Timesofindia.com in Galle: Quick single, a punch in the air followed by a jubilant jump before unleashing another punch. The helmet came off in a flash, and his arms spread wide to acknowledge the applause from the dressing room and the spectators braving the heat on the grass banks. It was a memorable moment for Devdutt Padikkal, who notched up his maiden Test hundred, and it couldn't have come at a better time, both for him and the country.

Playing a Test for the country after 632 days, he walked into bat after a moment of chaos between Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul, who were involved in a terrible mix-up, but took the mantle seamlessly from the opener. Devdutt got off the mark with a boundary, danced down the track to launch Prabath Jayasuriya for a maximum early in the innings and showcased excellent footwork against both spin and pace. There wasn't much happening off the surface in the first session, but the odd delivery did surprise the batters, mostly because of the drift caused by the crosswinds.

Off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha, introduced in the ninth over on his debut, got one to drift in and hold its line after pitching, but the bounce saved Devdutt, who wore a look of disbelief. No one expected that kind of ***** istance from the surface that early in the contest, and the remainder of the day showed that what happened in the 13th over was an anomaly. Except for the occasional delivery with more drift than usual, there wasn't much turn on offer, and Devdutt remained very busy and breezy in his approach, outscoring his senior partner, Rahul, with ease.

Like the spinners, pacers Lahiru ***** ara and Asitha Fernando also found little ***** istance. The two had their moments, but their effort wasn't consistent enough to challenge the visitors in the beautiful batting conditions. After the first rain break, Asitha bowled a testing spell to both Rahul and Devdutt, but both were seasoned enough to navigate the period, when moisture might have seeped into the surface because of the strong shower, and then feasted on some ordinary bowling.
While Rahul was happy to switch to blockathon mode, Devdutt kept the board moving at a fair clip. The Karnataka batters, who spend a lot of time off the field bonding over their mutual love for coffee, complemented each other really well. Rahul, who unfortunately retired hurt due to cramps, enjoys batting with Devdutt as the left-hander's positive approach allows him to switch to zen mode.

Devdutt remained in the driving seat of the 150-run stand, which put India in a dominant position on the opening day, maximizing the crucial toss Shubman Gill had won earlier. With the pitch expected to deteriorate in the coming days, India's best shot at winning the Test is to bat once and bat big, and both Devdutt and Rahul laid a solid foundation for that.

A couple of weeks ago, Devdutt was nowhere close to the playing XI, but an ill-timed injury to Sai Sudharsan opened up the No. 3 slot. The management, not

The first week of preseason is here for the New York Giants, and the excitement is palpable. With head coach John Harbaugh **** uming the reins of the franchise and the potential their rookie quarterback showed last season, there was a ton of hype from the fan base.
Unfortunately, the start to their preseason might have given them some serious worry, with Jaxson Dart taking a brutal hit. As a result, he was even checked for a concussion in the tent, leaving fans worried about his status.
After initially keeping his choice private, Harbaugh declared on the day of the game that he planned on giving his starters some reps against the Minnesota Vikings. Understandably, there was excitement from the fans as they finally got to see the crew back in action.
It started solid enough in the first quarter. But then it looked like tragedy struck. Facing a second down, the Giants went for a passing play. However, as soon as Dart got the ball, his running back, Tyrone Tracy, completely whiffed on the block.
What followed was a brutal hit directly to Dart's midsection that caused him to return to the sideline immediately. Taken into the medical tent, New York sent out veteran Jameis Winston to handle the quarterbacking duties.

