The Minnesota Vikings' unbeaten start has drawn attention to quarterback Kyler Murray, whom an NFL ******* yst identified as the team's most notable offseason addition. Murray's arrival has given Minnesota a new option under center as the club continues its strong run through the 2026 season.
Murray joined the Vikings after the team moved on from its previous quarterback plans, bringing his experience and mobility to the offense. His ability to make plays with both his arm and legs has added another dimension to Minnesota's attack. The move also placed him in a system designed to use his athleticism while maintaining a balanced offensive approach.
Quarterback Kyler Murray (1) runs the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the first half at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
The quarterback's mobility has been a key part of his early impact. Murray can extend plays when protection breaks down and create opportunities outside the pocket, forcing defenses to account for his movement. His scrambling ability can also open passing lanes and provide an additional threat on designed runs, making it more difficult for opponents to anticipate the offense's next move.
Minnesota's early results have strengthened the attention surrounding Murray's role. The Vikings have maintained an unbeaten record, with their defense contributing to the team's success while the offense works to establish consistency. Murray's presence has given the unit flexibility, particularly when plays develop differently than planned or when the defense applies pressure.

#quarterback

ESPN identified DJ Moore as the Buffalo Bills' most significant offseason addition after Week 7, highlighting the wide receiver's expected impact on the team's passing game. Although Buffalo was on its bye, Moore's role remained central to the discussion of the club's offensive outlook.
Moore joined Buffalo after being acquired from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2026 second-round draft pick. The veteran receiver has been sidelined while recovering from a shoulder injury, but his anticipated return could add another dimension to an offense that has continued to produce without him. The team's bye week also provided additional time for his recovery. The Bills entered its bye at 5-1 and ranked second, one spot higher than the previous week in ESPN's poll.
Jan 10, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore (2) reacts after making a first down against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFC Wild Card Round game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
His value is tied to his ability to stretch the field and create opportunities beyond the catch. Moore's routes can force opposing defenses to cover more ground, opening ******* e underneath and making it more difficult to crowd the line of scrimmage. That added room could benefit the running game as well as the passing attack.
Through the first portion of the season, Moore averaged 2.47 yards per route run while recording an average depth of target of 15.9 yards. Those figures led the league, underscoring his ability to generate downfield production. His presence gives the offense a receiver capable of drawing coverage away from other targets and creating explosive-play opportunities.

#week #receiver #bills

The world mourned the loss of Patrick Stewart on Thursday as the iconic actor passed at the age of 86 after a battle with Alzheimer's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. Stewart was a prolific stage actor as well as taking on massive roles in both television and film. He played Captain Jean-Luc Picard for 176 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, as well as starring as Professor X in eight X-Men movies -- including post-credit scenes and cameos -- across both the Fox and Marvel Cinematic universes (with the ninth coming this December with Avengers: Doomsday).
But one of the things that made Stewart so special and beloved was his willingness to do something goofy or funny. Such was the case in a 2024 Super Bowl commercial for Paramount+. Not only did Stewart star alongside well-known CBS and Paramount+ characters like Survivor's Jeff Probst, Knuckles from Sonic the Hedgehog, daytime host Drew Barrymore and Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa.
Knuckles appears in the new Paramount+ Super Bowl commercial. pic.twitter.com/tuD7G4GfXz
— Sonic The Wereblog (Sonic_Hedgeblog) February 1, 2024
It's a truly ridiculous commercial that features Stewart trying to convince Tagovailoa to throw Arnold of Hey Arnold! to the top of a mountain. "Not built for the moment, I see," Stewart delivers as if he's on stage in the West End.

#well

Quenton Nelson knows how hard it is to block Jeffery Simmons. When Nelson was a guard for the Colts and Simmons was a defensive tackle for the **** ans, the two played against each other 13 times. And when Nelson got traded to the Seahawks on Tuesday, he thought he was going to get a break from facing Simmons.
That didn't happen. Shortly after Nelson got traded to the Seahawks, Simmons got traded to the Bears. Who play the Seahawks on Monday night, in the first game for both players on their new teams.
Nelson said he considers Simmons one of the best opponents he's faced, and he's ready for a big challenge when the Bears visit Seattle on Monday night.
"He's an amazing football player and competitor. I was like, Man, can't get away from this guy. It'll be another battle against him this week," Nelson said.
Nelson vs. Simmons will be the most-watched offensive lineman vs. defensive lineman battle of this NFL season, as two All-Pros go at it again, now on new teams with Super Bowl aspirations.

