, before then seemingly calling out the Trojans' fanbase for the small crowd at USC's Week 0 win over San Jose State.
The No. 14 Trojans defeated San Jose State 42-26 on Saturday, Aug. 29 in front of an almost-empty crowd at Los Angeles Memorial Stadium, due to unusual humidity in the area paired with low interest in a Week 0 game against a lower-tier Mountain West opponent.
REQUIRED READING: Where is everybody? USC football opens season to empty LA Coliseum
McGuire said that won't be the case when Texas Tech faces Abilene Christian on Sept. 5 in Lubbock, Texas.
"Not to take any shots, because I have a lot of respect for USC and Lincoln Riley, but it's really awesome to be playing in Lubbock, Texas, knowing we're going to be playing in front of 60,000 (fans)," McGuire said Monday. "It's going to be warm. It's going to be every bit as warm as it was Saturday.

#texas #going #week

Advertisements will be going up this season at Michigan Stadium. Google Gemini, Meijer, and Coca-Cola will be featured on Michigan's padded end zone walls, as well as on the jumbotron.
For the first time, Michigan is adding limited ads around its stadium, beginning this season.

Coca-Cola, Meijer and Google's AI chatbot, Gemini, are the initial partners. pic.twitter.com/sxqi6tXbBt
Earlier this week, we asked fans if they loved or hated ads going up inside Michigan Stadium. The results are in, and fans aren't liking the changes.
75% of fans hate that there are now advertisements in Michigan Stadium, while 25% love them.
The immediate hate is understandable from a fanbase so rich in tradition. Ads are new to Michigan Stadium, and there's a natural dislike of change. However, new revenue streams are needed with the current nature of college football and all the money it takes via NIL to field a competitive team.

#gemini #meijer #cola

Jaylen Brown said goodbye to his old fans of the Boston Celtics at a fan festival in Boston where he was honored by supporters.
Brown spent 10 dedicated seasons wearing Celtics green and was the star who won Finals MVP when it came to delivering them their first championship since 2008.
He was traded away and never had a chance to betray the fanbase, so he was given a hero's goodbye at a recent fan festival which also had Mayor Jennifer Wu in attendance.
Brown took the stage at the 741 Frequency Fest in Boston and addressed the fans, sharing his love with them and thanking them for their support over the last decade.
"I —— love y'all man. Listen up, I ain't got too much to say because I am at a loss for words… I love each and everyone one of y'all. I have been in this city for the last 10 years, and I said 'I'm gonna go to war for this city' when I got here… I just wanna say thank you to Boston. Thank you to the city. And I love you."

#boston

La Liga giants Barcelona will again be forced to make do without the contributions of midfield star Gavi in the club's next outing. This comes amid the understanding that the youngster has not yet been cleared for competitive action.
Gavi of course set alarm bells sounding across the Barcelona fanbase last weekend. En route to the Blaugrana's 5-0 opening day drubbing of Elche, the Spanish international was forced off with a knee complaint.
After a round of medical tests back at the Ciutat Esportiva the following day, all of a Barca persuasion breathed a sigh of relief, as it was confirmed that Gavi had suffered only bruising.
The 22-year-old was nevertheless left out of Hansi Flick's squad to face Athletic Club on Thursday, yet to return to group training in Catalunya's capital.
And if the latest word stemming from the media on Friday is anything to go by, then a comeback this weekend also appears to have been all but ruled out. As per a report from journalist Moises Llorens of ESPN:

#gavi #elche #ciutat #esportiva

Final impressions are at stake when the Cowboys take on New Orleans but that hasn't stopped some from floating ideas about whom should be on the final roster. Players on the bubble are no doubt the subject of conversations throughout the league in an attempt to salvage worth for the sake of total roster construction.
As those talks take place, the way teams approach each other have almost always depended on the person running the show, which in Dallas, has been owner Jerry Jones. A conversation with his eldest son and COO, Stephen Jones, reveals a shift in philosophy is on the horizon once and when he takes complete control of the franchise.
In other Cowboys news, former quarterback Tony Romo faces a renewed set of charges stemming from his OWI that places his future employment with CBS in jeopardy while Dallas rookie wideout, Jordan Hudson, is among the group of current NFL players who could jettison the NFL for another chance at NCAA glory.
The Cowboys remain Jerry's world, but Stephen Jones will engineer 'a different path' :: The Athletic (Link)
5 Cowboys cuts that would leave fanbase stunned, in shock :: Cowboys Wire (Link)

#jones #dallas #stephen #players

It was that time of year again when the early rounds of the English League Cup were being played in the midst of a hectic Premier League schedule. Sunderland had played their first four games of the season following promotion and, despite an exciting victory over Tottenham Hotspur on the opening day, had failed to win since, picking up just one point from their next three games.
Included in that run was a dismal 3-0 defeat away to Wigan Athletic, a result that shocked supporters given the inept nature of the performance. A home defeat to Liverpool compounded the misery before Roy Keane's side travelled to London to face Luton Town in the League Cup.
Keane made just four changes to the team that had faced Liverpool and, in hindsight, the decision did little to ease the growing frustrations surrounding the side. Sunderland were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by the Championship outfit, who took great delight in their victory as chants of "Premiership, you're having a laugh" rang around Kenilworth Road.
Greg Halford's dismissal certainly didn't help Sunderland's cause, but this was now four consecutive defeats and, more concerningly, the manner of those defeats was beginning to cause genuine concern among the fanbase.
On the very same evening, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest were also meeting in the League Cup, with Sunderland loanee Clive Clarke lining out for Leicester.