#preseason #brutal #tent

The primary objective of every preseason game is to just make it through without any significant injuries. Unfortunately for the Minnesota Vikings, it looks like they might not have met that first objective in their preseason opener against the New York Giants.
During the second quarter of the preseason opener, the Vikings had to call on the cart for safety/linebacker Jamal Adams, who appears to have suffered some sort of a leg injury on a play where the Giants scored a touchdown. The nature of the injury has not been disclosed at the present time.
Adams signed with the Vikings a couple of weeks ago and originally started as a linebacker, but was moved back to the safety spot by Brian Flores and was apparently being used all over the defense. His role has apparently not been completely defined yet.
Adams spent last season with the Las Vegas Raiders and played all seventeen games after dealing with a litany of injuries over previous seasons. He seems to be the sort of player that Flores could use in all sorts of different ways in his defense.
Once we get an update on what sort of injury Adams has suffered, we will update this post. For now, we will just be hoping that it isn't as serious as it appears to be at first glance. Keep your fingers crossed, folks.

#adams #Giants

When making your retirement plans, setting a target retirement age gives you an idea of what your Social Security benefits will look like and how much you need to save each month to hit your nest-egg goal.
Unfortunately, many people are making a dangerous mistake when setting their retirement age — at least according to finance expert, Suze Orman.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
Millionaires under 43 hold only 25% of their wealth in stocks. Here's where their money is actually going

#actually #unfortunately

In his media day press conference on Friday, Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz revealed that a pair of Hawkeyes have suffered significant injuries.
Third-year defensive back Kyler Gerardy and SMU transfer receiver Lance Beeghley are both expected to miss significant time and maybe the entire 2026 season altogether.
"Injury-wise, overall, not too bad. We have two guys right now that may miss a big part of the season if not the entire season. Kyler Gerardy unfortunately was injured Wednesday and Lance Beeghley, a receiver, was hurt about a week ago. Those two guys, we'll see how that goes. Will know more as we move forward. Otherwise, we have some camp issues like every year. Nothing really noteworthy and to comment on," Ferentz said.
Iowa also announced on Friday that transfer safety Tyler Brown is dealing with a muscle strain.
Gerardy saw action in four games last season, logging 29 defensive snaps and five special teams snaps, per Pro Football Focus. The 6-foot, 199-pound defensive back recorded his first career solo tackle during Iowa's 37-0 shutout at Wisconsin last season.

#gerardy #defensive #kyler

Falcons have a major QB problem after Tua Tagovailoa preseason debut originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Falcons played in their first preseason game on Friday night against the Denver Broncos in Atlanta. Unfortunately, it was a nightmare, as the Falcons lost 27-7.
A lot of things went wrong during the game, but there is one very glaring issue that should have Falcons fans a bit worried. That issue revolves around the quarterback room, and especially Tua Tagovailoa.
ESPN's Marc Raimondi noted how Tagovailoa's debut was not "auspicious," as he struggled mightily for the Falcons. But it wasn't just Tagovailoa who struggled; Cooper Rush was a disaster. One thing is clear after this game: The Falcons have a QB problem.
"All eyes were on Tua Tagovailoa in his first start of any kind with the Atlanta Falcons. It was not an auspicious beginning," Raimondi writes.

#raimondi #first

Today, the Carolina Panthers will be playing their second preseason game of the year, going on the road to face Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
Last week was a thrilling start to the summer exhibitions for Carolina—as their 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals ended in a buzzer-beating touchdown scramble by rookie quarterback Haynes King. Unfortunately, we won't get to see King on the field today, as he suffered a hamstring injury on that final play.
However, we will get to see starting quarterback Bryce Young—for at least a couple of drives.
According to Cameron Wolfe at NFL Network, the Panthers plan to play Young for 10 to 15 snaps. They'll be focused on tempo and operation, among other things.
That's pretty close to the preseason game plan we saw two years ago, when the Panthers visited the Bills. Head coach Dave Canales only played Young for one drive, but he did more than enough to convince the staff he was ready for the regular season to begin—completing six of his eight throws for 70 yards and a touchdown.