#simmons #traded #teams #battle

PETOSKEY — Lily Flynn could have had a totally different approach to her senior season on the volleyball court.
An outside hitter for Petoskey throughout her career, Flynn was asked to change positions, leaving behind the glory of racking up kills for the back row as a libero.
She would also spend most of the season surrounded by players she didn't grow up playing with, as freshmen and sophomores filled the court, including a pair that would step into that outside job.
"I kept asking, 'Yes, no? Are you good with this?' And she was," Petoskey coach Erin Luckhardt said. "That's not a role that she's played before. She's played back row, but playing back row exclusively is different for her and she's stepped into it and done a great job."
Flynn's attitude to change and an up and down 2026 campaign wasn't the kind you might expect.

#flynn #season #change

PARIS (AP) — The Dakar Rally in January will start in Portugal and finish in Morocco after being moved from Saudi Arabia because of the Middle East conflict.
Organizers announced the new route on Friday. They canceled the race in Saudi last weekend but reaffirmed it will return to the kingdom in 2028.
The Dakar, the world's biggest off-road race, returns to Africa for the first time in 20 years.
It will run from Jan. 9-23. The Algarve will hold the prologue and first stage and Morocco will hold the other 11 stages, going as south as outside Dakhla with a return north to finish in Marrakech.
Organizers said the route was 7,824 kilometers with 4,341 of those special stages, which was close to recent editions. Each special will range from 350 to 500 kilometers.

#dakar #race #hold

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

Son Heung-min will make his MLS postseason debut after helping the Los Angeles Football Club clinch a playoff bid.
Los Angeles FC clinched a spot in the MLS playoffs after a 2-2 draw with the LA Galaxy on Sunday, Oct. 25, reaching the postseason for the eighth time in the franchise's nine-year history.
"We still got two more games to play in the regular season," Heung-min said of LAFC's fight for playoff positioning. "We want to finish as high as possible so we can have a home game as many times as possible."
LAFC have 47 points and trail the San Jose Earthquakes and the Houston Dynamo by one point in the standings, and will face Minnesota United on Nov. 1 and the Seattle Sounders on Nov. 7.
Heung-min believes the black and gold missed an opportunity to tie San Jose in the standings after an offside call against teammate Denis Bouanga in the 29th minute of the first half resulted in his apparent goal being called back.

#jose #Football #galaxy

The New York Yankees entered the offseason facing familiar questions about their offensive identity after another frustrating end to their season. Despite the talent in their lineup, the Yankees were swept by the division rival Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series, leaving the franchise to confront concerns about its execution, approach and ability to deliver when the stakes are highest.
The team's reliance on superstar slugger Aaron Judge was laid bare, as the offense struggled to produce while he was sidelined by an injury. And its failure to execute fundamental defensive and baserunning plays has come under fire as well, particularly after the Rays and World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers succeeded with such a different style.
Former Yankees manager Joe Girardi articulated many of the criticisms surrounding the Yankees shortly after their season ended.
"Joe Girardi isn't blaming Aaron Boone for the Yankees' shortcomings, but believes a deeper-rooted culture issue might have contributed to the team being swept in the ALDS," Mark Suleymanov wrote for the New York Post. "Girardi cited Austin Wells' baserunning blunder in Game 1 and Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s disastrous throw in an error-filled Game 2 as examples of the team's fundamental failures — and the concerning response to those mistakes."
And with the Yankees under fire for a power-heavy offense and poor fundamentals, one of their most intriguing infield prospects has spoken out about the kind of change he'd like to see in the sport.

