The college football action continues this Saturday on NBC and Peacock with two thrilling matchups. It all starts at 3:30 PM ET, with No. 20 Northwestern vs Oregon. Then, at 7:30 PM, the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes take on the USC Trojans in Los Angeles. See below to find out how to watch both games, as well as additional information on how to watch college football on Peacock.
RELATED: 2026 College Football Rankings Top 25 Week 9 - Expert picks, ******* ysis, AP projections including BYU, Utah
Sign up for Peacock here!
Inside the AP Poll: Notre Dame-BYU, Alabama-Kentucky's head-to-head results should matter
It's always a bad look when teams are sitting side-by-side in the official poll in the opposite order of a game result.

#watch #side #northwestern

The college football action continues this Saturday on NBC and Peacock with two thrilling matchups. First at 3:30 PM ET, it's No. 20 Northwestern vs Oregon. Later at 7:30 PM, the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes take on the USC Trojans in Los Angeles. See below to find out how to watch both games, as well as additional information on how to watch college football on Peacock.
RELATED: 2026 College Football Rankings Top 25 Week 9 - Expert picks, ******* ysis, AP projections including BYU, Utah
Sign up for Peacock here!
Inside the AP Poll: Notre Dame-BYU, Alabama-Kentucky's head-to-head results should matter
It's always a bad look when teams are sitting side-by-side in the official poll in the opposite order of a game result.

#college #poll #first #northwestern

La Stampa reports that part of the Juventus dressing room is unhappy with Luciano Spalletti's methods, particularly because the Tuscan coach spends too much time talking, which reduces the intensity of training.
Juventus are preparing for a crucial Serie A match against Napoli, and coach Spalletti has ordered the team into a two-day training retreat.
ITALY – OCTOBER 28: Luciano Spalletti, head coach of Juventus, reacts during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Juventus FC at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on October 28, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)
The Italian tactician is on the brink, having only earned 14 points in nine Serie A games so far this season, losing two of the last three games.
On Thursday, after a 2-0 loss to Genoa, CEO Giovanni Carnevali gave a stern dressing-room speech, asking the players to take responsibility for the poor results so far.

#juventus #italy #october

Azmatullah Omarzai produced a stunning rescue act with the bat, smashing a record-breaking century to help Afghanistan recover from a disastrous start and post 221/7 against Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Walking in with Afghanistan reeling at 5/4, Omarzai launched a counter-attack that completely changed the course of the innings. He hammered 116 off just 50 **** , striking five fours and 12 sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 232.

With the effort, Omarzai registered the highest individual score by a batter coming in at No. 6 or lower in T20Is involving Full Member nations. He went past the previous record of 89, scored by former Afghanistan captain Mohammad Nabi against Ireland in 2017.

The record-breaking knock also put Omarzai ahead of Sam Billings (87 against West Indies in 2019), Cameron White (85 not out against Sri Lanka in 2010) and David Miller (85 not out against Pakistan in 2021) on the list.

Afghanistan's innings had been in complete disarray after Zimbabwe's bowlers reduced them to 5/4. Several top-order batters departed cheaply, while Sediqullah Atal managed just 17 off 21 deliveries before falling in the ninth over.

Omarzai found an ideal partner in Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, and the duo launched a remarkable recovery. They added 142 runs off only 59 **** for the sixth wicket, with Ijaz contributing a blistering 52 off 27 deliveries, including five fours and three sixes.

The partnership was finally broken when Ijaz fell with the score at 180. Omarzai continued his **** ault before being dismissed in the 19th over, having already produced one of the finest rescue acts in Afghanistan's T20I history.

Captain Rashid Khan provided a spectacular finish, smashing an unbeaten 25 off just six **** , including four sixes. Mujeeb Ur Rahman remained not out on two as Afghanistan closed their innings at 221/7, scoring at 11.05 runs per over.

Rashid also achieved a major milestone during the match, becoming the first bowler to claim 200 wickets in T20Is.

Zimbabwe fall short despite Sikandar Raza's century

Zimbabwe were unable to overcome the imposing target despite a determined effort from captain Sikandar Raza, who scored his second T20I century.

