1 hr. ago
Old foes South Africa and New Zealand collide in a new series in the first "Rugby's Greatest Rivalry" tour.
The Springboks and All Blacks have reached a reciprocal touring agreement that will see the pair clash in a number of Tests every four years.
The first edition sees Dave Rennie's side head for South African soil to take on four United Rugby Championship sides alongside a quartet of clashes with Rassie Erasmus's world champions.
The fourth of those fixtures, which brings together the World Cup finalists from three years ago, will take place in Baltimore on the east coast of the United States.
Here's everything you need to know.
#south #greatest
The Springboks and All Blacks have reached a reciprocal touring agreement that will see the pair clash in a number of Tests every four years.
The first edition sees Dave Rennie's side head for South African soil to take on four United Rugby Championship sides alongside a quartet of clashes with Rassie Erasmus's world champions.
The fourth of those fixtures, which brings together the World Cup finalists from three years ago, will take place in Baltimore on the east coast of the United States.
Here's everything you need to know.
#south #greatest
4 hours ago
There's little debate about who the greatest college football coach of all time is. It's none other than former Michigan State, LSU, and Alabama head coach Nick Saban, but as is often the case, failure to launch came before the rise to glory.
Not many know that Saban was once an ***** istant under former Ohio State head coach, the late, great Earle Bruce, from 1980-81. Saban started his coaching career as a graduate ***** istant for his alma mater, Kent State, in 1973 and was promoted to the linebackers coach in 1975. He also had stops as an ***** istant at Syracuse and West Virginia before Bruce hired him as a defensive backs coach in 1980. Amazingly enough, Saban was hired to replace another famous coach, Pete Carroll, on the Buckeye staff.
However, Saban's time with a scarlet and gray wardrobe was short-lived. He was fired after a 31-28 Ohio State win against Navy in the 1981 Liberty Bowl as part of a housecleaning of some of the defensive staff because of a reported disagreement in philosophy.
While appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, right out of the gate, McAfee -- with former Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk sitting in tow -- asked Saban if he was ever fired, and Saban was quick to point out his time in Columbus.
"Yeah, I talked to you about that. I got fired when I was a defensive backs coach at Ohio State," Saban said.
#assistant #bruce
Not many know that Saban was once an ***** istant under former Ohio State head coach, the late, great Earle Bruce, from 1980-81. Saban started his coaching career as a graduate ***** istant for his alma mater, Kent State, in 1973 and was promoted to the linebackers coach in 1975. He also had stops as an ***** istant at Syracuse and West Virginia before Bruce hired him as a defensive backs coach in 1980. Amazingly enough, Saban was hired to replace another famous coach, Pete Carroll, on the Buckeye staff.
However, Saban's time with a scarlet and gray wardrobe was short-lived. He was fired after a 31-28 Ohio State win against Navy in the 1981 Liberty Bowl as part of a housecleaning of some of the defensive staff because of a reported disagreement in philosophy.
While appearing on the Pat McAfee Show, right out of the gate, McAfee -- with former Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk sitting in tow -- asked Saban if he was ever fired, and Saban was quick to point out his time in Columbus.
"Yeah, I talked to you about that. I got fired when I was a defensive backs coach at Ohio State," Saban said.
#assistant #bruce
7 hours ago
A pair of Washington Huskies icons made their way back to Montlake this week, as Jermaine Kearse and Myles Gaskin stopped by fall camp to check out the 2026 edition of Jedd Fisch's program.
Kearse spent Tuesday morning at his old stomping grounds, looking on at the current generation of Husky pass catchers. The Lakewood, Washington native played his college ball for his hometown team from 2008-2011, where he finished his career No. 2 in program history in career receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Following his illustrious college career, Kearse signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent, where he played for five of his seven years in the NFL and helped bring his hometown team its first Super Bowl in franchise history.
From playing his high school ball 45 minutes south of Seattle, to becoming one of the greatest receivers to don the purple and gold, to bringing home a Super Bowl to his home state, Kearse is regarded as a local legend in the Seattle community, and rightfully so.
The following day, running back Myles Gaskin paid a visit to fall camp. The Huskies' all-time leading rusher posed for a picture with Jedd Fisch following Wednesday's practice. In his four years in Seattle, Gaskin put himself in the conversation as the greatest Husky running back of all time, rushing for over 1,000 yards in all four seasons while helping Washington make the College Football Playoff in 2016.
#kearse
Kearse spent Tuesday morning at his old stomping grounds, looking on at the current generation of Husky pass catchers. The Lakewood, Washington native played his college ball for his hometown team from 2008-2011, where he finished his career No. 2 in program history in career receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
Following his illustrious college career, Kearse signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent, where he played for five of his seven years in the NFL and helped bring his hometown team its first Super Bowl in franchise history.
From playing his high school ball 45 minutes south of Seattle, to becoming one of the greatest receivers to don the purple and gold, to bringing home a Super Bowl to his home state, Kearse is regarded as a local legend in the Seattle community, and rightfully so.
The following day, running back Myles Gaskin paid a visit to fall camp. The Huskies' all-time leading rusher posed for a picture with Jedd Fisch following Wednesday's practice. In his four years in Seattle, Gaskin put himself in the conversation as the greatest Husky running back of all time, rushing for over 1,000 yards in all four seasons while helping Washington make the College Football Playoff in 2016.
#kearse
10 hours ago
One thing that makes the NFL unique is that the best teams don't always play in the biggest markets. Consider that the Seahawks, the reigning Super Bowl champions, play in Seattle.
The Chiefs, winners of three Super Bowls since 2019, play in Kansas City. In addition, the team with the longest active streak of seasons reaching the Playoffs is the Bills, who play in Buffalo. Seattle (13th), Kansas City (33rd), and Buffalo (54th) are all outside the Top 10 in the 2025 Nielsen DMA (Designated Market Area) Rankings, according to the United States TV Database.
This is why the NFL is the greatest league in the world. You don't have to be in a big market to have the best fanbase. The Seahawks, the Chiefs, and the Bills all have great fanbases. As do the Bengals, with Cincinnati ranking 37th in the aforementioned rankings.
The Nielsen Scarborough NFL Fandom Index recently unveiled its top five teams, with the Bengals checking in at No. 4 on the list.
It's the first year of the study, which, as Cincinnati Enquirer Sports Editor Jason Hoffman notes, is a "comprehensive study that moves beyond simple headcount to identify where the sport's pulse beats strongest, revealing that America's most avid fans are often found in the heart of its mid-sized legacy markets."
#super #bills #nielsen
The Chiefs, winners of three Super Bowls since 2019, play in Kansas City. In addition, the team with the longest active streak of seasons reaching the Playoffs is the Bills, who play in Buffalo. Seattle (13th), Kansas City (33rd), and Buffalo (54th) are all outside the Top 10 in the 2025 Nielsen DMA (Designated Market Area) Rankings, according to the United States TV Database.
This is why the NFL is the greatest league in the world. You don't have to be in a big market to have the best fanbase. The Seahawks, the Chiefs, and the Bills all have great fanbases. As do the Bengals, with Cincinnati ranking 37th in the aforementioned rankings.
The Nielsen Scarborough NFL Fandom Index recently unveiled its top five teams, with the Bengals checking in at No. 4 on the list.
It's the first year of the study, which, as Cincinnati Enquirer Sports Editor Jason Hoffman notes, is a "comprehensive study that moves beyond simple headcount to identify where the sport's pulse beats strongest, revealing that America's most avid fans are often found in the heart of its mid-sized legacy markets."
#super #bills #nielsen
11 hours ago
One of the greatest shooters of all time seemingly won't be available for long.
The Dallas Mavericks and guard Klay Thompson agreed to a buyout Friday, Aug. 21 for the final year of his contract, worth $17.5 million. And though Thompson still has to go through the waivers process, he's expected to sign with the Miami Heat, if not claimed, according to ESPN.
