Liverpool left St James' Park with a point, and a fresh question. Who is the club's first-choice penalty taker now?
The late spot-kick was the defining moment of a tense afternoon against Newcastle. For most of the game, the home crowd had focused on Alexander Isak, booing him relentlessly. That made the final seconds particularly intriguing. If Liverpool were going to get one chance to save the match, many expected the £125m striker might take it.
He did not.
Instead, Dominik Szoboszlai stepped forward and smashed the penalty past Lukas Hornicek. Clean strike, no drama, no argument once the ball hit the net. Liverpool had their draw, and Newcastle had escaped the scenario they had feared all afternoon.
This is where the discussion starts. Mohamed Salah had been Liverpool's regular penalty taker until his summer exit, and that role is now open. Isak has the profile and status to claim it. Szoboszlai has the technique and, after this, the evidence.

#Liverpool #newcastle #szoboszlai #taker

"Family Ties" launched Michael J. Fox into fame, but it also introduced many people to his stunning wife, Tracy Pollan. Pollan landed the role of Ellen Reed, the love interest of Fox's character Alex Keaton. The New York-born actor made her mark after filming one season of the '80s sitcom, and despite becoming her husband's caretaker, she's worked on different shows and movies in the following decades. "Family Ties" fans definitely know what the cast looks like today, but they might need a reminder that Pollan is such a beauty without makeup in her 60s.
In March 2025, the actor posted on Instagram to wish her friend Jennifer Grey a happy birthday. Pollan and the "Dirty Dancing" star took a selfie outdoors with both of their hands resting under their chins. Pollan' cheeks looked smooth as she gave a close-mouthed smile. She had slight signs of aging around the mouth and the eyes, but her forehead also seemed pretty creaseless. The wind blowing on her hair also made the "Family Ties" alum look effortlessly gorgeous.
Read more: Male Celebrities Who Were Unrecognizable After Plastic Surgery
Jamie Mccarthy/Getty Images
Tracy Pollan's birthday shoutout to Jennifer Grey isn't her only makeup-free Instagram photo. Pollan has more sentimental posts dedicated to her family and friends that show how the actor aged like fine wine. In May 2026, she shared an Instagram carousel celebrating the birthday of Sam Fox, the eldest of her and Michael J. Fox's four children. "Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday Schmoo!!! You are the best and I could not love you more," she wrote. "You make me and everyone in your lucky orbit so happy!"

#family #tracy

Mitchell Starc produced another devastating spell in Mackay to finish with a 10-wicket match haul as Australia crushed Bangladesh by an innings and 51 runs in the second Test, levelling the two-match series 1-1 inside two days.

Starc returned figures of 10-51, adding four wickets on Sunday to his remarkable 6-12 on the opening day. Bangladesh were bowled out for just 64 in their first innings before Australia also found batting difficult on a spicy pitch at Mackay in northern Queensland.

The victory provided a significant boost for Australia after their surprise defeat in the opening Test in Darwin.

Starc's performance also moved him to 10th on the all-time Test wicket-takers' list. The left-arm quick now has 445 wickets, overtaking South African great Dale Steyn.

It was Starc's fourth 10-wicket haul in Test cricket. Pat **** mins and Nathan Lyon also played key roles with three wickets each as Bangladesh were dismissed for 95 in their second innings.

Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scored with 31, while Mushfiqur Rahim remained unbeaten on 29. The Bangladesh captain and experienced wicketkeeper-batter received little support from the rest of the line-up, with only two other batters reaching double figures.

Australia had resumed their first innings at 165-8 and added 45 runs to their overnight total. Cameron Green and Nathan Lyon initially put on 28 for the ninth wicket before Shoriful Islam ended Green's resistance.

Shoriful produced a searing inswinging yorker that struck Green on the front pad, with the decision confirmed on review. Green departed for 67 from 105 **** , having struck 10 boundaries. It followed his breakthrough home century in the first Test at Darwin.

Shoriful finished with 7-48, the best bowling figures by a Bangladesh player in a Test away from home.

Lyon, unbeaten on 32, and Josh Hazlewood took Australia beyond 200 before Hazlewood fell for six to Taijul Islam. Australia were eventually dismissed for 210, giving them a crucial 146-run first-innings lead.

Bangladesh's second innings quickly became another Starc show.

After getting through his first over, Bangladesh lost Shadman Islam for one in Starc's next over, with Marnus Labuschagne taking the edge. Mominul Haque then shouldered arms to the following delivery, which crashed into his off stump.

Starc returned after lunch to dismiss Litton Das for another duck. The wicketkeeper-batter faced 27 **** across three innings in the series without scoring.

