'Threatens the entire system!' NSW rebels against Cricket Australia over $1BN BBL privatisation plan

'Threatens the entire system!' NSW rebels against Cricket Australia over $1BN BBL privatisation plan originally appeared on Cricket News . Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

New South Wales hit back hard at Cricket Australia's BBL privatisation plan, warning it threatens grassroots investment across Australian cricket.
NSW claims four conditions agreed by all state chairs in June have not been met before CA pushed ahead with its decision.
Cricket Victoria fully endorsed the process while Queensland has concerns about the financial model and distribution structure.

BBL privatisation fallout: Furious Cricket NSW hits out at Cricket Australia's decision to sell Big Bash League stakes

New South Wales have come out swinging, releasing a stinging statement that accuses Cricket Australia of proceeding with its billion-dollar BBL privatisation plan without proper consideration and warned the move could leave cricket in their state, and across the country, financially worse off for years to come.New South Wales have been the loudest voice against BBL privatisation throughout this whole process, and Tuesday's announcement from CA didn't change that.The state body runs two of the competition's most commercially successful clubs, the Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Thunder, and has consistently refused to go down the private investment route with either of them.They've challenged CA's financial projections, pushed for alternative funding models and argued repeatedly that there are better ways to grow the game without selling off ownership stakes to external investors."Cricket NSW is disappointed by Cricket Australia's decision to proceed with introducing private investment into the Big Bash Leagues without alignment across Australian cricket," they said in a statement.They made the grassroots argument clearly, suggesting that any redistribution of profits toward private investors comes directly at the expense of community cricket, the very foundation the whole system is built on."This decision risks leaving cricket in NSW and Australia strategically and financially worse off, with direct consequences for our ability to invest in grassroots cricket. Yesterday's announcement threatens this system. The redistribution of profits to external investors reduces our ability to invest in community cricket, creating long-term impacts at all levels," the statement said. MORE: Cricket Australia warns BBL private investors: Test summer anchored until 2032 as centrally contracted stars put red-ball first

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The BBL privatisation process itself has drawn fire from NSW

NSW's grievance isn't just about the policy; it's also about how CA handled the process of getting here.They've made clear they raised concerns directly with the governing body, put forward an alternative pathway to strengthen the BBL, and backed their position with independent external advice. None of it, they say, was adequately addressed before CA moved ahead anyway.They said: "The Cricket NSW Board is also disappointed by the process leading to this decision. We have raised concerns directly with Cricket Australia, proposed an alternative pathway to strengthen the Big Bash, and highlighted significant risks within the proposal, informed by high-quality external advice."There's also an eyebrow-raising political dimension to the announcement. The current CA chair, Mike Baird, is a former NSW board member. MORE: Big Bash League team names, colours and branding: Will they change after BBL privatisation and franchise sale? The public unveiling of the plan featured Pat Cummins, who is from NSW and has previously played for the Thunder, and Ellyse Perry, a player permanently attached to the Sixers. NSW didn't comment on that directly, but the optics of NSW figures being used to promote a plan NSW opposes haven't been missed.Perhaps most damaging is NSW's claim that the four conditions all state chairs agreed upon back in June have not been satisfied before CA pressed ahead. "Cricket NSW strongly believes in the future growth of the WBBL and BBL," the statement said. "Both Leagues and all clubs are powerful drivers of participation and fan interest in cricket." MORE: BBL privatisation: Everything to know about Big Bash League's historic move

CA fires back with a promise of long-term benefits

Todd Greenberg pushed back on NSW's concerns in a measured but confident tone. He insisted that private investment will generate long-term benefits for the whole of Australian cricket and pointed to a proposed future fund, to be built from proceeds of club licence sales, as the most reliable vehicle for funding grassroots cricket and elite pathways for generations ahead."I think what I've learned in my short time in cricket, the federated model makes it pretty hard to align everyone's interest at one point in time," he said."And that's what Cricket Australia's leadership is. We have to at least get to some point ... after all the analysis [to] make a decision. The board have made that decision. And that's the job of Australian cricket, is to make decisions in the best interest of the whole sport."Each state clearly has to make decisions in their best interest, but Cricket Australia need to make a decision [in the national] interest." MORE: BBL privatisation and what it means: Will we see IPL teams invest in Big Bash? The divide across the states reflects how complex this conversation really is. Cricket Victoria has given the process its full backing and will sell the Melbourne Renegades entirely.Tasmania and Western Australia are also broadly in favour of privatisation. Queensland isn't opposed to the principle of bringing in private money but has raised concerns about the financial model and how the proceeds would be distributed.South Australia, which pushed for the self-determination approach in the first place, has occupied the middle ground throughout. Meanwhile, NSW remains the clearest and most vocal opponent.

