1 hr. ago
Dan Fountain remembers the official telling him about Rikhil Katpally.
"He's going to be a special player," Fountain remembers being told.
Katpally was still in middle school, playing modified soccer for Shaker, when Fountain, the school's varsity boys' soccer coach and Katpally's club coach with Saints FC, watched him play.
The referee wasn't talking about Katpally's speed or strength. He was talking about how he saw the game.
After the final whistle, the referee approached Fountain and pointed toward the young midfielder.
#referee #rikhil #shaker
"He's going to be a special player," Fountain remembers being told.
Katpally was still in middle school, playing modified soccer for Shaker, when Fountain, the school's varsity boys' soccer coach and Katpally's club coach with Saints FC, watched him play.
The referee wasn't talking about Katpally's speed or strength. He was talking about how he saw the game.
After the final whistle, the referee approached Fountain and pointed toward the young midfielder.
#referee #rikhil #shaker
4 days ago
Shaker football coach Greg Sheeler joins the Section 2 Sports Podcast this week to discuss the upcoming 2026 season for the Blue Bison, including its season-opening game this Friday at Niskayuna.
In addition, Times Union high school sports expert James Allen joins to show to discuss the overall outlook for the 2026 Section 2 football season and other hot topics around the Capital Region high school sports scene.
With host Sean Martin, the Section 2 Sports Podcast provides a weekly look at Section 2 sports.
We strive to highlight stories focusing on teams, coaches and the student-athletes from around the Capital Region. Also, veteran Times Union high school sports reporter James Allen makes regular appearances.
New editions come out on Wednesdays.
#podcast
In addition, Times Union high school sports expert James Allen joins to show to discuss the overall outlook for the 2026 Section 2 football season and other hot topics around the Capital Region high school sports scene.
With host Sean Martin, the Section 2 Sports Podcast provides a weekly look at Section 2 sports.
We strive to highlight stories focusing on teams, coaches and the student-athletes from around the Capital Region. Also, veteran Times Union high school sports reporter James Allen makes regular appearances.
New editions come out on Wednesdays.
#podcast
2 months ago
Bolton Wanderers have appointed Rob Kelly as their ******* istant manager who will once again work alongside boss Steven Schumacher.
The highly-experienced Kelly, 61, worked with Schumacher at Bury and together they won promotion for the Shakers from League Two in 2019.
Kelly also had spells in charge of Leicester City and Barrow and was ******* istant to a number of managers, including Steve McClaren, Alan Irvine, Uwe Rosler and, most recently, Leam Richardson at Reading.
Schumacher claims he will bring great knowledge to his coaching set-up at Bolton, following their promotion to the Championship.
"Rob is somebody I've known and respected in coaching for a long time now and he has been a huge part of my coaching journey," he told the Bolton club website.
The highly-experienced Kelly, 61, worked with Schumacher at Bury and together they won promotion for the Shakers from League Two in 2019.
Kelly also had spells in charge of Leicester City and Barrow and was ******* istant to a number of managers, including Steve McClaren, Alan Irvine, Uwe Rosler and, most recently, Leam Richardson at Reading.
Schumacher claims he will bring great knowledge to his coaching set-up at Bolton, following their promotion to the Championship.
"Rob is somebody I've known and respected in coaching for a long time now and he has been a huge part of my coaching journey," he told the Bolton club website.
2 months ago
Kylie Jenner is facing a third lawsuit from a former employee over workplace conditions.
A former private chef for the beauty mogul, 28, filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court June 22 on more than two dozen claims, including discrimination, harassment, emotional distress, wrongful termination, retaliation and failure to pay proper wages, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.
The chef, who held the position from November 2024 through March 2025, alleges she was **** igned "excessive hours, physically demanding tasks, and high-pressure events" despite informing Jenner and her management team of her high-risk pregnancy, which required accommodations.
Attorney Della Shaker of Shaker Law Group addressed the suit on behalf of the chef in a statement to USA TODAY on Thursday, June 25: "For our client, this case is about finding justice after one of the most painful chapters of her life. She looks forward to having the truth come to light through the judicial process."
USA TODAY reached out to a representative for Jenner for comment.
A former private chef for the beauty mogul, 28, filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court June 22 on more than two dozen claims, including discrimination, harassment, emotional distress, wrongful termination, retaliation and failure to pay proper wages, according to documents obtained by USA TODAY.
The chef, who held the position from November 2024 through March 2025, alleges she was **** igned "excessive hours, physically demanding tasks, and high-pressure events" despite informing Jenner and her management team of her high-risk pregnancy, which required accommodations.
Attorney Della Shaker of Shaker Law Group addressed the suit on behalf of the chef in a statement to USA TODAY on Thursday, June 25: "For our client, this case is about finding justice after one of the most painful chapters of her life. She looks forward to having the truth come to light through the judicial process."
USA TODAY reached out to a representative for Jenner for comment.
2 months ago
Kylie Jenner's former private chef claims that her heavy workload contributed to her miscarriage, a new bombshell lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges the 28-year-old's former private chef had a miscarriage in February 2025 after working long hours and being ***** igned strenuous tasks, according to the Los Angeles Times. The complaint also named the business management firm Tri Star as a co-defendant.
