By Renee Hickman
EAU CLAIRE, Wisconsin, Aug 10 (Reuters) - When she's not trekking across Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District to meet voters, Democratic congressional challenger Rebecca Cooke is still on her feet, waiting tables at two restaurants around Eau Claire, a city of about 73,000 people surrounded by rolling farmland.
"When you're serving people at a restaurant, it's almost like you're knocking doors every time you're waiting a table," said Cooke, who is trying to flip one of ‌a shrinking number of highly competitive seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in November's midterm elections that could end Republican control of Congress.
Cooke doesn't get into deep political conversations as she takes orders, she said, but customers do sometimes ‌recognize her and tell her about issues they care about, occasionally writing notes of support on receipts. She keeps the best ones in a folder on her phone.
Each of those tableside moments could be a difference-maker for Cooke, 38, the Democratic frontrunner in Tuesday's primary. If victorious, she will head to a rematch with Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden, who was elected in 2022, in what's expected to be a tight race that could turn on how President Donald Trump's policies have affected rural voters.

#waiting

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's furry friends are reportedly not so friendly yet.
In the Sunday, August 9 edition of Rob Shuter's Naughty But Nice Substack, sources claimed that the 36-year-old pop star's cats Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin ***** on, and her and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end's dog are still getting used to each other following their July 3 wedding.
In late July, Page Six obtained photos of the NFL star, 36, arriving in Palm Beach, Florida with his and Swift's white dog that seems to be a Samoyed.
MEGA
"Taylor and Travis are doing great. Ironically, it's the animals having the hardest time blending their families. The humans figured it out much faster," one source told Shuter. "Every newlywed couple has an adjustment period. Taylor and Travis have already found their rhythm. Now they're just waiting for the four-legged members of the family to catch up."

#travis #july #august

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Credit: Claire Folger/Netflix
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have been famous friends since they were kids. They embarked on their acting journey together back in Boston, Massachusetts, which led them to winning an Oscar for Good Will Hunting, which made them both movie stars. Despite both actors going off on their own, and having individually lucrative acting careers, they have always been tight, and is an enduring Hollywood friendship fans love to watch play out. Despite their 40+ year friendship, of course there are small things that they each do that bug each other, and now Damon is revealing what it is.
In a recent interview with BBC Radio 1, Damon had the pleasure of answering questions that were submitted by kids while he was there to promote one of the most anticipated movies on the 2026 movie release schedule, The Odyssey. One of the kids asked the Oscar winner if there was anything his bestie and frequent collaborator, Ben Affleck, did that annoyed him and of course he was able to think of something right away. He said:
If I had to pick one thing, I'd say if we've been in 10,000 meetings in our life, Ben's never been the first one there. No, I'm always waiting for him. He's always a little late."

#kids #affleck #course

Ben Jones, the "Dukes of Hazzard" star who turned to politics, had died. He was 84.
Jones died from a "massive heart attack," his longtime wife, Alma Viator, confirmed in a post on Facebook Sunday, Aug. 9.
"I lost the love of my life today," Viator wrote. "He was home resting in his favorite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees. Ben had the most amazing rich life."
Jones played scruffy mechanic "Crazy" Cooter Davenport in nearly every episode of the hit sitcom, from 1979 to 1985, as well as its 1997 and 2000 TV films. He was later replaced by David Koechner in the 2005 theatrical film and Joel Moore in the 2007 direct-to-video prequel, "The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning."
Jones grew up in a railroad shack near Portsmouth, Virginia, and got his start acting in his mid-20s, in the films "Killer's Three," an uncredited role, and "Together for Days." He went on to land other film and TV roles, including an uncredited role in "Smokey and the Bandit," the Richard Pryor and Bill Dee Williams sports comedy "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings" and the action-comedy "Moonrunners," the predecessor to "Dukes."