NSW's BBL privatisation concerns deserve more than a dismissal

CA's announcement has the hallmarks of a governing body that has decided the direction of travel and is hoping momentum carries everyone else along with it. That approach has a history of backfiring in sports administration.NSW's argument that profits flowing out to private investors are profits not flowing into the participation base is a powerful one that doesn't have a clean answer in CA's current proposal.The four-conditions issue is the one that should give CA the most pause. If state chairs collectively agreed on prerequisites for privatisation to proceed, and those conditions haven't been met, announcing a sale process anyway looks less like bold leadership and more like unilateral action dressed up as a collaborative framework.The ACA's continued opposition strengthens NSW's hand here. You can't call this a properly endorsed process when the players' association says they're miles from agreeing to it.Greenberg's future fund idea is worth exploring, as it is essentially a ring-fenced vehicle for grassroots investment, which is built from privatisation proceeds, hoping to address the community cricket concern NSW is raising.But proposing it as a vague assurance rather than a concrete commitment won't satisfy anyone who's watched sports governing bodies promise community reinvestment and then spend the money elsewhere. NSW deserve a proper answer, not a holding statement. For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary and to share your voice, head to our Facebook , Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.

Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton expected to make decision on whether he wants to continue playing

Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton expected to make decision on whether he wants to continue playing originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . As the New York Yankees make decisions with Giancarlo Stanton over the next couple of months, there are many factors that could be at play. For one, if the Yankees do decide to move on from Stanton, this would be the best time to do so. The Yankees could end up moving on from him and not be killed financially for once, and considering the injuries that he's dealt with throughout his career, there might not be much of a reason to keep him around any longer, as unfortunate as that might sound. The Yankees will ultimately have to make that decision. Stanton is well-liked in the clubhouse and is a respected veteran.While many decisions will be from the Yankees' side of things, it's also possible that Stanton will have a say in things. It might not even be crazy to say that he doesn't want to play any longer."My expectation is that this will be up to Stanton. If he wants to try to play again - and he is just 44 home runs shy of 500 - I think the Yankees will give him that chance. Even if he is a semiregular designated hitter and a huge bench bat, his clubhouse presence probably justifies keeping him around. But his legs clearly gave out on him this year, which is not a good sign for a player with chronic elbow pain, too. I would not be surprised if he decides to call it after this season, though to be very, very clear, I have not heard anyone who would know suggest that is imminent," Chelsea Janes wrote .Being 44 home runs shy of 500 sounds good in theory for Stanton, but with his injury history, it remains uncertain how much he'll even have a chance to get close to that number. He hit only three home runs this year because he's played in 24 games, and he blasted 24 the year before because he played in just 77. Unfortunately, this will probably be at least a two-year thing, and that would require him to play close to 100-plus games.

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'The series is lost but we have nothing to lose': Babar Azam rallies Pakistan for Edgbaston Test against England

Pakistan captain Babar Azam has urged his reshaped side to play without fear in the third and final Test against England, insisting there is little left to lose after a dramatic mid-series overhaul by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Pakistan trail 0-2 after heavy defeats at Headingley and Lord's, with the PCB responding by releasing seven players from the touring squad and removing head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and assistant Umar Gul. Five players without Test experience have been brought into the squad, while Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke have taken charge for the Edgbaston Test.

With Pakistan already out of contention for the series, Babar believes the upheaval can instead give the newcomers a chance to make an impact.

'We should play freely'

"The series is lost but we have nothing to lose," Babar said on the eve of the Test. "We should play freely and believe in ourselves as a team."

Babar revealed that the sweeping changes came as a surprise to him, with the captain learning about the PCB's decisions only after they had been announced.

"It was news to me," he said. "I found out after.

"The PCB decided it, so they will be able to explain better. The PCB's decision must have been taken after some thought process. It's better if you ask them why."

The captain, however, said the new-look squad should embrace the opportunity rather than dwell on the turmoil surrounding the side.

"We've practised a couple of days and explained things to the new boys. Any young player who comes in is excited, and that excitement is visible. I believe that will be visible in the match, too," he added.

Babar also accepted that Pakistan had failed to deliver across the first two Tests, while defending the thinking behind the selections that were made.

"We didn't play well in all three facets as a team," he said. "And when you don't get results, then you'll get plenty of criticism from outside. But we did what we thought was best at the time."

He added: "The way we read the pitch and conditions, the XIs we went with were what we thought was best at the time. But we did not get the results or performance we expected of ourselves."

Babar missed the innings defeat at Headingley with a finger injury before returning at Lord's, where he scored only eight and six as Pakistan suffered a 194-run loss. He called on the senior players to set the tone in Birmingham.

"I firmly believe you need to grab opportunities and perform in difficult conditions," Babar said. "That's why we play cricket, because we have to perform and dominate in difficult conditions. We need to forget about past failures and shift focus to the future," he said.

Babar's comments on the shake-up

The Pakistan captain's revelation that the squad overhaul was "news to me" added another layer to the crisis engulfing the side. The PCB released Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad from the squad following the Lord's defeat.

Babar, though, said the board would have to explain the reasoning behind the decisions, while he would focus on leading the players available to him.

The PCB has also confirmed an internal disciplinary inquiry into reports concerning "discipline and conduct", adding further uncertainty around the team ahead of the final Test.

England captain Joe Root, meanwhile, rejected the suggestion that Pakistan had lacked fight during the series.

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"We've found Pakistan a challenge," Root said. "I think that's a bit disrespectful to both Pakistan as a team and to us as a team.

"I don't think we've allowed them to get into games because of how well we've played and how quickly we've read the situations and the surfaces that we've had."

�-�️ Today's front pages, tension in Madrid, Betis delight...

