One of the longest-tenured members of the Houston Astros leadership will be taking his talents to the East Coast to try out a new professional sport.
On Monday afternoon, the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins announced the appointment of Marcel Braithwaite as the team's new President of Business Operations.
Braithwaite has been promoted to the new role after 14 years with the Houston Astros. He notably served as the Senior Vice President of Business Operations and was one of the initial hires under the Jim Crane-led baseball organization.
"It's an honor to join the Penguins at such an exciting time under new ownership," said Braithwaite. "I am grateful to the Astros and look forward to serving the employees, fans and city of Pittsburgh by bringing a winning culture to this franchise alongside Geoff, Kyle and the rest of this talented Front Office."
As a member of the Astros' Executive leadership team, Braithwaite guided the franchise through several ballpark renovations, security upgrades and naming rights negotiations, ensuring the business maximized revenue opportunities while providing a best-in-class fan experience.

#astros #braithwaite #houston

Sheldon Creed took the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series points lead after the second Chase race, the Nu Way 225 on Sept. 12 at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Creed finished second behind winner Jesse Love to push into the points lead, three points ahead of Justin Allgaier.
Allgaier got damage during a spat between Corey Day and William Sawalich, requiring a late-race stop out-of-sequence. Allgaier drove back up to a 13th-place finish.
Here's the updated NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series points standings:
RACE RECAP: NASCAR O'Reilly Series Gateway race live updates, highlights, leaderboard

#parts

OUR COVERAGE
Trinity football can't slow 5-star RB in loss to Chattanooga Baylor
Watch KHSAA football all season on NFHS Network
It's Week 4 of the Kentucky high school football season. See the full list of KHSAA scores from Friday night.
Top Week 4 Louisville-area games featured matchups between Chattanooga Baylor-Trinity, Atherton-Manual, Oldham County-Collins, Jeffersontown-Holy Cross and Nicholas County-Iroquois.

#trinity #baylor #khsaa

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (knee) fully participated in practice Thursday, Sept. 10.
SOURCE: Chiefs.com
Why it Matters: Mahomes remains on track to play in the season opener, but coming back from knee surgery and with his offensive line dealing with injuries, the Chiefs may opt for a conservative approach on offense. Mahomes will likely have his share of QB1 performances during the year, but don't count on one of those coming in Week 1.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patrick Mahomes logs full practice Thursday

#chiefs #knee

Any sports lover would know "trash talk" is pretty much part of the game. In fact, some believe one has to master the art so as to add intensity and rivalry to the game. As Team USA continues its 2026 FIBA World Cup campaign in Berlin, Germany, they have already found their "trash-talking queen" in the squad.
Fans are already loving the fun little content they get to watch every day while Team USA tries to defend their ***** le at the FIBA World Cup. These moments show a very different camaraderie among the players than what fans are used to seeing when these same players represent their respective WNBA sides.
While filming fun media content for the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, Team USA was asked who the "biggest trash talker" on their squad is. Unironically, many fingers pointed to one individual: Angel Reese.
Reese was overwhelmingly voted number one by her teammates for her constant in-game chatter, including Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Aliyah Boston, and Paige Bueckers.
If fans can recall, Reese made headlines after the 2023 NCAA Championship game when she taunted Clark by pointing to her ring finger as the LSU Tigers closed in on the championship. Reese, who rarely stays silent on court, has made a reputation for trash-talking her rivals.

#fans

The Milwaukee Brewers didn't exactly cloak themselves in glory during a 3-4 stretch against the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds last week, but with the same teams heading into American Family Field (starting Sept. 7), the Brewers' eight-game lead in the Central heading into last week has only been trimmed to seven.
The Brewers only really need to stave off a sweep at the hands of the Cubs to still feel comfortable with their division lead heading into the weekend; even one win should keep things relatively calm. The Brewers could easily clinch a playoff spot on the homestand, although it won't be the first two days against the Cubs.
The division will probably have to wait until the Brewers' final road trip.
Here's what to know about the three-game series against Chicago that begins on Labor Day.
All three games will air on Brewers.TV and AM-620 WTMJ radio. The game will also air on FOX on Tuesday.