Raza fought till the end, but the visitors ultimately fell short, with Afghanistan's early batting collapse proving to be a distant memory after Omarzai's extraordinary intervention.

Tafadzwa Tsiga offered valuable support on his debut, while the dismissal of Ryan Burl dealt another blow to Zimbabwe's hopes.

The victory also extended Afghanistan's remarkable dominance in the rivalry, marking their eighth consecutive T20I series win against Zimbabwe. The visitors are yet to win a T20I series against Afghanistan.

#record #innings

Arsenal have suffered a significant setback in their efforts to protect teenage sensation Max Dowman after an independent commission dismissed their appeal against his recent red card. The 16-year-old attacker was sent off during a frustrating Carabao Cup evening for the Gunners, and the club's attempt to overturn the decision has officially fallen flat.
The 16-year-old was given his marching orders in the 85th minute of ******* nal's Carabao Cup tie against Fleetwood Town. The late dismissal followed a heavy challenge from Harrison Neal, with the teenager reacting poorly and kicking out at his opponent.
Mikel Arteta's side ultimately exited the competition on penalties following a tense 1-1 draw. Hoping to spare their academy star a lengthy domestic suspension, the north London club formally challenged the referee's decision on grounds of wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment.
Those hopes were quickly dashed when the Football ******* ociation shut down ******* nal's attempts to clear the youngster's name. Taking to X on Thursday, an FA spokesperson released a statement confirming that the original on-field decision would be upheld by an independent panel.
"An independent Regulatory Commission has dismissed claims of both wrongful dismissal and excessive punishment for Max Dowman," the governing body announced.

#carabao #commission #dismissed

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi looks likely to open the innings yet again in the 4th T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland.
With India already taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, they now have a wider berth to experiment with the batting order.
While the in-form Abhishek Sharma has made the opening slot his own, Sanju Samson and Sooryavanshi have alternated at the No. 3 spot in the last two matches.
With Ishan Kishan out with low-grade right adductor strain, India may continue with their top three in Auckland as well.
Kishan's injury opened the door for Sooryavanshi in the third T20I and the 15-year-old made a mark in the fourth match in Wellington, scoring a breathless 45 and setting the tone, along with Sharma, as India chased down a target of 199 in 13.2 overs

#sooryavanshi #India

New Zealand vs India 4th T20I prediction, lineups and Eden Park pitch report — who will win? originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
India have already won the series, and New Zealand are running out of bowlers. The fourth T20I at Eden Park on Friday (12.30pm IST) will offer the hosts little comfort.
India chased 199 in 13.2 overs in Wellington, scoring 118 in the first six, the highest powerplay total in men's T20I history. Now they move to a ground where the boundaries are very short.
India have scored at 10.45 an over across 38 T20Is this year, the best of any Full Member. New Zealand have managed 9.37 across 23 innings. Finn Allen apart, their batters do not hit with the same power, and their bowling attack has been stripped back further. Lockie Ferguson is out for the rest of the series, joining Matt Henry and Zak Foulkes on the injury list. Blair Tickner may play.
India have won 22 of their 34 T20Is against New Zealand, losing 11 with one tie, and they have taken eight of the last nine meetings. Their only real choice is how much to rest, with the ODI and Test series still to come. Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube have yet to play on this tour, and Mayank Yadav could return. Even so, the top order of Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer would be hard for any attack to contain.

#zealand #t20i #eden

Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love connected on 30 of his 41 passes for 288 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception during the team's Week 8 win over the Carolina Panthers.
SOURCE: USA TODAY
Why It Matters: Forced to operate without the benefit of a professional-level running attack yet again on Thursday night, Love made lemonade, passing for more than 270 yards for the sixth time this season (and fourth in a row) while running his streak of games with multiple touchdowns to eight. Love has quietly moved into that same category as names like Dak Prescott and Jared Goff, who can produce midrange to low-end QB1 numbers without the benefit of doing any running. Through eight games, Love is on pace to throw for 4,773 yards, 34 TDs, and 13 INTs. Even without rushing numbers, that's borderline QB1 production.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jordan Love tosses three TD passes in win over Carolina