The Champions League has thrown its doors wide open with a menu full of contrasts for Spanish football: Real Madrid 's emphatic yet hard-fought win, an epic and historic victory for Real Betis after two decades of waiting, and maximum excitement in Barcelona for FC Barcelona's debut, all seasoned with the long list of Ballon d'Or candidates.

Marca: "Test passed"

The newspaper highlights Real Madrid's hard-earned 2-1 win over Inter Milan, with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Federico Valverde taking advantage of Italian defensive errors and backed up by Thibaut Courtois' saves. It also leaves room for Betis' great comeback against Lille (2-3) and the preview of Barça's clash with Feyenoord.

As: "Crazy win"

It puts the emphasis on the chaos at the Santiago Bernabéu, where Los Blancos suffered late on after wasting several scoring chances. The front page also highlights Barça's match this afternoon (18:45 CET) and Spain's prominence on the Ballon d'Or list, with six nominees from the national team.

Mundo Deportivo: "Let's go for it"

Its main focus is on the Blaugrana side's debut at Camp Nou against Feyenoord, with a clear message of ambition. On the awards front, it runs with "Barça gold" to celebrate the strong presence of male and female Barça players nominated for the prize.

Sport: "Nobody like Barça"

It boasts an outright record with 16 Blaugrana nominations across all Ballon d'Or categories. In its lower strip, it sums up the continental matchday by noting that "Madrid takes advantage of two gifts" and emphasizing the Betis feat: "Betis starts with a bang" .

Estadio Deportivo: "Makes its mark in the Champions League"

Dedicated entirely to Real Betis' feat, its front page showcases the historic win in France, with a Marc Bartra brace and a goal from Troy Parrott in their long-awaited return to Europe's top competition 21 years later.

The international press

In Italy, La Gazzetta dello Sport laments the mistakes against Real Madrid with "Inter's huge gifts" , while Tuttosport delivers its verdict with "Inter beat themselves" and Corriere dello Sport sums up the match with an explicit "Mou-style" .

Meanwhile, Dutch outlet AD Sportwereld describes Barça-Feyenoord as a "Wonderful fixture" .

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

England to extend head coach Borthwick's contract

England coach Steve Borthwick shouts during a training session in June 2026 — Steve Borthwick was appointed as England coach in December 2022 [Getty Images]

England head coach Steve Borthwick will have his contract extended past the 2028 Six Nations in a bid to avoid uncertainty over his future before and during next year's Rugby World Cup.As it did with Red Roses boss John Mitchell before the 2025 World Cup, the Rugby Football Union has moved to ensure Borthwick and his staff have some clarity over their positions going into the global showpiece.According to RFU performance director Conor O'Shea, extending Borthwick's deal into the middle of 2028 will allow time to decide who leads the team in the longer-term."You don't want them looking for a job going into [a World Cup]," O'Shea explained."Everyone knows it will be judged on the World Cup, but you can't have a group of coaches going in with that uncertainty, especially when you look at the timing."So we will give that certainty, and that will give us time to look properly."

England '100% can win the World Cup'

Following a review into England's "horrendous" Six Nations earlier this year, Borthwick has been backed to lead the team through to the World Cup, with O'Shea adding he can't see a scenario where Borthwick isn't in charge in Australia.In the July leg of the Nations Championship, England recovered from a bruising defeat by South Africa in Johannesburg to vanquish Fiji in Liverpool and edge out Argentina to finish the campaign with two wins from three.However at this stage the RFU has stopped short of committing to Borthwick on a long-term basis, unlike Ireland, who have signed their head coach Andy Farrell up to 2031."I see in Steve someone who bleeds England, and wants England to succeed more than anything you can imagine," O'Shea said."This England team is unequivocally one of probably five teams who can win the World Cup next year. I believe this team can win a World Cup."Is the talent there? 100%," he added."If over this next 12 months this England team shows the best version of itself, I know it can beat anyone in the world."

Selection rules 'best for English rugby'

As was the case for a number of his predecessors, Borthwick is only able to select players based in the English Prem, meaning the likes of Toulouse flanker Jack Willis - one of the outstanding performers in the French Top 14 - is ineligible for his country.Cap centurion Courtney Lawes, who has returned to English rugby with Sale after two seasons at Brive, believes the RFU should review the policy to ensure the best players are available.But O'Shea is adamant the ruling is what works for English rugby as a whole, and has warned against the impact of loosening the policy."It is something done not just for England, but for English rugby," O'Shea said."As of now, if all the best players were picked by England and went abroad, and we had less of the top players in our league, the unintended consequence towards investment into that from some of our owners... why would you invest in the pathways if the best players are going to be taken away?"I get it completely, the life experiences are great. But for the English game, it is absolutely the right thing."

Red Roses 'can never be too strong'

Since joining the RFU in January 2020, O'Shea has overseen England women's global dominance, aided by the establishment and development of Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR).And while the resources and player numbers at England dwarf those at many of their rivals, O'Shea rejects the notion that the Red Roses can ever be too strong.The world champion Roses are unbeaten in four years and have won every Six Nations since 2018.Conversely in the men's game, no nation has won three Six Nations in a row in the professional era."Does competitive tension create greater commercialisation and broadcast? I get all that," O'Shea said."But I do think when you look at the PWR, and what we have done in terms of allowing a lot of players to come over here and allow them the platform to develop as players, England plays a huge role in driving that."Was it bad when you had a dominant Tiger Woods, or Serena Williams? What about celebrating what they are. They have been the standard bearer."