The Australia quick completed his 10-wicket haul shortly before tea, bowling Taijul Islam for seven with a delivery that breached the gap between bat and pad.

Starc finished with 4-39 in the second innings and narrowly missed his best Test match figures of 11-94, recorded against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2016.

Lyon completed the formalities after tea, taking the final two wickets in the first over of the session to wrap up Bangladesh's innings for 95.

The two-Test Top End series marks t

Here's a recap of the UHSAA sanctioned high school cross country meets this past weekend across Utah
Brighton picked up a pair of team victories Saturday morning at the Husky Run, hosted by Hillcrest at Valley Regional Park in Taylorsville. The Bengals won the boys race with 49 points and the girls race with 53, topping a field that included teams from across classifications.
Ogden senior Avery Barton was the girls individual winner, pulling away to finish in 17:43.92 — more than 36 seconds clear of Brighton junior Bridget Smit (18:20.00). Rich senior Lyda Taylor ran third in 19:14.76 but did not have a full team scoring. Brighton placed four runners in the top 16 to hold off Ogden (67), while Woods Cross (87), Union (89) and Copper Hills (90) were bunched tightly for third through fifth.
Brighton junior Whittaker Bettis led the boys race from start to finish in 15:53.43. West Jordan sophomore Elliot Johns (16:09.42) and Morgan senior Caleb Lewis (16:13.38) rounded out the top three. West Jordan placed second as a team at 59 behind a solid group that included Andoni Garcia (4th) and Samuel Ferre (14th), with Ogden third at 70. Brighton's five scorers all finished in the top 20.
Girls Team Scores

#race #Third #west #cross

Australia responded to their nine-wicket defeat in the first Test at Darwin by bowling Bangladesh out for 64 on the opening day of the second and final Test in Mackay on Saturday.

After winning the toss, Australia captain Pat **** mins chose to field and Mitchell Starc made an impact with the first ball. He dismissed Shadman Islam for a duck, registering his ninth first-over wicket in Test cricket and moving past England's James Anderson, who had eight such dismissals.

Starc then continued his spell, taking five wickets inside the first seven overs as Bangladesh slumped to 12/5. It was the sixth-fastest five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

. Starc took five wickets in the first 45 minutes as the visitors slipped to 12/5 before reaching lunch at 35/6.

Cummins added three wickets for 25 runs as Bangladesh slipped further to 39/9. The visitors, however, managed to avoid their lowest-ever Test total. Their lowest score remains 43 against West Indies in 2018.

Bangladesh were eventually bowled out for 64, with Starc finishing with 6/12 from 10 overs.

The spell also took Starc past South African great Dale Steyn's 439 Test wickets. With 441 wickets, Starc is now the 10th-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. He has taken 19 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket match hauls, with best figures of 7/58.

For Bangladesh, the collapse came after Australia had been beaten by nine wickets in Darwin in the opening Test. The second Test therefore began with Australia in control and Bangladesh under pressure with the bat.

#test #bangladesh #wicket

Hull City returns to the Premier League on Saturday after a nine-year spell in the lower leagues, and their reward is an opening day clash with giants Manchester United.
Hull got back into the promised land of the Premier League after qualifying for last season's Championship play-offs on the final day of the regular season, followed by wins over Millwall in the semi-finals and Middlesbrough in the final. They've been busy in the transfer market, bringing in 14 new players to help them with the rigours of elite football. The Tigers started last season as Championship relegation favourites and conceded 66 league goals, the fourth-highest, along the way. To say it was a surprise that they reached the playoff final, and then won it, would be an understatement.
Much will depend on playoff final hereo Oli McBurnie, the scorer of 19 goals last season.
In the second half of the 2025-26 season, United were one of the best sides in Europe under caretaker boss Michael Carrick. The former United midfielder transformed their fortunes after a dismal first half of the campaign under Ruben Amorim. The 44-year-old inherited a squad that sat 10th in the table and turned it into a side capable of beating ******* nal, Liverpool and Man City in the ******* e of four months. That run of 12 wins, three draws and two defeats from 17 Premier League matches earned him a permanent two-year deal.
A net spend of £55m in the summer has seen midfielders Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans join from Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively. United will be playing Champions League football for the first time in three years and that will undoubtedly place extra pressure on their playing personnel.

