After an impressive breakthrough campaign at Bayern Munich, Lennart Karl has faced difficulties both on and off the pitch since the start of the 2026/27 season.
The 18-year-old has struggled to rediscover his best form after recovering from the muscle tear that ruled him out of the World Cup. At the same time, his attitude and behaviour off the pitch have recently come under significant criticism from Bayern supervisory board member Uli Hoeneß.
"I plan to have a serious word with him. He is a long way from being a superstar. Young players need humility," Hoeneß fumed in an interview with Welt am Sonntag.
"Comparisons with [Michael] Olise are clearly not doing him any good. There is still a world of difference between them."
According to Bild's head of football, Christian Falk, Karl's situation has put Liverpool, ******* nal and Manchester United on alert, with all three Premier League clubs monitoring developments should an opportunity to sign the 18-year-old arise in the future.

#year #young

Slowly but surely the secret is coming out that Michael Penix Jr. has officially arrived as a franchise quarterback. The Atlanta Falcons' starter has been exceptional since returning to the lineup in Week 3, racking up nine touchdown passes to go with just one interception.
Penix is fresh off his best game of the season, totaling three scores and no turnovers against a top-five San Francisco 49ers defense.
That should have gotten Penix a huge ****** p in the weekly NFL.com quarterback rankings, but he only saw a modest gain of one spot, coming in at No. 12. That puts him in-between two former league MVPs, one spot below Patrick Mahomes and one above Matt Stafford.
"Michael Penix Jr. looks very comfortable and decisive in Kevin Stefanski's offense, freely spreading the ball among his many talented targets at a rate I haven't seen from him previously in his NFL career. Penix's contributions were especially important in a game in which Bijan Robinson fell short of breaking things open on the ground, and a reason to take the Falcons seriously going forward."
While the small gain is a little disappointing, keep in mind that Penix wasn't even listed in most quarterback rankings going into the season. Instead, it was Tua Tagovailoa representing the Falcons, usually somewhere between Nos. 30 and 32 among projected starters.

#quarterback

Pat McAfee has found himself in the centre of another media storm following his debacle surrounding his recent visit to the University of Utah.
The ESPN presenter has admitted his visit to Utah made him feel uncomfortable with both the university and its students providing him with a hostile atmosphere. In the days since, McAfee has used his platforms to call out his visit as his worst experience yet on College GameDay.
McAfee's comments following the visit have even seen some of his ESPN colleagues criticise him for the manner in which he has handled his frustrations. The public figure has a huge online following and he has used that to call out the University of Utah.
One ESPN colleague in particular has taken to her social media platform to hit back at McAfee suggesting that he needs to grow some thicker skin.
Earlier in the week, McAfee shared some of the direct messages he had been receiving since his visit to Utah Clearly, the messages he has received are not particularly nice but one of his ESPN colleagues has suggested that female sports reporters face worse.

#mcafee

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

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

Myles Graham has seen Florida's defense flash its potential throughout the season. The challenge now is making that version of the unit show up consistently.
The Gators took an encouraging step at Texas, overcoming a rough opening two drives before settling in and playing some of their best defense of the season. Graham said the unit gained confidence by playing aggressively, especially when Brad White dialed up the pressure, but still has plenty to clean up ahead of a physical matchup with Georgia.
There's no hiding what this week means to Graham. Florida hasn't beaten Georgia since he arrived in Gainesville, and as one of the veterans responsible for explaining the rivalry to younger players, Graham made his feelings clear: enough is enough.
Here's everything Graham had to say ahead of Florida's matchup with Georgia.
I've seen him grow since day one. The talent has always been there. It was just more of him knowing where to be, where to fit. I've just seen him skyrocket from the first day he got here.