Thompson, 36, is a five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion known for his precision and accuracy as a perimeter shooter. With Miami, he brings much-needed shooting to a roster that underwent an overhaul after the June acquisition of star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While the Heat are set to roll out a stout defensive team, perimeter shooting had been one of the clear weaknesses, and Thompson fills that need. Given that Antetokounmpo is a player who commands enormous defensive attention, a shooter like Thompson should presumably have ample ******* e to operate if opposing teams send double-teams and extra pressure toward Antetokounmpo.
#heat #shooting
The Dallas Mavericks and guard Klay Thompson agreed to a buyout Friday, Aug. 21 for the final year of his contract, worth $17.5 million. And though Thompson still has to go through the waivers process, he's expected to sign with the Miami Heat, if not claimed, according to ESPN.
Thompson, 36, is a five-time All-Star and four-time NBA champion known for his precision and accuracy as a perimeter shooter. With Miami, he brings much-needed shooting to a roster that underwent an overhaul after the June acquisition of star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo.
While the Heat are set to roll out a stout defensive team, perimeter shooting had been one of the clear weaknesses, and Thompson fills that need. Given that Antetokounmpo is a player who commands enormous defensive attention, a shooter like Thompson should presumably have ample ******* e to operate if opposing teams send double-teams and extra pressure toward Antetokounmpo.
#heat #shooting
16 hours ago
The New York Giants have a load of talent at pass rusher as they head into the 2026 NFL season. They've used three top-five draft picks at the position over the past five years, bringing in Kayvon Thibodeaux, Abdul Carter, and Arvell Reese, and traded away a second-round pick several years ago to land Brian Burns.
Burns is the veteran Pro Bowl leader of the group, and Reese is the rookie. Thibodeaux has been the oft-injured guy who has become a bit of an afterthought, but don't sleep on him.
Carter? Well, he could be the best of the bunch. The former Penn State star who was compared to Micah Parsons coming out of college in 2025 is poised for greatness. Just ask him. That's his goal.
"I want to be the greatest of all time," Carter told The Athletic.
Not just the greatest Giant or the greatest linebacker. The greatest, period. Muhammad Ali great.
#they 've
Burns is the veteran Pro Bowl leader of the group, and Reese is the rookie. Thibodeaux has been the oft-injured guy who has become a bit of an afterthought, but don't sleep on him.
Carter? Well, he could be the best of the bunch. The former Penn State star who was compared to Micah Parsons coming out of college in 2025 is poised for greatness. Just ask him. That's his goal.
"I want to be the greatest of all time," Carter told The Athletic.
Not just the greatest Giant or the greatest linebacker. The greatest, period. Muhammad Ali great.
#they 've
17 hours ago
The problem with AI valuations is that infrastructure spending is running far ahead of the revenue available to support it. Goldman Sachs estimates roughly $7.6 trillion in ****** ulative AI capital spending from 2026 through 2031. OpenAI and Anthropic, meanwhile, were generating combined annualized revenue of more than $105 billion by August 2026, which is impressive growth, but still a small base relative to the buildout.
To avoid cataclysmic infrastructure write-downs on hardware with brief 3-to-5-year lifecycles, the industry must scale its annual recurring revenue past $1 trillion by 2030.
Skeptics think the industry is building hardware capacity faster than customers can use it profitably. Under the bear case, the revenue gap eventually reaches hardware suppliers. If enterprise demand fails to fill new capacity, hyperscalers will slow purchases, demand lower prices and move routine workloads to internal chips. Short hardware lifecycles would make even a temporary glut expensive.
Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) carries the greatest exposure because its 74.9% quarterly gross margin depends on customers competing for scarce, high-end GPUs. Google's TPUs, Amazon's Trainium and Microsoft's Maia can absorb predictable inference workloads, reducing Nvidia purchases and increasing hyperscalers' bargaining power.
The market still expects Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) to retain most of its advantage. The shares traded at 25.64 times forward earnings as of August 17, while 285 elite hedge funds in Insider Monkey's second-quarter database held long positions. Slower orders combined with weaker pricing would hit both earnings expectations and a crowded trade.
#corporation #NASDAQ
To avoid cataclysmic infrastructure write-downs on hardware with brief 3-to-5-year lifecycles, the industry must scale its annual recurring revenue past $1 trillion by 2030.
Skeptics think the industry is building hardware capacity faster than customers can use it profitably. Under the bear case, the revenue gap eventually reaches hardware suppliers. If enterprise demand fails to fill new capacity, hyperscalers will slow purchases, demand lower prices and move routine workloads to internal chips. Short hardware lifecycles would make even a temporary glut expensive.
Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) carries the greatest exposure because its 74.9% quarterly gross margin depends on customers competing for scarce, high-end GPUs. Google's TPUs, Amazon's Trainium and Microsoft's Maia can absorb predictable inference workloads, reducing Nvidia purchases and increasing hyperscalers' bargaining power.
The market still expects Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:NVDA) to retain most of its advantage. The shares traded at 25.64 times forward earnings as of August 17, while 285 elite hedge funds in Insider Monkey's second-quarter database held long positions. Slower orders combined with weaker pricing would hit both earnings expectations and a crowded trade.
#corporation #NASDAQ
17 hours ago
For decades, Natalie Portman has been one of our most cerebral stars. A 1999 Vanity Fair cover, promoting "The Phantom Menace," asked whether the then-17-year-old might "choose Harvard over Hollywood." She managed to do both, earning an Ivy League degree and an Oscar. Her characters in movies from "Jackie" to "May December" are often overthinkers, and her Instagram book club picks tend toward high literature.
Who better, then, to serve as the heroine of a Rachel Cusk novel?
Cusk, the experimental novelist, is set to publish "Life of M," about an unnamed actress coping with feelings of alienation and depersonalization, on Aug. 25. Cusk's work, like the well-loved "Outline" trilogy, favors deep excavation of inner turmoil over what might be called "plot," and "Life of M" is no exception. Still, the obvious similarities to the known facts of Portman's life have earned the book plenty of buzz.
To wit: M, a former child star who received her greatest acclaim for playing a ballerina, is raising children, seemingly solo, in Paris. All of this checks out, and Portman's putative connection to Cusk — she selected Cusk's last novel, 2024's "Parade," for Natalie's Book Club, and both actress and author live in Paris — lends the enterprise a juicy overlay of gossip.
There's no public information indicating Portman's involvement in the project, or whether she approved it at all. (Portman's rep and the book's publicist at Farrar, Straus and Giroux did not respond to requests for comment.) And if people are reading "Life of M" as a document of truth, it may be in part because the novel so confidently places its reader within restricted access zones. We see M through the eyes of a narrator, an unnamed person who has obtained M's permission to document her life. And so we accompany M to a spa, where she and a younger actress chitchat about their peers and discuss Hollywood's gender pay gap, and to an interview at a chic restaurant, where she observes strangers snapping her picture. The access Cusk grants extends deep into M's mind as well: With her friend, M ponders how she might help a new generation of actresses despite her own "ennui" about the industry; with the journalist interviewing her, M is burdened "by the impossibility of anyone ever understanding what she is."
The project of this book is to help us to know a person who rejects examination, just as journalists have struggled to crack Portman, who avoids discussing her personal life in interviews. "Life of M" is not the sort of novel that one can "spoil," but suffice it to say that M ultimately makes her displeasure at the narrator's project plain: Being under a writer's gaze is, for her, intolerable. M comes by this aversion to fame honestly. We're informed that "starring in a film as a child had immediately brought her childhood to an end," and that press coverage of her entanglements as an adult have strained her relationship with her family. She has constructed a series of walls, and w
Who better, then, to serve as the heroine of a Rachel Cusk novel?