#bills

Training camp stars emerge every summer. No one who watched a few exciting weeks of Paul Turner needs to be reminded of that, but it's also true that some guys will flash for a few Philadelphia Eagles practices before fading into the background. Others force their way into conversations that eventually become impossible to ignore. Second-year receiver Darius Cooper appears to be heading toward the second category.
The Eagles added Cooper as an undrafted rookie last offseason, and he eventually battled his way onto the roster. This time around, he entered camp where there was no shortage of intrigue at wide receiver, but much of the attention had shifted to newcomers like Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, and Dontayvion Wicks.
Rookie Makai Lemon was a major talking point, but unfortunately, the narrative has shifted to a hamstring injury that temporarily slowed his progress. Meanwhile, Cooper has quietly continued doing what he's done since arriving in Philadelphia: making plays and earning trust. What began as local buzz has now grown into something larger.
It's seemingly no fluke. Cooper has been one of the most frequently mentioned players in training camp reports throughout the summer. Whether discussing chemistry with Jalen Hurts, contested catches, or reliability in traffic, reporters covering the team have repeatedly highlighted Cooper's development.
Now that praise is reaching a national audience. Recently, ESPN's Tim McManus offered another set of camp notes and identified Cooper as Philadelphia's top performer through the early stages of training camp.

#camp #philadelphia #second #summer

Most home-buying contracts successfully reach closing, with just 6% of all purchase agreements terminated and only 12% of contracts resulting in delayed closings.
Once you've closed on your home, you become the official legal owner of the property and the seller no longer has any right to it at all. Unfortunately, sometimes the former owner may not want to leave right away, or may not be able to do so — which can create a lot of headaches.
Jeff Bezos backs a platform that lets anyone invest in rental homes for as little as $100 — 6 ways to build wealth like a landlord without actually being one
Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake. Here's what it is and 3 simple steps to fix it ASAP
The tax breaks in Trump's 'big beautiful bill' expire after 2028. Here are 4 moves to make before the window closes

#contracts

The New York Jets began their 2026 NFL preseason schedule on Friday at MetLife Stadium against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The game ended in a 24-16 Buccaneers win, but as is the case with the preseason, it is an exhibition. Even so, there is still plenty to stay up-to-date with as jobs are on the line and decisions need to be made by head coach Aaron Glenn.
With Geno Smith (ankle) not playing and being listed as day-to-day, fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik started at quarterback. Klubnik impressed, meanwhile, backup QB Bailey Zappe did not with his two interceptions.
Defensively, the Jets were unfortunately status quo: No takeaways and still no interceptions.
Miss the action? Want to check it out again?

#Friday

ARDMORE, Pa. – It was a record-breaking day as Merion Golf Club, welcomed the most ticketed fans for a U.S. Amateur in the championship's history. With attendance numbers pushing 3,000, the line to get into the pro shop remained wrapped around the clubhouse most the day, while the scene for the first tee as the four quarterfinal matches started was electric.
"I was totally shell-shocked by the amount of people that were out there, to be brutally honest," Georgia grad Carter Loflin said. "I've played in front of people before, but not like that. Honestly, it took me a minute to get used the gallery and everything. I looked at Brandon [Knight, his opponent] on the first tee, and I was like, 'Dude, I've never seen people four-deep like this before.'"
Added Jack Whaley: "It's one of the best experiences I've had playing golf."
And Logan Reilly: "Unbelievable atmosphere."
Unfortunately, the air was let out of the balloon early, and the thousands of fans clamoring to see some epic battles went home disappointed in that regard. None of the matches reached the 17th hole while three of them ended before the 15th hole.

#golf #four #ardmore

Saints get brutal update on Jordyn Tyson on new hamstring injury originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New Orleans Saints extended Chris Olave to a long-term contract this offseason and drafted Jordyn Tyson in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. While both have shaky injury histories, when healthy, they should form an incredible duo.
Unfortunately, before they even got a chance to play together in the regular season, there is already a seemingly serious injury for Tyson due to a hamstring problem.
ESPN's Katherine Terrell reports that Tyson will miss some time due to a hamstring injury, and it could even "linger" into the regular season.
"Saints rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson has a right hamstring issue and will miss time, according to Saints coach Kellen Moore," Terrell reports. "Moore said that he's not going to estimate a timetable for Tyson's return yet, but when asked about the regular season, he said 'it could' potentially linger into Week 1."