#brewers #week

TULSA — Six plays into his return to football, Oklahoma State's Jacob ****** ton left the field riding on a cart.
The redshirt senior left tackle injured his right leg on a rushing play with 11:42 remaining in the first quarter. He reached the second level to block and Tulsa safety Ashton Williams missed a tackle and undercut ****** ton low, upending him.
Sexton missed 12 games last season at Oklahoma after suffering a season-ending injury in the Sooners' season opener.
After OSU's 24-10 loss, coach Eric Morris was asked if ****** ton broke his leg.
"We haven't heard for sure, but it's not good," Morris said. "It wasn't good."

#sexton #oklahoma #missed #good

The start of the 2026 college football season looks like a wet one. So as rain and storms pound Michigan, how might Michigan State's opener against Toledo be impacted?
Fans travelling to Spartan Stadium should expect a damp pregame and tailgating experience on Friday, Sept. 4, but the good news is the weather appears set for clearing up by kickoff.
As of 11 a.m. Friday, AccuWeather forecasted at least a 50% chance of rain through 4 p.m., but the numbers go down the later you go into the evening. For the 8 p.m. kick against Toledo, AccuWeather gives it a 34% chance of precipitation in East Lansing.
Of course, rain can be chalked up as football weather. What fans really don't want to see is lightning, as every instance of a lightning strike within an eight-mile radius invokes an immediate 30-minute delay. Play does not resume until a full half-hour passes without a recorded strike.
The Weather Channel forecasts isolated thunderstorms around the 6 p.m. hour, but neither AccuWeather nor Weather Channel forecast any thunderstorms after 8 p.m.

#Rain #michigan #Friday #channel

Texas football will open the season with its top offensive linemen ready to play, head coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.
That means left tackle Trevor Goosby and left guard Laurence Seymore III will both play Saturday against visiting Texas State despite missing time in training camp with injuries. Both returned to practice earlier this week, and Sarkisian said both are "good to go" for the 2:30 p.m. kickoff against the Bobcats.
The news on Goosby is especially welcomed since the 6-foot-7, 325-pound senior All-American returns as one of the best pass blockers in the nation and the primary bodyguard for quarterback Arch Manning. Goosby went down with a noncontact knee injury in an Aug. 17 practice, but a diagnosis of a bone bruise instead of a season-ending ligament tear may have been the best news of the summer for Sarkisian and his squad.
Texas offensive lineman Trevor Goosby speaks during SEC football media days at Tampa Marriott Water Street on July 23, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Parker S. Freedman/Getty Images)
"I thought he had a really good practice on Monday," Sarkisian said. "We increased his workload on Tuesday. He had a really good practice Tuesday. He came back good. We increased his workload Wednesday. He looked good again. We increased his workload even more today. Looked good again. So, he's kind of been building throughout the week. I thought he's been playing with really good pad level, good physicality. I think that he needs to play football; linemen are really the most important ones in that they need that physicality."

#good

Burnley boss Nicky Hayen spoke to BBC Radio Lancashire after their draw against Middlesbrough.
For a written selection of his quotes, click here.
Latest Burnley news, **** ysis and fan views
Ask about Burnley - what do you want to know?

#radio #Lancashire #middlesbrough #latest

The Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals continue their series on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound for Los Angeles.
Yamamoto has allowed 10 total runs over his last seven starts. The Dodgers have scored three or fewer runs in five of his last six home starts, with the Dodgers just 3-3 in those games despite a 3.43 ERA from Yamamoto, who, who has lasted at least six innings in each of his last seven starts at Dodger Stadium.
The Cardinals will employ a bullpen game in the middle game of the series.
Teams: Dodgers vs. Cardinals
Ballpark: Dodger Stadium

#cardinals #dodger

The wait is almost over.
Illinois football opens the 2026 season Thursday night at Memorial Stadium, and while there are plenty of questions surrounding Bret Bielema's new-look roster, the Illini enter their opener as a massive favorite against UAB.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Illinois is currently a 27.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 54.5 points. The Illini moneyline sits at -7,000, while UAB is a massive +2,000 underdog.
So, what should we expect when the lights come on in Champaign?
There are certainly reasons to be cautious about laying nearly four touchdowns in a season opener.