#touchdowns

The Atlanta Dream is celebrating 18 years, and one of the women credited with bringing the dream to the city has also helped women find their place in the spotlight.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Channel 2's Karyn Greer sat down exclusively with former Atlanta City Council President and WNBA President Lisa Borders to talk about the team and her family's civil rights legacy.
Borders served as the 4th WNBA president a decade ago and she told Greer she is so proud to still be part of the Dream's support system. In fact, she calls all the women in the league her daughters.
For Borders, the Atlanta Dream is more than a team to cheer for, its a team she helped bring to life.

#atlanta #president #women

Seattle Seahawks RB Jadarian Price (chest) was a limited participant in practice Thursday, Oct. 29.
SOURCE: Seahawks.com
Why it Matters: Price has a chance to return to action Monday night, but with Zach Charbonnet (knee) potentially making his debut and Emanuel Wilson and George Holani also in the mix, it is going to be hard to know which Seattle back to trust. Fantasy owners with more reliable options should probably shy away from the Seattle backfield until a pecking order becomes better established.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jadarian Price remains limited Thursday

#seahawks #thursday #zach

Josh Reaume endured a challenging afternoon in Friday's Love's RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing 22nd after starting 33rd. The Team Reaume driver gained 11 positions during the event and briefly led one lap in his No. 22 Ford.
Reaume began the race near the rear of the field, facing the challenge of advancing through a competitive 36-truck lineup. However, the unpredictable drafting conditions provided several opportunities for competitors to gain positions as the running order constantly changed.
The first major accident occurred on Lap 17, collecting eight trucks and forcing NASCAR to temporarily stop the race. Reaume avoided elimination in that incident and continued battling for track position as the event progressed. His Ford also remained competitive during the second stage, when multiple drivers experienced tire problems and varying pit strategies reshuffled the field.
Reaume eventually moved into the lead for one lap, providing a notable moment during his afternoon. The final stage featured additional accidents and an overtime finish, but Reaume could not remain on the lead lap. He ultimately completed 82 laps and finished 22nd, four laps behind winner Sammy Smith.
The performance earned Reaume 15 points and represented an improvement of 11 positions from his original starting spot.

#Event #field

We have hit the last week of the Tennessee high school football regular season. And like recent years, the TSSAA has split high school games to Thursday and Friday. So about half the state will play their Week 11 games on Thursday. The rest will play on Friday.
It's a chance to give teams better officials each day. But it also gives us a chance to see the TSSAA football playoff picture become clearer before the brackets are released Friday, Oct. 30.
Note: Games with asterisks are region games. Most games this week will be region games. And almost all games play at least a small part in determining playoff order.
Here are the TSSAA football scores for Week 11.
Bradley Central 35, Bearden 21 (Thu) *

#week #tssaa #school #chance

Frankie Muniz delivered an encouraging performance during Friday's Love's RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway, finishing 12th after starting 31st. The Team Reaume driver gained 19 positions during an afternoon filled with major accidents and unpredictable drafting conditions.
Muniz began the race near the rear of the field, facing the challenge of working through a competitive 36-truck lineup. His No. 33 Ford remained in competition during the opening stage while several drivers encountered significant problems. The first major accident occurred on Lap 17, eliminating multiple competitors and dramatically reshaping the running order.
Muniz avoided involvement in the incident and continued improving his position as the race progressed. Another accident on Lap 57 eliminated additional trucks, creating opportunities for drivers who had remained out of trouble. Muniz continued competing through the final stage and stayed on the lead lap as the field prepared for an overtime finish.
He ultimately crossed the finish line 12th, completing all 86 laps and finishing 10.163 seconds behind winner Sammy Smith. The result earned Muniz 25 points and represented an important performance during his 2026 Truck Series campaign.
His ability to advance through the field and complete the demanding superspeedway event provided a positive result for Team Reaume.