#graham #defense #unit #playing

After the United States Grand Prix, Isack Hadjar was critical of Red Bull's execution, as was Max Verstappen. Both drivers were unhappy with the strategy and, on top of that, were hampered by two problems that have been troubling the Formula 1 team for a long time: technical issues with the team radio and problematic starts.
"I have poor radio, I don't even know what's happening. And whenever I drop the clutch, it's going into a nightmare," Hadjar said in the media pen on Sunday night. "If we fix these two issues, we might already be on the podium. It seems like we can do the hardest things, but we can't do the silly things."
When asked about those comments during the media day in Mexico, Hadjar acknowledged that he is perfectly entitled to speak his mind about the team – which is, after all, exactly what Red Bull wants: drivers with character and opinions of their own – but that he perhaps could have worded certain things a little differently.
"I didn't really think," he said. "We need to be honest with ourselves as well, but there's stuff that I should have kept for myself. I know that."
Since then, Red Bull has **** ysed the race weekend in Texas in detail which revealed that the strategy could indeed have been better, something Hadjar explained further in Mexico.

#hadjar #drivers #issues #radio

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

British tennis player Harriet Dart qualified for a WTA semi-final for just the second time in her career after she came from a set down to beat Paula Badosa in the quarter-final of the Guangzhou Open on Friday.
The 30-year-old produced one of the biggest wins of her career, coming back from a set down to secure a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory and book her place in the final four of a WTA tournament for the first time since the Transylvania Open in 2024.
Dart had to come through two rounds of qualifying before beating Tatiana Prozorova, Janice Tjen and now Badosa, who had to receive medical attention twice in the match. She will face either Xinran Sun or Claire Liu for a place in her first WTA final.
In an on-court interview, Dart said: "It was an incredible battle. I thought Paula started really strongly. I was always behind, but I knew going in that it was going to be an incredibly tough match.
"I really needed to hang in there in the tough moments, and maybe I'd get a chance. It's been a very long time since I've been in the business end of a (WTA) tournament, so I'm very proud of that."

#paula #Career #down

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

Portugal and Morocco will host the 2027 Dakar Rally the organisers announced on Friday after it was moved from Saudi Arabia following repeated attacks on the kingdom by Yemen's Houthis.
The drivers, motorcyclists and truck drivers will tackle the prologue and first special stage in Portugal followed by 11 stages of the gruelling rally -- covering almost 8,000 kilometres with 4,341km of specials -- in Morocco.
It is the first time since 2007 that the gruelling multi-stage rally, created in 1978, returns to Africa.
"Although it has been moved, the 49th edition of the Dakar will still meet the sporting standards which has always made the event the most demanding of endurance rallies," said race director David Castera.
"Despite the short amount of time we have had we have put together a real Dakar.

#first #stage #gruelling #time

Former Texas A&M football players delivered several notable performances in Week 7 of the NFL season, including a breakout game from Cleveland Browns rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion and a career milestone for Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Cashius Howell.
Concepcion recorded career highs with eight receptions for 129 yards in Cleveland's 27-24 victory over the Tennessee **** ans. He also added 23 rushing yards on three carries, for 152 total yards from scrimmage. His performance earned him a nomination for the NFL's Rookie of the Week award.
The former Aggie became the first Browns rookie wide receiver since 2016 to surpass 100 receiving yards in a game. His 129 yards also ranked eighth in franchise history for a rookie in a single game. Over seven games, Concepcion has caught 30 passes for 315 yards, establishing himself as an emerging weapon in Cleveland's offense.
Howell also had a memorable afternoon in Cincinnati's 35-13 win over the Baltimore Ravens. The rookie defensive end recorded his first career NFL sack, bringing down quarterback Tyler Huntley for a four-yard loss on Baltimore's opening second-half drive.
The play helped force a punt as Cincinnati rallied from a 13-0 halftime deficit and scored 35 unanswered points to win. Howell, a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft, recorded 11.5 sacks in his final season at Texas A&M before moving to the professional level.