#opener #favorite

The professional golf world loses a fierce competitor this weekend. Anna Nordqvist, the three-time major champion, has officially announced her retirement. She will walk inside the ropes for the last time at the FM Championship in Boston. This decision marks the end of a nearly two-decade journey on the LPGA Tour. The 39-year-old Swede made the news public on Wednesday, confirming she will not return to competition after this event. Her final tournament serves as a bookend to a career that started with a simple dream and two suitcases. Fans and fellow players now look back at a legacy built on consistency and grit.
Nordqvist confirmed the news through her own channels before it hit the wider media. According to ESPN Golf, the announcement came on Wednesday, setting the stage for her final competitive week. The outlet reported that she will retire as a player immediately following this weekend's FM Championship. This specific event in Boston becomes the closing chapter of her playing days. The Swede's last major ******* le and final LPGA victory occurred at the Women's British Open in 2021. Since then, she has navigated a challenging path to reclaim her form. Currently ranked 118th in the world, her career earnings stand at more than $14 million, a testament to her longevity. She secured nine wins on the LPGA Tour during her tenure.
Golf Monthly reported that Nordqvist shared a video on her Instagram page showing career highlights while reading her letter. In that video, she explained her reasoning with clarity.
Even as a player, her role in the sport remains significant. Nordqvist is set to captain Team Europe as they play the United States in next month's Solheim Cup. The event takes place in Bernardus, Netherlands. Her record as a player in the team competition stands at 17-15-3. She had previously stated that taking the captaincy job meant she wanted to complete this journey with her teammates. "I think this is my 18th year on Tour," she told reporters, noting that the FM Championship is the last event before the Solheim Cup. She feels she has given her all to the team and the game. Looking ahead, she hinted at personal goals beyond the fairways. "So hopefully be able to join them on a few. And a big dream of mine is to become a mother one day. It's something I'm going to keep dreaming of."
Nordqvist's departure leaves a noticeable gap in the field. She was a player who could win any tournament she entered, a fact proven by her nine career ******* les. Her retirement signals a shift for the LPGA Tour, which loses a veteran presence known for her steady hand and competitive fire. The timing is interesting as she steps away while still serving as a team captain, but highlights her value to the sport even without holding a club for competition. Her focus on health and family reflects a growing trend among athletes who prioritize longevity over endless competition. The golf community will miss her presence, but her legacy remains secure with t

There is no greater gap between the college level of a sport and the pros than there is in football. That's why so many promising rookies struggle in their first year in the league—as the learning curve is steep, with many needing as much help as they can get.
Right or wrong, the Carolina Panthers seem to believe in letting first-round pick Monroe Freeling figure things out on his own. According to Mike Kaye at ESPN, he's blocking one-on-one at a 75-percent rate as the team's starting right tackle this preseason.
Here's Kaye's ****** ysis on Freeling's work from the summer:
Freeling has been thrust into the starting lineup due to two notable absences, with longtime starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu (knee/PUP) and right tackle Taylor Moton (blood clot/NFI) expected to miss a chunk of the season. Freeling, who has been at right tackle all summer, will serve as a bookend to veteran left tackle Rasheed Walker in the meantime. Freeling allowed two pressures in 12 pass-blocking snaps during his first two preseason games, but he has received little help on that side, with a 75% one-on-one rate, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
Freeling has had some rough moments, especially in this week's joint practice with the Houston Texans. (But who amongst us doesn't have a rough moment with Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson hunting us down?)

#starting #many

The Mets entered Thursday night's game with an eye on winning the series. They had Sean Manaea getting the start to try and accomplish that goal. They faced a major obstacle though–not only were they facing the best team in baseball, they were facing the best team in baseball's Cy Young frontrunner ace in Jacob Misiorowski.
The game had barely even started and it immediately went sideways for Manaea and the Mets. The first two batters reached on a single and a walk, then a one-out Andrew Vaughn single drove in the first run of the game. Gary Sánchez hit into a force-out for the second out that also drove in the second run of the game. Manaea was able to get out of it after that but the Mets were already in an early hole.
Manaea dug the hole deeper in the second inning. He got two outs to start the inning and looked like he might be settling down. But a David Hamilton single was followed by a Jackson Chourio home run to put the Mets behind by four runs. And a comeback would be difficult with Misiorowski on the mound.
The game was quiet until the fifth inning. In the top of the fifth, Chourio started with a single then stole second base to put another runner in scoring position for the Brewers. Luis Lara moved Chourio to third on another single, and William Contreras grounded out but still drove in Chourio for the Brewers' fifth run of the game.
It took until the bottom of the fifth for the Mets to even log a hit against Misiorowski, but once they did it was off to the races. Luis Robert Jr. started the inning with a walk, then he was driven in as the Mets' first run of the game on the Mets' first hit of the game, a Jared Young double. After two outs, Christopher Morel hit a single that brought Jared Young in to score (though there was a lengthy review, it was eventually upheld). Francisco Alvarez grounded out to end the inning, but the Mets cut the deficit to three runs.