#championship

Updated Aug. 17, 2026 11:24 am ET
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1117 ET – A weaker U.S. dollar is giving gold futures support. The dollar movement appears to be a reflection of recent softer-than-expected macroeconomic reports. “We have had a couple of soft inflation reports along with weaker employment and retail sales data and this has led to more dovish expectations of the Fed with important ******* et price impacts,” says Stephen Coltman of 21shares in a note. As part of the movement gold is now “showing signs of life,” says Coltman. Most-active gold futures are up 0.9% to $4,474.50 a troy ounce. (kirk.maltaiswsj.com)
0821 GMT – Gold rises as investors pare back bets of an imminent interest-rate hike. In morning European trade, New York gold futures are 0.5% higher at $4,458.20 a troy ounce. The precious metal continues a two-week advance after weaker U.S. retails sales and softer consumer sentiment weighed on the dollar and reduced expectations of a rate hike, MUFG’s Soojin Kim writes. Higher interest rates make non-yielding ******* ets like gold less attractive. “Wednesday’s Fed minutes, U.S. economic data and developments around Hormuz will be key drivers of gold, particularly through their impact on rate expectations,” she adds.(adam.whittakerwsj.com)

#Gold

Ravichandran Ashwin has opened up about the criticism he faced early in his international career, recalling how a strongly worded ***** sment from former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar left him angry and hurt after a difficult tour of Australia. Ashwin's struggles came during India's 2011-12 tour of Australia, where he managed only nine wickets in three Tests at an average of 62. India suffered a 0-4 series defeat.

Reflecting on the experience, Ashwin said Manjrekar's column initially left him deeply disappointed.

"After my first Australia tour, Sanjay Manjrekar wrote a long article. When I was returning, I read the whole thing, and after reading it, I got really angry. I actually felt bad. Anger was just a reaction, but I felt really bad. But after that, I slept on the flight and let it go. Back then, I didn't talk to Sanjay much," Ashwin said on Jio Hotstar.
Rather than allowing the criticism to affect him, Ashwin eventually chose to look at Manjrekar's comments objectively and identify areas where he could improve. The off-spinner said he worked extensively on his bowling and fitness over the next few years.

"...after coming back home, I worked really hard for the next four years. I wasn't a gifted athlete. I worked very hard, and in 2015, he wrote another article saying that I was bowling so well now and that he wanted me to keep performing like that, " Ashwin added.
Ashwin eventually got Manjrekar's number and sent him a message explaining how he had initially felt about the criticism.

"Then I asked for his number and messaged him that I had felt bad back then, but his article came to me like a guru and changed my life. Because there was substance in what he said. So, if I ever get criticised, I just think about whether there's something to learn from it. If I feel there's something to learn, I take it, " he concluded.
Ashwin went on to establish himself as one of India's greatest match-winners, finishing his international career with 765 wickets and 4,394 runs across 287 matches. He retired from international cricket on December 18, 2024, and finished as India's second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket, behind Anil ***** ble.

#ashwin #australia #tour #really

Charlie Dean will lead England for their one-day international series against Ireland in September, with regular captain Nat Sciver-Brunt among a number of senior players rested.
Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Bell and Amy Jones will also miss the three-match series while Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sciver-Brunt are absent as they manage their fitness and recovery.
England have named two uncapped players, seam bowler Grace Potts, 24, and wicketkeeper Kira Chathli, 27, in the 15-strong squad, while all-rounder Charis Pavely could make her 50-over debut having two T20s against Ireland in 2024.
Pace bowler Ryana MacDonald-Gay is included, having last played for England in the Ashes in early 2025, while 18-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, who finished as the joint-leading wicket-taker in this season's Hundred, is also selected.
Spin bowler Dean stood-in for Sciver-Brunt earlier this summer in 50 and 20-over campaigns against New Zealand and a T20 series against India, winning all three.

#sciver #series #dean #players

On Mardi Gras day in New Orleans, if you're lucky or in the know, you can see a dazzling procession of Mardi Gras Indians, or Black Masking Indians, marching through the streets, resplendent in suits that are covered in beads, feathers, and rhinestones.
"The makers of the suits work on them all year long for the display on Mardi Gras day," correspondent Bill Whitaker told 60 Minutes Overtime. "And they are elaborate, and meticulous, and colorful, and beautiful."
The suits worn by big chiefs, the leaders of the so-called tribes, are often the most detailed and impressive, and that's by design. But the big chiefs aren't the only revelers who get dressed up.
On Mardi Gras morning, Whitaker and the 60 Minutes team met Elenora Brown, better known as Big Queen Rukiya, who masks with the Golden Eagles tribe. Queen Rukiya revealed her stunning sea green suit, covered in feathers, intricate bead work, a banner emblazoned with the words "America," and rhinestone alligators hiding in the sleeves.
"I tell the people the story of the alligator, and how we lived, and how he took care of us, and fed us… clothes, shoes. And he is a sacred symbol of Louisiana," the big queen told Whitaker.