#life

Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKA)(NYSE:BRKB) just reported strong second-quarter earnings, with operating income rising over 16% year-over-year.
Notably, the company's massive cash **** d declined from over $397 billion in the first quarter to $365.5 billion by the end of the second quarter, as CEO Greg Abel began putting cash to work.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Even more interesting is that Berkshire was a net buyer of stocks in the second quarter. According to quarterly reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the large conglomerate purchased nearly $23.5 billion in stocks in the second quarter and sold only about $3.7 billion.
In the 14 quarters prior, Berkshire had been a net seller of stocks. Is this the screaming buy signal that investors have been waiting for?

#berkshire #stocks #flashing

NFL teams are preparing for the 2026 season and several franchises are hoping to end their serious playoff struggles.
The Seattle Seahawks are defending Super Bowl champions and 31 other teams are chasing them. However, the first step towards postseason success typically begins with a division **** le.
MORE: 4 NFL rookies with the most breakout potential in 2026
Many NFL franchises have been waiting decades to reclaim their position atop their respective divisions, including the Cleveland Browns. In fact, Cleveland's only managed to reach the playoffs three times since 2000.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys are used to success in Super Bowl-era division play. That includes 25 and 24 division **** les, respectively, for the all-time great franchises.

#franchises #division #Seattle

Even though there's no deadline for Aaron Donald to decide whether he's going to come out of retirement or not, fans are getting impatient waiting for his decision. One thing's for sure, though: He looks ready to go.
Rams coach Sean McVay said last week that Donald brought his speed trainer out from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles and on Sunday, his trainer posted a video of Donald going through footwork drills with Braden Fiske and Desjuan Johnson.
He cruised through the speed drills, showing off the footwork he displayed throughout his Hall of Fame career. There's more that goes into playing in the NFL than simply being quick, but Donald doesn't appear to have lost a step at all.
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reported last Thursday that Donald was expected to make a decision in the coming days, but that timeline has been updated. Florio wrote on Sunday that Donald has shifted his timeline from "early this week to the end of this week."
There's no rush for him to make a decision, but the Rams would probably like to know his plans before Week 1. Then again, McVay sure looks like a guy who knows Donald is coming back, so maybe it's just the contract holding things up.

#donald #decision #Rams #sure

Ben Jones, the actor turned politician best known for playing Cooter Davenport on "The Dukes of Hazzard," died on Sunday from a heart attack, according to his wife Alma Viator. He was 84.
Viator announced her husband's death in a Facebook post on Sunday afternoon. With a photo of Jones holding his dog, she wrote, "I lost the love of my life today. Ben passed from a massive heart attack. He was home resting in his favorite chair waiting for the Braves to come on and whoop the Yankees. Ben had the most amazing, rich, full life. He loved and was loved by so many. He will be missed. I loved him so much."
More from Variety
'Dukes of Hazzard' Car With Confederate Flag to Remain Displayed in Auto Museum
Amazon Might Pull 'Dukes of Hazzard' From IMDb TV Free Streaming Service Over Confederate Flag Imagery

#hazzard #jones #sunday

The Philadelphia Eagles aren't waiting until the preseason opener to evaluate potential roster additions. According to the NFL transaction wire, Philadelphia hosted defensive tackle David Blay, running back Ja'Quinden Jackson, and linebacker Tarron Jackson for free-agent visits Sunday.
Workouts and visits don't guarantee a signing. Teams routinely evaluate available players during training camp to ensure they have up-to-date medical information and a list of potential replacements in case of injuries.
Still, Philadelphia's three visitors are worth examining. Blay is a local product coming off his final season at Miami. Ja'Quinden Jackson offers size and power at running back, while Tarron Jackson is a familiar face after beginning his NFL career with the Eagles.
Blay may be the most intriguing developmental prospect of the three. The Levittown, Pennsylvania, native signed with New England as an undrafted rookie after playing at West Chester, Louisiana Tech and Miami. The Patriots released him Friday, allowing Philadelphia to bring him in two days later. New England lists Blay at 6-foot-2 and 292 pounds. He played 46 games during his college career, finishing with 129 tackles, 11.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass breakup. He recorded 28 tackles during his final season at Miami. The Patriots signed him May 8 before releasing him Aug. 7.
Blay's most productive season came at Louisiana Tech in 2024. He recorded 46 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks while earning first-team All-Conference USA honors. Philadelphia already has Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo and Byron Young occupying prominent places in the defensive tackle rotation. Gabe Hall is among the players competing for a reserve role. That makes Blay more of a developmental option than someone likely to earn immediate playing time.