#inning #misiorowski

The Yankees announced a handful of roster moves prior to Wednesday night's game against the Houston Astros, highlighted by placing reliever Fernando Cruz on the 15-day IL.
Following the team's 9-3 win, Yankees manager Aaron Boone revealed that Cruz has a partial tear of his UCL. The right-hander will get a second opinion, but Tommy John surgery is on the table.
Here's the full list of moves:
• Placed Cruz on the 15-day injured list with right elbow discomfort
• Optioned RHP Bradley Hanner to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
• Recalled RHP Elmer Rodríguez from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
• Signed RHP Michael Fulmer to a major league contract and selected him to the active roster
• Transferred RHP Kervin Castro to the 60-day injured list
Cruz allowed a game-tying two-run homer to Jeremy Peña on Tuesday night, and has had his struggles since late July. In his last 16 games, Cruz has allowed nine earned runs and five home runs in 13.2 innings, seeing his season ERA rise from 2.20 to 3.13 during that span.

#cruz #barre

The Buffalo Bills will have to make roster cutdown decisions after their third preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers inside the new Highmark Stadium on Thursday night.
Fortunately for the Bills, they'll technically have plenty of time to mull over those decisions, as this year's roster cutdown deadline isn't until Sunday, August 30 at 6:00pm EST.
Before the Bills final preseason game of 2026 takes place, let's attempt to project the club's practice squad for this season. Practice squads have been low-key important elements to a team's roster throughout every season. I'll update my projection — if applicable — after the exhibition outing against the Steelers.
But first, some practice squad rules:
After COVID, NFL practice squads were cemented at 16 players.

#steelers #squad

NEW DELHI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's much-anticipated Duleep Trophy campaign got off to a disappointing start on Sunday as the teenage batting sensation was dismissed for just eight against North East Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 2 in Bengaluru.

Opening the innings for East Zone alongside Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sooryavanshi began brightly, smashing back-to-back boundaries before his brief stay at the crease came to an abrupt end.

The 15-year-old attempted to continue his aggressive approach but edged Bishworjit Konthoujam's delivery to Joseph Lalthankhuma at gully. The North East pacer had the last laugh with the final delivery of his first over, leaving Sooryavanshi walking back after just six ***** .

WATCH:
North East Zone won the toss and opted to bowl first, giving Sooryavanshi an opportunity to make an impact in a format in which he is yet to establish himself.

The teenager was named East Zone's vice-captain, with Ishan Kishan leading the side, and entered the quarterfinal with considerable attention on him following his exploits in T20 cricket.

However, his first-class numbers remain modest. Sooryavanshi has played eight first-class matches for Bihar and has batted in 12 innings, scoring at an average of just over 17 with a highest score of 93.
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The Duleep Trophy represented a significant opportunity for the youngster to gain valuable experience in red-ball cricket, particularly against a North East Zone side featuring an inexperienced attack.
East Zone boast considerable experience elsewhere in their lineup, with skipper Kishan joined by India pacer Mohammed Shami, Abhimanyu Easwaran, ***** ar Kushagra, Shahbaz Ahmed and Mukesh ***** ar.

Sooryavanshi's inclusion and appointment as vice-captain had nevertheless made him one of the biggest talking points surrounding the quarterfinal.

East Zone will face either Central Zone or South Zone in the semifinal at the same venue from August 30 if they progress.