#gras #suits #minutes #feathers

CHICAGO (AP) — Four more belugas have arrived at a Chicago aquarium as part of a plan to move Canada's last remaining captive whales from a shuttered theme park to aquariums in the United States and Spain.
The four whales, named Caspian, Peekachu, Rain and Secord, were the second group of belugas sent to Chicago's Shedd Aquarium from Marineland, in Ontario near Niagara Falls, after an initial four arrived in July.
They are among a total of 30 whales and four dolphins that will be transported from Marineland after the Canadian government approved of the rescue plan, which might have saved them from mass euthanasia.
Marineland announced in early 2023 that it was for sale and closed to the public in late summer 2024. Twenty whales — 19 belugas and one killer whale — have died at Marineland since 2019, according to provincial government data obtained through freedom-of-information laws and official statements.
As part of the rescue efforts, the whales have been making their international trips in custom-built slings and temperature-controlled transport containers. A team of experts flew to Canada to meet the whales' previous caretakers months prior and pored over years of their health records in preparation for the trip.

#part

Josh Hazlewood made a strong return to Test cricket after more than a year, taking six wickets in Australia's first innings against Bangladesh in Darwin. He bowled 28 overs and conceded 89 runs, taking two wickets on Day 2 before claiming four more on Saturday.

The performance took Hazlewood's Test wicket tally to 301, making him only the ninth Australian bowler to reach the 300-wicket mark.
Hazlewood also created history by becoming the first Australian fast bowler to take a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in international cricket.

Before his 6/89, Ian Harvey held the best figures by an Australian pacer against Bangladesh. Harvey took 4/16 in an ODI at Darwin in 2003. Hazlewood's effort has now moved ahead of that mark.

However, the overall best bowling performance by an Australian against Bangladesh still belongs to spinner Stuart MacGill, who took 8/108 in a Test at Fatullah in 2006. Nathan Lyon has also recorded three five-wicket hauls against Bangladesh, while Shane Warne has two.
Hazlewood's six-wicket haul also places him among the leading fast bowlers to perform against Bangladesh in Tests. New Zealand's Chris Cairns remains at the top with 7/53, while India's Zaheer Khan also took seven wickets in a Test innings against Bangladesh.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc also claimed two wickets in the ongoing Test, taking his career total to 435 Test wickets. He is now the 11th-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.

Hazlewood's return has therefore been significant not only for Australia's ongoing Test but also for his place in the country's bowling history.

#wicket #Cricket #taking #darwin

Reinierde Ridder has changed camps ahead of his permanent move up tolight heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The Dutchman is scheduled to take on RomanDolidze at 205 pounds next, on Aug. 22 at Golden 1 Center inSacramento, California. He recently revealed that he has partedways with Kill Cliff FC and joined another Florida gym, American Top Team, ahead of his UFC light heavyweightdebut.
The former OneChampionship two-division ***** leholder explains that while hereally enjoyed the atmosphere at Kill Cliff FC, the level oftraining has allegedly not been up to mark in the last couple ofmonths. One of de Ridder's favorite coaches, Aung La NSang, recently opened his own gym, which limited his time atKill Cliff FC.

He also claims that head coach Henri Hooft has not been around muchover the last couple of months due to personal reasons and thatmany top fighters allegedly left Kill Cliff FC as the level oftraining declined.

"I did switch up my camp," de Ridder told Full Mount MMA. "So, I'vebeen at ATT this camp, which is a big change. I've been able towork with a lot of high-level guys, which is cool - coaches andtraining partners… Some stuff was just not good at Kill Cliff thelast six months. Henri had some personal stuff. He had been out ofthe gym for a couple of months. And Aung La, my guy I like to workwith a lot, he opened his own gym. So, he hadn't been at Kill Cliffmuch. And a lot of big guys left because just the content of theclasses was not that good. So, it was time to make a change,unfortunately. Cause I really liked them, really liked theatmosphere, liked everything there."

After getting off to a sensational start in the UFC, going 4-0 withwins over Bo Nickal andRobertWhittaker, de Ridder (21-4) suffered consecutive losses toBrendanAllen and CaioBorralho, prompting the move up to light heavyweight. He'slooking to return to winning ways at UFC Sacramento.