The Times did not identify the chef by name. Her attorney, Della Shaker, told the newspaper: "Celebrity status does not exempt anyone from California's employment laws. We look forward to presenting the evidence in court and allowing the facts to speak for themselves."
The private chef said she was hired to work for Jenner in November 2024, and that by the next month, she told her supervisors she "required reasonable accommodations to protect her health" because she was three months pregnant, according to the complaint reviewed by the LA Times.
But on New Year's Eve, Jenner's former chef alleged she was still required to "lift and transport heavy food items across the street and uphill without ***** istance," after which she "became dizzy, began choking and gasping for air, and required ***** istance from security personnel, who intervened by providing water and aid," the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleges the 28-year-old's former private chef had a miscarriage in February 2025 after working long hours and being ***** igned strenuous tasks, according to the Los Angeles Times. The complaint also named the business management firm Tri Star as a co-defendant.
The Times did not identify the chef by name. Her attorney, Della Shaker, told the newspaper: "Celebrity status does not exempt anyone from California's employment laws. We look forward to presenting the evidence in court and allowing the facts to speak for themselves."
The private chef said she was hired to work for Jenner in November 2024, and that by the next month, she told her supervisors she "required reasonable accommodations to protect her health" because she was three months pregnant, according to the complaint reviewed by the LA Times.
But on New Year's Eve, Jenner's former chef alleged she was still required to "lift and transport heavy food items across the street and uphill without ***** istance," after which she "became dizzy, began choking and gasping for air, and required ***** istance from security personnel, who intervened by providing water and aid," the lawsuit said.
3 months ago
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – As the setting sun illuminated Shinnecock Hills in a golden hue on Saturday evening, Wyndham Clark polished off his third round of the 126th U.S. Open in relative solitude.
It was even lonelier atop the leaderboard.
As Clark scrambled like **** to an even-par 72 and six-shot lead, fans scrambled for the exits. The day had started with encouraging energy – a warmer, firmer Shinnecock and the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele in contention – but by the time the final pairing of Clark and Matt Fitzpatrick hit the back stretch, the grandstands and chalets were half full to basically empty. Even the club’s iconic clubhouse, usually bustling with movers and shakers, was eerily quiet as Clark entered its scoring area, having all but sucked the life out of this championship.
Four players trail by a touchdown, including Scheffler, who posted one of only two under-par rounds on the day but squandered shots on each of his final three holes. Had it not been for Clark’s closing bogey, you could’ve tacked on the extra point. A seven-stroke deficit would’ve required a repeat of the largest final-round comeback in championship history to deny Clark, who coincidentally grew up on Cherry Hills Country Club, where Arnold Palmer orchestrated his record rally to win the 1960 U.S. Open.
Not that one shot makes much difference – Johnny Miller is the only man who has made up six strokes in this championship, and he needed a Sunday 63 to prevail at Oakmont in 1973. Considering a third of Shinnecock’s 18 holes yielded three or fewer birdies in Round 3, including Nos. 2 and 3 each allowing just a single score under par, it’s highly unlikely that Scheffler or anyone else has that kind of performance in them as the USGA figures to tighten the screws on this golf course even more for Sunday’s finish.
It was even lonelier atop the leaderboard.
As Clark scrambled like **** to an even-par 72 and six-shot lead, fans scrambled for the exits. The day had started with encouraging energy – a warmer, firmer Shinnecock and the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele in contention – but by the time the final pairing of Clark and Matt Fitzpatrick hit the back stretch, the grandstands and chalets were half full to basically empty. Even the club’s iconic clubhouse, usually bustling with movers and shakers, was eerily quiet as Clark entered its scoring area, having all but sucked the life out of this championship.
Four players trail by a touchdown, including Scheffler, who posted one of only two under-par rounds on the day but squandered shots on each of his final three holes. Had it not been for Clark’s closing bogey, you could’ve tacked on the extra point. A seven-stroke deficit would’ve required a repeat of the largest final-round comeback in championship history to deny Clark, who coincidentally grew up on Cherry Hills Country Club, where Arnold Palmer orchestrated his record rally to win the 1960 U.S. Open.
Not that one shot makes much difference – Johnny Miller is the only man who has made up six strokes in this championship, and he needed a Sunday 63 to prevail at Oakmont in 1973. Considering a third of Shinnecock’s 18 holes yielded three or fewer birdies in Round 3, including Nos. 2 and 3 each allowing just a single score under par, it’s highly unlikely that Scheffler or anyone else has that kind of performance in them as the USGA figures to tighten the screws on this golf course even more for Sunday’s finish.
3 months ago
In the ever-shifting MMA landscape, ranking the world’s greatest fighters might seem like a fool’s errand, but that’s exactly what we’ve set out to do with the MMA Fighting Global Rankings. Here, our esteemed panel sorts out the movers and shakers from every division to provide you with the most definitive list of the best fighters on the planet.
UFC White House has come and gone and days later, Justin Gaethje’s dream remains a reality: He is the undisputed lightweight champion.