#north #duleep #trophy #easwaran

Oliver Glasner stood in the centre circle after the final whistle and applauded the rapidly emptying City Ground.
It was almost apologetic from the Austrian after his first Premier League game as Nottingham Forest manager ended in frustration with a late defeat to Leeds.
There was the contrast to Leeds manager Daniel Farke's celebrations with the away fans after Anton Stach's free-kick deceived Matz Sels with two minutes left.
Forest were always going to be a work in progress and desperately need stability after going through four managers last season. Glasner will be looking to deliver it and it is not time to judge after just one game, something the head coach was keen to emphasis.
"There is no **** on to press," said the 51-year-old. "There are still a lot of things to do.

#forest #game #manager #austrian

Where to watch Hull City vs. Man United live stream, TV channel, start time for Premier League match originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Michael Carrick begins his first full season in charge of Manchester United with a trip to newly promoted Hull City in the Premier League.
Carrick oversaw a stunning revival of the Red Devils' fortunes last term, leading them from the mid-table torpor of Ruben Amorim's tenure to a third-place finish.
That secured a return to the Champions League and the challenge of battling on both domestic and European fronts will test a resurgent United.
Hull emerged as surprise playoff winners, having finished sixth in the Championship regular season, 22 points behind champions Coventry City.

#hull

The San Francisco 49ers entered their preseason matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers without a few key players who are battling injuries, and early on in the contest, they lost one of their starters.
In the first quarter against Los Angeles, cornerback Renardo Green suffered a hamstring injury on a deep ball that knocked him out of the contest. According to the team, Green is questionable to return. However, with this game being an exhibition battle, it's unlikely that the 49ers will push him back in the game.
When San Francisco's defense was back on the field, cornerback Jack Jones, who suffered a hand injury in the preseason opener, was in the game to replace Green. Luckily for San Francisco, Jones has had a stellar camp.
More 49ers: Steve Smith describes why the 2026 49ers' WR corps is unique for Kyle Shanahan
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers starting CB suffers injury in preseason battle vs. Chargers

#preseason

Fabio Quartararo says his decision to join Honda in MotoGP next year was motivated by both a desire for an improved package and the need for a fresh start.
After eight years racing the M1 in the premier class, including six with Yamaha's factory team, Quartararo will join Honda in 2027 to spearhead its MotoGP revival.
The Frenchman has grown increasingly frustrated with Yamaha's competitive struggles in recent years, with a switch to an all-new V4 engine in 2026 only leaving the marque further adrift of the competition.
While he previously agreed a new two-year deal with the Iwata-based manufacturer covering the 2025 and 2026 seasons, this time he moved quickly, signing an agreement with Honda before his Yamaha contract was even up for renewal and before he had started its final year.
But his impending switch from one ****** anese brand to another was only announced towards the end of July, preventing him from talking about his big career switch in public.

#switch

It was a good-looking Shane Baz that greeted New York tonight. Not only did the O's starter make a big first impression, striking out three Yankees in the first inning (and on three different pitches!—curveball, heater, changeup), he also pinched into the seventh and struck out a season-high ten batters.
Alas, as my colleague Paul Folkemer put it in his preview of this series, through no fault of his own, Baz has been something of a bad-luck charm for this Orioles offense, and tonight, it was like that again. In total, the Birds managed just four hits (all but one singles). They scored just once, on a Coby Mayo solo homer (his second four-bagger in two nights), instead going 0-for-6 as a team with runners in scoring position, with seven men left on.
There's probably blame to be allotted for the bad hitting, but let's start with cheers for the good pitching. The box score says Shane Baz gave us 6 1/3 innings and three earned runs, but this is largely due to a Josh Walker stumble in the seventh. I'll be darned if Baz didn't look much better than that. So let's give him his deserved kudos.
Baz whiffed the first three Yankees hitters he saw, plus two more in the second. It was a ruthless beginning. Four of his first five outs were by K. The fastball was zippy, the sinker was running, and the knuckle curve was unhittable.
For six innings, Baz made just one mistake, a hung changeup to leadoff man Trent Grisham, who somehow was well out front of the offspeed pitch, put a weird swing on it, and still managed to send it to the flag court. Baseball is full of random things like that, but seeing how the two starters looked it was a real surprise, truthfully, that the Yankees had struck first.