#level #liked #aung #henri

ONE SAMURAI 4 arrives at the iconic Ariake Arena in Tokyo, ***** an, on Saturday, October 17, bringing a pair of World ***** le fights to what is already one of the most anticipated cards of the year.
Reigning ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion "The Kicking Machine" Superlek will defend his 26 pounds of gold against reigning ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Di Bella in a blockbuster cross-division showdown. Also on the card, reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka puts his crown on the line against Malaysia's surging finishing specialist Rifdean "Magic Boy" Masdor.
Rooted in the honor and discipline of the Bushido spirit, these high-stakes World Championship showdowns join the previously announced ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World ***** le defense featuring reigning king Jonathan "The General" Haggerty against former ***** leholder Hiroki Akimoto.
The occasion is further elevated by the prestigious ONE Championship Hall of Fame induction of Interim ONE Flyweight Kickboxing World Champion Takeru "Natural Born Krusher" Segawa.
After spending the past two years competing in the bantamweight ranks, "The Kicking Machine" is finally coming home. Once he settles unfinished business against Abdulla "Smash Boy" Dayakaev at The Inner Circle 25 on Friday, August 7, Superlek will shift his full focus back to the division he has long ruled.

#kickboxing #champion #flyweight

By Nolan D. McCaskill
WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's bid to install Lindsey Graham's sister as South Carolina's next senator has met unexpected resistance from Republican voters and rivals, setting up a crowded primary that will test the limits of Trump's political influence in one of his strongest states.
After Senator Lindsey ‌Graham died on July 11 at age 71 from a heart ailment, Governor Henry McMaster appointed his sister, Darline Graham, to serve the remainder of his term, ‌which expires in January.
Trump called the appointment a "fabulous tribute" and urged voters to elect her to a full six-year term in the August 11 special election, promising his "Complete and Total Endorsement."
Some Republicans say Darline Graham is a fitting caretaker for her brother's seat but oppose Trump's push to elect her to a full term, arguing voters should choose from a field that remains crowded despite the president's endorsement.

#graham #lindsey #darline #elect

Dorit Kemsley allegedly received an email from ex-husband Paul Kemsley about their financial situation. Dorit later denied the claims made by PK in the email. The estranged couple continues to blame each other amid their ongoing divorce proceedings.
According to TMZ, PK sent the email two months after they split. The message read, "Last week, I sent you a respectful and straightforward text email noting that our current expenses are not sustainable and will be devastating to our family if not promptly addressed and rectified."
The RHOBH star PK claimed that he has been trying to spend time with their kids, while she repeatedly said that the kids are with the nanny or her parents.
The message read, "It is simply unacceptable that I am being deprived of spending meaningful time with our children. Especially given that you are not available to be their caretaker while filming.
"All I have asked of late is for you to have an open and productive dialogue regarding our family's precarious financial situation. Because changes must be made to protect our family's future," PK wrote.

#kemsley #financial #sent

By Nolan D. McCaskill
WASHINGTON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's bid to install Lindsey Graham's sister as South Carolina's next senator has met unexpected resistance from Republican voters and rivals, setting up a crowded primary that will test the limits of Trump's political influence in one of his strongest states.
After Senator Lindsey ‌Graham died on July 11 at age 71 from a heart ailment, Governor Henry McMaster appointed his sister, Darline Graham, to serve the remainder of his term, ‌which expires in January.
Trump called the appointment a "fabulous tribute" and urged voters to elect her to a full six-year term in the August 11 special election, promising his "Complete and Total Endorsement."
Some Republicans say Darline Graham is a fitting caretaker for her brother's seat but oppose Trump's push to elect her to a full term, arguing voters should choose from a field that remains crowded despite the president's endorsement.

#senator #sister #crowded #elect

For years, the idea of WWE's The Undertaker and WCW legend Sting going head to head was most fans' idea of a dream match.
Undertaker – real name Mark Calaway – had remained loyal to Vince McMahon and WWE throughout a number of testing years. On the other side of the coin, Sting – real name Steven Borden – had done the same with WCW before its eventual implosion in 2001.
Naturally, Sting ended up on WWE television and made his debut at Survivor Series in 2014 and went on to feud with Triple H.
Nevertheless, there was never any sign of Sting taking on 'Taker' and according to Calaway himself, it was nothing to do with him as to why it never happened.
Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images

#sting #calaway #never

Italy international Federico Chiesa was reportedly approached by Atletico Madrid, Roma, Napoli, Como and Fiorentina, but Footmercato insist he is refusing to leave Liverpool.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 23: Federico Chiesa of Liverpool during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Southampton at Anfield on September 23, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
The pattern looks as if it will continue to repeat, as every time the transfer window opens, there are reports that multiple sides are interested in finally giving Chiesa regular playing time.
However, he always slams the door firmly shut, convinced that he can make his mark at Anfield eventually.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JULY 25: Jack Whitaker #40 of Sunderland AFC and Federico Chiesa #14 of Liverpool FC battle for the ball during the second half of their pre-season friendly match at GEODIS Park on July 25, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)