#moore

Fans photograph track construction during the NTT INDYCAR Series NTT INDYCAR Series Ontario Honda Dealers INDY at Markham on August 14, 2026 in Markham, Ontario. (Photo by Michael L. Levitt/Lumen via Getty Images)
The excitement was high for the Toronto suburb of Markham, Ontario as fans came out early and filled the grandstands around the 12-turn, 2.19-mile street course – site of IndyCar's Ontario Honda Dealers Grand Prix of Markham.
Unfortunately, for the next nine hours, the only action they saw were construction vehicles attempting to complete the building of the race course.
Because of ongoing delays completing the track build, the NTT IndyCar Series Practice 1 on Friday has been rescheduled from 3:05 p.m. Eastern Time to 6 p.m. ET.
Areas of the hairpin are being completed including fencing and barriers and are expected to be finished soon. After that, it needs to be certified by an FIA representative on site.

#series #honda #fans #course

India captain Shubman Gill has denied reports of a communication gap between the team management and the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, saying the two sides have remained in regular contact over the fitness of injured players.

Questions were raised after three players initially included in India's squad for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka were ruled out before the series.

Speaking to the media on the eve of the first Test, Gill said the team management had been closely following the rehabilitation of players at the CoE.

"There is a constant communication with them. Unfortunately Sai Sudharsan did not improve as much as we liked as we can't take risks in Tests. But we are confident of our 15 (players)," Gill said at the pre-match press conference.

Gill said the five-day nature of Test cricket meant India could not risk playing players who were not fully fit.

"The Test match is for 5 days. If it's one-day or T20, then it's a different story. But in the Test match, you don't want to take a risk. I feel that in the Test match, you have more opportunities with other players (to come back)."

He explained that players have several opportunities to contribute during a Test, even if they do not start well.

"For example, if you don't play well on the first day, you get another chance. So, the players have more chances to come back. So, keeping that in mind, we were a little disappointed (with Sai and ****** rah)."

"But it didn't affect the morale of the team that much that they didn't get the first 11. I feel that whoever is in our 15 or whoever we give a chance in our playing 11 in any condition, they can play well and win the game," he said.

India will begin the series with Ravindra Jadeja as their only all-rounder, with Washington Sundar still recovering from injury.

Gill backed young all-rounder Manav Suthar to contribute if he gets an opportunity during the series.

"I think that's where someone like Manav coming in. He's got the ability with the bat. Of course, you need a bit of experience, you need some belief and confidence and that will only come once you're out there playing, when you score some runs.

"And hopefully he does that in the series."
133249055

#test #gill #come

This week, we asked the community to vote on who they thought the Rockies would call up next. Apparently, the Baseball Gods were listening because when we first asked, 53% of folks thought Zac Veen would be called up.
Later that same evening, Veen was indeed called up.
Then, on Tuesday, we asked once again who the Rockies would call up but changed the answers to reflect Veen's promotion.
35% voted that Adael Amador would be called up next.
As fate would have it, Kyle Karros unfortunately suffered a concussion during Tuesday's game after a nasty collision with Ezequiel Tovar, which forced the Rockies to make another roster move. This time, Amador was indeed called up to take his place.