#yankees #shane #good #tonight

During their wild roller coaster 2025 season, which included several comeback victories, the Chicago Bears energized the city and their fanbase to great lengths, also getting their first playoff victory since the 2010 season.
In head coach Ben Johnson's first season, Bears fans were going viral on social media for their celebrations. But after their loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional playoffs, no one in the Bears organization is resting on year of fun, including All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney.
Thuney's arrival was part of an extreme makeover to the offensive line ahead of the 2025 season, and as he went on to win the NFL's Protector of the Year award, the Bears offense went to another level with quarterback Caleb Williams. Recently, Thuney said he enjoyed all the viral moments the team and fans had last year, but that the team is not settling on their success from last year.
"It was special, so many videos after the game of close wins, seeing families hugging and crying together," Thuney said. "Chicago is such an iconic franchise, and it's great getting back into the playoffs, getting a win, and winning the NFC North. But there are still more things to achieve. ******* ody in this building is satisfied or resting on that. There's still a very strong, burning hunger to push for more and keep improving."
It's very clear the atmosphere that Johnson has created inside the Bears organization. And when it comes to Thuney, he's a leader in the locker room for reasons such as these comments. Chicago hopes to keep building on their 11-win season from 2025, and it is apparent that the team recognizes they'll need to sustain long-term success while also positioning themselves as Super Bowl contenders.

#season #Chicago #great

Following Mark Walter's sale of a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, the Buss family reportedly agreed to sell their minority stake as well. However, Jeanie Buss isn't having any of it.
Jeanie Buss has been Governor of the Los Angeles Lakers since 2013, following the passing of her father, Jerry Buss. In 2025, the Buss family sold their controlling share in the Lakers to Mark Walter.
Just a year on, things have changed drastically. Walter has sold his majority share in the franchise to Bob Iger and Josh Kushner at a $12.5 billion valuation.
And on Monday, Shams Charania reported that the Buss siblings were selling their remaining 17.8 percent minority stake to the new owners too. However, Jeanie is not willing to let this happen.
Photo by Julian Hamilton/WireImage

#mark #however #walter

On August 17, 1975, São Paulo beat Portuguesa 3-0 on penalties, after a 1-1 aggregate score over two deciding matches, and won the 1975 Campeonato Paulista, the 11th in the club's history.
The story of that **** le, however, begins a little more than nine months earlier, when Tricolor, on November 10, 1974, at Pacaembu, lost 2-1 to Palmeiras in a match from that season's Paulistão. The scoreline, seemingly irrelevant in the long run, would mark the start of a streak that São Paulo fans have never seen repeated to this day: 47 matches unbeaten.
From November 13, 1974, to August 3, 1975, São Paulo did not know defeat. There were 36 wins and 11 draws, with 39 of those matches counting for the Campeonato Paulista (either from 1974 — eight matches — or from 1975 — 31 clashes).
It was in the midst of this fine run that the Tricolor, coached by Jose Poy, began its 1975 Paulistão campaign. The tournament had one of the most controversial and complicated sets of rules of all time, with changes made during the competition itself.
It was contested by 19 teams in two stages, with the winners of each stage playing for the **** le in two final matches, unless one team won both stages. So far, so good. However, while the first stage was decided simply in a round-robin format, the second…

#paulista #tricolor

Hardly anything went right for Manchester City yesterday as they were comfortably beaten 3-0 by ***** nal in the FA Community Shield. Goals from Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard saw Enzo Maresca's side well beaten at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Looking at the match and how it transpired, there is one area of the pitch that City must strengthen before the transfer window closes. That is the midfield. It looks like Manchester City are about to step up the process of fortifying their engine room. It is exactly what must be done to help give Enzo Maresca the midfielders he needs to fully implement his system.
Enzo Maresca started Elliot Anderson, Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden in midfield yesterday against ***** nal. Anderson made his City debut, Mateo Kovacic played in a role that he isn't ideally suited to and Phil Foden started as the number ten. Manchester City weren't necessarily swamped in midfield by Mikel Arteta's side. What stood out was how disjointed Enzo Maresca's side were and how easy they were to play through in the opening half-hour of the game.
Elliot Anderson was by no means poor in his City debut. He did put himself about in the hour he was on the pitch. Anderson also needs time to grow into life as a Manchester City player. Mateo Kovacic and Phil Foden had moments but overall the necessary quality wasn't there in the engine room for Manchester City. The midfield trio that Maresca opted to start with played like a lineup that had never played together before, and they were. But there is a desperate need for City to add the quality they need to fortify their midfield.
Rodri won't be a part of the solution to Manchester City's midfield issue. Fabrizio Romano reported yesterday that he is on the verge of completing a move to Barcelona. Rodri's departure, alongside that of Tijjani Reijnders opens up ***** e in Manchester City's midfield. It must be filled with quality players. Now, City must shop from the top shelf to bolster their midfield. They have done this when they signed Elliot Anderson. Now they need more quality in midfield to add the options that Enzo Maresca needs.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca was asked about Manchester City's prospects of completing a move for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. Maresca reminded everyone that Bouaddi remains a Lille player, but he added that the sooner that City complete any new signings the better. He explained: "He's still a Lille player, but any new signings, any new players, for sure the sooner they arrive it's better because we're going to start the Premier League in one week. And if they start to work with us as soon as possible, it's better because they can also understand the way we want to play."