#howell #recorded #Browns

Could the Washington Commanders get star left tackle Laremy Tunsil back this season? A recent social media post from Tunsil gave Washington fans a glimmer of hope that one of the league's best offensive linemen could return before the end of the season.
Tunsil, who signed a two-year extension in the offseason, once again became the NFL's highest-paid offensive lineman, tore his triceps during a training camp practice on Aug. 8. It was a devastating blow for Tunsil personally and for the Commanders. Most believed Tunsil would miss most, if not all, of the upcoming 2026 regular season.
At 1-4-1, Washington is coming off its bye week and hosts the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night. Despite a rough start, the Commanders remain firmly in the NFC East mix. Could a few Washington wins push Tunsil to return sooner than anticipated?
First, here's the social media post that got everyone talking this week.
It's been nearly three months since Tunsil's triceps surgery. The injury usually keeps players out for 4-6 months, with offensive linemen often on the higher end because of the strenuous nature of the position. With Tunsil's social media post, head coach Dan Quinn was asked about his star left tackle.

#tunsil #Commanders #post #star

In roughly 24 hours, the Wisconsin Badgers will be playing at Kinnick Stadium for the 100th edition of the Battle for the Heartland Trophy.
Iowa City, IA, plays host to this historic matchup, one that just so happens to take place on Halloween.
For the first time since 2023, the Badgers are officially in the AP Top 25. Remember, Iowa's shocking loss last Saturday to Minnesota knocked them out of the Top 25 entirely.
Heading into this massive Big Ten showdown, Badgers Wire's Jordon Lawrenz had a chance to speak with Hawkeyes Wire's Josh Helmer.
There's questions at quarterback, which we can discuss in a moment. But, Iowa just hasn't run the football consistently enough. That adds extra pressure on its signal-callers, and it's been an ongoing issue against Power Four foes. Against the power conference teams on its schedule, Iowa has eclipsed the century mark on the ground just once. That was in the Hawkeyes' 41-24 road win at Washington, where Iowa ran for 263 yards.

#battle

The 2026 season might have been a struggle for the North Hunterdon High School football team, but last weekend's victory over neighborhood rival Voorhees in the 51st annual Milk Can Game is a good way to go into the offseason on a supremely positive note.
Senior Matt Esposito led the way in the 21-18 victory, which increased the Lions all-time lead in the series to 36-14-1 and gave them their first victory of the season. Esposito rushed 27 times for 193 yards and the three touchdowns, including two in the second half. He also pitched in five tackles on defense, plus an interception.
The senior finishes with 916 yards and nine scores for the season, plus a receiving touchdown, while recording 36 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble in the Lions' defensive secondary.
"Matt had a tremendous year and was an instrumental piece to the team," North Hunterdon coach CJ Robinson said. "He brings the effort, attitude, and toughness on Friday nights. His performance last week is a great reflection of the work and commitment he's put in this year. To see him play at that level and help lead our team to a win was special. We were fortunate to have had him as part of our program."
Simeon Pincus has covered NJ sports since 1997. He can be reached at SPincusGannettNJ.com. Follow him on Twitter SimeonPincus

#team #hunterdon #matt

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

Lewis Hamilton says he is unlike any driver Formula 1 has seen before and reaffirmed a determination to keep racing into his mid-forties.
The seven-time world champion recently said he wanted to continue in the sport to fulfil a dream of racing in Africa, having campaigned for a Grand Prix there for many years.
F1 has signed a 10-year deal with the central-east African country of Rwanda starting in the early 2030s which will be a first race on the continent since 1993.
Hamilton is 41 and will be at least 45 when that race takes place, but he told a news conference before this weekend's Mexico Grand Prix that he should be considered a special case.
The Briton said F1 had "never had anyone like me in the 70 years" of the sport and he felt like he was "built differently".

#grand #race

The Washington Commanders appear to be making a change with their latest addition. Last week, the Commanders hired former NFL head coach and longtime defensive ****** istant Steve Wilks to a role on the coaching staff. According to head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters, Wilks would spend part of the week in Ashburn working on game planning with the coaching staff and would not be involved in on-field player instruction.
For the first time since his hire became official, defensive coordinator Daronte Jones spoke about what Wilks brings to the Commanders.
"That was something that we had talked about back in training camp, but just for the value of experience that he has, we felt like we could use his resources and his expertise in some categories and experience," Jones said on Thursday.
Jones was asked whether Wilks' presence would let him, as a first-time NFL defensive coordinator, focus on other areas.
"Yeah, still working through how. It definitely does free me up in certain ways and just still manufacturing, working through how exactly we wanna disperse that, the workspace. So, we're still working through those a little bit."