#getty

This will be Alfred Johansson's first league game in charge of Motherwell. Just two of the Steelmen's last seven managers (including caretakers) have won their first league match (losing three of them), Steven Hammell beating St Mirren 1-0 in July 2022 and Stuart Kettlewell beating the same side 2-1 in February 2023.
Motherwell have only won their league opener in one of the last nine seasons (losing four times), beating St Mirren 1-0 in 2022-23.
Hibernian have won their opening game in seven of the last nine Scottish Premiership seasons (losing the other two), although they have lost on the opening day in two of the last three.
Motherwell won away to Hibs 1-0 on the final day of last season. The Steelmen are therefore looking to successive away league wins over Hibs for the first time since August 2013 – when the second win was on the opening day of the season.
Hibs have won three of the last four occasions they have faced Motherwell on the opening day of a league season (losing the other), including both of the last two: 3-0 in 2018-19, and 3-2 in 2021-22.

#hibs

Image: Ben Duffy/Sherdog.com illustration
We at Sherdog provide regular, in-depth preview coverage for allmajor events, including our oft-praised preview column along withour "Sheehan Show" handling all sorts of related matters includingbetting. With those official sources for picks handled, we wouldlike to take the edge off here and get a bit lighter with ourbreakdowns.

The industry of sports betting is exploding before our very eyes,with billions of dollars pumping in since legalization stateside.Oftentimes, those driving the lines are right on the money withtheir openings, valuations and ****** yses. Occasionally they are wayoff, or otherwise merit some additional conversation. That is wherewe come in with this reinvigorated series of Prime Picks, where,stealing a line from game show host Sam Reich, we hold hands andjump into the abyss together for Saturday morning's Ultimate Fighting Championship's jaunt toAbu Dhabi. Try it out.
MagomedAnkalaev (-575)
MagomedZaynukov (-290)
MagomedTuchalov (-900)

We admit, we're getting away with a technicality here by notincluding MuhammadSaid in our same-name parlay. After all, Magomed is the Russiantransliteration of Muhammad. Also, good luck trying to search thename "Muhammad Said" without any additional qualifiers and stillgarner any information about the fighter of that namesake. All ofthese Magomeds are rightful favorites, and in the case of two ofthe more expected victors of Tuchalov and Ankalaev, moneyline betsare just not worth it.

Therefore, we pair these three gents together, all of whom haveclear paths to victory against foes who have displayed exploitableweaknesses. Some are giving BogdanGuskov a proverbial "puncher's chance" to win this fight,although he might have some surprise jiu-jitsu in his back pocket.Nevertheless, unless Ankalaev chooses to take things horizontal—heis not nearly as keen on doing this despite his reputation, onlydoing so in his first triumphant meeting against AlexPereira. Against "Poatan," he did attempt a clean dozen shots.While he did not land a single one, the mere threat of the takedownallowed him to get in on the stoic striker and do some work. A fewfaked shots against "Hitman," whose takedown defense has alreadycome into question despite his recent successes, would payimmediate dividends.

We get to the meat of the order. More specifically, the pork. JohnPork. "Wild Chanco" Zaynukov, who actually had his nickname onFight Finder as "John Pork" until specifically reaching out torequest that it be taken down. RobertWhittaker didn't have the same problem when Ben Fowlkes andChad Dundas first crowned him "Bobby Knuckles" in the always-great"Co-Main Event Podcast" and it stuck. Even though DamianRzepecki will hold a slight bit more experience and morestoppages on his ledger, he and Zaynukov stand at differentterraces in their respective careers.

To get signed through the promotion, the Dagestan native in thepipeline of the Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov School

NEW DELHI: India fast bowler Ashok Sharma described his international debut as a "dream come true" after receiving his maiden India cap ahead of the opening T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare on Thursday, dedicating the emotional milestone to his elder brother whose sacrifice helped shape his cricketing journey.

The 24-year-old Rajasthan pacer was handed his India cap by bowling coach Sunil Joshi before the toss, capping a remarkable rise from domestic cricket to the international stage. Although Ashok finished with figures of 0/29 in four overs, India secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Overcome with emotion after the cap presentation, Ashok reflected on years of hard work finally paying off.

"It's very special. The thing for which I was working hard, hopefully today it's fulfilled. It's a dream. Till now it's a dream, sir, whatever it was. Even now it's a dream that I wore the cap of India, and my dream has come true," he said.

The young pacer then revealed the person he wanted to honour the most.

"I dedicate this moment to my elder brother," he added.
Ashok's story is one of perseverance and family sacrifice.

Growing up in Rampura, a small village near Jaipur, he shared a passion for cricket with his elder brother, Akshay Sharma, who also played the game. However, financial constraints meant the family could not afford to support both sons in pursuing cricket.