Jose Delgado can't stop thinking about taking Jean Silva out
Jose Delgado has vicious intentions going into his maiden main event in the Ultimate Fighting Championship .

Delgado will face Jean Silva in the Noche UFC 4 headliner on Sept. 12 at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. He claims he has already envisioned how he wants the fight to end.

Jose Delgado visualizes a spectacular ending against Jean Silva at Noche UFC 4

Delgado says he's been visualizing his upcoming fight with Silva repeatedly in the lead-up to the bout. He claims his confidence in his vision has continued to grow, to the point that he no longer needs to close his eyes to picture the moments he wants to create.

"Every single thought I have at this point is how to take Jean Silva out in the most spectacular of ways and I love it, man," Delgado said in a recent interview. "I see it so damn clearly. I used to have to close my eyes to be able to see these things. I'm telling you; I can keep them open and see it right now."

Delgado accepted the fight on just a few weeks' notice, stepping in to replace former interim champ Yair Rodriguez , who withdrew from the event due to an injury. He previously stated that the short notice aided his mindset, as he doesn't have to spend a full training camp overthinking the matchup.

Jose Delgado is fighting with a PURPOSE 💯

[ #NocheUFC | September 12 | LIVE on @paramountplus ] pic.twitter.com/Q2i2NfTxuE - UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) September 8, 2026

Ex-NCAAB player slams 'frustrating' Team USA veterans while confirming a divide with young stars

Former college basketball player Rachel A. Demita has criticised the way Team USA's veterans and younger stars have been discussed during the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, claiming there is "definitely a divide" around the squad. The Americans have already reached the quarterfinals after three straight group-stage wins, with Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers and Angel Reese among the younger players making an impact.Team USA has still leaned heavily on its veteran core, with Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Kahleah Copper, Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart starting all three group games.

Photo by Megan Briggs/TGL/TGL via Getty Images

Rachel Demita calls out Team USA's treatment of its young stars

Demita believes the numbers suggest the younger group deserves more responsibility. A lineup featuring Clark, Bueckers, Rhyne Howard, Aliyah Boston and Reese has recorded a 76+ net rating, compared with 34+ for the veteran starting five.Speaking on her podcast, Demita said: "And honestly, something that's kind of been frustrating me around this World Cup is the discourse around the veterans and the youngins because there seems to be a divide. In a time where we should all just be rooting for Team USA, there's definitely a divide in how we look at certain players or certain lineups."She was particularly critical of the commentary surrounding the younger players."Guys, these youngins - it's not like they're teenagers. It's not like the young intern squad is a bunch of teenagers. They're 24, 25, 26 years old. They're professional basketball players," Demita said.Her point is backed by the production of several younger players. Clark leads Team USA in assists at 6.3 per game, while Bueckers is averaging 10.3 points and Reese is collecting six rebounds per game.

Photo by Marcin Golba/NurPhoto via Getty Images

However, Demita is not suggesting the veterans should simply be pushed aside. Stewart remains among the team's leading scorers and rebounders, while Young leads the Americans at 11.3 points per game.There is another challenge waiting in the knockout rounds, too. Demita has warned that France could pose a serious threat after winning its three preliminary games by an average of 43 points and moving to No. 1 in the FIBA power rankings.Team USA faces Hungary on September 10, with the pressure now increasing as the Americans chase a fifth straight title. How Lawson balances experience with the younger stars could become one of the biggest decisions of the tournament. Read more:

Yankees 10-year big leaguer could be off postseason roster after Aaron Judge news

Yankees 10-year big leaguer could be off postseason roster after Aaron Judge news originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . As the New York Yankees enter the postseason, they'll have some difficult decisions to make about who they have to leave off the roster. Right now, the Yankees have multiple players they could do that with. It's unfortunate that some players haven't played up to standards, but there are guys who could certainly be moved on from come October. One of them is veteran Amed Rosario.Rosario, 30, is in his 10th season of Major League Baseball. There have been parts of the season when he looks like an above-average player, but lately, he's been about average. He hasn't played as well as he did last year in the second half after being traded to the Yankees, posting a 93 OPS+ compared to his 114 mark a season ago.With the Yankees' current roster construction, one SNY writer believes that it's possible he could be kept off the roster this October, and it's not the worst idea considering what else the Yankees could put together."Amed Rosario feels like the likeliest choice, but even in a difficult offensive season, he maintains the Yankees' confidence as a right-handed option off the bench. But in the postseason, Paul Goldschmidt can fill that role, even if it means pinch-hitting for someone in another infield position: The proven positional versatility of Jose Caballero and the theoretical versatility of Luis Garcia Jr. allow for creativity."Ryan McMahon's defense at third base is probably too important to the success of key pitchers like Max Fried to leave off the roster due to his inconsistency offensively. But I could see them making that decision if they are worried about being too left-handed," Chelsea Janes wrote .A lot of this will likely come down to the players that the Yankees get back and healthy. If multiple guys return before October, the Yankees would be in a good spot. If not, keeping guys like Rosario on the roster could make more sense.