Cusk, the experimental novelist, is set to publish "Life of M," about an unnamed actress coping with feelings of alienation and depersonalization, on Aug. 25. Cusk's work, like the well-loved "Outline" trilogy, favors deep excavation of inner turmoil over what might be called "plot," and "Life of M" is no exception. Still, the obvious similarities to the known facts of Portman's life have earned the book plenty of buzz.
To wit: M, a former child star who received her greatest acclaim for playing a ballerina, is raising children, seemingly solo, in Paris. All of this checks out, and Portman's putative connection to Cusk — she selected Cusk's last novel, 2024's "Parade," for Natalie's Book Club, and both actress and author live in Paris — lends the enterprise a juicy overlay of gossip.
There's no public information indicating Portman's involvement in the project, or whether she approved it at all. (Portman's rep and the book's publicist at Farrar, Straus and Giroux did not respond to requests for comment.) And if people are reading "Life of M" as a document of truth, it may be in part because the novel so confidently places its reader within restricted access zones. We see M through the eyes of a narrator, an unnamed person who has obtained M's permission to document her life. And so we accompany M to a spa, where she and a younger actress chitchat about their peers and discuss Hollywood's gender pay gap, and to an interview at a chic restaurant, where she observes strangers snapping her picture. The access Cusk grants extends deep into M's mind as well: With her friend, M ponders how she might help a new generation of actresses despite her own "ennui" about the industry; with the journalist interviewing her, M is burdened "by the impossibility of anyone ever understanding what she is."
The project of this book is to help us to know a person who rejects examination, just as journalists have struggled to crack Portman, who avoids discussing her personal life in interviews. "Life of M" is not the sort of novel that one can "spoil," but suffice it to say that M ultimately makes her displeasure at the narrator's project plain: Being under a writer's gaze is, for her, intolerable. M comes by this aversion to fame honestly. We're informed that "starring in a film as a child had immediately brought her childhood to an end," and that press coverage of her entanglements as an adult have strained her relationship with her family. She has constructed a series of walls, and w
23 hours ago
[Getty Images]
We asked you to predict what will happen between now and the end of the transfer window at Aston Villa and how the 2026-27 season will pan out for Unai Emery's side.
Here are some of your comments:
Peter: For me, there has been too much upheaval. With players leaving this summer and the core of the squad being ripped out, I feel Villa will be a bit disjointed while all of the new signings bed in. Therefore, I predict an uncertain start to the season, and possibly an uncertain campaign as a whole.
Keith: I have no problem with any of the sales individually. Rogers is good money, Konsa is good money, Digne is a good deal for an ageing player. Martinez has a great replacement in Zion Suzuki. Joao Gomes and Johan Manzambi are fantastic additions. My worry is the sheer amount of upheaval. Hopefully we can retain a good core of last season's players while gradually integrating the new players and youngsters. Keeping Emery is key, his system and passion is our greatest ****** et.
#money
We asked you to predict what will happen between now and the end of the transfer window at Aston Villa and how the 2026-27 season will pan out for Unai Emery's side.
Here are some of your comments:
Peter: For me, there has been too much upheaval. With players leaving this summer and the core of the squad being ripped out, I feel Villa will be a bit disjointed while all of the new signings bed in. Therefore, I predict an uncertain start to the season, and possibly an uncertain campaign as a whole.
Keith: I have no problem with any of the sales individually. Rogers is good money, Konsa is good money, Digne is a good deal for an ageing player. Martinez has a great replacement in Zion Suzuki. Joao Gomes and Johan Manzambi are fantastic additions. My worry is the sheer amount of upheaval. Hopefully we can retain a good core of last season's players while gradually integrating the new players and youngsters. Keeping Emery is key, his system and passion is our greatest ****** et.
#money
1 day ago
The Brooklyn Nets have had plenty of great players wear the Nets uniform over the history of the franchise, both in New Jersey and in their current home at Barclays Center. Brooklyn is hoping to put forth a better product for the fanbase next season after one of the worst seasons that the team has seen, but it could be time to note how many greats have played for the organization.
"Scoring comes so easy for him it's almost ridiculous, as Kevin Durant is a 7-footer with ballhandling, quickness and a pristine jumper that he can hit from legitimately anywhere on the floor," Frank Urbina wrote for HoopsHype when discussing Kevin Durant, the third-best small forward in NBA history. In addition to Durant, the next player also spent time with the Nets even though he is mostly known for his time with the Philadelphia 76ers.
"He was 26 by the time he made his NBA debut after years in the ABA, so Julius Erving would rank far higher in the statistical categories had he spent his whole career in the ***** ociation," Urbina wrote on Erving, affectionately known in NBA circles as Dr. J. Erving played for the Nets when the team was in New York, prior to moving to New Jersey, but there is one more player to mention on this top-20 small forward list.
"Paul Pierce was a beastly scorer in his prime, one who could fill it up from all three levels and score on even the most elite of defenders," Urbina wrote on Paul Pierce, who had already made his name known prior to coming to the Nets. In reference to this list, Durant ranked third, Erving ranked fourth, and Pierce is ranked as the 13th-best small forward in the history of the ***** ociation.
Ultimately, the Nets are still in the midst of their rebuild so next season may not pleasant for the fanbase to see given that some of the youngest players still have some growing to do. Regardless of how next season turns out, members of the Nets fanbase will be able to hold on to the fact that some of the greatest small forwards in NBA history played for their team.
#small #pierce #fanbase
"Scoring comes so easy for him it's almost ridiculous, as Kevin Durant is a 7-footer with ballhandling, quickness and a pristine jumper that he can hit from legitimately anywhere on the floor," Frank Urbina wrote for HoopsHype when discussing Kevin Durant, the third-best small forward in NBA history. In addition to Durant, the next player also spent time with the Nets even though he is mostly known for his time with the Philadelphia 76ers.
"He was 26 by the time he made his NBA debut after years in the ABA, so Julius Erving would rank far higher in the statistical categories had he spent his whole career in the ***** ociation," Urbina wrote on Erving, affectionately known in NBA circles as Dr. J. Erving played for the Nets when the team was in New York, prior to moving to New Jersey, but there is one more player to mention on this top-20 small forward list.
"Paul Pierce was a beastly scorer in his prime, one who could fill it up from all three levels and score on even the most elite of defenders," Urbina wrote on Paul Pierce, who had already made his name known prior to coming to the Nets. In reference to this list, Durant ranked third, Erving ranked fourth, and Pierce is ranked as the 13th-best small forward in the history of the ***** ociation.
Ultimately, the Nets are still in the midst of their rebuild so next season may not pleasant for the fanbase to see given that some of the youngest players still have some growing to do. Regardless of how next season turns out, members of the Nets fanbase will be able to hold on to the fact that some of the greatest small forwards in NBA history played for their team.
#small #pierce #fanbase
1 day ago
The Houston Rockets have had players donning a total of 52 different jersey numbers (and have one not part of any numerical series for Houston ****** istant coach and general manager Carroll Dawson) since their founding at the start of the 1967-68 season, worn by just under 500 players in the course of Rockets history.
To honor all of the players who wore those numbers over the decades, Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.
With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Rockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.
And for today's article, we will continue with the seventh of eight who wore the No. 27, big man Daniel Theis. After starting his pro career abroad, Theis would go unselected in the 2013 NBA Draft, Theis would sign with the Celtics in 2017.
The Salzgitter native played the first 4 seasons of his pro career with Boston. He also played for the Chicago Bulls before he was signed-and-traded to the Houston Rockets in 2021. His stay with the team lasted until he was dealt back to Boston in 2022.
#jersey
To honor all of the players who wore those numbers over the decades, Rockets Wire is covering the entire history of jersey numbers and the players who wore them since the founding of the team all those years ago right up to the present day.