#series #division

Niko Kovač knows exactly what awaits Borussia Dortmund on Saturday, but that does not mean BVB are heading to Munich without belief.
For the first time in a long time, Dortmund will travel to the Allianz Arena level on points with Bayern Munich, adding another layer of intrigue to an already massive Der Klassiker. Kovač recognizes the opportunity whi
"After a very, very long time, we have the opportunity to travel to Munich and play a game in which we are level on points. That certainly makes things much more exciting, but no less difficult. Bayern Munich are the benchmark, not just in Germany but also in Europe. We have to perform at the very highest level. The bar is set high, but of course, we have the ambition to come away with something. We are BVB, we have our own standards, and we want to live up to them," Kovač said (as captured by iMiaSanMia).
There is no shortage of respect for Bayern Munich from Kovač, but Dortmund are not making the trip simply to admire the opposition. They want to compete, challenge, and prove they belong at the top of the Bundesliga.
Saturday should be a fascinating test of the respective ambitions for both sides.

#long

ORCHARD PARK - One of the most fascinating aspects of the Buffalo Bills' 5-1 start is how efficient Josh Allen and the offense have been, and given the terrible play of the defense, it's exactly what has been needed.
The Bills lead the NFL in points per game at 32.8, and since the defense has allowed at least 29 points in five of the games, every point was necessary, and that will probably be the case Sunday at Highmark Stadium when the Bills host the Baltimore Ravens.
But here's what's crazy: The Bills have scored all these points despite the fact that they have run just 359 plays, tied for the second-fewest in the NFL. Yes, some of that has to do with playing only six games while others have played seven, but consider this: While the Bills average 59.8 offensive snaps, the Chicago Bears average 72.1, and the Los Angeles Rams average 68.2.
"I just think it's efficiency. Like, I go back to Week 1 when we had the ball at our two-yard line, and then I think three plays and we scored," said center Connor McGovern, recalling a series against the Texans late in the first half when the Bills actually went 96 yards to take a 24-14 lead, one of nine TD drives this season that have been achieved in six plays or less. "We're able to just get up there, calm, cool, if we get that first first down we're just rolling with that."
Of course, part of the low offensive snap count has to do with the Bills' defense not being able to get off the field and the opposition has averaged 32 minutes of time of possession. That's a key reason why the Bills are in hyper speed mode so often.

#bills #average

Russian ice hockey teams can compete in international tournaments again, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on Friday, meaning the men's side are set to be eligible for the World Championship in Germany in May 2027.
Under the ruling, Russia could also take part in the women's world championship in Canada in November 2027, as well as in junior world championships.
The court upheld an appeal by the Russian Ice Hockey Federation against the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and lifted, with immediate effect, its decision to exclude Russian teams from the 2026-2027 season.
Since the end of February 2022, Russia has been banned by the federation from all international tournaments and world championships because of its war against Ukraine.
But the International Olympic Committee lifted a ban on the Russian Olympic Committee in July, opening the door for Russian teams to gradually return to the sporting fold.

#court

Ja Morant's first game against Grizzlies takes painful turn after Trail Blazers star exits originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ja Morant's first game against the Memphis Grizzlies was always going to attract attention. The former face of the franchise spent seven seasons in Memphis, developed into one of the NBA's most electrifying guards and became one of basketball's most recognizable personalities.
His departure in June marked a significant change for both Morant and the organization that selected him with the second overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Thursday night provided the first opportunity for the two sides to face each other.
Unfortunately for Morant, the reunion did not end the way he hoped. The Portland Trail Blazers guard exited with a left hamstring injury during the fourth quarter of a 124-103 loss to Memphis.

#memphis #grizzlies

Borussia Dortmund are preparing for a massive top-of-the-table showdown against Bayern Munich this weekend as both sides look to break their current deadlock at the summit. Head coach Niko Kovac has acknowledged the significant threat posed by the record champions, specifically highlighting the form of their star forward.
Kovac has offered high praise for Kane as Dortmund prepare to face a Bayern side led by the newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner. The England captain has continued his devastating form in Germany, prompting the Dortmund boss to recognize the sheer scale of the task facing his defense on Saturday. Kovac noted that the striker's recent accolades speak for themselves, emphasizing that he has successfully reached a new level since moving to the Bundesliga.
"There's no need to say a word about him. The mere fact that he received this ****** le says everything about him. He was already a top player in England. To take another leap forward now is sensational," said Kovac on the club's official website
The stakes could not be higher for this edition of Der Klassiker, with both teams currently tied on 17 points after seven matchdays. While Bayern hold the top spot due to a superior goal difference, Dortmund have the opportunity to leapfrog their rivals. Kovac believes the current competitiveness at the top is a breath of fresh air for the league. However, the coach warned that excitement does not equate to an easy path to victory. He demanded absolute focus from his squad, stressing that only their best football would suffice in Munich.
"This certainly makes things a lot more exciting than in recent years. But that doesn't make it any easier, because FC Bayern Munich is undoubtedly the best of the best—not just in Germany, but also in Europe. We have to play at the very highest level. But we're Dortmund—we have our own standards, and we intend to live up to them," Kovac insisted.