#muniz #field

Bo Bichette's decision to opt into a second year with the Mets was not a surprise to anyone in the organization. He had one of the worst statistical seasons of his career offensively – not exactly the kind of year players try to ride into free agency. He spoke glowingly of new manager Andy Green. And he seemed to find comfort in the clubhouse and on the New York stage – as if he had arrived with something to prove and finally remembered he was capable of proving it.
But while the Mets have expected for several weeks now that Bichette would be back, his return nevertheless qualifies as crucial to their offseason. With Bichette, the Mets lineup in 2027 will include all the key components of a group that posted the fifth-best OPS in the majors after August 1… even with Juan Soto injured for part of that time.
The top of the order looked versatile and energetic when Francisco Lindor was healthy and leading off and Soto was healthy and hitting second and Bichette was behind them, putting the ball in play with Carson Benge there to drive everyone in. Bichette's return means the Mets can build on the offense they unearthed late last year, rather than having to reconfigure it.
But because Bichette's decision was not a surprise, expectations for the Mets season should not pivot because of it. They still need, and plan to pursue, starting pitching. They will still explore options to upgrade offensively at first base, though exactly how high they will aim – and how much money or prospect capital they are willing to spend there – remains unclear.
And they still seem likely to give one of their infield prospects a chance somewhere in the majors next season. With Bichette back, the most obvious place for a prospect to elbow in would be second, though because Bichette has also played second base, the Mets could make room for a prospect at third.

#prospect

Ian McKellen has paid tribute to his longtime friend and colleague, English actor Patrick Stewart, who died on Wednesday at 86.
In his remembrance, McKellen recalled meeting him "half a century ago" as young actors and how Stewart stayed true to his origins throughout his life. In a social media post, McKellen began his tribute by addressing his friend as "Sir Patrick Stewart." In 2001, Stewart was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire, known as an OBE, and in 2010, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his contributions to the arts.
More from Rolling Stone
Kevin Feige, Hugh Jackman, Seth MacFarlane Remember Patrick Stewart: 'This One Hurts'
William Shatner Pays Tribute to Patrick Stewart: 'A Friend, a Colleague, and a Magnificent Actor'

#friend

There once was a time when the mere thought of competing with the World Series made the NFL hide under the bed. Nowadays, regular-season football is the monster lurking under the World Series' futon.
When ESPN announced the numbers for the Week 7 Cowboys-Eagles game (18.8 million), Fox had yet to disclose the viewership for Game 3 of the World Series between (Googles it) Tampa Bay and Milwaukee. And for good reason.
Via Manny Soloway of Awful Announcing, the baseball game averaged 8.33 million viewers. That made it the fourth-least-watched World Series game ever, behind only Game 3 in 2023, Game 4 in 2023, and Game 3 in 2020.
In the 1970s, the NFL moved Monday Night Football to Thursday, in order to avoid competing with the World Series. Prior to 2010, the NFL avoided playing on Sunday nights, in order to avoid competing with the World Series.
Now, baseball should endeavor to play World Series games when NFL games aren't being played. Which means Tuesday night, Wednesday night, Friday night, and Saturday night.

#series #competing #Baseball

ATLANTA – "We don't want to have to come back to Ballhalla."
It was part of a longer answer Kiah Stokes gave to reporters during Wednesday's practice availability. Stokes, and the Golden State Valkyries at large, obviously love their home crowd. It's one of, if not the most electric home court advantage in the WNBA. But going back would signal a Game 6 loss; within that lens, why play in front of that crowd again if you could handle business beforehand?
Ultimately, the Valkyries weren't able to get it done. Save any bail you want to shoot for the earlier-than-expected 12:30 ET tip-off time — **** ody on the Golden State side wants it, nor will they use it as an excuse.
A barrage of 3-pointers (6-of-8 in the opening frame), timely drives, and stellar defense sparked a 32-15 first quarter lead for the Atlanta Dream, one they ultimately never relinquished. The Dream were able to notch an impressive 80-69 victory to tie the series, setting up the two most exciting words in sports: Game 7.
Here are three numbers that popped in the Dream's Game 6 win, numbers the Valkyries need to flip in order to bring home their first championship.