#Eagles #tarron

João Palhinha is not in Vincent Kompany's plans this season for Bayern Munich despite the midfielder saying he was ready to stay and fight for his place after returning from a relatively solid loan spell with Tottenham. For a decent while, he was rumored with a potential move back to Portugal, but neither Sporting CP or Benfica are currently able to afford his wages and Aston Villa have been the club most recently linked with the Portuguese midfielder.
Unai Emery is an admirer of Palinha's and is looking to fill the spot left by Youri Tielemans, who left for Manchester United. Additionally, playmaker Morgan Rogers has left for Chelsea, which leaves another gap in Emery's midfield and while they have already brought in João Gomes from Wolverhampton Wanderers, there's still a void to be filled.
Villa could now face competitions from a Premier League rival for Palhinha, though. Per information from TalkSport (via iMiaSanMia), Newcastle United have emerged as a potential suitor for the midfielder as new manager Matthias Jaissle really seems him as a good fit for his midfield. In addition to the departure of manager Eddie Howe, The Magpies have already lost Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, Sandro Tonali to Tottenham, and most recently, Bruno Guimarães to ******* nal. Jaissle now has find the right puzzle pieces in the remainder of the summer transfer window and he sees Palhinha as a viable option.
With the players Newcastle have lost, experience in the Premier League is exactly what he's looking for — something Palhinha has plenty of with his tenures at Tottenham and Fulham. They'll really have to fight Villa for his signature, though, as Bayern have the luxury of waiting to see who'll be willing to pay a higher fee for him since they prefer a permanent sale over another loan option.
For Newcastle, they'll want to avoid another situation similar to what happened with Johan Manzambi, who wound up going to Villa from SC Freiburg after all indications were pointing towards a move to Newcastle. A higher wage paid and the prospect of Champions League football from this season after the UEFA Supercup against Paris Saint-Germain was one of the huge selling points for Manzambi after he impressed with Switzerland at the World Cup, so Newcastle have the ball in their court when it comes to Palhinha.

#newcastle #villa #league #premier

Tennessee is loaded at a handful of spots on their roster going into the 2026, and on the defensive side of the ball, that's its linebacker room.
Behind seniors Arion Carter and Jeremiah Telander, junior Edwin Spillman, and 2025 third team All-Big Ten selection Amare Campbell, Tennessee has a number of younger players with notable upside waiting in the wings.
Unfortunately, according to VolQuest's Austin Price, the Vols just lost one of those young players for the season. Price says sophomore LB Jaedon Harmon tore his ACL in practice on Saturday and is out for the year.
Harmon came to Tennessee from Rome, Georgia, where he was a consensus four-star player and top 200 recruit by On3. He made a quick impact last season as a true freshman. He was a special teams standout and notched 19 total tackles.
Tennessee still has a ton of young talent at linebacker. Rising sophomore Jaden Perlotte showed a lot of promise last year, and incoming freshman TJ White and Brayden Rouse have notable upside.

#linebacker #players

Ferran Torres appears set for a major move this summer, with TeamTalk reporting that the Barcelona forward has agreed personal terms with Paris Saint-Germain ahead of a proposed transfer. The Spain international, who has attracted attention from **** nal and Tottenham Hotspur, is now waiting for the clubs to complete what is expected to be a deal worth around €50million (£43m / $58m).
The 26-year-old is entering the final year of his current Barcelona contract, a detail that has clearly shaped the market around him. PSG have moved quickly, identifying Torres as a player capable of strengthening their central attacking options after the departure of Goncalo Ramos to AC Milan earlier in the window.
Photo IMAGO
According to the report, there was firm interest from north London. "We can confirm that both **** nal and Tottenham Hotspur showed an interest in bringing the Spain international back to England, with a return to the Premier League having been a genuine consideration for the player." That line underlines that this was no routine check-in, there was authentic Premier League intent.
Yet the direction of travel changed once PSG entered the picture. "However, once PSG made their approach, Torres spoke with head coach Luis Enrique and that conversation proved decisive." In elite recruitment, these moments often matter as much as fee or wages. A trusted coach, a defined role and a convincing sporting project can tilt the balance very quickly.