#dortmund #best #germany #form

Leeds United Under-21s take on Stoke City Under-21s on Saturday afternoon in the fourth Premier League Cup group stage fixture.
After the opening three games, Scott Gardner's side sit second in the Group I standings with four points, knowing a top two finish could ensure progression to the Round of 16.
The Whites began with a goalless draw in the away tie against the Potters before narrowly losing out at Charlton Athletic back in September. United got up and running in the competition last time out, beating Stockport County 3-1.
In the victory over the Hatters, Alfie Cresswell fired the hosts ahead before Carrick Njinko continued his impressive start to the new campaign with a brace to put Leeds three goals to the good before the break.
Following on from that one, the team gained important senior experience as they faced Sky Bet League Two outfit Oldham Athletic in the EFL Trophy, falling to a tight defeat after impressing for large spells at Boundary Park.

#city #saturday #premier

FC Barcelona completed their final training session at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Friday. The Blaugrana are putting the finishing touches to their tactical preparations before hosting Deportivo Alavés in another crucial league fixture, especially after the heavy blow suffered in El Clásico.
The main news from the training ground was the confirmed absence of Jules Koundé. The French defender did not join the rest of the squad for training and has been ruled out of the match against the Vitoria-based side.
The full-back joins an already lengthy injury list. Players including Eric Garcia, Andreas Christensen, Xavi Espart, Dani Olmo and Roony Bardghji continue their recovery programmes away from the main group.
With so many players unavailable, the coaching staff have had to reorganise the defence and midfield. Tactical changes to the starting line-up are expected to keep the team competitive.
All eyes now turn to the press room. German coach Hansi Flick will address the media at 13:00 to preview the match and ******* s the squad's fitness.

#training #players

Borussia Mönchengladbach are in talks to extend Wael Mohya's contract beyond 2028.
According to Sky Germany, the club's management want to reward the 17-year-old's development. In doing so, Mohya will reportedly double his salary which will see him earn around €2m per year.
Mohya has been a star of this Gladbach side in 2026/27, having featured in all nine matches across all competitions this season, while registering a goal and ****** ist in the Foals' Matchday 7 victory over VfB Stuttgart, their first win of the season.
Praising Mohya's performance against Stuttgart, Head of Sport Rouven Schröder said: "The way he dribbles forward, the audacity with which he sets up the goal … Hats off! […] very happy that Wael showed what he's capable of."
Gladbach head coach Alexander Blessin also praised the club's rising star. "He's a very young guy who's open and laughs, he doesn't care too much about pressure," expressed Blessin, who lauded Mohya's attacking abilities. "His ability to relieve pressure in one-on-one situations is crucial."

#stuttgart #year #season

Frequent board commenter Solanus tracks an enormous amount of pitcher and catcher data, tabulating each game result by hand. Last year, he gave me enough insight into his spreadsheets where I was able to re-create much of the data he hand tabulates (I'm way too lazy for that!) and I wanted to peak at some of those data points and see what we could learn about the defensive side of their catching corps.
The data itself comes from a mix of sources. Statcast data for actual line-ups and game events (who pitched, who caught, which innings, etc.). Baseball reference.com for overall pitching lines for each game, and with Fangraphs because of course there has to be differences in how the data is constructed that doesn't make it easy. Team ids between sites are different. Player Ids are different. Even game Ids are different, and all three have to be brewed together to knit the data into one consistent result.
I wrote the code. The methods are all Solanus. I simply copied his logic into R code and ran it. So he gets all the credit.
I chose to query both the 2025 and 2026 seasons (you will likely understand why when I go through it). Here is the raw data, and following that some of the interesting morsels I discovered and thought about some.
2026