#ultimately

England signed off their campaign in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series with a 55-run victory over Sri Lanka, riding on Ben Duckett's magnificent 167 before Liam Dawson's four-wicket haul derailed the chase at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday.

Asked to bat first after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field, England piled up 386/5 in 50 overs, registering the highest ODI total at the Lahore venue. Duckett led the charge with a commanding 132-ball knock, while Tom Banton and captain Harry Brook made valuable contributions to keep the scoreboard moving.

Sri Lanka put up a spirited fight in reply, with Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake scoring half-centuries. However, Dawson's spell of 4/49 broke the backbone of their middle order as the visitors were bowled out for 331 in 45.1 overs.
Duckett provided the foundation for England's imposing total with an innings of 167 off 132 deliveries. The left-hander combined patience with attacking strokeplay, setting the tone for a commanding batting performance.

He shared an opening partnership of 163 runs with Banton, who contributed 74 off 75 ****** . The stand gave England early control before Duckett continued to accelerate through the middle overs.

Captain Brook then joined the charge, helping England add another 107 runs in a brisk partnership with Duckett. The substantial contributions at the top ensured England maintained momentum throughout the innings and finished with 386/5.

The total surpassed Pakistan's 375/3 against Zimbabwe in 2015 to become the highest ODI score recorded at Gaddafi Stadium.
Sri Lanka needed a strong start to chase down the daunting target and found contributions from Fernando, Mendis and Rathnayake, who all registered half-centuries. Their efforts kept the chase alive, but England continued to find breakthroughs at crucial moments.

Dawson proved particularly effective in the middle overs, finishing with figures of 4/49 from his 10 overs. His spell disrupted Sri Lanka's progress and left the lower order with too much to do.

With the required rate climbing and wickets falling, Sri Lanka eventually folded for 331 in 45.1 overs. Sam Curran claimed the final wicket, dismissing Malinga to complete England's victory.
The 55-run victory gave England a positive finish to their campaign in Pakistan, ending their winless run in the country. However, the result did not alter the tournament's final lineup, with Sri Lanka and Pakistan having already secured qualification for the tri-series final.

#duckett

ATLANTA – Thank you for coming to the WNBA Finals! Also, please leave the building.
Now.
The circus surrounding the moving of this game to a 12:30 p.m. start time on a Thursday was bad enough, but I'm not sure we talked enough about the circus going on inside the building in order to pull this off.
Game 6, won by the Dream 80-69, was a major-league event with a minor league schedule.
Saturday's Game 4 gave us a preview. That game began at 1 p.m. and all working media and staff were required to leave the building by 4:30 p.m. to accommodate the Hawks-Rockets game taking place immediately afterward. Generally, if you're a burgeoning league trying to increase awareness and interest, it's not a great idea to shoo all your media partners out the door right as they're trying to tell the world all about your product. Logistically, it worked out, barely, as writers scattered off to ****** orted hotels and coffee bars to finish their stories, and happy fans had at least a few minutes to whoop and holler before exiting into a glorious 70-degree day … but imagine if it had gone to overtime?

#leave

Rapper Nicki Minaj publicly endorsed US President Donald Trump at a Republican campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday, 25 October, ahead of the November midterm elections. After travelling aboard Air Force One, the Trinidadian-born artist joined him on stage, telling the crowd "We love Trump" and promising to support him "forever".
Nicki Minaj's increasingly public support for Donald Trump represents a notable political shift for a rapper whose provocative performances and **** ually explicit lyrics have often sparked controversy.
In 2020, she had criticised his administration's strict immigration policies, particularly the separation of children from their parents at the US border. More recently, however, she has appeared at events **** ociated with his presidency.
The Michigan rally also featured renewed attacks by Trump against Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for the US Senate. The president questioned El-Sayed's loyalty to the United States, allegations the former public health official has repeatedly rejected.
Trump's remarks came as Republicans campaigned ahead of the midterms, with Minaj's appearance adding a prominent celebrity endorsement to the event. A video shared by White House communications director Steven Cheung also showed the rapper joking about becoming the administration's press secretary.