With seven of those jerseys now retired to honor some of the greatest Rockets of all time to wear those jerseys, there is a lot of history to cover.
And for today's article, we will continue with the seventh of eight who wore the No. 27, big man Daniel Theis. After starting his pro career abroad, Theis would go unselected in the 2013 NBA Draft, Theis would sign with the Celtics in 2017.
The Salzgitter native played the first 4 seasons of his pro career with Boston. He also played for the Chicago Bulls before he was signed-and-traded to the Houston Rockets in 2021. His stay with the team lasted until he was dealt back to Boston in 2022.
#jersey
1 day ago
Last week, I asked the following question about former Miami Dolphins greats:
If you could choose only one, which former Miami Dolphins player, in their prime, do you believe would translate to today's game, and why would you place them on the team's current roster?
Below are some of your thoughts and answers-
Longtimefan points to the greatest QB this team has ever seen.
Dan Marino, and to me it's not even a close second. Marino was a difference-maker at the most important position in football.
#former #below #asked #following
If you could choose only one, which former Miami Dolphins player, in their prime, do you believe would translate to today's game, and why would you place them on the team's current roster?
Below are some of your thoughts and answers-
Longtimefan points to the greatest QB this team has ever seen.
Dan Marino, and to me it's not even a close second. Marino was a difference-maker at the most important position in football.
#former #below #asked #following
1 day ago
Former Formula 1 team principal Otmar Szafnauer believes Max Verstappen is continuing to improve and has still not reached his peak performance.
During an episode of the High Performance Racing podcast alongside host Jake Humphrey and former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley, Szafnauer discussed the standout drivers he has encountered during his career in the paddock.
When Humphrey prompted the panel to name the greatest drivers they had worked alongside and competed against, Szafnauer named four-time champion Sebastian Vettel as the best driver he had worked with before turning his attention to the fiercest rivals he had faced while on the pitwall.
"Greatest I worked with, Vettel. Greatest I went up against, tough either Michael [Schumacher] or Lewis [Hamilton]," Szafnauer explained.
When asked why he didn't consider four-time champion Verstappen, he added: "Well, I don't think Max is at his peak yet. I think he's going to get better."
#greatest #verstappen #humphrey
During an episode of the High Performance Racing podcast alongside host Jake Humphrey and former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley, Szafnauer discussed the standout drivers he has encountered during his career in the paddock.
When Humphrey prompted the panel to name the greatest drivers they had worked alongside and competed against, Szafnauer named four-time champion Sebastian Vettel as the best driver he had worked with before turning his attention to the fiercest rivals he had faced while on the pitwall.
"Greatest I worked with, Vettel. Greatest I went up against, tough either Michael [Schumacher] or Lewis [Hamilton]," Szafnauer explained.
When asked why he didn't consider four-time champion Verstappen, he added: "Well, I don't think Max is at his peak yet. I think he's going to get better."
#greatest #verstappen #humphrey
2 days ago
So the most anticipated sports season in Bloomington is about to begin — football.
I am still amazed that not only is that a sentence that got typed, it is a true sentence as well. The Indiana Hoosiers are the NCAA national champions and that can not be taken away from them. It wasn't an anomaly, it wasn't a fluke and they have to be respected for it.
I am not an IU fan (my Boiler fandom now follows me like the black cloud that followed Pigpen from Peanuts) — and all the skullduggery leads to the very same place – IU just completed the greatest season in college football history.
The rest of college sports now has to live with IU football at the top of the heap and the rest of us who call West Lafayette our safe ****** e now have to endure the fact that the last two undefeated National Champions in football and basketball reside about 300 yards from each other on Fee Lane.
Last year was a Disney movie whose script wrote itself except that would be trite and barely contain a narrative of the heroics of that statue. With heroes straight out of Homer, and a quest even more farfetched, Fernando Mendoza and Curt Cignetti became a modern Ulyesses and Achilles, and even Ohio State and Miami couldn't provide a suitable villain.
#Football #sports #wasn 't #college
I am still amazed that not only is that a sentence that got typed, it is a true sentence as well. The Indiana Hoosiers are the NCAA national champions and that can not be taken away from them. It wasn't an anomaly, it wasn't a fluke and they have to be respected for it.
I am not an IU fan (my Boiler fandom now follows me like the black cloud that followed Pigpen from Peanuts) — and all the skullduggery leads to the very same place – IU just completed the greatest season in college football history.
The rest of college sports now has to live with IU football at the top of the heap and the rest of us who call West Lafayette our safe ****** e now have to endure the fact that the last two undefeated National Champions in football and basketball reside about 300 yards from each other on Fee Lane.
Last year was a Disney movie whose script wrote itself except that would be trite and barely contain a narrative of the heroics of that statue. With heroes straight out of Homer, and a quest even more farfetched, Fernando Mendoza and Curt Cignetti became a modern Ulyesses and Achilles, and even Ohio State and Miami couldn't provide a suitable villain.
#Football #sports #wasn 't #college
2 days ago
LeBron James is no longer a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, but he made his mark on the franchise during his eight years with it. He consistently played at a high level during that time, even if certain aspects of his game had clearly slipped, and he delivered an NBA championship in 2020.
As we take a look at James' greatest performances as a member of the Lakers in chronological order, here is a look back at Game 5 of the 2020 Western Conference finals, when the team put away the Denver Nuggets and advanced to the NBA Finals.
The Lakers started off the 2020 West finals with a 126-114 victory. They then got past the Nuggets, 105-103, in Game 2 thanks to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Anthony Davis. However, Los Angeles fell by eight points in Game 3 despite a triple-double by James, and suddenly there was a bit of doubt about whether it had what it took to go all the way.
After righting themselves with a 114-108 Game 4 win, the Lakers took the court in the Walt Disney World Resort bubble for Game 5 with a chance to clinch a trip to the NBA Finals. James scored 14 points in the second quarter as they took a 61-51 halftime lead.
They went ahead 72-56 early in the third quarter only to see Denver tie the game at 84 with 11 seconds left in the period. But James wouldn't allow Denver to get any closer. He scored 16 points in the final frame to lock down a 117-107 L.A. win and finished with 38 points on 15-of-25 shooting, 16 rebounds and 10 ***** ists.
#game #denver
As we take a look at James' greatest performances as a member of the Lakers in chronological order, here is a look back at Game 5 of the 2020 Western Conference finals, when the team put away the Denver Nuggets and advanced to the NBA Finals.
The Lakers started off the 2020 West finals with a 126-114 victory. They then got past the Nuggets, 105-103, in Game 2 thanks to a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Anthony Davis. However, Los Angeles fell by eight points in Game 3 despite a triple-double by James, and suddenly there was a bit of doubt about whether it had what it took to go all the way.
After righting themselves with a 114-108 Game 4 win, the Lakers took the court in the Walt Disney World Resort bubble for Game 5 with a chance to clinch a trip to the NBA Finals. James scored 14 points in the second quarter as they took a 61-51 halftime lead.
They went ahead 72-56 early in the third quarter only to see Denver tie the game at 84 with 11 seconds left in the period. But James wouldn't allow Denver to get any closer. He scored 16 points in the final frame to lock down a 117-107 L.A. win and finished with 38 points on 15-of-25 shooting, 16 rebounds and 10 ***** ists.
#game #denver
2 days ago
The last time Curtis Jones played at the San Siro, he identified why Liverpool's tactics succeeded. "I think it works because I am playing," he said. That, perhaps, is Jones, cheeky and confident, but also a footballer with the capacity to exert an influence.
It was last December, three days after Mohamed Salah's explosive interview at Leeds, with Liverpool omitting their greatest goalscorer for decades from the squad they took to Italy, with Arne Slot's side having lost nine of their previous 15 games. They beat the 2025 Champions League finalists on their home turf. Jones was the best player on the pitch.