#data #game #solanus

Michael Olise has developed into one of the world's best players since joining Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace in a €53 million deal in the summer of 2024.
However, the French international could have taken a very different path, with Bild revealing that Borussia Dortmund were also interested in signing him at the time.
According to the German tabloid's "Dortmund Insider" podcast, the Black and Yellows had Olise on their wishlist in 2024 and made specific enquiries about signing him.
But just as Dortmund were exploring the possible terms of a deal, Bayern entered the race. BVB were ultimately left empty-handed, unable to match the €53 million transfer fee.
However, just as they were exploring the possible terms of a deal, Bayern Munich entered the race. Dortmund were left empty-handed, as they could not afford the €53 million transfer fee.

#dortmund #deal #olise #however

A partir del próximo 9 de noviembre hay un nuevo parón de selecciones: dos semanas que ponen en vilo a todos los clubes que tienen algún internacional, a la espera de que ninguno regrese lesionado. Eso es lo que le pasa al FC Barcelona con Raphinha. El jugador brasileño ha vuelto a ser convocado por el seleccionador de la 'canarinha' para disputar dos partidos amistosos contra ***** ón (14 de noviembre) y Singapur (17 de noviembre). La disputa de esos partidos supondrá, nuevamente, una importante suma de kilómetros para la estrella azulgrana. Raphinha recorrerá unos 22.000 kilómetros.
Raphinha en el duelo ante el PSG. | Europa Press
Cabe recordar que el futbolista volvió lesionado del último parón y se perdió los partidos contra Getafe y Galatasaray. Como es lógico después de una lesión, el jugador debe coger ritmo de competición. Desde su vuelta al césped, Raphinha no ha disputado ningún partido completo. Suma 20′ contra el Betis, 60′ contra el PSG y 86′ ante el Real Madrid. Es decir, de 270 minutos posibles, Raphinha ha disputado 166′, lo que hace un 61,4% de los minutos. Tampoco ha vuelto a su mejor nivel: no está tan eléctrico como antes y sus cotas goleadoras han disminuido sensiblemente, con solo un gol desde su regreso. Aun sin estar al 100% de forma física, Carlo Ancelotti ha decidido convocarlo para dos amistosos intrascendentes.
El historial reciente del atacante blaugrana no invita al optimismo en Can Barça. Contando el último parón, Raphinha ha vuelto lesionado a Barcelona de las últimas tres llamadas de la selección. La primera por disputar un amistoso contra Francia en Estados Unidos, que le supuso perderse los dos meses más importantes de la pasada campaña. La segunda, tras el Mundial, y la reciente tras disputar dos amistosos irrelevantes en India y Australia.
Después de la lesión del gaúcho en el último parón de selecciones, Laporta se mostró indignado, declarando que los clubes sufren «grandes perjuicios». Sin embargo, Ancelotti ha vuelto a convocar a Raphinha y ha contestado al presidente azulgrana.

#raphinha #noviembre #lesionado #para

Cristiano Ronaldo's hat-trick helped Al-Nassr to a 5-3 win against Al-Kholood in the Saudi Pro League and took the Portugal striker to 985 career goals.
With the game evenly poised at 2-2 following goals from Angelo Gabriel and Sadio Mane for for Al-Nassr, Ronaldo secured the win for his side by scoring three times in 15 second-half minutes.
His Portugal team-mate Joao Felix contributed four ***** ists, including for two of Ronaldo's goals.
It was the 67th hat-trick of the 41-year-old's career as he continues to chase another milestone in a glittering career.
He has scored seven of his hat-tricks for Al-Nassr - along with 44 for Real Madrid, 10 for Portugal and three each at Manchester United and Juventus.

#nassr

Titans head coach Robert Saleh says his team will not hold a fire sale ahead of the trade deadline. But the offer they got from the Bears for defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons was too good to pass up.
The Bears traded their next two first-round draft picks to the ****** ans for Simmons, and Saleh said that a team in the ****** ans' position couldn't realistically have passed that up.
"No one's shopping any of our guys, but like I told our guys, when you don't close out games, and you're standing here at 1-6, teams are going to start fishing," Saleh said. "And eventually a team threw a hook big enough that I don't think any of us could've said no to."
Saleh said he considers Simmons "by far" the best defensive tackle in the NFL and hates to see him go.
"It's tough. Jeff is an elite football player and he's an even better person," Saleh said. "He's an elite leader. I've been outspoken on that. It sucks. Everything about it sucks. Unfortunately, necessary."