#Trump #nicki

Nearly one in three veterans who relies on the government for health care could benefit from taking psychedelic drugs like magic mushrooms or MDMA.
That's not the ******* sment of some hippie or fading 1960s rock star. It came from Andrew Gradison, a senior adviser at President Donald Trump's Veterans Health Administration. Gradison told a conference for psychedelics enthusiasts this month that he is eager to ramp up the VA's capacity to give the drugs to as many as 2.1 million veterans with mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder or depression. Gradison said 6.4 million veterans regularly rely on the VA for care.
No government regulator has deemed psychedelics safe or effective for mental illness. Under former President Joe Biden, the Food and Drug Administration in 2024 resoundingly rejected a proposal to authorize MDMA — also known as ecstasy — combined with talk therapy, to treat people with PTSD.
But psychedelics are getting a second chance in the Trump administration. Trump in April issued an executive order to accelerate research, clinical trials and patient access to the drugs. Republicans in Congress are among psychedelics' biggest backers. And the constituency they are seeking to please, veterans, are disproportionately Republicans.
Veterans, frustrated with high suicide rates among their fellow ex-service members, are lobbying aggressively to see Trump follow through.

#Veterans #psychedelics #drugs #mdma

In a rare Sunday hearing, a federal appeals court judge appointed by President Trump questioned how the Trump administration's request to intervene in California's ongoing midterm election in order to force state officials to set aside 20,000 ballots from voters whose citizenship it questions squares with the U.S. Constitution.
Judge Mark J. Bennett said that while the executive branch is "unhappy" with what California law requires for ensuring voters are citizens, the state has the right to determine the manner of its elections under the Elections Clause of the Constitution and Congress has not challenged that process, despite having the ability to do so.
"It seems to me that you want us to issue an injunction that is entirely inconsistent with the law the California Legislature has adopted pursuant to the Elections Clause," Bennett said. "How can we do that?"
Matthew Donnelly, a Justice Department attorney, said the Trump administration has good reason to believe those ballots are from ineligible noncitizen voters, and has the legal right under separate federal criminal law to challenge their tabulation until state officials can prove otherwise.
Donnelly said both federal criminal law and state election law bar noncitizen voters from casting ballots, but "the problem is that California isn't interested in enforcing that provision."

#federal

SAN FRANCISCO — The Atlanta Dream had a seven-point lead with 8:49 to play in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. They proceeded to score 6 points the remainder of the way, falling behind 1-0 in the best-of-seven series that resumes Monday night at Golden State.
The Dream boast three all-defense selections, headlined by Angel Reese, this season's Defensive Player of the Year. Despite coach Karl Smesko's postgame lamentations about their defensive breakdowns during the second quarter when the Valkyries scored 28 points, Atlanta was more than good enough defensively to steal homecourt in the finals. In order to head back home tied in the series, the Dream have to score the ball better. That starts with Reese.
Atlanta built an 8-point lead in the first quarter with Reese scoring 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field. She ended the game with 14 points and didn't make another field goal, attempting only two shots in the second half.
"In the second half, in particular, we didn't move the ball well enough," Smesko said. "We did a little bit too much one-on-one instead of getting into actions. Angel had a great first half. We didn't get her the ball enough."
Movement and pace are key to unlocking Reese's offensive gifts, and the Dream were too slow and stagnant in Game 1 to take advantage of those skills.