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Why Tigers' Kevin McGonigle must win AL Rookie of the Year over Parker Messick

Why Tigers' Kevin McGonigle must win AL Rookie of the Year over Parker Messick appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here . Kevin McGonigle should win the American League Rookie of the Year award because no eligible rookie has provided a more complete body of work. Parker Messick has built a legitimate case for the Cleveland Guardians, but the Detroit Tigers infielder owns the stronger combination of production, availability, and all-around value. McGonigle has immediately become one of the American League's toughest outs. Through 140 games, he is batting .273 with a .373 on-base percentage and .792 OPS. He has collected 147 hits, scored 89 runs, hit 25 doubles, added 16 home runs, 62 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases.Those numbers extend well beyond the rookie leaderboard. McGonigle ranks fourth among all AL hitters in on-base percentage and runs while sitting sixth in hits. His 630 plate appearances rank third in the league. The Tigers have relied on him almost every day since placing him on the Opening Day roster, and he has supplied consistent value through one of baseball's largest workloads. Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial) His command of the strike zone separates him from most young hitters. The Tigers' versatile infielder carries a 13.6% strikeout rate and has drawn walks at the same rate. He entered September with the lowest strikeout percentage among qualified rookies while leading AL rookies in walks. Few players arrive in the majors with that level of contact ability and patience already intact. McGonigle's rookie season has already reached historic territory. He recorded his 100th career hit in his 95th game, joining Ty Cobb as the only Tigers player age 21 or younger to reach 100 hits in fewer than 100 career games. That accomplishment does not decide the award by itself, but it demonstrates how quickly McGonigle adjusted to major league pitching. He has since extended that production across nearly an entire season while contributing in several different ways.The 22-year-old has also handled significant defensive responsibility at shortstop and third base. He earned an All-Star selection before his 22nd birthday while playing regularly at two demanding infield positions. The defensive metrics do not present him as an elite shortstop, but they show he has remained close to average while moving between positions. This versatility gives the Tigers options without requiring the club to hide his glove.McGonigle's advantage comes from sustained excellence rather than one overwhelming category. He has appeared in 140 games and generated 630 plate appearances without suffering a prolonged collapse at the plate. Even when his power has dipped, his discipline and contact ability have kept him productive. Rookie of the Year recognizes an entire season, and McGonigle has maintained his impact across nearly six months. Messick has earned serious consideration . The Guardians' left-hander owns an 11-9 record, a 2.53 ERA, and a 1.04 WHIP through 28 starts. He has recorded 173 strikeouts across 167 innings while allowing opponents to bat only .210. His ERA, WHIP, and innings total all rank among the AL's best. He also delivered 12 strikeouts over six innings in his latest start vs. the Detroit Tigers.That is an exceptional resume, and Messick's importance to Cleveland's playoff push strengthens it. However, his 3.11 FIP sits more than half a run above his ERA. That does not erase his run prevention, but it suggests the results have exceeded some of the underlying outcomes he controls. McGonigle's value rests on a broader foundation that includes contact, patience, baserunning, defensive flexibility, and availability.The comparison should not be reduced to McGonigle playing every day and Messick pitching every fifth day. Starting pitchers can influence games more heavily when they take the mound. The better argument is that McGonigle's production has remained valuable across nearly every day of a six-month season. His presence in 140 games becomes a supporting point instead of the entire case.Detroit's losing record should not move Messick ahead, either. Rookie of the Year recognizes individual performance, not the best newcomer on a playoff contender. McGonigle cannot control the Tigers' bullpen, rotation, or production behind him. He can control his plate appearances, defense, and baserunning, and he has turned those opportunities into more measurable value than any other AL rookie.Messick has produced a season worthy of first-place votes. McGonigle has simply done more . He reaches base at an elite rate, rarely strikes out, plays premium positions, and has produced one of the most historically significant rookie seasons in Tigers franchise history. That is the most complete Rookie of the Year case in the American League, and it is why McGonigle must finish ahead of Messick on the final ballots. Related: Why Tigers general manager removed his name from Red Wings' search

Jose Mourinho talks Mbappe, Vinicius, Courtois, Trent after Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan

Real Madrid kicked off their UEFA Champions League campaign with a win over Inter Milan last night, securing the biggest result of their season so far.

After suffering their first defeat under Jose Mourinho this season against Real Betis at the weekend, there was doubt about the team's morale and ability to bounce back under pressure.

Los Blancos may not have dominated, but they did manage to take all three points against the Nerazzurri and have started their campaign in the best possible manner.

Mourinho's press conference

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho spoke to the media after the game where he gave his opinion on the game against Inter Milan and the result they secured on the night.

"It's been a crazy match. So much criticism when the game is boring, well, it's a crazy match. It could have perfectly ended 7-6."

"I didn't have much to change in the midfield. We won a difficult match under difficult circumstances," he added, referring to the circumstances the win came under. Mourinho is content with the performance. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The manager then praised the squad for the shift they put in on the night and how it was not a boring match by any measure.

"I think the players did a fantastic job, and they won a tough match under tough conditions. It wasn't a boring match."

On his team's attacking ability and how they could have scored more goals, Mourinho said,

"We could have gone 3-0 in the last minute of the first half, and maybe turned 3-0 into 4-0 or 5-0."

"I want to praise my players, because pressing is something you train for; choosing the moments to press, how to press, where to press, and which players to press on."