Gaethje was MMA Fighting’s No. 5-ranked fighter at 155 pounds heading into his duel with the undefeated Ilia Topuria, with Charles Oliveira (who previously finished Gaethje), Max Holloway (ditto), and Arman Tsarukyan ahead of him. Twice, Gaethje has held the interim ***** le, a dubious honor that seemed to label him as destined to always be a runner-up. A competitive win over Paddy Pimblett did little to inspire confidence that the undisputed crown was in his future.
And yet, here we are. Look at that lightweight graphic below. No. 1. Justin Gaethje. Still doesn’t seem real.
The other big fight at the White House saw Ciryl Gane fend off Alex Pereira to join Gaethje as the only UFC fighters to win an interim ***** le twice. Fortunately for “Poatan,” his ranking remains unchanged as he was moving up from his home at light heavyweight to chase unprecedented three-division glory. The immediate future of 205 is cloudy right now with Pereira insisting he’s staying at heavyweight and current light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg on the mend after injuring his knee the same night he won the ***** le at UFC 327. For now, everyone holds on to their spots.
UFC White House has come and gone and days later, Justin Gaethje’s dream remains a reality: He is the undisputed lightweight champion.
Gaethje was MMA Fighting’s No. 5-ranked fighter at 155 pounds heading into his duel with the undefeated Ilia Topuria, with Charles Oliveira (who previously finished Gaethje), Max Holloway (ditto), and Arman Tsarukyan ahead of him. Twice, Gaethje has held the interim ***** le, a dubious honor that seemed to label him as destined to always be a runner-up. A competitive win over Paddy Pimblett did little to inspire confidence that the undisputed crown was in his future.
And yet, here we are. Look at that lightweight graphic below. No. 1. Justin Gaethje. Still doesn’t seem real.
The other big fight at the White House saw Ciryl Gane fend off Alex Pereira to join Gaethje as the only UFC fighters to win an interim ***** le twice. Fortunately for “Poatan,” his ranking remains unchanged as he was moving up from his home at light heavyweight to chase unprecedented three-division glory. The immediate future of 205 is cloudy right now with Pereira insisting he’s staying at heavyweight and current light heavyweight champion Carlos Ulberg on the mend after injuring his knee the same night he won the ***** le at UFC 327. For now, everyone holds on to their spots.
3 months ago
Luciano Spalletti and new Juventus CEO Giovanni Carnevali spent an evening together at the renowned Il Fortino restaurant in Forte dei Marmi this week, sharing a table with Adriano Galliani, Massimiliano Allegri and Giovanni Rossi in what has become one of Italian football’s most well-known informal networking spots.
The dinner was social in nature, full of anecdotes, laughter and wine, though in a gathering of this calibre, transfer business is never entirely off the menu, as noted by Tuttosport.
Forte dei Marmi is a traditional summer meeting point for football’s movers and shakers, with Spalletti, Allegri and Galliani having previously shared tables there alongside figures including Gianluca Zambrotta and former Genoa president Enrico Preziosi.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Giovanni Carnevali CEO of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Sassuolo Calcio at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
The most intriguing presence at the table was Giovanni Rossi, the 60-year-old sporting director who left Olympique Marseille in February and previously worked under Carnevali at Sassuolo.
The dinner was social in nature, full of anecdotes, laughter and wine, though in a gathering of this calibre, transfer business is never entirely off the menu, as noted by Tuttosport.
Forte dei Marmi is a traditional summer meeting point for football’s movers and shakers, with Spalletti, Allegri and Galliani having previously shared tables there alongside figures including Gianluca Zambrotta and former Genoa president Enrico Preziosi.
BOLOGNA, ITALY – DECEMBER 28: Giovanni Carnevali CEO of US Sassuolo during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and US Sassuolo Calcio at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)
The most intriguing presence at the table was Giovanni Rossi, the 60-year-old sporting director who left Olympique Marseille in February and previously worked under Carnevali at Sassuolo.
6 months ago
Bitcoin Resumes Slide With Riskier ***** ets Falling Out of Favor
(Bloomberg) -- Bitcoin traded near the lower bounds of its recent trading range as renewed anxiety over corporate profits, coupled with lingering uncertainty over US tariffs, squelched risk appetites across global markets.
The original digital ***** et fell as much as 4.8% to nearly $64,300, its lowest since Feb. 6. Other tokens fared worse, with Ether, the second-largest token, retreating as much as 5.6%.
Most Read from Bloomberg
Private Prisons Face an Existential Threat Under Trump's New Detention Plan
A Shaker Revival
(Bloomberg) -- Bitcoin traded near the lower bounds of its recent trading range as renewed anxiety over corporate profits, coupled with lingering uncertainty over US tariffs, squelched risk appetites across global markets.
The original digital ***** et fell as much as 4.8% to nearly $64,300, its lowest since Feb. 6. Other tokens fared worse, with Ether, the second-largest token, retreating as much as 5.6%.
Most Read from Bloomberg
Private Prisons Face an Existential Threat Under Trump's New Detention Plan
A Shaker Revival