#atlanta #points #reese #ball

When Kawhi Leonard became a Toronto Raptor for the first time in the summer of 2018, he looked shellshocked. "There's just more questions you have to ask me in order for me to tell you about myself," he said, introducing himself to an organization and city he reportedly had no interest in joining.
Leonard had fallen out with his former team, the San Antonio Spurs – one of the most respected franchises in professional sports – due to differences in opinion about an injury that had limited him to just nine games in the 2017-18 season. The Los Angeles native had hoped to end up in southern California, but instead the Raptors risked it all by swapping franchise cornerstone DeMar DeRozan for one year of an injured, malcontent Leonard. It worked: Leonard led the Raptors to their maiden championship on the back of a historic playoff run, averaging 30.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.9 **** ists and 1.7 steals en route. Leonard won his second finals MVP to go alongside the one he had claimed with the Spurs when he helped them to the **** le in 2014.
Related: LeBron James is everything Philadelphia wants. And everything it can't stand | Bryan Armen Graham
"The narrative of not wanting to come to this city is gone," the team's president, Masai Ujiri, said at that 2018 press conference, speaking to insecure Raptors fans who had watched American players like Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Chris Bosh leave Toronto since the franchise opened its doors in 1995. "We should move past that. Believe in this city. Believe in yourselves … We are proud of who we are."
But even a historic season wasn't enough to convince Leonard to stay north of the border. After a long and contentious free-agency period managed by his uncle, Dennis Robertson, Leonard spurned the reigning champions in favor of his hometown Los Angeles Clippers. "There wasn't as much anger in 2019 as there was with Vince Carter or some of the other guys who left," says Bruce Arthur, who has covered Leonard since 2018 for the Toronto Star. "I think he was given a little bit of special dispensation because he was going home, because he had delivered a **** le, and because I never felt like there was ever a connection outside of Kawhi the basketball player, with Toronto."

#SPURS #vince #carter #believe

Juventus were soundly beaten in an embarrassing 3-0 victory at home against Lazio on Sunday evening, and to make matters worse for the Bianconeri, Francisco Conceicao is now looking at up to a month on the sidelines as the club fear he has suffered a dislocated shoulder.
Goals from Oliver Provstgaard, Gustav Isaksen and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru gave Lazio a 3-0 victory away against Juventus at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday night, which has sent Gennaro Gattuso's side back to the top of the Serie A standings along with Inter, while the Bianconeri sit eight points off the lead after seven league games in 2026-27.
TURIN, ITALY – OCTOBER 18: Oliver Provstgaard Nielsen of SS Lazio scores the opening goal during the Serie A match between Juventus and SS Lazio at Allianz Stadium on October 18, 2026 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
This result leaves Juventus in a worse position after seven matches of the 2026-27 season than they were at the same stage last year, just before previous head coach Igor Tudor was given his marching orders.
To make matters worse, the club are concerned that Conceicao has dislocated his shoulder, according to Monday's reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport.

#oliver #provstgaard

Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart have both managed to shave significant amounts off the hefty fines handed down by the DFB Sports Court following the pyrotechnics incidents during the DFB-Pokal final (via iMiaSanMia).
Both clubs were initially ordered to pay €260,000 after the use of pyrotechnics during the final, prompting Bayern and Stuttgart to appeal the original decisions. The appeals have now produced considerably different, but welcome, results for both clubs.
Stuttgart's fine has been reduced to €200,000, meaning the club will save €60,000 from the original punishment. Bayern came out even better, with its fine reduced to €170,000—a €90,000 reduction from the initial ruling.
That still leaves Bayern with a rather substantial bill for what happened during the final, but considering the original figure, ****** ody at Säbener Straße is likely to complain about the discount.
The DFB has made it clear that it intends to take pyrotechnics seriously, with clubs continuing to face significant financial penalties for incidents involving flares and other prohibited items in the stands.

#final #original #stuttgart #incidents

The 2026 Illinois high school football season just wrapped up the regular-season with plenty of Peoria-area players having put together a great nine-game stretch.
Now is your chance to let us know which player was the most valuable during the regular-season. So, who will it be?
Here are 13 Peoria-area regular-season MVP candidates during the 2026 campaign, listed in alphabetical order. Information about each candidate is below. Vote from now until noon Friday, Oct. 23 at pjstar.com.
This vote has no bearing on who will be selected as the Journal Star Player of the Year or will make the annual All-Area team, which are scheduled to be announced after the season.
MVP moment: The 6-foot-2, 180-pound all-state senior quarterback completed 71.4% (10-for-14) of his passes for 229 yards and found four different receivers for touchdowns in a 43-0 win over Colfax Ridgeview/Lexington in Week 3.