On Vinicius Jr.

Mourinho then spoke in depth on Vinicius Jr, the Brazilian's performance, level this season, and relationship with the fans.

He first praised the winger for his effort and pushed him to do even more.

"Vinicius Junior has worked incredibly hard, he knows he's not yet in k*ller mode."

Mourinho also revealed what he told Vinicius when he decided to take the player off the field on the night. Vinicius was taken off by Mourinho. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

"What did I tell Vinicius Junior when he came off? I told him that he put in a tremendous effort. I see that, everyone sees it, and he himself knows he hasn't reached his full level yet."

"The Vinicius we know, that player capable of deciding one-on-one battles and wearing down defenders every time, hasn't returned to his peak yet," he added, urging Vinicius to find his best version.

As a good manager, however, Mourinho ensured not to put too much pressure on the Brazilian and praised him for his contributions to the team.

"But what matters to me is that he's fighting and giving everything he's got on the field. A player who works with this spirit and gives his utmost deserves appreciation and respect, no matter what his current level is."

"Vinicius Junior deserves all my respect. He is not at his 100% and he knows it."

"He is working more than ever to recover his form. I have so much respect for him," he added.

Finally, he was asked about the fans whistling Vinicius and what he made of the situation between the player and the supporters.

"Fans whistling at Vinicius Junior? I don't criticise the fans. When I say he deserves respect, I mean my relationship with him."

"I respect him a lot. He knows he is not at his best form and is the one who is working the most to be the Vinicius who decides games. He has had a lot of dedication and I respect that very much," he added.

Elaborating on how his judgement of players will always be different from fans' judgement of players, the Portuguese manager said,

"Fans' opinions, I can't say anything about. I don't comment on the fans' reactions."

"I gave Mbappé a kiss when he was substituted for the match he played. If Vinicius works like he did today, he will always have my respect," he added.

On Trent, Valverde and Courtois

Courtois made some fantastic saves vs Inter. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Finally, Mourinho began to speak on players who put in important shifts against Inter Milan, starting off with Trent Alexander-Arnold who played in midfield .

"I thank Trent Alexander-Arnold for his efforts to play in a position that is not his."

He also spoke on Federico Valverde's press and goal, saying,

"Fede Valverde's goal is hard work, you have to know how to press and who to press."

Towards the end of his press conference, Mourinho praised Thibaut Courtois and called him Real Madrid's best player on the night.

"I want us to have total control. I don't like the game where our best player is Courtois."

"With all due respect to Fede Valverde, the guy who decided he should be Man of the Match ahead of Courtois was sleeping during the game," he added.

Source: Real Madrid website

Barcelona boast remarkable Champions League home opener record ahead of Feyenoord clash

Barcelona are set to begin their Champions League campaign at the Spotify Camp Nou for the first time in four years when Feyenoord arrive in Catalonia , bringing an end to a period in which the club had been forced to start the competition away from their traditional home.

The last time Barça opened a Champions League campaign at Camp Nou came in the 2022-23 season when Xavi Hernandez's side marked the occasion emphatically, beating Viktoria Plzen 5-1.

Barcelona then spent the following season playing their home matches at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys during their period away from Camp Nou.

Their European opener last season there also ended in a convincing victory, with Antwerp beaten 5-0.

Barcelona's remarkable home record

The numbers show just how strong Barcelona have traditionally been when beginning a Champions League campaign on home soil. Barcelona have lost just one of their 18 Champions League openers at Camp Nou. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Across 18 previous home openers in the competition, Barça have won 16, drawn once and lost only once .

They have scored 64 goals while conceding just 14, giving them a formidable record ahead of Feyenoord's visit .

Bayern Munich are the only side to have spoiled Barcelona's home debut in a Champions League edition.

Ronald Koeman's team suffered a 3-0 defeat against the German giants during the 2021/22 campaign.

The only other blemish came in the form of a draw against AC Milan. Barcelona looked set to claim victory after Pedro and David Villa overturned Alexandre Pato's first-minute opener, only for Thiago Silva to equalise in the 92nd minute in a dramatic 2-2 finish in the 2011/12 season.

A significant match for Barcelona

Barcelona are set to face Feyenoord. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The significance of this fixture extends beyond Barcelona's impressive Champions League home numbers.

The return to Camp Nou gives the opening match a sense of occasion after the club's temporary spell at the Olympic Stadium.

Last season, Barcelona began their Champions League campaign on the road at Newcastle, where they secured a 1-2 victory thanks to two goals from Marcus Rashford.

Now back at Camp Nou, Barça have the opportunity to extend a remarkable sequence that has seen them dominate their home openers.

Eagles news: Philly reporter reveals insane Jalen Hurts-Josh Allen preference

Eagles news: Philly reporter reveals insane Jalen Hurts-Josh Allen preference appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here . During the 2026 NFL offseason, one of the biggest questions fans debated was where Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts falls in the pantheon of current signal-callers.To some, the second-round pick out of Oklahoma is clearly good enough to win Super Bowl MVP for a nearly flawless performance against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, but to others? That Super Bowl success had more to do with the team Howie Roseman put around him, with Hurts consistently struggling to play much above average if the conditions surrounding him aren't perfect.Discussing Hurts' play ahead of Week 1 on 94WIP, Elliott Shorr-Park didn't just call the Eagles' quarterback good, great, or even elite, but actually claimed that Philadelphia would be better off with QB1 under center over Josh Allen , as he fits what Nick Sirianni wants to run to a T . Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial) "So when do I think Jalen could put up the numbers Josh Allen does? Probably not, right? But do I think Josh Allen, if he came here, could do everything Jalen does? I think that would be hard for Josh Allen," Shorr-Park explained. "I think the amount of restraint it takes for Jalen to do what he does would be really hard, I believe that to my core. Do you think Josh Allen they are going to the Super Bowl twice in three years?"