#simmons

Leeds United fans of a certain vintage might bristle at Ao Tanaka's choice of adjective for Bournemouth, but current reality backs him up.
The ****** an international was asked this week about Saturday's game against the Cherries and described both it and the opponent as 'massive.'
The word massive is an emotive one in football. Some fanbases use it sincerely with whole-hearted belief that it applies to their club. Others use it slightly more ironically. Even when it is reasonably applied, the word means different things to different people. Some might take into consideration a club's global presence, stadium size, average attendance or historical success. Others, like Tanaka, look not at Bournemouth's circa 12k capacity ground or historic honours board, but progression up the Premier League table over the last three years, last season's top-six finish and back-to-back-to-back 3-0 wins over AC Milan, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
"This is a massive opponent," said Tanaka. "This is a massive challenge. Bournemouth is such a good team, especially recently, the results have been so good. And it's a massive game for us as well, because we didn't win four games. So we want to win the game. So this is a massive game, massive opponent. [They are] a bit different than last season, because they changed the manager. But still, they have a quality players, quality tactics. So I'm looking forward to playing against them."
Unlike Bournemouth, Leeds cannot boast of nine seasons at Premier League level in the last 11 years but by any other metric can be considered a massive club. Three historic top flight ****** les, an FA Cup, European success, a soon-to-be 53k capacity stadium and a fanbase to fill it are all significant pieces of evidence. Daniel Farke often cautions that the club must learn to walk again in the Premier League before it can run, yet seventh place after eight games can be cautiously described as a step forward from last season.

#game #premier

Mumbai Indians on Friday announced their new-looked support staff for IPL 2027, appointing Robin Uthappa as batting coach, Mitchell McClenaghan as bowling coach, T. Dilip as fielding coach and Dhawal Kulkarni as development bowling coach.

The four will work alongside head coach Kieron Pollard, who replaced Mahela Jayawardene last week, as Mumbai Indians put together a new coaching group ahead of the next season.

Uthappa, McClenaghan and Kulkarni have previously represented Mumbai Indians as players. Pollard, meanwhile, has been ******* ociated with the franchise for 16 years.

Uthappa was part of India's squad that won the inaugural ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2007. He represented Mumbai Indians in 2008 and brings experience from Indian domestic and franchise cricket.

McClenaghan was part of Mumbai Indians' ******* le-winning campaigns in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. The New Zealand pacer represented the franchise between 2015 and 2020 and will now take charge of the bowling group.

Dilip joins Mumbai Indians after working with the India men's team. He was part of the coaching staff during India's ******* le wins at the 2024 and 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cups and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.

Kulkarni, a two-time IPL champion with Mumbai Indians in 2013 and 2020, returns to the franchise after representing the team in two spells — from 2008 to 2013 and again in 2020-21.

The former Mumbai pacer will work closely with the coaching staff during the season, focusing on the development of the team's bowling resources, particularly young Indian bowlers. His role will continue throughout the year, providing support to players and helping the franchise strengthen its pool of bowling talent.

The coaching overhaul comes after Mumbai Indians, who are five-time IPL champions, performed below-average last season.

#Mumbai #indians #coach #bowling

Speculation surrounding the long-term future of Ronald Araujo has intensified as his representative finally addressed the defender's mindset at Anfield. The Uruguayan international remains a central figure for the Premier League leaders despite persistent links to a continental exit.
The representative for Araujo has sought to clarify the Liverpool defender's current status following a wave of reports suggesting a potential move away from the Premier League. As one of the most consistent performers in the English top flight, Araujo has become a cornerstone of the defensive unit, leading to inevitable interest from across Europe's elite clubs looking to bolster their backlines.
However, despite the noise surrounding a possible departure, the message from his camp remains one of stability and contentment. His agent, Eduardo Crnjar, spoke about the player's current situation and how he feels about his surroundings in the North West of England. "Ronald is performing well , we're very happy with what he's offering, but it's still too early to talk about his future. He feels great, he's happy to be playing for Liverpool and helping the club and his teammates, as he's already said," Crnjar told WinWin Sports, as quoted by SPORT.
While the agent's comments provide some breathing room for the club, the broader context of the transfer market continues to loom over the situation. Several teams have been monitoring the Uruguayan's progress, aware that a defender of his calibre and age profile is a rare commodity in the modern game, especially given his proven track record in both La Liga and the Premier League.
The mention of a €55m valuation has frequently appeared in discussions regarding a potential transfer fee, a figure that many consider to be a bargain for a player of his international standing. Liverpool, however, would likely demand a significantly higher sum to even consider entering negotiations for a player who still has his best years ahead of him at the highest level of European football.