#veen #call #indeed #apparently

There was much made of the San Francisco 49ers' draft strategy in 2026 and from previous drafts. It's clear the 49ers have their own board, which is put together with physical and character traits that are desired by the organization. After one preseason game, the 49ers' rookie class was on display against the ****** ans.
De'Zhaun Stribling was stellar with seven catches. Ephesians Prysock showed off his speed and length at cornerback. Jaden Dugger flashed while playing multiple spots on the defense.
Gracen Halton might have made the biggest impact on Thursday night. The defensive tackle spot has needed an upgrade and now with Osa Odighizuwa and Halton, the team may have found a formidable defensive tackle duo. Unfortunately, Alfred Collins experienced the same issues from last season on Thursday and was routinely moved by Tennessee's offensive line. C.J. West is still recovering from injury.
Halton's explosive first step was the story against Tennessee. On 15 pass rushing snaps, Halton generated a pressure and a QB hurry. However, against the run, Halton looked excellent, registering four defensive stops on 15 run defense snaps. Finishing with the highest run defense grade (75.0), Halton showed potential to be a three-down defensive tackle.
While Romello Height gets most of the attention as a pass rush specialist on obvious passing downs, the rookie struggled a bit. It was ****** umed the third-down package would consist of Nick Bosa, Odighizuwa, Mykel Williams (DT), and Height. It is still one preseason game, but the pass rushing package could be Bosa, Osa, Halton, and Mykel.

#halton #pass #mykel

Soccernews report Borussia Dortmund defender Almugera Kabar is in advanced stages to join NEC Nijmegen on a loan deal. According to the Dutch source, Kabar is interested in the move as discussions between the clubs are going smoothly so far.
The left-back joined Dortmund's youth ranks in 2019. However, he has only made six Bundesliga appearances, including seeing a red card on his debut during the 2024/25 season. Unfortunately, Dortmund lost four games with the 20-year-old on the pitch.
According to the report, the clubs are in discussion for a loan deal as Kabar has a contract until 2028. Nijmegen surprisingly finished third in Eredivisie last term, which secured them a place in the preliminary rounds of Champions League.
They knocked out Olympiacos on Tuesday to progress to the final qualification round tie against FK Bodø/Glimt. Ex-Dortmund prospect Emre Mor scored the extra-time winner against the Greece giants, in front of his former teammate Edin Džeko. Schalke's striker was in the stands to support another teammate from his Fenerbahçe spell, Dušan Tadić.

#clubs

When the 2026 season started with Paul Skenes having the roughest start of his MLB career against the New York Mets, many thought it would be just a blip on his greatness radar. Unfortunately, it might have been a precursor for things to come this season for the Pittsburgh Pirates ace, and now we're left wondering if something is truly wrong with Skenes.
On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman discuss yet another concerning start for the reigning NL Cy Young Award winner and try to figure out what's going on with Paul Skenes. They make a comparison between him and Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who has also suffered a major falloff after his great 2025 campaign, and discuss whether the World Baseball Classic can be used as an excuse.
Later in the show, Jake and Jordan talk about Jackson Merrill being at the forefront of the San Diego Padres' hot offense, which has put them right back in the mix for a potential NL Wild Card spot. They then highlight the Chicago White Sox giving out a Pope hat as part of a giveaway, Tim Anderson announcing his retirement and play a fun game surrounding the 2026 Heart and Hustle Award winners.
1:11 - The Opener: Paul Skenes' concern grows
19:13 - Cal Raleigh's falloff from 2026

#skenes #Baseball #falloff

Ben Simmons continues to make major strides amid his NBA comeback bid, reportedly participating "with zero restrictions at a player-led private minicamp for the Australian men's basketball team" this week.
However, Simmons' latest offseason highlights did little to win over the NBA world, instead reigniting familiar mockery of the 2016 No. 1 pick.
At his peak, Simmons was viewed as one of the NBA's premier defenders and facilitators, with his 6-foot-10 frame placing him among the league's most unique players. Unfortunately for the 30-year-old, a combination of injuries and mental confidence blocks amid mounting scrutiny contributed to his sharp decline.
Amid Simmons' up-and-down basketball journey, 3-point shooting has remained a constant weakness, as he has shot a meager 5-for-36 (13.9%) for his career. While the three-time All-Star has struggled to demonstrate in-game shooting improvements, his ability to thrive in offseason settings has long been a source of confusion and irritation.
After sitting out the entire 2025-26 season with a back injury, Simmons is angling to make a comeback. Per ESPN's Marc J. Spears, "several NBA teams have expressed interest in Simmons, who is open to signing a minimum contract." Spears added that "one source said he has a non-guaranteed offer on the table for training camp with a Western Conference team."