#wilks #week #head

Meghan Markle's cryptic "new adventures" message in As Ever's holiday catalog raised eyebrows. Recently, she wrote a personal letter while introducing the holiday collection of her lifestyle brand. In the catalog, she hinted at the transition of the Sussexes from California to the U.K. a bit earlier than autumn. For those unversed, Prince Harry and Markle moved back to his home country with their family in late August.
Meghan Markle wrote an "autumn of new adventures" message in As Ever's holiday catalog. This sparked questions about whether she was referring to her move to the U.K. a bit earlier than the autumn season. "This year has reminded me how much joy can be found in the moments that make up a life," the ******* ss of Sussex wrote (via PEOPLE).
Furthermore, she listed small and big things that brought her happiness. From "evening snuggles" with her kids to "travel and adventure" and building her business, Markle has had a wonderful year so far. Her next line, then, hinted at the Sussexes' transition from California to the U.K.
She wrote, "A summer filled with laughter, wine and melting ice cream cones, followed by an autumn of new adventures." While she spent summer with her family in Montecito, they returned to Prince Harry's homeland on August 26. Their sudden decision shocked everyone.
Despite receiving criticism since their return, Markle mentioned in her letter her "new adventures." She wrote, "All of it has mattered. All of it has felt meaningful." Furthermore, Markle's letter introduced As Ever's new holiday collection. The lifestyle brand seemed to have expanded in the U.K. market now.

#markle #adventures #meghan

The Chargers return to the field this Sunday for their Week 8 matchup against the Rams.
Los Angeles had a bye in Week 7 and will look to get their first win of the season this Sunday.
The Chargers are huge road underdogs in this matchup; however, they will take on the hobbled Rams without their best player.
Rams head coach Sean McVay announced on Wednesday that edge rusher Myles Garrett will not practice this week. With that being the case, Garrett will be out for the seventh consecutive game.
Garrett underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after Week 1 and has been on the injured reserve since. He'll be back in the lineup next Sunday when they take on the Commanders.

#sunday #matchup #take #angeles

Braves predicted to sign $85M ex-Cubs Gold Glove finalist with power bat after career-best season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Braves won the NL East last season and nearly reached 100 wins, which was a great accomplishment. However, the beginning of the season was plagued by injuries and a suspension.
The Braves signed Jurickson Profar two offseasons ago, but the move has been nothing but detrimental. In fact, he has missed 243 games due to suspensions, including a year-long suspension in 2026.
"Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jurickson Profar is facing a 162-game suspension after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug for the second time in the last year, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. Profar, 33, is the sixth player to receive a 162-game ban for PED use since Major League Baseball increased the penalty for two-time offenders to a full season in 2014. He will forfeit the entirety of his $15 million salary," ESPN's Jeff Passan wrote.
Heading into the offseason, one of the biggest questions for Atlanta will be how it addresses left field.

#season #sporting

Florida vs. Georgia game location 2026: Why ****** tail Party is being played in Atlanta originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
One of college football's most heated rivalries between the Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs will be played for a 104th time. But this year the annual SEC showdown will be played in a different location than usual.
The game, which had been unofficially known as the "World's Largest Outdoor ****** tail Party" since the 1950s, is usually held in Jacksonville, Fla. But for 2026, the game will be held in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Ga.
In 2027, the game will be held in Tampa, Fla.
Here's a look at why the location of the game moved, and when it could return to its usual host city.