So it scarcely felt a coincidence when, about seven weeks later, Internazionale responded by trying to take Jones on loan. They failed, as they did with a €25m bid in June. A €35m (£30m) offer in August will represent a case of third time lucky, Inter landing their man.
Curtis Jones was the best player on the pitch when Liverpool beat Inter in December (Getty)
Liverpool have not quite got their valuation – they wanted €40m (£34m) a few weeks ago – and, in a summer when prices have skyrocketed in the midfield market, with Mateus Fernandes going for £85m, Sandro Tonali £100m and Elliot Anderson £116m, there is the sense Inter are getting a bargain in Jones.
#curtis #beat
It was last December, three days after Mohamed Salah's explosive interview at Leeds, with Liverpool omitting their greatest goalscorer for decades from the squad they took to Italy, with Arne Slot's side having lost nine of their previous 15 games. They beat the 2025 Champions League finalists on their home turf. Jones was the best player on the pitch.
So it scarcely felt a coincidence when, about seven weeks later, Internazionale responded by trying to take Jones on loan. They failed, as they did with a €25m bid in June. A €35m (£30m) offer in August will represent a case of third time lucky, Inter landing their man.
Curtis Jones was the best player on the pitch when Liverpool beat Inter in December (Getty)
Liverpool have not quite got their valuation – they wanted €40m (£34m) a few weeks ago – and, in a summer when prices have skyrocketed in the midfield market, with Mateus Fernandes going for £85m, Sandro Tonali £100m and Elliot Anderson £116m, there is the sense Inter are getting a bargain in Jones.
#curtis #beat
2 days ago
Raymond Felton: 'I'm going with what Patrick Beverley said.' Charlie Villanueva: 'As a point guard, if you want to win, and you want to like… for me, I know when that flow, he's going to find you. I'd rather have Stockton on my team. I'm going Stockton. I'm going Stockton. And it's not even close.'
YouTube
Raymond Felton: 'I'm going with what Patrick Beverley said.' Charlie Villanueva: 'As a point guard, if you want to win, and you want to like… for me, I know when that flow, he's going to find you. I'd rather have Stockton on my team. I'm going Stockton. I'm going Stockton. And it's not even close.' — 8/20/2026 YouTube
Raymond Felton: Ja Morant is frying John Stockton's ****** . Charlie Villanueva: In one-on-one? Felton: You understand me? Villanueva: John Stockton was a defender. He led the League in steals! What are we talking about?! — 8/20/2026 YouTube
During a recent episode of "The Pat Bev Show," former NBA player Patrick Beverley boldly claimed he would pick Ja Morant ahead of NBA legend and arguably the greatest pure point guard of all time, John Stockton. Although such a statement could be deemed blasphemous, Beverley justified it by stating: "Some people go John Stockton. I'm going Ja Morant. Some people go John Stockton because he's an actual point guard. He's going to get the ball where it needs to be. He's going to be heavy on the pocket pass. He's going to be a great leader. That's cool. Ja Morant is running circles around John Stockton's a–. Straight up. He's going to be jumping over John Stockton's a–.""I'm talking about the Stockton with the little shorts that was playing against Michael Jordan and them. I'm a huge Stockton fan. He played against the greatest ever. He did compete. I'm not taking that away from him. As a better player, a lot of people would take John Stockton. I'm taking Ja Morant." — 8/20/2026 Yahoo! Sports
#felton
YouTube
Raymond Felton: 'I'm going with what Patrick Beverley said.' Charlie Villanueva: 'As a point guard, if you want to win, and you want to like… for me, I know when that flow, he's going to find you. I'd rather have Stockton on my team. I'm going Stockton. I'm going Stockton. And it's not even close.' — 8/20/2026 YouTube
Raymond Felton: Ja Morant is frying John Stockton's ****** . Charlie Villanueva: In one-on-one? Felton: You understand me? Villanueva: John Stockton was a defender. He led the League in steals! What are we talking about?! — 8/20/2026 YouTube
During a recent episode of "The Pat Bev Show," former NBA player Patrick Beverley boldly claimed he would pick Ja Morant ahead of NBA legend and arguably the greatest pure point guard of all time, John Stockton. Although such a statement could be deemed blasphemous, Beverley justified it by stating: "Some people go John Stockton. I'm going Ja Morant. Some people go John Stockton because he's an actual point guard. He's going to get the ball where it needs to be. He's going to be heavy on the pocket pass. He's going to be a great leader. That's cool. Ja Morant is running circles around John Stockton's a–. Straight up. He's going to be jumping over John Stockton's a–.""I'm talking about the Stockton with the little shorts that was playing against Michael Jordan and them. I'm a huge Stockton fan. He played against the greatest ever. He did compete. I'm not taking that away from him. As a better player, a lot of people would take John Stockton. I'm taking Ja Morant." — 8/20/2026 Yahoo! Sports
#felton
2 days ago
Tom Brady was not exactly backing the New England Patriots ahead of their Super Bowl clash against the Seattle Seahawks earlier this year.
Despite being former teammates with Mike Vrabel and the Patriots' greatest-ever player, Brady opted to remain neutral ahead of the game.
It was the Seahawks who secured their revenge for their infamous Super Bowl XLIX defeat against the Patriots.
However, there will be some Patriots fans who will have been left feeling slightly uncomfortable by Brady's stance ahead of the Super Bowl.
Head coach of the Patriots, Vrabel, was not one of them, though, as he shared his stance on what Brady had to say ahead of his team's Super Bowl in February.
#ahead
Despite being former teammates with Mike Vrabel and the Patriots' greatest-ever player, Brady opted to remain neutral ahead of the game.
It was the Seahawks who secured their revenge for their infamous Super Bowl XLIX defeat against the Patriots.
However, there will be some Patriots fans who will have been left feeling slightly uncomfortable by Brady's stance ahead of the Super Bowl.
Head coach of the Patriots, Vrabel, was not one of them, though, as he shared his stance on what Brady had to say ahead of his team's Super Bowl in February.
#ahead
2 days ago
The 2026 Little League World Series is finally here, with the tournament officially underway in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, for the annual attraction. The LLWS brings baseball fans from around the world together for the annual festivities that capture the true spirit of the game.
The tournament features the United States and International teams playing in a double-eliminate tournament, with the winner of the American side earning a spot in the LLWS championship where they will face the winner of the International side.
MORE: 8 greatest MLB careers that started at the Little League World Series
This year's tournament features 10 teams on each side of the bracket.
The Little League logo is painted on Market Street in Williamsport, PA on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
#international
The tournament features the United States and International teams playing in a double-eliminate tournament, with the winner of the American side earning a spot in the LLWS championship where they will face the winner of the International side.
MORE: 8 greatest MLB careers that started at the Little League World Series
This year's tournament features 10 teams on each side of the bracket.
The Little League logo is painted on Market Street in Williamsport, PA on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
#international
2 days ago
India's crushing victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle unearthed two potential long-term ****** ets in different departments — left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and batter Devdutt Padikkal.
Suthar, in particular, looks every bit a Test star in the making. In just two Tests, the 24-year-old has claimed 17 wickets at an average of 11.35, including two five-wicket hauls and his maiden 10-wicket match haul. In Galle, he showcased the classical virtues of left-arm spin, extracting loop, drift, turn and bounce.
Padikkal, meanwhile, grabbed his opportunity with both hands. Playing his first Test in 19 months after replacing the injured Sai Sudharsan at No. 3, the stylish left-hander marked his return with a majestic 167, the standout innings of the match, followed by a useful 44 in the second innings. Comfortable against spin on both the front and back foot, Padikkal has strengthened his case to retain the No. 3 slot.