#amid #Basketball #team

On Tuesday night against the Atlanta Braves, following a clunker of an outing his last time out in Cleveland, Nolan McLean allowed just one hit through six innings.
Unfortunately for the right-hander, that one hit, a home run by Ozzie Albies, was enough to beat him and the Mets who were shut out against Martin Perez and the Braves bullpen in a 4-0 loss.
Any other day, especially lately as New York's offense has been red-hot, McLean's outing would've been more than enough to earn him a win. Still, he and interim manager Andy Green were pleased with how he threw the ball.
"He was great," Green said. "I thought he bounced back early from being behind consistently and he managed to get out of those in the first couple of innings, avoided hits early because of that.
"Pitched behind more than he'd like to or we'd like him to, [but he] really found his groove there for a while. Just great six innings of work. One pitch that I'm sure he wants back."

#outing #enough #back #like

For the first seven innings, it certainly seemed like the White Sox (61-57) channeled the Pope in the series opener, mashing three solo home runs for three of their four runs in front of a 40,000-person crowd, all wearing Pope hats.
Unfortunately, the Chicago bullpen wasn't as blessed, and wound up blowing the save in the top of the eighth, allowing the Reds (57-61) to come all the way back and steal the game in the top of the 10th, 5-4.
Righthander Sean Burke looked as good as ever, and outside of a solo home run given up to Eugenio Suárez, he was completely under control, only surrendering one run on three hits while striking out eight along the way. Burke put together three true 1-2-3 innings in his seven innings of work: the first, third and fourth (he technically recorded four outs in the third, with Héctor Rodríguez reaching on a dropped-third strike). In fact, Edgar Quero was just as devoured by Burke's knuckle curve that dove out of the zone to the ground as Rodríguez, who completely whiffed. The pitch was so far out of the strike zone that it didn't even appear in the MLB Gameday feed:
Offensively, the South Siders were looking great early in the game, blasting three solo home runs and an RBI double to go up four runs, 4-0.
The White Sox were averaging a long ball an inning through two, beginning with Brenton Doyle smashing a first-pitch, leadoff home run in the first, and Edgar Quero following it up with one of his own in the bottom of the second, giving Burke and Chicago a pair of insurance runs early in the game.

#first

The Orioles blasted a pair of two-run homers in the first two innings against Bailey Ober to jump out to an early lead. The damage was done by Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson.
The Twins loaded the bases in the 2nd inning with no outs and only got one run out of it. In the top of the 3rd, Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit a solo homer to make it a 5-1 game.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Brooks Lee's 19th double scored their 2nd run of the game. Later, Alan Roden would strike out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
The final chance for the Twins came in the 8th, with Luke Keaschall and Royce Lewis getting on base. Unfortunately, Kaelen Culpepper would strike out looking to end the inning.
It was a pretty uneventful game after the 3rd inning, with the exception of Culpepper getting his first hit at Target Field in the 4th inning. Ober managed to settle down and go 6 innings, with the bullpen trio of Funderburk, Nance, and Rogers keeping the game within reach. The lineup just couldn't reach very far, or at all.