Akshay made the difficult decision to put aside his own ambitions so Ashok could attend inter-district Under-16 trials. That selfless act became the turning point in Ashok's career.

Years later, the youngster who once struggled for opportunities has now become India's newest fast-bowling prospect.
Before presenting the India cap, stand-in head coach VVS Laxman reminded Ashok of the significance of representing the country.

"We know Ashok is going to make his international debut, and we discussed that it's a matter of great honour," he said.

Laxman also acknowledged the effort behind the achievement.

"Representing the country, all your hard work, and all your performances were rewarded by this opportunity," he added.
Ashok's rise has been rapid over the past year.

After finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 22 wickets, he earned an IPL contract with Gujarat ******* ans, where he grabbed headlines by clocking 154.2 kmph — the fastest delivery of IPL 2026.

Earlier in his journey, he almost walked away from cricket before a chance appearance at the Red Bull Speedster competition opened the doors to becoming a Rajasthan Royals net bowler, eventually paving the way for his domestic breakthrough.

Though he went wicketless on debut against Zimbabwe, Ashok consistently hit a lively pace and showcased the attributes that earned him national selection.

#ashok #India #Cricket #hard

A penalty shootout is a nerve-wracking and dramatic moment, probably one of the most tense in a match. When a goalkeeper and a penalty taker face each other one-on-one, it looks like real psychological warfare. Each tries to predict the next move; each tries to use emotional pressure this way or another. The level of tension within twelve yards can be compared to head-to-head card games, where hunting for the opponent’s physical tells comes to the forefront, and is heightened at big tournaments such as the World Cup.
Both technique and the ability to read the opponent matter on the pitch. Success comes from combining these two aspects, and in no other way.
Having strong dribbling skills allows the player to beat defenders and progress the ball forward until an advantageous passing lane opens. Tackling and interceptions halt the opponent’s forward momentum and help win back possession to counterattack.
Mental strength is vital to avoid emotional paralysis after conceding, just as to resist the urge to take defensive shortcuts in the last 15 minutes. But where resilience carries a lot of weight is during penalty shootouts. This stage isn’t a test of technique but a genuine psychological test, in which the goalkeeper and the kicker engage in a silent duel.
You can be great at saving shots, but the kicker’s presence alone can sometimes be intimidating. Belgian former footballer Eden Hazard, for instance, used this – his menacing look put real pressure on goalkeepers. Meanwhile, a penalty taker might ***** ume it’s better to aim for one corner or another, but in fact, a goalkeeper has already read those intentions and prepared – no goal.

#penalty #real #pressure #head

Relocations for the first of dozens of beluga whales that remained at the now-shuttered Marineland Canada have begun, according to the aquariums **** isting in the rescue.
Marineland Canada, located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, closed in September 2024 in the wake of controversy and allegations of animal abuse, CBC reported. Thirty beluga whales remained at the facility -- their care funded by donations. But once those donations ran out, their caretakers worried that euthanasia might be imminent -- asking the Canadian government in October 2025 for funds to feed the marine mammals.
MORE: Loss of sea ice putting migrating beluga whales in danger
On Monday, six of the beluga whales began their journey to their new home, according to several **** ociation of Zoos & Aquariums-accredited aquariums that are collaborating in the rescue.
Veterinarians **** sed the belugas' fitness for travel before they were loaded into specialized cold-water containers and transported by truck and plane, the aquariums said. The belugas, ranging in age from 6 to about 40, have been receiving "top-notch care" and are all in great condition, Eric Otjen, vice president of zoological operations at SeaWorld San Diego, told ABC News.

#aquariums #whales #remained #rescue

'It made the difference!' - Mohammad Kaif reveals how Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma reshaped India's team dynamics and energy in Edgbaston win originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Mohammad Kaif credits senior stars' return for lifting India's energy in Edgbaston win.
Jasprit **** rah becomes India's top ODI wicket-taker in England after sensational spell.
India aim to seal series in second ODI at Cardiff on Thursday.
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif, believes that it wasn't just about the runs, but having Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit **** rah back in the fold brought something harder to measure.