#Barcelona #premier #around

After Santiago Castro and Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina will be the Giallorossi's third signing of the summer.
While awaiting the arrival of the right-footed left-back, Roma is preparing to welcome the Argentine full-back, formerly of Udinese and Atlético Madrid.
After the World Cup concluded on July 19th, Molina then enjoyed a couple of weeks of relaxation with his family before recharging his batteries and dedicating himself to his new adventure in the capital.
As reported by Matteo Moretto, in the next few hours, the Argentine will be in Rome to finalize the contract that will tie him to the Giallorossi for the next four years.
Molina will have the opportunity to integrate with his new teammates and try to immediately connect with Gasperini.

#molina #back

There had been little news surrounding Karim Coulibaly in recent months, but with around three weeks remaining before the transfer deadline, a move for the centre-back could once again be on the cards. According to a report from DeichStube, a transfer this summer is becoming increasingly likely following Coulibaly's change of agent.
It is not out of the question that negotiations could resume soon after months of inactivity, although no concrete offer is currently on the table. While figures of up to €45 million were discussed in the spring, Werder Bremen are now reportedly hoping to receive a transfer fee of around €30 million.
According to DeichStube, Werder are primarily waiting for a potential buyer from England. The proceeds from any sale would then be quickly reinvested in further new signings.

#transfer #around #karim #coulibaly

All our journeys begin with a plane. A flight that takes us far away, to the other side of the world, with one certainty accompanying every departure: wherever we land, we will find an Inter family waiting for us.
That is the strength of being an Inter fan. A bond that knows no boundaries and, if anything, seems to grow stronger the further we are from Milan and San Siro. From Hong Kong to Perth, the affection, passion and unwavering devotion to the Nerazzurri colours never once wavered. Chants, banners, marches: a home away from home.
Ten days on tour that brought together football and people. Three high-level international fixtures against Manchester City, AC Milan and Juventus provided the team with valuable competitive minutes and momentum, with goals, key insights and important playing time ahead of the new season. In Hong Kong came the opening fixture against Manchester City, in a spectacular global setting; in Perth, the historic derby against AC Milan, the first to be played on Australian soil; and finally, the clash with Juventus to bring the tour to a close.
In Hong Kong, Inter built a continuous presence day after day. The team's arrival with partner Qatar Airways, travelling around the city and taking part in various local activities. The visit to BYD's headquarters in Shenzhen, at the heart of one of the world's most advanced technology hubs. In the city, the Fanatics Store at Hysan Place became a meeting point for the Nerazzurri faithful, where Christian Vieri met supporters for photos, autographs and a constant stream of passionate fans.In the stands during Manchester City vs. Inter, the supporters' choreography filled the stadium with colour, transforming an international fixture into a powerful expression of identity. Then, in the evening, the skyline took centre stage: a drone show lit up the Hong Kong sky with Nerazzurri symbols, colours and references, taking the Club beyond the pitch and into the heart of the city.
In Perth, the story became even more tangible and community-focused. Brookfield Place was transformed into the heart of Nerazzurri life: a fan zone, a meeting place and a shared ******* e for anticipation. Supporters and Inter Club members travelling from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth and Indonesia, along with youngsters from Inter Academy Sydney, gathered in the same places every day, creating a genuine sense of continuity between the team and the community.