#inning #bases

Celebrities always say they love their fans — but fans don't always make it easy.
Scream and Scooby-Doo star Matthew Lillard recently made headlines for a particularly odd encounter at a horror convention, but he's far from the only celebrity to endure a tense, awkward, or downright bizarre interaction with an admirer. Unfortunately, as the boundary between celebrities and their fans becomes increasingly blurred, that affection can sometimes be expressed in confusing ways.
From requesting to be punched in the face to propositioning stars for ****** to approaching them to buy crack cocaine, there seems to be no shortage of odd things a fan might do to make their celeb encounter memorable — and not in the best way.
Entertainment Weekly takes a look at 12 times fans didn't know how to take a chill pill when meeting a famous star.
01 of 12

#star #scooby #matthew #lillard

The Boston Celtics spent the early part of the offseason battling the Miami Heat in the trade market, as they both pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo. Unfortunately for the Celtics, the Heat won that battle, landing the two-time MVP for a haul of young players and draft picks.
On Christmas Day, Boston and Miami will go head-to-head once again, except this time it will be on the court. If we ******* ume that this will be the first meeting between the two teams, Boston will be forced to face up to the reality of what could have been, had they landed Giannis in the summer. After all, it was missing out on Giannis that ultimately acted as the catalyst for Brad Stevens pulling off a highly controversial deal to send Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Games between Boston and Miami always carry some extra weight for the fans. The two teams are rivals and consistently find themselves battling for position in the Eastern Conference. While the Heat aren't expected to be a contender this season, having Giannis on the roster means they can't be counted out, especially with Bam Adebayo anchoring the floor next to him.
For the Celtics, the matchup against Miami will be both a good barometer of the level they're performing at, and what they're missing in Giannis. On the flip side, it could also be a reminder of how difficult it would have been to build a contender around an aging Giannis who needs multiple high-level shooters around him in order to be anywhere near his best.
Either way, Christmas will provide Celtics fans with a glimpse of how things could have been. The only question is whether they'll come away from that game wishing Boston won that trade battle, or grateful that things turned out the way they did, even though it ultimately turned the Sixers into a powerhouse.

#christmas #battling #trade #time

If you ask social media or the internet at-large, the Buffalo Bills constructed the worst new stadium in NFL history.
However, that does not appear to be the majority nor reality... not even close to it.
On Saturday, the team held their first football event at the new Highmark Stadium. Unfortunately what gained the most attention in the echo-chamber that social media can be at times were any negative comments. The most stark problem was seats with very obstructed views.
However, Bills president of business operations Pete Guelli said on a conference call that is not the reality of the situation.
"So far, we've heard from less than 1 percent of our PSL holders about anything sight line related," Guelli said.

#however #Social #saturday

Rams get worrying Puka Nacua injury update after WR leaves practice early originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Rams, like every other team, are going through their training camp before Week 1 of the NFL preseason.
Unfortunately, with all teams back in action, there are some unfortunate injury updates that come out about players. For the Rams, a big issue has just popped up on Tuesday.
According to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN, Puka Nacua reportedly left practice early with the training staff, didn't return, and head coach Sean McVay didn't provide an update on Nacua's status. This, understandably, is a bit worrisome for the Rams.
"Rams WR Puka Nacua left practice with the training staff," Thiry reports. "Sean McVay says he has no update on what happened."

#nacua #training

Eintracht Frankfurt finished eighth in the Bundesliga last season, their lowest finish since 2021/22. How would you summarise how their season panned out?
Qualifying for Europe is the minimum expectation for Eintracht Frankfurt every year. This allows them to attract better signings with the promise of continental football.
When they changed head coach in early 2026, there was still optimism that they would reach Europe, and they turned to former Spain international Albert Riera in an attempt to shake things up.
Unfortunately, the biggest shake-up was in the dressing room, where Riera's personality clashed with the squad, and everyone involved decided it was best to change managers again at the end of the season.
After his exit, the former Liverpool midfielder gave an interview in which he compared his relationship with Eintracht to that of "the gorgeous Angelina Jolie and the charming Brad Pitt. Both are wonderful, but they just don't fit together."