#future

CAIRO (AP) — The Africa Cup of Nations will continue every two years after the Confederation of African Football announced on Friday it voted unanimously to revoke the decision to move the tournament to a four-year cycle.
CAF announced last December that the Africa Cup would be held every four years, starting from 2028, allowing a proposed new competition — the African Nations League — to take place for the first time in 2029.
The decision at the time, bringing the competition to a schedule that aligned with FIFA's international calendar, rankled many at the Africa Cup in Morocco, with some saying it was made with European wishes at heart to the detriment of African interests.
CAF said in October that it was reconsidering the matter.
"The decision by the CAF EXCO that the CAF AFCON should take place every two years was based on advancing, protecting and promoting the interest of African football and CAF's 54 member ******* ociations, as well as the interest of African players employed by football clubs outside Africa," CAF President Patrice Motsepe said in a statement.

#african #africa #years #nations

Sebastian Cheeks has spearheaded one of the best defenses in the nation this season. The Wisconsin Badgers rank inside the top 10 in total yards allowed per game at 276.5, all while allowing a stout 16.3 points per game, which ranks 13th-best in the country. Cheeks joined the Badgers ahead of the 2024 season after spending two seasons at UNC. Cheeks' first two seasons saw him flash at times, but overall, he never jumped out as one of the Big Ten's biggest stars.That was until now. So far this season, Cheeks has tallied 26 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles.In Wisconsin's upset 24-7 win over USC this past weekend, Cheeks pulled together five tackles and 2.5 sacks, earning him conference acclaim.
Cheeks was recently tipped as a potential NFL draft pick by draft expert Mel Kiper thanks to his do-it-all archetype.
Luke Fickell's squad has just five games on the season; up next is the 5-2 Iowa Hawkeyes inside what is bound to be an electric Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12 PM ET and is the Big Noon Kickoff game for FOX.
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This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin OLB finally named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week

#cheeks #badgers #follow

Manchester United are considering an ambitious January move for Leeds United striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin as Michael Carrick searches for solutions to his side's growing attacking concerns.
According to Laurie Whitwell and Beren Cross of The Athletic, United have begun ****** sing potential centre-forward targets ahead of the winter transfer window, with Calvert-Lewin emerging as a player of interest.
The 29-year-old England international has rediscovered his goalscoring touch at Elland Road, making him an intriguing option for a Manchester United side facing an increasingly complicated period without Benjamin Sesko.
However, persuading Leeds to part with their leading striker could prove exceptionally difficult.
Calvert-Lewin's resurgence represents one of the more compelling stories in English football. Having endured several injury-disrupted seasons at Everton, the striker has rebuilt his reputation since joining Leeds on a free transfer in the summer of 2025.

#leeds

Matchday 8 of the Bundesliga serves up it's showpiece event, from which Bulinews.com will be reporting live, as Bayern Munich welcome Borussia Dortmund to the Allianz Arena. Kick-off in the Topspiel game is scheduled for 18:30 CET.
Aside from injuries and Vincent Kompany's absence, things could hardly be much better for Bayern right now. They arrive into this fixture off the back of a 6-1 thrashing of 1.FC Magdeburg, with several key names rested.
One of which was their newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner, Harry Kane. Averaging a goal a game against BVB in six games to date, he will be hoping to add to that. The returning Kimmich and Pavlovic will likely help towards that.
The German record champions' recent record on home soil against the Westphalians also bodes well. Eight wins, one draw and a single loss to the Black and Yellows in their last 10 Bundesliga meetings at the Allianz Arena.
Team news:

#bayern #allianz #record