Josh Allen is awesome - but could he accomplish everything with the Eagles that Jalen Hurts has accomplished?I don't think so. I don't think any QB is stepping into Hurts seat and winning more than he has over the last 5 years pic.twitter.com/vtMXdHfLnI - Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) September 8, 2026

No, understandably, this hot take drove ESP's co-host, Spike Eskin, up a wall, suggesting that the Eagles would never lose with Allen as their quarterback, but Shorr-Park doubled down, noting why he feels so strongly about his opinion."He does turn the ball over quite a bit in that game that Jalen beat him, and part of the reason they won that game is because Josh Allen turned the ball over..." Shorr-Park explained."I don't think they could accomplish what they've accomplished with Jalen with Josh Allen. I don't, because I think Jalen is perfect at what they want to do, and the way they do it is how you win. They do it that way because they win games that, oh my god. It's true this is the same conversation as last week: 39- 3 when they win the turnover battle. It is the most important stat, and Jalen is elite at it."Is ESP on the money? Eh, probably not, as Allen is arguably the best quarterback in the NFL and would likely shine in every single offense in the league regardless of their scheme or personnel. And yet, when it comes to wins and losses, Hurts really is in a class of his own, which is why Shorr-Park is able to have an opinion in the first place, even if some, nay, most would react to it just like Eskin. Related: Penn State's Matt Campbell reveals friendship with Eagles' Nick Sirianni before Temple clash Related: Eagles' Jalyx Hunt pays touching tribute to Brandon Graham after retirement announcement

49ers Lose Key Defensive Lineman for Season After Devastating Injury News

San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Alfred Collins. Getty

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 28: Alfred Collins #95 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a win against the Chicago Bears following the game at Levi's Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Getty

San Francisco 49ers' defensive tackle #95 Alfred Collins attends a training session at AAMI Park in Melbourne on September 7, 2026. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP via Getty Images) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -- Getty

The San Francisco 49ers are getting ready ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. The two teams face each other in Melbourne, Australia on Thursday, Sep. 10 at 5:35 p.m. PST.However, the 49ers will be without DT Alfred Collins for the remainder of the season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced on Tuesday.

DT Alfred Collins tore patellar tendon in practice and is out for the season, Kyle Shanahan said.- Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) September 9, 2026

Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reported on Sep. 8: "DT Alfred Collins tore patellar tendon in practice and is out for the season, Kyle Shanahan said." The second-year defensive lineman traveled with the team to Australia and was set to be a key contributor to the 49ers' defensive front.

Chicago Bears v San Francisco 49ers - NFL 2025 — Getty SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 28: Alfred Collins #95 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates a win against the Chicago Bears following the game at Levi's Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Why Losing Alfred Collins is Bad News for the 49ers

The 49ers' defensive line was one of the weaker components of the team last season. They recorded the fewest sacks in the NFL last year after DEs Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams suffered season-ending injuries.San Francisco used the 2025 NFL Draft to rebuild their defensive front. They selected DE Williams with their first-round pick (No. 11), DT Collins (second round, 43rd overall) and DT C.J West (fourth round, 113th overall).Collins, especially, gained a lot of playing time in his rookie season. He played in 16 regular-season games (starting 1) last season and is expected to be a key contributor this year.The 24-year-old tallied 17 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack and 2 forced fumbles. 49er fans might remember when Collins punched out the ball from Rams RB Kyren Williams in a Week 5 upset win.The 49ers lost Collins for the season and placed Mykel Williams on the PUP list, keeping him out for at least the first four weeks.

AMFOOT-AUS-NFL-RAMS-49ERS — Getty San Francisco 49ers' defensive tackle #95 Alfred Collins attends a training session at AAMI Park in Melbourne on September 7, 2026. (Photo by Martin KEEP / AFP via Getty Images) / - IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE -

Which 49ers Players Can Step Up After Alfred Collins Injury?

The 49ers traded for DT Osa Odighizuwa this offseason. San Francisco traded a 2026 third-round pick to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for the 5-year player.Odighizuwa impressed in camp, earning a starting spot at defensive tackle. 2025 fourth-round pick C.J West also figures to get a lot of playing time now that Collins is out.West played in 14 regular-season games in his rookie year. He recorded 21 tackles and 1 sack.Aside from Odighizuwa and West, only two other defensive tackles remain on the 53-man roster. Those spots belong to 2026 fourth-round pick Gracen Halton and undrafted free agent James Thompson Jr.