#kong #nerazzurri #Milan #place

With all the doom and gloom about the future of the stalled Kawhi Leonard trade back to the Toronto Raptors, a scenario has been presented that would see the Raps actually benefiting from the whole kerfuffle.
The June 30 blockbuster deal that was supposed to send Kawhi back to the team with which he won his last NBA championship is on hold. Both the Raptors and the LA Clippers are awaiting the results of the long, drawn-out investigation into the alleged cap circumvention scandal surrounding the Clippers, owner Steve Ballmer and Leonard.
There have been all sorts of scenarios floated that could put the kibosh on Kawhi's return to Toronto. A full-year suspension or having his contract voided are the two leading narratives that naysayers have referred to. However, local beat writer Michael Grange of Sportsnet says that all the clues suggest that Kawhi will wind up with the Raptors when all is said and done. And even more than that, he lays out a scenario where a certain line of severe punishment handed out by the NBA could actually benefit Toronto in the long run.
But first, hear him out as he tries to put Toronto fans at ease about any potential suspension of Kawhi for a huge chunk of the 2026-27 season:
The… commonly cited risk — that Leonard will face a lengthy suspension for his role in the alleged cap circumvention — is something that almost certainly won't come to pass, a matter than has been under-reported or not reported previously.

#toronto #leonard #raptors #long

CHENNAI: If Javagal Srinath had been the match referee when Sourav Ganguly famously kept Steve Waugh waiting for the toss at Eden Gardens in 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the former India captain might well have faced a suspension.

"I would have banned Sourav for a few games!" Srinath said at EEMAGINE event by recalling the incident, which has been regarded as an act of gamesmanship that disturbed Waugh and the Australian team during the course of the famous series that India won 2-1. Ganguly later said that he couldn't find his blazer which led to the delay, but that's highly debatable.

Srinath, however, praised Ganguly's leadership, particularly his ability to nurture youngsters such as Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag. He felt Indian cricket underwent a major transformation after the match-fixing scandal of the late 1990s, with players developing a collective resolve to restore the game's image.

"There was a bit of a resoluteness in each and every player to really put that image back and then prove the world that cricket is superior, cricket is clean," Srinath said. He added that leadership came from the top four or five players being on the same page, which helped India not only start winning consistently at home but also turn the corner overseas.

Srinath recalled that between 1991 and 1997-98, India struggled to win abroad, but things began changing from 1999 onwards.

Looking back at the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, Srinath revealed that he had wanted India to bat first after a discussion within the team. "I was one of the guys who said we should always bat first and then put them under pressure," he said. But Ganguly had a different view. And once the decision was made, Srinath said the team had to move on, but Australia were simply too strong.

He recalled recommending Zaheer to selector Chandu Borde after watching the left-arm pacer take six wickets against Air India while representing the MRF Pace Foundation. When Borde jokingly asked what would happen to Srinath if Zaheer was picked, his response was simple: "If he's good, he replaces me."

Srinath also revealed that Rahul Dravid was "not the best roommate," joking about the former India batter's habit of leaving things scattered, while describing Venkatesh Prasad as extremely "spick and span".

On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Srinath cautioned against comparisons with Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, stressing that different eras bring different challenges.

"When you judge a player it's just not the white ball, it is the red ball cricket as well. Sooryavanshi is a wonderful talent, I think he's still too young. I hope he develops the maturity like Sachin and has that strong head on his shoulders like Virat."

Srinath also called for a better balance between bat and ball, pointing to shorter boundaries, bigger bats and less ***** ounced seams. "Something needs to be done to bring some balance into this game," he said.

#srinath #ganguly

Everyone has a celebrity crush, but most of the world can't actually act on those feelings like Jamie Lee Curtis did in 1984. That was when she saw her husband, Christopher Guest, for the first time, coming across a photo of him in the pages of Rolling Stone. The moment Curtis' eyes landed on Guest, she knew she needed to meet him, so she used her own fame to call his agency and ask them to hook her up. Shockingly, Guest didn't respond. Still, Curtis didn't give up, and the universe was on her side.
Talking about the fateful day she finally met her husband on "The Drew Barrymore Show," Curtis went into detail, explaining that, two months later, she went out to lunch with fellow successful nepo baby Melanie Griffith and spotted the man of her dreams in the flesh. "I sat down at a table and. ... Chris was sitting two tables away facing me." The two waved at one another and then, somewhat surprisingly, Guest left the restaurant, but not before looking at Curtis one more time, shrugging his shoulders, and waving goodbye, to which Curtis responded in kind. Thankfully, Guest's agent hadn't tossed Curtis' number out, and the "Waiting for Guffman" director called her the next day. The two went on their first date four days later, but there was one more roadblock they would need to overcome before they could spend their lives together: their careers.
As Curtis explained, "He was leaving for a year on 'Saturday Night Live' ... I was starting the movie 'Perfect' in Los Angeles. ... So we are now opposite coasts." But the two found a way to make things work, traveling to meet up each weekend and, just a month later, they were engaged and married before the end of the year.
Read more: Male Celebrities Who Were Unrecognizable After Plastic Surgery
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