#season #former #spain

The WNBA has all of our attention, but now I just want to look away. The league of powerful women — Caitlin Clark exploring the boundaries of the game like an abstract painter, Olivia Miles personifying the rebirth of slick, Breanna Stewart pulling out new tricks from her offensive ****** nal, A'ja Wilson shapeshifting nightly into a GOAT — feels less like a sport and more like a societal powder keg.
It has spiraled into a rinse-and-repeat drama.
A Black player clotheslines a White player, and it's time to flinch. An ejection ensues, and the banished player, unfortunately, finds her phone and straightaway posts on Threads, and we cringe. Then the predictable rants trend on social media apps and morning shows.
The WNBA has proved it can hold our eyeballs ever since "the Caitlin Clark effect" introduced a new audience to the game and generated blockbuster ratings. However, with more and more moments like Saturday's meltdown between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky, it's becoming exasperating.
And what is "it"?

#WNBA #breanna

Manchester United teenager Harry Amass is tipped to leave the club before the end of the summer, as he's unlikely to be included in the first team's plans.
The young left-back made his senior debut under Ruben Amorim during the 2024/25 campaign, before spending the previous season away on loan.
In September, he joined the struggling Sheffield Wednesday. Although the Owls were on a free fall, the MUFC youth product managed to impress on an individual level, with the club's supporters voting him Player of the Month twice in a row.
Following a bittersweet experience in Sheffield, Amass was recalled to the base in January, before joining Norwich City for the second half of the campaign. But unfortunately for the youngster, his stint was swiftly wrecked by a serious injury.
This summer, Amass rejoined Michael Carrick's squad and has been collecting cameos during the pre-season friendlies.

#amass #ruben

This game had an eventful first inning that saw the Mets plate five on Bryce Elder and the Braves, and then a valiant-but-doomed comeback attempt over the rest of the game. The main things that stood out to me: Bryce Elder with poor command is a nightmare, and the Braves really needed some homers in this one but couldn't find 'em. Will the Phillies gain a game on the Braves by the time I finish this recap? Who knows.
Boy, that first inning, though. The game started with an A.J. Ewing double off Elder. The ball rolled under the padding in right field, and Ronald Acuña Jr. threw up his hands to signal a ground rule double. Ewing stopped running midway between second and third. For some reason, the Mets challenged the call, and this resulted in something absurd like an eight-minute delay of game… only for the umpires to rule that while the ball was not "lodged," Ewing would nonetheless be "awarded" second base. Pace of play, am I right?
Anyway, would that that was the only excitement in the first, but alas. A single later scored Ewing, and then a key play happened on a 3-2 Elder pitch to Carson Benge. The pitch was clearly a strike, but Sean Murphy came up throwing and had the runner dead to rights… except that it was ruled a ball and Murphy didn't challenge, turning a 1-0 deficit and a half-inning break into a 1-0 deficit, runners on first and second, and one out. After a short liner single to load the bases, Elder got a punchout… and then hung a first-pitch slider to Brett Baty, who slammed it for a grand… slam. The Mets actually collected two more hits before Elder finished the frame, but the score remained 5-0.
Then, the Braves mounted a rally of their own against Christian Scott. Unfortunately, their rally didn't have a homer, so it wasn't as productive. Drake Baldwin led off with a double, Matt Olson later singled, and Ozzie Albies had a crazy 11-pitch plate appearance that ended with a 3-2 pitch barely clipping his uniform to load the bases. Mauricio Dubon then came through with a seeing-eye bouncer that plated two. Austin Riley ended the rally by watching two of three pitches in the zone (and fouling off the second). Oops.
The Mets continued tearing into Elder and the Braves' defense. Francisco Lindor, whose small-sample lifetime stats against Elder are murderous, led off the second with a double, and then scored on a two-out bloop. Another single and a walk loaded the bases, but the frame ended at 6-2. Sean Murphy collected a one-out double in the bottom of the inning, but was left stranded. Lindor then tagged Elder for a two-out solo homer in the third, and yeah, that's kind of how this one was developing for a while.

#Braves #pitch