#leicester

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country.
It has been a season of opportunity for some of the players on the San Diego Padres roster. Some of those players have taken full advantage of their opportunity and that could result in more playing time, higher expectations or in some cases more money.
France signed with the Padres in the offseason on a minor league deal. He was promised nothing but an opportunity to make the team and the Gold Glove Award winner did that out of Spring Training. There was a time where he and Gavin Sheets and Nick Castellanos were all expected to share time at first base and France was thought to possibly be the odd man out. His play turned not only allowed him to outlast Castellanos on the San Diego roster, but it also cemented him into the No. 4 hole in the lineup. France has performed on defense and has provided production at the plate. He has 344 at-bats with 99 hits, 18 of which were home runs, for a .288 average. France also has 56 RBI, 44 runs scored and has even stolen a base.
Campusano finally got some regular playing time under new Padres manager Craig Stammen. The catcher finally had a manager who was going to allow him to play free and play often without the fear of being sent back to the minors the first time he hit a slump or failed to block a ball in the dirt. Campusano has responded with a solid season in which he has amassed 143 at-bats with 41 hits, five home runs, 23 RBI and 18 runs scored. He holds a .287 average on the season and has been able to catch and serve as the designated hitter throughout the season.
Buehler, like France, was only promised an opportunity. He got more of a chance than he thought when Joe Musgrove was unable to be ready to return to the mound following Tommy John surgery and Nick PIvetta went down with arm issues early in the season. Randy Vasquez started the season strong but quickly faded. Buehler has had some duds this season, but overall, he has been a consistent starter for a team that was limited to Michael King in terms of pitchers who could take the mound and instill confidence in the team and the fanbase. Buehler has appeared in and started 26 games in 2026. He has a record of 8-6 with a 4.63 ERA. He has thrown 126.1 innings and has 108 strikeouts over that span. He is 3-1 in his last seven games with a 2.89 ERA and has only gotten better as the regular season winds down.

#season #time #Opportunity

Dolly Parton was a lot of things - a country musician, a philanthropist, an actress, a storyteller and a businesswoman. One thing she never was, however, was a politician.
But don't think it's because no one asked her. In 1999, during an appearance on the talk show Prime Time Country!, the singer was asked by a young woman in the audience if she would ever run for office.
Dolly demurred, with her characteristic razor-sharp wit. "I think of myself more as a diplomat. That's the kind of people who tell you to go to ****** in such a way you look forward to the trip."
It's something she'd had to do many times over a career that spanned decades and genres. With a fanbase that included grandmas and Gen-Zers, Republicans and Democrats, drag queens and evangelicals, Parton was a kind of unicorn in America's polarised society.
"She is the one person who straddles political divides… the so-called culture wars," said Sarah Phillips, who teaches an Anthropology of Dolly Parton course at Indiana University - and still finds it hard to speak about the singer in the past tense. The professor "curled into a ball" in her office and "just sobbed" upon hearing of the death.

#think

Adorned in rhinestones and elevating her 5-foot stature with sky-high heels and voluminous blonde wigs, Dolly Parton often joked, "it costs a lot of money to look this cheap!"
Parton's looks on stage and off reflected both her Tennessee roots and her embodiment of over-the-top feminine glamour, an aesthetic articulated in her album **** le and self-anointed nickname "Backwoods Barbie." She was rarely seen without long acrylic nails, a full face of makeup, and heapings of glitter.
The prolific musician, actor and philanthropist, who died on Tuesday at 80 years old, always had a tongue-in-cheek response to criticisms about her larger-than-life sense of style. She quipped about her hair being a fire hazard, would play her hit '9 to 5' with nothing but her fire red acrylic nails as the instrument, and she unabashedly loved flashy clothes: shoulder pads, plunging necklines, a cinched waist, lace were all sartorial non-negotiables for the singer. But she paired it with a keen sense of self-awareness that only made her devout fanbase love her more.
Parton's massive, voluminous blonde wigs were classic Dolly — and, she once joked, a "fire hazard." - Richard McCaffrey/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
"When I moved to Nashville in 1964, I already had some ideas about what I wanted to look like onstage — and off," she wrote in her book "Behind the Seams" in 2023. "Country stars had to have big hair and some sparkles, and you had to have a Cadillac. I had the big hair but not yet the Cadillac — or enough sparkles." She related to the clothes worn by famous fixtures on stage of the Grand Ole Opry, like Jean Shepard and didn't shy away from the unconventional things that influenced her, telling People she even took inspiration from the famously risqué Frederick's of Hollywood catalogs she flipped through when she was young.

#FIRE #voluminous #look

Veteran forward LeBron James has sparked concerns among the Philadelphia 76ers fanbase with his insightful remarks on the aging process.
James, who turns 42 in December, has revealed that he feels like an 87-year-old man by 9 p.m. every night after an intense day of workouts and training.
"Aging is weird.
On paper, I'm 40.
In the gym, I feel 25.
At 9 PM, I'm 87."
The words were accompanied by laughing and shoulder-shrugging emojis.
To James' credit, he averaged 38.4 minutes for the Los Angeles Lakers through 10 playoff games earlier this year, including a team-high 38.7 in the six-game series against the Houston Rockets in the first round. In the series against the Rockets, James essentially turned back the clock and carried his team to a victory while playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (for the first four games).

#lebron