After over a decade spent as a middleweight, Robert Whittaker made his light heavyweight debut at UFC 329, dominating Nikita Krylov en route to a third round TKO win. Could the fight have gone any better for “The Reaper?” Maybe if the commentary team hadn’t spent the whole fight taking about how he was too small and looked bloated for the division.
“The commentary called me fat!” Whittaker exclaimed on the Ariel Helwani Show. “Talking about my weight. Did I look that out of shape? I had abs the day before. I just had some salt. Salt bloat going on.”
While Whittaker was happy to joke about the commentary, he did admit that he had serious concerns about the decision to move up as camp for UFC 329 progressed.
“We already had a lot of nerves coming into this fight off back to back losses, as close as the last one was,” Whittaker said. “And then a middleweight moves up to light heavyweight, everyone’s seen how this story ends a thousand times. So there’s a lot of self imposed pressure on myself and nerves and whatnot.”
“Then seeing all the comments and reading about people saying, ‘Too small,’ etcetera, ‘Too short,’ blah blah blah. And, it was one of those moments, like, you just gotta kinda find the belief. I started to doubt. Listen to the circle that’s important to you. Listen to the the ones that matter. The ones that have the informed information. And, yeah, just keep working, I guess.”

Conor McGregor is back. And there goes Conor McGregor.
Saturday’s UFC 329 main event failed to live up to the hype – an understatement, we know – with McGregor lasting just 69 seconds before an injury stopped his rematch with Max Holloway. This was McGregor’s first fight since 2021 and it’s difficult to imagine a worse scenario than what a packed house at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas witnessed.
Prior to that disappointment, several fighters put on star performances including Paddy Pimblett, Brandon Royval, Robert Whittaker, and Gable Steveson, but the fallout of the headliner is sure to cast a long shadow. The MMA Fighting crew hits the roundtable to discuss the biggest storylines coming out of UFC 329
Heck: All-time card – until that ***** bell rang in the main event.
Meshew: You got the full MMA experience: a great fight, a sick sub, some good finishes, one squash match, and hilarious disappointment.

LAS VEGAS – Robert Whittaker met the media Saturday after his win over Nikita Krylov at UFC 329.
Whittaker (27-9 MMA, 18-7 UFC) put away Krylov (31-12 MMA, 12-10 UFC) with a third-round TKO to close out the prelims at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Whittaker was making his UFC debut at light heavyweight after spending his entire tenure with the promotion heretofore at middleweight – including a stint as champion.
"Everything that could go right did go right. I can't express to you how good I feel," Whittaker said at his post-fight news conference. "There was a lot of nerves going into this. Who hasn't seen the story of a middleweight after two losses moving up to light heavyweight and then sliding into oblivion? I didn't want to be that guy."
Now there's no chance of that. And in fact, at light heavyweight, things are in enough of a perpetual state of craziness the past few years in the UFC that anything's possible.
The 35-year-old Whittaker, who snapped a two-fight skid, can't even rule out the possibility he's smack dab in ****** le contention at 205 pounds after the win over Krylov.

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is live TONIGHT (Sat., July 11, 2026) with UFC 329, streaming exclusively live on Paramount+. The record-setting event takes place inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main event is Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 in the Welterweight division.
It’s a rematch 13 years in the making with Conor McGregor vs. Max Holloway 2 tonight. The literally notorious McGregor has returned without much fanfare to take on one of the sport’s most popular fighters. McGregor last competed five years ago, losing to Dustin Poirier and shattering his shin (relive that here). Since then, he’s been embroiled in major controversies, including being found liable for rape in an Irish civil court.
McGregor has two fights left on his deal, reportedly. It seems like he might be trying to fight out his contract quickly so he can move on to new pastures.
The co-main tonight is Benoit Saint Denis vs. Paddy Pimblett in a high stakes Lightweight bout. Saint-Denis can clear a path to a ***** le shot with an impressive win here over the Englishman. Pimblett will try and show he deserves a second shot at current undisputed champion, Justin Gaethje. Rounding out the main card is Cory Sandhagen vs. Mario Bautista, Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh and King Green vs. Terrance McKinney.
The “Prelims” are headlined by Robert Whittaker vs. Nikita Krylov, in Whittaker’s Light Heavyweight debut (more on that here). UFC 329’s “Prelims” also have Gable Steveson’s UFC debut against massive betting underdog, Elisha Ellison.

Robert Whittaker made a successful light heavyweight debut and he might go home with Nikita Krylov’s jaw as a reward after his knockout win at UFC 329.
Despite giving up a lot of size, Whittaker’s speed was undeniable and his power translated as he hurt Krylov several times during the fight. The end came after Whittaker clipped Krylov wih a stiff right hand and then followed with another huge shot behind it.
Krylov immediately grabbed at his jaw like something was broken and waved off the fight as the referee stepped in to stop if at 1:01 in the third round.
“Feast your eyes on that Reddit!” Whittaker joked after his win. “Honestly, there was a lot of nerves and we’ve seen guys move up and slide down … but we’ve still got it. I trained for the entire camp with the idea that my opponent is going to be the boogeyman.
“I came in nice and heavy and I hit as hard as anybody else. This is my home now. The middleweight page is closed.”