Suthar made an impact from his very first ball, trapping Dinesh Chandimal with a beauty that pitched, bounced and turned away before finding the edge to Rishabh Pant. On the final day, he wrapped up Sri Lanka's tail with smart variations in pace and an effective straighter delivery.
Former India left-arm spinner and selector Venkatapathy Raju believes familiarity with subcontinental conditions and a recent county stint with Warwickshire have played a key role in Suthar's rapid rise. The youngster took 11 wickets in two county matches, including a maiden five-for against Somerset.
"I was very impressed by Suthar's attitude. He has a high-arm action, bowls close to the wicket and possesses the aggression needed to succeed as a left-arm spinner. Playing his first two Tests in familiar conditions has helped, while county cricket gave him valuable red-ball experience," Raju told TOI.
"This will do wonders for his confidence. He can bowl long spells, challenge both right-handers and left-handers and has shown all the signs of becoming a very good bowler."
India vice-captain KL Rahul credited Suthar's accuracy, subtle changes in pace and ability to exploit drift for making him such a potent threat.
"It's the subtle variations from the same action and angle. He can bowl slower or quicker without changing his arm speed. In Galle, he used the wind beautifully to get drift before the ball either straightened or came back in," Rahul said.
Rahul also praised Suthar's consistency in hitting the right areas.
"His greatest strength is his pace through the air and his ability to challenge every mode of dismissal. The line he bowls brings LBW into play, while any turn can produce catches behind. That's a special skill."
The vice-captain was equally effusive about Padikkal, with whom he shared a 150-run partnership in the first innings.
"That innings defined the Test," Rahul said. "The tempo he batted at and the fact that he converted it into a big hundred really set the game up for us. The conditions were physic
Suthar, in particular, looks every bit a Test star in the making. In just two Tests, the 24-year-old has claimed 17 wickets at an average of 11.35, including two five-wicket hauls and his maiden 10-wicket match haul. In Galle, he showcased the classical virtues of left-arm spin, extracting loop, drift, turn and bounce.
Padikkal, meanwhile, grabbed his opportunity with both hands. Playing his first Test in 19 months after replacing the injured Sai Sudharsan at No. 3, the stylish left-hander marked his return with a majestic 167, the standout innings of the match, followed by a useful 44 in the second innings. Comfortable against spin on both the front and back foot, Padikkal has strengthened his case to retain the No. 3 slot.
Suthar made an impact from his very first ball, trapping Dinesh Chandimal with a beauty that pitched, bounced and turned away before finding the edge to Rishabh Pant. On the final day, he wrapped up Sri Lanka's tail with smart variations in pace and an effective straighter delivery.
Former India left-arm spinner and selector Venkatapathy Raju believes familiarity with subcontinental conditions and a recent county stint with Warwickshire have played a key role in Suthar's rapid rise. The youngster took 11 wickets in two county matches, including a maiden five-for against Somerset.
"I was very impressed by Suthar's attitude. He has a high-arm action, bowls close to the wicket and possesses the aggression needed to succeed as a left-arm spinner. Playing his first two Tests in familiar conditions has helped, while county cricket gave him valuable red-ball experience," Raju told TOI.
"This will do wonders for his confidence. He can bowl long spells, challenge both right-handers and left-handers and has shown all the signs of becoming a very good bowler."
India vice-captain KL Rahul credited Suthar's accuracy, subtle changes in pace and ability to exploit drift for making him such a potent threat.
"It's the subtle variations from the same action and angle. He can bowl slower or quicker without changing his arm speed. In Galle, he used the wind beautifully to get drift before the ball either straightened or came back in," Rahul said.
Rahul also praised Suthar's consistency in hitting the right areas.
"His greatest strength is his pace through the air and his ability to challenge every mode of dismissal. The line he bowls brings LBW into play, while any turn can produce catches behind. That's a special skill."
The vice-captain was equally effusive about Padikkal, with whom he shared a 150-run partnership in the first innings.
"That innings defined the Test," Rahul said. "The tempo he batted at and the fact that he converted it into a big hundred really set the game up for us. The conditions were physic
2 days ago
Historically, the S&P 500 has been one of the world's greatest wealth-generating machines, returning an average annual return of over 10% since its launch in 1957. But it has been far from smooth sailing. And if you bought shares at the wrong times (such as the peak of the dot-com bubble in 2000 or before the great financial crisis of 2007-2008), it would take several years to recover the value of your original investment.
Is 2026 another bad time to buy? While it's impossible to know for sure, several historical parallels offer clues about what might happen next.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
The cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings (CAPE) ratio is a stock market valuation metric that compares the S&P 500's current price with its inflation-adjusted earnings over the past decade. The long duration of the comparison helps smooth out the impacts of the business cycle, allowing investors to identify periods when shares are unusually pricey.
Right now, the market has a CAPE ratio of 42.5, a level not seen since it peaked at 44.2 in 1999 during the dot-com bubble. And there are some sharp parallels between the two time periods.
#cape #shares
Is 2026 another bad time to buy? While it's impossible to know for sure, several historical parallels offer clues about what might happen next.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
The cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings (CAPE) ratio is a stock market valuation metric that compares the S&P 500's current price with its inflation-adjusted earnings over the past decade. The long duration of the comparison helps smooth out the impacts of the business cycle, allowing investors to identify periods when shares are unusually pricey.
Right now, the market has a CAPE ratio of 42.5, a level not seen since it peaked at 44.2 in 1999 during the dot-com bubble. And there are some sharp parallels between the two time periods.
#cape #shares
3 days ago
On Monday came the stunning news that five of the six Buss family siblings had voted to sell their remaining share of the Los Angeles Lakers that they hadn't sold to Mark Walter last year. They agreed to sell that remaining stake to Josh Kushner and Bob Iger, who had already agreed to purchase Walter's majority share last week.
The lone dissenter among the Buss siblings is Jeanie Buss, the governor of the team. The other five issued a statement on Tuesday reiterating their decision to sell, per ESPN.
"The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the greatest privileges of our lives," the Buss family said in a statement to ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday. "Our focus has always been on what we believe is best for the Lakers, the fans who have supported this franchise for generations and the greater Los Angeles community.
"Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family's remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process."
It was Dr. Jerry Buss, the late father of the six Buss siblings, who first purchased the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979. In the 34 years he owned the team, it won 10 NBA championships and reached the NBA Finals 16 times, transforming it from a bridesmaid franchise into the gold standard of basketball.
#remaining #decision #tuesday
The lone dissenter among the Buss siblings is Jeanie Buss, the governor of the team. The other five issued a statement on Tuesday reiterating their decision to sell, per ESPN.
"The Los Angeles Lakers have never been just a basketball team. They have been one of the greatest privileges of our lives," the Buss family said in a statement to ESPN's Shams Charania on Tuesday. "Our focus has always been on what we believe is best for the Lakers, the fans who have supported this franchise for generations and the greater Los Angeles community.
"Johnny, Jimmy, Janie, Joey and Jesse have made the decision to sell the family's remaining stake, and we remain united in that decision. We intend to move forward thoughtfully, respectfully and through the appropriate process."
It was Dr. Jerry Buss, the late father of the six Buss siblings, who first purchased the Lakers from Jack Kent Cooke in 1979. In the 34 years he owned the team, it won 10 NBA championships and reached the NBA Finals 16 times, transforming it from a bridesmaid franchise into the gold standard of basketball.
#remaining #decision #tuesday
3 days ago
Two weeks ago, USC and Notre Dame announced that the two schools will renew their storied football rivalry beginning in 2030. However, the Trojans and Irish are not set to face off in the regular season for the next four years.
But could they meet before then in the postseason? In his 2026 college football season predictions, Brett Ciancia of Pick Six Previews has USC and Notre Dame playing each other in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The winner of that game would advance to meet Georgia in the quarterfinals.