#guest #husband #meet #didn 't

The calendar has flipped to August. Which means we're in the annual drought in the NBA's year-round calendar. Don't expect much to happen over the next couple of months. Teams across the league are in vacation mode and just waiting for the 2026-27 season to start.
The Oklahoma City Thunder fell short of a second NBA championship, but remain in the meat of the ******* le conversation. Bringing back mostly the same crew, expect them to be one of the league's top teams for a fourth straight year.
To prepare for the 2026-27 regular season, Thunder Wire will lay out three goals for all 17 players on the roster. OKC has 14 standard players and three two-way players. Let's look at Jaylin Williams and what he could accomplish this upcoming year:
Slimming down, Williams had a breakout season last year. He's always been a quality depth piece. But he played his way to the top of OKC's rotation. Injuries allowed him to soak up more minutes. Safe to say he took full advantage of that. He showed off his outside jumper as he averaged a career-best 7.2 points. He shot 38.3% from 3 on 3.9 attempts. The 24-year-old remains one of their best developmental stories in recent years.
Now, it's about staying at that line of production. Or leveling up. He's turned into a well-rounded offensive player. Aside from the catch-and-shoot looks, he showed off his secondary playmaking. He also showed scoring scalability. Something that wasn't there before with him. There were a handful of times where he stepped up as OKC's top scoring option when a ton of guys were sidelined. Since he joined the Thunder, he's steadily improved.

#showed

The Oregon Ducks are well stocked at the quarterback position in the near future, with potential No. 1 pick Dante Moore leading the way in 2026 and former five-star and two-year Nebraska Cornhuskers starter Dylan Raiola waiting in the wings likely with two years of eligibility remaining. Five-star Will Mencl is also set to join the Ducks as part of the 2027 class.
But that doesn't mean head coach Dan Lanning and offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer are resting on their laurels. They've been involved in 2028 five-star Donald Tabron II's recruitment recently, and were included among his top three, which also consisted of the Texas A&M Aggies and LSU Tigers.
On Saturday, he officially announced that he will make a commitment decision on August 15 on the Rivals YouTube channel.
Rated as a five-star, Tabron is the No. 3 quarterback and No. 29 player overall in the 2028 class, per 247Sports Composite. He competes for Cass Technical High School in Detroit, Michigan, where he's the 2nd-ranked player in the state. Moore is also a Detroit native, potentially making it two extremely talented Ducks quarterbacks from the Motor City.
But it will take some convincing for that to happen, as a crystal ball with 100% confidence has been placed for Tabron to land with at Texas A&M. The Ducks have both flipped and surprised with gaining the commitment of a number of prospects before, with Tabron now the next target in that category.

#moore

Cristian Romero is expected to leave Tottenham this summer, with Atletico Madrid currently leading the race for the Argentine defender.
However, according to Mundo Deportivo, the deal has not yet been finalised, as Romero is still monitoring Barcelona's transfer plans, particularly after Ronald Araujo's move to Liverpool created a vacancy in the Blaugrana defence.
Romero has been on Barcelona's radar for several weeks.
The Argentine international is highly regarded by Deco, although the club have not moved forward with the operation because other positions have taken priority and departures were needed before any serious move could be considered.
Romero still waiting for Barcelona. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

#TOTTENHAM #atletico #madrid

"Wait til next year" is a notion that many close to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's selection process are painfully familiar with.
The inherently exclusive club only annually admits a select few new members, leaving out many of the game's most accomplished figures. The ensuing waiting game can seem without end.
But when the latest class is inducted on Saturday, Aug. 8, in Canton, Ohio, the temptation to look ahead to next year's group might be stronger than ever.
When news broke in January that former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was not selected in his first year of eligibility, the decision immediately became one of the most infamous in the organization's history. Despite winning the second-most games in league history (333, trailing only Don Shula's 347) and reigning over the definitive dynasty of the 21st century, Belichick was left to process a snub many are still trying to make sense of nearly seven months later.
Now, there might be unparalleled interest in the selection process for the Class of 2027.