#held #cocktail

UFC 324 kicked off the promotion's Paramount era with an absolute thriller, as Justin Gaethje and Paddy Pimblett went to war for five rounds. Gaethje eventually came out on top, securing the interim lightweight ****** le, but the fight wasn't without its controversies.
Several eye pokes and a low blow suffered by Pimblett had fans questioning the referee's decision not to take a point away, especially after two judges scored the contest 49-46. Beyond the officiating debate, another talking point was Pimblett's decision to trade strikes with one of the division's most dangerous punchers instead of making better use of his grappling.
Given his Brazilian jiu-jitsu credentials, many felt he left a major weapon unused. The Liverpudlian has since admitted that he could have approached things differently. Now, with Gaethje having become the undisputed 155lbs champion after beating Ilia Topuria at UFC Freedom 250, Pimblett has opened up about what he would change if the two ever crossed paths inside the Octagon again.
In a recent interview with How U Livin J Piven, Pimblett admitted that he would take a completely different approach if he ever got another shot at Gaethje. "Yeah, if I fought him again, I'd shoot in within 10 seconds. I'd love to get that rematch. If I fought him again, I'd shoot in the first 10 seconds, put him on his back, and choke his ****** out."
That would arguably be a much smarter game plan for the Liverpudlian, who reminded everyone of his grappling prowess with a spectacular comeback at UFC 329.

#pimblett #admitted

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 25: Bam Knight #20 of the Arizona Cardinals drops a pass under pressure from Alex Singleton #49 of the Denver Broncos during the second quarter of the game at State Farm Stadium on October 25, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) Getty
Denver Broncos inside linebacker Alex Singleton. Getty
The Denver Broncos had a great week from their entire team against the Arizona Cardinals with multiple standout performers, but none better than inside linebacker Alex Singleton.
Singleton finished the game with an unreal 19 total tackles, including a sack, and was all over the field making plays for the Broncos defense.
That's the most tackles in a game by any player this season and most tackles by a player in a non-overtime game since 2023. Singleton continues to dominate and not only is he the leader in tackles this season, but he has 15 more than the next highest player, All-Pro Fred Warner.

#arizona #Broncos #alex #player

Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has revealed that a pre-planned rest rather than excessive celebrations kept him on the bench during Wednesday night's emphatic 6-1 DFB-Pokal victory over Magdeburg. Having lifted the Ballon d'Or in London on Monday evening, the 33-year-old England captain watched on as an unused substitute in midweek.
Kane confirmed that Bayern coaching staff had already scheduled his midweek breather prior to Monday's ceremony, where he beat Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal to become England's first winner since Michael Owen in 2001. Although ready to feature if required, the veteran marksman was spared as Michael Olise netted a brace. Consequently, the forward was able to recover from a few exhausting days.
Speaking as quoted by TNT Sports, Kane explained the decision behind his omission: "I didn't party too hard! I could have played, but to be honest, Danksy [Bayern **** istant Aaron Danks] spoke to me and said they were thinking of trying to give me a break in this game, even before the Ballon d'Or, because I've played a lot of games in the last six weeks or so.
"It just worked well, the guys who started did really well. There was a moment in the game where he was thinking of bringing me on and we scored the fourth goal and killed the game off. All in all, I think it was important to get a rest. It's been a big emotional load, going through the big high on Monday.
"Big game on Saturday now as well [against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga], so I'll train tomorrow and be ready for that."

#ballon #Monday #rest #midweek

Mizzou Basketball lost their exhibition game against UNLV on Thursday night. The game didn't count, so as much as I'm not going to talk up their win over Kansas State, I'm not going to talk down this loss to UNLV. Winning always feel better than losing, regardless of whether the game counts or not. But it looked like Dennis Gates was willing to make a few concessions with his lineups early. Also, Jamier Jones, CJ Gunn, and Jaylen Carey were all sidelined and not dressed out.
Anyway, here's the box score screen cap from Statbroadcast:
There are 13 players listed as having played, but I don't remember Luke Northweather seeing the floor. But there was a lot to think about, so let me try to parse through things quickly, since the 9pm tip means I'm starting this out well after 11.
My biggest takeaway was that one team played a lot harder than the other. The Tigers didn't have their full foster of players, but neither did UNLV. But you could see early the Rebels were focused on crashing the glass and being incredibly physical.
Jason Crowe played 36 minutes, Toni Bryant played 28, Aidan Chronister played 15. Those three players were able to overwhelm K-State, a team who is very focused on skill. Against UNLV the three freshmen, and not just those three but the whole roster, just got bodied by the effort of the Rebels. Lindenwood transfer Dontrez Williams, a Sikeston native, was only 1-5 from the floor and scored just 4 points, but he was +21. Mainly because he was out there playing his ****** off.