For starters, any prediction that has the Trojans in the playoff will be music to the ears of USC fans. Beyond that, getting college football's greatest intersectional rivalry in a winner-take-all postseason game would be appointment television for all fans of the sport.
First, however, USC needs to worry about making the playoff. This will not be an easy task, as even without the Irish on the schedule, the Trojans still have to play a difficult Big Ten schedule that includes Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and Washington.
Contact/Follow TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
#Trojans #Football #state #first
But could they meet before then in the postseason? In his 2026 college football season predictions, Brett Ciancia of Pick Six Previews has USC and Notre Dame playing each other in the first round of the College Football Playoff. The winner of that game would advance to meet Georgia in the quarterfinals.
For starters, any prediction that has the Trojans in the playoff will be music to the ears of USC fans. Beyond that, getting college football's greatest intersectional rivalry in a winner-take-all postseason game would be appointment television for all fans of the sport.
First, however, USC needs to worry about making the playoff. This will not be an easy task, as even without the Irish on the schedule, the Trojans still have to play a difficult Big Ten schedule that includes Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, and Washington.
Contact/Follow TrojansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of USC Trojans news, notes and opinion.
#Trojans #Football #state #first
3 days ago
Arguably the greatest coach in UNC men's basketball history, Roy Williams still delivers a lasting impact on his longtime program today.
That impact includes playing a large role in North Carolina hiring its now-head coach, Michael Malone, who spent 12 seasons as an NBA boss.
During a Tuesday interview with college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, Malone revealed he turned down the Tar Heels' job three times before talking to Ol' Roy.
"Coach Williams had a lot to do with me taking this job," Malone said via Tar Heel Tribune's R.L. Bynum. "I like to say I turned the job down three times, and I felt finally at peace about that, and I was going to stay in the NBA and continue my NBA journey. And I had a couple of great conversations with Hall of Famer Coach Roy Williams, and I had just met him. I just got to know him, but I feel like I've known him for years. Coach Williams has that kind of impact on you."
Williams won 485 games across his 18 seasons at UNC's head coach, highlighted by the 2005, 2009 and 2017 National Championships. Upon stepping down, Williams turned his program over to longtime ****** istant Hubert Davis, whom North Carolina fired shortly after its latest NCAA Tournament disappointment.
#north
That impact includes playing a large role in North Carolina hiring its now-head coach, Michael Malone, who spent 12 seasons as an NBA boss.
During a Tuesday interview with college basketball insider Jon Rothstein, Malone revealed he turned down the Tar Heels' job three times before talking to Ol' Roy.
"Coach Williams had a lot to do with me taking this job," Malone said via Tar Heel Tribune's R.L. Bynum. "I like to say I turned the job down three times, and I felt finally at peace about that, and I was going to stay in the NBA and continue my NBA journey. And I had a couple of great conversations with Hall of Famer Coach Roy Williams, and I had just met him. I just got to know him, but I feel like I've known him for years. Coach Williams has that kind of impact on you."
Williams won 485 games across his 18 seasons at UNC's head coach, highlighted by the 2005, 2009 and 2017 National Championships. Upon stepping down, Williams turned his program over to longtime ****** istant Hubert Davis, whom North Carolina fired shortly after its latest NCAA Tournament disappointment.
#north
4 days ago
Where to watch Grand Slam of Curling: Schedule, TV channels, live streams for 2026-27 GSOC season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Grand Slam of Curling is back for another season, with new broadcast and streaming deals for 2026-27 bringing fans even better access to all the action.
The sport's biggest stars will vie for glory at five GSOC events across Canada from October through December, with men's and women's teams playing for the top share in the largest prize pools in curling at around $400,000 per event.
Through fields will vary by tournament, expect to see numerous Olympic medalists at each stop including teams skipped by Milan Cortina 2026 gold medal winners Brad Jacobs of Canada and Anna Hasselborg of Sweden. The remaining medalists from 2026 also are in the mix, with Bruce Mouat (Scotland), Yannick Schwaller (Switzerland), Alina Pätz (Switzerland) and Rachel Homan (Canada) expected to lead their teams once again in the GSOC.
It's the greatest show on ice. Here's all you need to know to tune in to every bonspiel.
#gsoc #teams #season
The Grand Slam of Curling is back for another season, with new broadcast and streaming deals for 2026-27 bringing fans even better access to all the action.
The sport's biggest stars will vie for glory at five GSOC events across Canada from October through December, with men's and women's teams playing for the top share in the largest prize pools in curling at around $400,000 per event.
Through fields will vary by tournament, expect to see numerous Olympic medalists at each stop including teams skipped by Milan Cortina 2026 gold medal winners Brad Jacobs of Canada and Anna Hasselborg of Sweden. The remaining medalists from 2026 also are in the mix, with Bruce Mouat (Scotland), Yannick Schwaller (Switzerland), Alina Pätz (Switzerland) and Rachel Homan (Canada) expected to lead their teams once again in the GSOC.
It's the greatest show on ice. Here's all you need to know to tune in to every bonspiel.
#gsoc #teams #season
4 days ago
Just days before Bryson DeChambeau competes in his final LIV Golf event of the year, he announced on Monday that he will play at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa later this year.
DeChambeau posted a video on his social media channels alongside South Africa's greatest golfer, 90-year-old Gary Player, who serves as the tournament host.
"I am absolutely delighted that Bryson will compete in this year's Nedbank Golf Challenge," said Player. "The South African crowds loved watching him play earlier this year, and it is wonderful to welcome him back to our incredible country."
The Nedbank Golf Challenge will be held from Dec. 3-6 at Gary Player Country Club in the Northwest province of Sun City. Kristoffer Reitan is the defending champion. The tournament is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour.
"Bryson's passion, power and commitment to the game continue to inspire fans around the world," Player continued. "Bryson is a true global champion of golf. I know he will receive a very special welcome at Sun City, and I look forward to seeing how the new and improved Gary Player Country Club challenges his game."
#bryson #nedbank
DeChambeau posted a video on his social media channels alongside South Africa's greatest golfer, 90-year-old Gary Player, who serves as the tournament host.
"I am absolutely delighted that Bryson will compete in this year's Nedbank Golf Challenge," said Player. "The South African crowds loved watching him play earlier this year, and it is wonderful to welcome him back to our incredible country."
The Nedbank Golf Challenge will be held from Dec. 3-6 at Gary Player Country Club in the Northwest province of Sun City. Kristoffer Reitan is the defending champion. The tournament is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour.
"Bryson's passion, power and commitment to the game continue to inspire fans around the world," Player continued. "Bryson is a true global champion of golf. I know he will receive a very special welcome at Sun City, and I look forward to seeing how the new and improved Gary Player Country Club challenges his game."
#bryson #nedbank
4 days ago
It's goodbye to Munich for full-back Hanna Glas, who is leaving FC Bayern for the National Women's Super League. The 29-year-old Swede has signed for American top-flight side Kansas City Current, where she'll initially continue her rehab from the serious knee injury she suffered last summer.
Bayern have thus granted Glas' wish to play on a different continent. FC Bayern Women sporting director Bianca Rech thanked the Swede: "Hanna was a key player in our defence and an important personality in the team. We're very grateful for her efforts in the last two and a half years. We wish her lots of luck and success in the USA, and hope that her rehab continues to go well."
Glas had a goodbye message for the team, club and fans: "I felt at home in Munich and at FC Bayern from day one. I had very high expectations when I moved to Bayern, and my expectations have actually been well exceeded. I've never experienced a season like the one when we won the championship. With that I also achieved one of my greatest ambitions. I will always remember the first match at the Allianz Arena against PSG, too – it's great to have been part of this historic event. Munich and our team will always have a special place in my heart. I fell in love with the city and will remember it as my second home. I wish the team and the club all the very best, and thank everyone, including the fans of course, for a fantastic time."