#many #class

The future of French football?
This Saturday evening, Ligue 2 returns with an enticing multiplex.
As every year, plenty of talents are just waiting to make their mark in the antechamber of French football.
So here's a quick overview of the gems to watch this season.
Already impressive with AS Saint-Étienne last season, the young right-back is hoping to play a major role in Les Verts' push for promotion.

#ligue #saint #verts

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has responded to India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant's public appeal for help in acquiring land in his home state, ***** uring the cricketer that the government will extend all possible ***** istance in accordance with the rules.

Pant, who is currently in Sri Lanka with the Indian team ahead of the two-Test series, had taken to social media platform X in the early hours of Saturday to seek the chief minister's intervention after struggling to purchase land in Uttarakhand for nearly three years.
In a heartfelt post, the 28-year-old revealed his desire to move his base from Delhi to Uttarakhand and build his first home in the state where his roots lie. Pant said that despite searching for suitable land for the past three years, he had been unable to find a property that met his requirements.

"pushkardhami ***** o sir how's you ??? It's a long time for me especially being local from Uttrakhand . I have been trying to buy land to shift my base from Delhi to Uttrakhand and I couldn't find anything facilitating and big to live here I love my Uttrakhand. My humble request to us is please help me in land acquisition cause nowadays it had become nitemare with clarity and even other land is dew which was I supposedly get when I was promoting the state before keeping everything in side I wanna move back to my native place to help and built around Uttrakhand and I want to shif back to my Pahadi people please look into this matter it's been 3 years didn't get any land awaiting your answer pushkardhami sir," Pant wrote on X.
Pant later clarified that he was not seeking any special favour or free allotment from the government. Instead, he said he was willing to purchase the land at the government's prescribed rates if the administration could facilitate the process.

"A gift would be lovey for representation out states at the highest level internationally stages but if you allow me I wanna buy it fromGovernment and on there rates at least I can have my first house built in my own state and our state please be helpful. Seriously didn't know how to do it," he further wrote.
Responding to Pant's appeal, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami praised the India star for bringing laurels to Uttarakhand and welcomed his desire to return to his home state.

"Dear Rishabh, you are the pride of Uttarakhand. With your splendid performances and achievements, you have illuminated the name of Devbhoomi across the country and the world. Your love for your motherland and your desire to return and contribute here are truly commendable," Dhami posted on X.

#years

Michael Owen has recommended Marcus Rashford to **** nal after the Gunners missed out on Vinicius Junior following their failed pursuit of the Brazilian's signature. **** nal had hoped to sign the winger after he and Real Madrid failed to agree on a new deal, with the Gunners waiting for him to accept their offer and become their next superstar in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta's side have been one of the best teams in Europe in recent times, and Vinicius was open to joining them. However, Real Madrid fought back and retained the services of the Brazilian winger, leaving **** nal to consider other options as they continue looking to strengthen their squad.
Arsenal will now focus on alternative targets and could still look to sign a winger. This is why Owen believes a move for Rashford would make sense after the forward spent last season on loan at Barcelona.
The Spanish side opted not to keep Rashford, but his time with the club was considered a success. He returned to England as a league winner and could provide **** nal with another attacking option if they decide to approach him.
Rashford could therefore emerge as a realistic alternative after **** nal failed to secure their preferred target in Vinicius Junior.