#three #didn 't #talk

The Green Bay Packers are 5-3 after beating the Carolina Panthers by a 27-19 final score on "Thursday Night Football" from Lambeau Field. There were **** ps along the way, especially early and late, but the Packers got three touchdown passes from Jordan Love and six sacks from Jonathan Gannon's defense to power what ended up being a winning performance.
Highlighting the good, the bad and the ugly coming out of Thursday night's win:
Jordan Love during the first three quarters, the adversity defense, and the pass-rush: Love was on fire for the first 45 minutes, completing 26 of his first 33 passes for 262 yards and three scores. He threw a pick early in the fourth quarter, starting a disappointing finish for the offense overall, but the Packers quarterback was terrific for most of the contest, playing on time from the pocket and consistently finding completions. Jonathan Gannon's defense was dominant at times, allowing only three points off three Packers turnovers, and the only three points came after the fumbled opening kickoff that gave the Panthers the ball in field goal range. It took a few crazy conversions for the Panthers to score a touchdown in the second half. The Packers were dominant up front, sacking Bryce Young six times and consistently disrupting the pocket.
The start, and most of the finish: How did the Packers open the game? By fumbling away the opening kickoff, dropping three first-quarter passes and committing a pre-snap penalty. The turnover spotted the Panthers three early points. To Green Bay's credit, the first quarter ended with the Packers leading. During most of the second and third quarters, the Packers were in complete control, leading 20-10 at the half and 27-13 with a chance to dagger the Panthers to start the fourth quarter. But Jordan Love threw a pick on the second play of the fourth, turning the game sharply, and the Panthers eventually scored on a 70-yard drive and had the ball down one score with a chance to tie the game. What should have been a comfortable, two- or three-score win ended up being a nail biter because the Packers made costly mistakes and couldn't run the ball. One more bad: Trey Smack missed an extra point, so the kicking worries continue to linger. The lost point mattered because it kept the Panthers within one score in the fourth quarter.
The run game. The Packers returned Aaron Banks to the lineup at left guard, and Josh Jacobs got a full workload against the NFL's worst run defense entering Week 8, but it wasn't nearly enough to awaken Green Bay's dormant run game. Jacobs turned 21 rushes into only 39 yards, and 18 of the Packers' 66 rushing yards came on a well-executed Savion Williams gadget play. The 25 designed runs to running backs gained all of 48 yards. Jacobs didn't have a run longer than six yards. It's possible the Packers run game just isn't going to happen in 2026. This is a historically bad start -- the Packers are just the 14th team since 1935 to rush for fewer than 500 yards

Editor's note: This story will be updated with a photo gallery.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Despite entering the postseason with a 20-11 record, their first time with double-digit losses in the regular season since 2019, the Notre Dame Pandas swept through four straight opponents, then pulled off a comeback for the ages against Beechwood (24-26, 22-25, 25-13, 25-14, 15-10) to complete the journey to a fifth straight Ninth Region championship.
For the second straight night, tournament MVP Teagan Kondik had her fingerprints on the final play, putting away her 27th kill to complete the comeback.
"Joy. Doing it for my teammates when we've had a hard season, for sure, faced a lot of adversity. I think ending the region with a kill was super special to do it for them," Kondik said.

#region #despite

Editor's note: This story will be updated with a photo gallery.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Despite entering the postseason with a 20-11 record, their first time with double-digit losses in the regular season since 2019, the Notre Dame Pandas swept through four straight opponents, then pulled off a comeback for the ages against Beechwood (24-26, 22-25, 25-13, 25-14, 15-10) to complete the journey to a fifth straight Ninth Region championship.
For the second straight night, tournament MVP Teagan Kondik had her fingerprints on the final play, putting away her 27th kill to complete the comeback.
"Joy. Doing it for my teammates when we've had a hard season, for sure, faced a lot of adversity. I think ending the region with a kill was super special to do it for them," Kondik said.

#straight #season #kill