#here #Friday

Serious unrest has rocked Olympique de Marseille. The French club's official store, located in the heart of the city, has been violently looted and vandalized amid a wave of street disturbances. The incident has left the club facing significant financial losses and sent shockwaves through French football.
The incident began when an unknown number of ******* ailants forced their way into the club's store. Once inside, they ransacked the premises: official shirts, training gear and various other merchandise disappeared from the displays within minutes, prompting a swift police response.
According to a statement, after ******* sing the scale of the raid, local authorities sealed off the store to begin investigating the scene and collecting evidence. The club, meanwhile, has been forced to order the temporary suspension of in-store sales until safe conditions can be restored.
Olympique de Marseille's board has issued a statement unequivocally condemning these acts of vandalism, stressing that surveillance footage has already been handed over to police to identify those responsible. Club sources emphasize that this attack does not tarnish the fans' commitment or the club's image.
Police investigators are keeping all lines of inquiry open, and arrests are expected in the coming hours following a review of the footage. The store will remain closed to the public indefinitely while repairs are carried out and a final ******* sment is made of the financial damage suffered by the club.

#official #forced

Bengaluru: For Tilak Varma, the number next to his name on the team sheet matters far less than the one on the scoreboard at the end of the match.

The India T20I vice-captain has seen his role evolve considerably in recent months, moving from the top order to the finisher's role as the team continues to fine-tune its combinations. While adapting to different batting positions is rarely straightforward, the 23-year-old has embraced the challenge and put the team's needs ahead of personal preference.

Having begun his T20I career near the top of the order, Tilak now often finds himself walking in at No. 5 or 6. With Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opening, Ishan Kishan firmly established at No. 3 and skipper Shreyas Iyer occupying the next slot, opportunities higher up the order have become limited.

Rather than viewing it as a setback, Tilak sees it as another responsibility to master.

"Ishan is batting brilliantly at No. 3. So, for me, there is no option but to bat at 5 and 6 and do the job for the team. I am mentally prepared for that role and in the last few games, I have won matches from there. So, I am pretty confident," Tilak said after the rain-hit series decider against the West Indies in Bengaluru on Saturday.

The left-hander admitted that the transition from a top-order batter to a finisher has not been without its challenges.

"It's not easy to change from No. 3 to No. 5 or 6. It is slightly challenging. But I have been working on how I can finish games, and I love finishing games for the country," he said.

The demands of batting in the lower middle order are vastly different from those of a top-order role. There is little time to settle in, and the emphasis is on making an immediate impact rather than constructing an innings. Tilak said he has consciously altered his preparation to meet those demands.

"I have been working on it in the nets. Otherwise, it becomes tough. When you go in as a finisher and a slower ball comes into your arc, you need to be ready to hit it for six. In T20 cricket, if you bat at No. 5 or 6, you generally get only five or six overs, so I have had to change my approach."

Fortunately for Tilak, batting down the order is not entirely new territory.

"I batted lower down the order in my childhood as well. I have shots all around the ground and I am confident in my ability to adapt. Whether it is No. 3 or No. 5, I believe I have the technique to fit into any role for the team if I prepare well," he said.

#tilak #t20i

Dallas Cowboys WR George Pickens had six catches (on 11 targets) for 73 yards versus the Green Bay Packers in Week 6.
SOURCE: USA TODAY
Why It Matters: In the latest example of "garbage time points count the same," Pickens rode some consolation opportunities to lead the Cowboys in receiving with 73 yards on Sunday night. Prior to that, it was a forgettable evening for Dallas' No. 2 receiver. While it's still relatively early, it's safe to say that Pickens has not had the same level of impact that he did last season -- in 16 games (tossing out Week 18 when he hardly played), Pickens averaged 89 yards per game with nine TDs; thus far in 2026, he's averaging 71 yards per game with just one score. The fifth-year pro came into the season as a borderline WR1, but he's settled into being more of a midrange WR2.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: George Pickens good for 73 yards on Sunday night

#dallas #george #sunday #same