#rashford #vinicius #winger #junior

LeBron James potentially left a lot of money on the table to sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. In doing so, he created some NBA history that fans had a lot to say about.
After his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers, the entire NBA world was waiting to see where LeBron James would end up. Ultimately, he ended up signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Sixers have a stacked roster with some huge contracts already. However, James' focus remains on winning, which led to him taking a two-year, $8 million deal from their organisation.
James has made over $580 million in salary alone from his years in the league. And the cut he's taken to his existing salary has inadvertently ended up making NBA history.
Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for TIME

#angeles

The Philadelphia 76ers' final roster spot is coming down to two former LeBron James teammates.
LeBron James signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers has allowed the team to add depth to the roster.
Speaking of which, the 76ers are currently waiting to fill their final roster spot before the new season. Many believe the spot will go to none other than Kevin Love.
However, one former LA Lakers star, who played with James, believes he deserves the spot over the 2016 NBA champion.
Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

#james #lebron

Haissem Hassan has been left out of Real Oviedo's squad for their pre-season match against Le Havre on Saturday, with the 24-year-old Egypt winger the subject of a £9m bid from Celtic and awaiting the green light to have a medical. (Anthony Joseph)
Hassan is dealing with visa issues with an agreement in place to join Celtic on a contract until 2030, with Real Oviedo poised to make £6m, plus £1.3m more if the Premiership winners reach the Champions League proper. (George Tsarouchas)
Real Oviedo head coach Julian Calero has revealed they will not stand in the way of Hassan's move to Celtic. (Record - subscription required)
Celtic are ready to step up their interest in Heart of Midlothian forward Claudio Braga, while several clubs from overseas are also weighing up a move for the 26-year-old. (Pete O'Rourke)
Monaco have made Algeria 23-year-old Fares Ghedjemis their top priority for the right-wing position and plan an improved offer after a bid of £6m, plus £1.7m in bonuses, was rejected by Frosinone, who also turned down £8.6m bids from Celtic and Rangers. (L'Equipe - in French)

#celtic #real #year #haissem

Italy's front pages on Saturday are given over to a trio of big exclusive interviews, with Hakan Çalhanoğlu, Cesc Fabregas and Weston McKennie all taking centre stage, set against the "Derby d'Italia" friendly between Juventus and Inter in Perth.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Çalhanoğlu has firmly committed his future to Inter. "I want only Inter," runs the headline, with the Turkey midfielder dismissing links to his homeland, "Forget Turkey, I'm staying here", and declaring the Nerazzurri can go all the way in the Champions League, while awaiting the club's call over a new contract. His stance follows the collapse of Galatasaray's long-running interest.
Corriere dello Sport, meanwhile, leads on Cesc Fabregas, who hails Inter as the benchmark of Serie A.
"The peak is Inter," the Como coach declares, praising Lautaro Martínez as the league's finest, "I'd buy him in Fantasy football", and likening his own Nico Paz to Kaká, as he sets out the "Como model" and his Champions League ambitions.
Tuttosport gives its front page to Weston McKennie, under the headline "Juve forever."

#cesc #weston #turkey #como

PSV Eindhoven have rejected Rangers' improved £6m offer for winger Couhaib Driouech and Burnley and Celta Vigo have now entered the race to sign the 24-year-old, with talks at an early stage. (Sky Sports)
Couhaib Driouech has a slight preference for Celta Vigo after the Spanish club entered the race to sign the PSV Eindhoven forward along with Rangers. (Mounir Boualin)
Monaco have made Algeria 23-year-old Fares Ghedjemis their top priority for the right-wing position and plan an improved offer after a bid of £6m, plus £1.7m in bonuses, was rejected by Frosinone, who also turned down £8.6m bids from Celtic and Rangers. (L'Equipe - in French)
Haissem Hassan has been left out of Real Oviedo's squad for their pre-season match against Le Havre on Saturday, with the 24-year-old Egypt winger the subject of a £9m bid from Celtic and awaiting the green light to have a medical. (Anthony Joseph)
Hassan is dealing with visa issues with an agreement in place to join Celtic on a contract until 2030, with Real Oviedo poised to make £6m, plus £1.3m more if they reach the Champions League proper. (George Tsarouchas)

#year #eindhoven #celta #hassan