#city

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh was impressed with rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields after the team's 13-10 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday afternoon.
Harbaugh praised Fields for his all-around performance, highlighted by a contested touchdown catch from quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Dart found Fields on the left side of the end zone for the score with 13:32 remaining in the second quarter. The 6-foot-4 Fields elevated over 5-foot-10 Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. to secure the ball.
"I thought he played all around really well," Harbaugh said. "He did some things on special teams, which was cool to see. He practices that every day really well. He blocked exceptionally well in the run game as a wide receiver in some of those insert blocks and going to get to safeties and things like that, tremendously. Thought he ran his routes really well.
"Even when he didn't get the ball, the routes were run correctly. Right depths, right amount of steps, right splits. All those things that make so much of a difference that, really honestly, we need to clean up across the board to present better pictures for our quarterback. He did all those things really well. He didn't play like a rookie out there. It was really fun to see. Now, hey, keep getting better."

#fields #things #rookie

Ten NFL teams changed head coaches during the last cycle. That tied the record for the most in a single hiring cycle.
Since 2020, the league has averaged more than six head coaching changes per offseason. So the job comes with a short shelf life. Owners want playoff berths quickly, and they stop waiting once the losses pile up.
Five coaches enter 2026 who appear to be on the hot seat. Each one runs a team that enters the year with varying degrees of expectation. Ultimately, they are the frontrunners for who might be first fired this year.
Let's break down which coaches are at risk and close with my prediction for which NFL head coach will be fired first this season.
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is on the hot seat and could be fired. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

#cycle #seat #year #first

Jeff Monken does not feel comfortable comparing himself to the immortal Army football head coach Earl 'Red' Blaik, whose career wins record at West Point has stood firm for 68 years.
With a new five-year contract (through the 2030 season) agreed to this past week, the reality is Monken, 59, is now within reach of the heralded mark. Blaik posted 121 wins (and 33 losses, with 10 ties) over 18 war-torn seasons (1941-58). As he heads into his 13th season with the Black Knights, Monken has posted 89 wins and needs just 33 victories to surpass the Hall of Famer Blaik. An average of just over six wins per season would make that possible, hardly a stretch for Monken teams that have achieved at least a half-dozen wins in all but three seasons.
"I'm thrilled to be here," Monken said following Saturday's first of three preseason scrimmages at Michie Stadium. "I'm honored and proud to serve these men, this institution, and represent the men and women that serve in the Army. And I'm thankful to our superintendent, Lt. General (Steve) Gilland; Tom Theodorakis, our athletics director, and frankly, my representatives who really worked it out."
Monken has been coaching collegiately (save for a high school season in 1995) since 1989, serving as an ****** istant at Hawaii, Arizona State, Buffalo, Concordia, Ill., Georgia Southern, Navy and Georgia Tech. His first head coaching job was at Georgia Southern (2010-13) before arriving at West Point in 2014.
He transformed an Army program that reached just seven wins twice and had 19 losing seasons since 1989 into a postseason contender. The Black Knights have won six of seven bowl appearances (including the last three) since 2016, Monken's third year on the job. A high-water mark certainly came in 2024 when quarterback Bryson Daily guided Army to a school-record 12 wins, a top-25 AP ranking and American Conference championship in the first season of membership.

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