Glas joined Bayern from Paris Saint-Germain in summer 2020 and made exactly 50 appearances in all competitions. During this time she won the Bundesliga ****** le in the 2020/21 season. Hanna will also be remembered for her winning goal in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea, which was crowned Goal of the Season by UEFA in the 2020/21 UWCL campaign.
All the best, Hanna!
#bayern #hanna #season #wish
Bayern have thus granted Glas' wish to play on a different continent. FC Bayern Women sporting director Bianca Rech thanked the Swede: "Hanna was a key player in our defence and an important personality in the team. We're very grateful for her efforts in the last two and a half years. We wish her lots of luck and success in the USA, and hope that her rehab continues to go well."
Glas had a goodbye message for the team, club and fans: "I felt at home in Munich and at FC Bayern from day one. I had very high expectations when I moved to Bayern, and my expectations have actually been well exceeded. I've never experienced a season like the one when we won the championship. With that I also achieved one of my greatest ambitions. I will always remember the first match at the Allianz Arena against PSG, too – it's great to have been part of this historic event. Munich and our team will always have a special place in my heart. I fell in love with the city and will remember it as my second home. I wish the team and the club all the very best, and thank everyone, including the fans of course, for a fantastic time."
Glas joined Bayern from Paris Saint-Germain in summer 2020 and made exactly 50 appearances in all competitions. During this time she won the Bundesliga ****** le in the 2020/21 season. Hanna will also be remembered for her winning goal in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Chelsea, which was crowned Goal of the Season by UEFA in the 2020/21 UWCL campaign.
All the best, Hanna!
#bayern #hanna #season #wish
4 days ago
SN 140: Ranking the 25 greatest college football personalities of all time, from Ed Orgeron to Beano Cook originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
A "Whiteout" with matching T-shirts in the student sections. Tennessee orange-and-white checkerboard end zones. A crimson-and-cream streak on a white-and-burnt orange helmet.
College football is full of colors – hyper-specific shades painted across football fields in the United States. Notre Dame beat Army 13-7 at the Polo Grounds on Oct. 18, 1924 – and legendary New York-Herald Tribune reporter Grantland Rice wrote, "Outlined against a blue, gray October sky the Four Horsemen rode again."
Rice was among the first colorful personalities who took college football into the national spotlight in the 1920s. Since then, several other media personalities have emerged to complement the players and coaches that have made college football special. Sporting News is honoring those personalities as part of our SN 140 celebration this season.
These are the players, coaches, media personalities – and even in a few cases mascots – who have brought a little more to college football.
#rice #orange #white #players
A "Whiteout" with matching T-shirts in the student sections. Tennessee orange-and-white checkerboard end zones. A crimson-and-cream streak on a white-and-burnt orange helmet.
College football is full of colors – hyper-specific shades painted across football fields in the United States. Notre Dame beat Army 13-7 at the Polo Grounds on Oct. 18, 1924 – and legendary New York-Herald Tribune reporter Grantland Rice wrote, "Outlined against a blue, gray October sky the Four Horsemen rode again."
Rice was among the first colorful personalities who took college football into the national spotlight in the 1920s. Since then, several other media personalities have emerged to complement the players and coaches that have made college football special. Sporting News is honoring those personalities as part of our SN 140 celebration this season.
These are the players, coaches, media personalities – and even in a few cases mascots – who have brought a little more to college football.
#rice #orange #white #players
4 days ago
Ravichandran Ashwin has opened up about the criticism he faced early in his international career, recalling how a strongly worded ***** sment from former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar left him angry and hurt after a difficult tour of Australia. Ashwin's struggles came during India's 2011-12 tour of Australia, where he managed only nine wickets in three Tests at an average of 62. India suffered a 0-4 series defeat.
Reflecting on the experience, Ashwin said Manjrekar's column initially left him deeply disappointed.
"After my first Australia tour, Sanjay Manjrekar wrote a long article. When I was returning, I read the whole thing, and after reading it, I got really angry. I actually felt bad. Anger was just a reaction, but I felt really bad. But after that, I slept on the flight and let it go. Back then, I didn't talk to Sanjay much," Ashwin said on Jio Hotstar.
Rather than allowing the criticism to affect him, Ashwin eventually chose to look at Manjrekar's comments objectively and identify areas where he could improve. The off-spinner said he worked extensively on his bowling and fitness over the next few years.
"...after coming back home, I worked really hard for the next four years. I wasn't a gifted athlete. I worked very hard, and in 2015, he wrote another article saying that I was bowling so well now and that he wanted me to keep performing like that, " Ashwin added.
Ashwin eventually got Manjrekar's number and sent him a message explaining how he had initially felt about the criticism.
"Then I asked for his number and messaged him that I had felt bad back then, but his article came to me like a guru and changed my life. Because there was substance in what he said. So, if I ever get criticised, I just think about whether there's something to learn from it. If I feel there's something to learn, I take it, " he concluded.
Ashwin went on to establish himself as one of India's greatest match-winners, finishing his international career with 765 wickets and 4,394 runs across 287 matches. He retired from international cricket on December 18, 2024, and finished as India's second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket, behind Anil ***** ble.
#ashwin #australia #tour #really
Reflecting on the experience, Ashwin said Manjrekar's column initially left him deeply disappointed.
"After my first Australia tour, Sanjay Manjrekar wrote a long article. When I was returning, I read the whole thing, and after reading it, I got really angry. I actually felt bad. Anger was just a reaction, but I felt really bad. But after that, I slept on the flight and let it go. Back then, I didn't talk to Sanjay much," Ashwin said on Jio Hotstar.
Rather than allowing the criticism to affect him, Ashwin eventually chose to look at Manjrekar's comments objectively and identify areas where he could improve. The off-spinner said he worked extensively on his bowling and fitness over the next few years.
"...after coming back home, I worked really hard for the next four years. I wasn't a gifted athlete. I worked very hard, and in 2015, he wrote another article saying that I was bowling so well now and that he wanted me to keep performing like that, " Ashwin added.
Ashwin eventually got Manjrekar's number and sent him a message explaining how he had initially felt about the criticism.
"Then I asked for his number and messaged him that I had felt bad back then, but his article came to me like a guru and changed my life. Because there was substance in what he said. So, if I ever get criticised, I just think about whether there's something to learn from it. If I feel there's something to learn, I take it, " he concluded.
Ashwin went on to establish himself as one of India's greatest match-winners, finishing his international career with 765 wickets and 4,394 runs across 287 matches. He retired from international cricket on December 18, 2024, and finished as India's second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket, behind Anil ***** ble.
#ashwin #australia #tour #really
4 days ago
Red Sox Prospect Wears No. 34 and Has Other Similarities With David Ortiz originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Boston Red Sox have had the pleasure of watching some of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history put on their jersey.
At the top of that list is David Ortiz, the now 50-year-old former first baseman and designated hitter who is a Hall of Famer, three-time World Series champion, and 10-time All-Star.
All Ortiz did throughout his career was swing the bat at a ridiculously high level, finishing with 541 home runs and driving in 1,768 RBIs.
Anyone comparing a player to Ortiz is probably being a bit outrageous.
#ortiz #time #prospect #wears
The Boston Red Sox have had the pleasure of watching some of the greatest players in Major League Baseball history put on their jersey.
At the top of that list is David Ortiz, the now 50-year-old former first baseman and designated hitter who is a Hall of Famer, three-time World Series champion, and 10-time All-Star.
All Ortiz did throughout his career was swing the bat at a ridiculously high level, finishing with 541 home runs and driving in 1,768 RBIs.
Anyone comparing a player to Ortiz is probably being a bit outrageous.
#ortiz #time #prospect #wears