49ers DTs on the 53 with Alfred Collins out for the season:Osa OdighizuwaCJ WestGracen HaltonJames Thompson Jr.**Thompson (hamstring) hasn't been practicing. Seems like that SF will have to elevated a practice squad DT for the game:Sebastian ValdezKevin Givens- David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 9, 2026

David Lombardi of the San Francisco Standard noted that DTs Sebastian Valdez and Kevin Givens are on the 49ers' practice squad. Like HEAVY's content? Be sure to follow us .This article was originally published on HEAVY The post 49ers Lose Key Defensive Lineman for Season After Devastating Injury News appeared first on HEAVY .

Is Man United v Sabah on TV? How to watch Champions League fixtures
Manchester United 's rocky start to the season in Michael Carrick 's first campaign as permanent manager continues with a first game back in the Champions League . The visitors at Old Trafford are Azerbaijani champions Sabah, just eight years after being founded. Carrick will be desperate for a positive start to the league phase after another setback at Everton , following Ainsley Maitland-Niles's stoppage-time blockbuster. And after a year outside of European competition, following the agonising Europa League final loss to Tottenham , United will be desperate to start working towards a top eight finish and automatic progress to the last 16.Here's everything you need to know about the Champions League fixtures:

When is Man United vs Sabah?

Kick-off at Old Trafford, Manchester in the Champions League on Thursday 10 September is at 8pm BST.

How can I watch it?

The game will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with a live stream to be found on HBO Max. Coverage starts at 7pm BST.

What is the team news and predicted line-ups?

Matthijs De Ligt (back), Amad Diallo (ankle), Manuel Ugarte (knee) and Tom Heaton (hamstring) remain injured for United, Carlos Baleba is still not ready either.United have a 25-man A-List squad, though a B-List includes the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Leny Yoro.Marcus Rashford is carrying a knock after coming off against Everton and was "feeling a bit of something," according to Carrick.Sabah come into their Champions League debut with confidence after thrashing Zira 5-0 at the weekend, with Rwanda international Joy-Lance Mickels hitting a hat-trick, while Serbian striker Veljko Simic is set to start. Man United predicted XI: Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Tielemans, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Rashford; Sesko Sabah predicted XI : Pokatilov; Isayev, Dashdamirov, Solvet, Puchacz; Rakhmonaliyev, Lepinjica; Mutallimov, Simic, Nwachukwu; Mickels

'Better than people realize' - Charles Barkley compares Luka Doncic's 2026 LA Lakers to 2024 Dallas Mavericks

Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers are being underestimated by the NBA world, but Charles Barkley suggests they could make it all the way to the Finals. The Los Angeles Lakers retooled their entire roster this offseason, building around Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves after the departure of LeBron James.Considering the impact of LeBron leaving after eight seasons, and that the Lakers 'overpaid' to get center Walker Kessler according to some, the criticism has been loud.But Charles Barkley isn't having it, he thinks this Lakers team will be a lot more special than people are giving them credit for.

Charles Barkley claims LA Lakers team is 'as good or better' than 2023-24 Dallas Mavericks who made NBA Finals

Luka Doncic's most successful season was when he led the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals in 2024. He had Kyrie Irving by his side, with PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford also playing major roles.That Mavs team is widely considered the benchmark of how to build around Doncic, and Barkley thinks that LA has managed to hit that benchmark.

"I really want to see the Lakers do well," Barkley said. "First of all, I'm a big Luka fan, a big Austin Reaves fan. I think they're gonna be better than people realize."Luka and Kyrie took the Mavs to the Finals, come on, man. This team is probably better; this team is probably just as good as that team."While the NBA discourse may be scanting the Lakers, it's hard to agree that they are better than that Mavs team. Regardless, the point stands. Luka and his new team might surprise a lot of fans this year. Read more:

Jets Dealing With Sneaky Big Injury Before Titans Clash

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 28: Jameis Winston #19 of the New York Giants passes under pressure from Joseph Ossai #46 of the New York Jets during the first half of a preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 28, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Getty

There is one significant injury to watch for the New York Jets ahead of the Week 1 contest versus the Tennessee Titans.Head coach Aaron Glenn revealed that pass rusher Joseph Ossai is very much up in the air for the season opener."Good afternoon. When it comes to injuries, I'll give you guys a more detailed update at the end of the week, but for the most part, the guys that I said will be trending as far as playing will be healthy for this week, the same guys, they'll be getting some playing time. The only one that I would say that is probably week-to-week still, which hasn't changed, is (Joseph) Ossai. And again, I will give you a more detailed update as we get towards the end of the week. As far as this week is concerned, I'm looking for our guys to have a great practice. I'm excited going into our first week of a real game. Our guys will be ready, coaching staff will be ready, and we're all looking forward to this one," Glenn said on Tuesday, September 8.ESPN's Rich Cimini said on X, "Don't expect him to play this week."

Edge Joseph Ossai (foot) is week to week, so don't expect him to play this week. Jets are practicing today, off tomorrow, when the first injury report is released. https://t.co/NBAOgLWyiA - Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) September 8, 2026

Cimini also said last week that he wouldn't be surprised if Ossai was placed on injured reserve. If the Jets were to pull that lever, it would take place before the season opener. Ossai would be forced to miss at least the first four games of the 2026 season.

Alarm Bells Sounded

Robby Sabo of Jets X-Factor told Jake Asman that the Jets "are going to miss Ossai. This is flying under-the-radar. Ossai brings a lot of balance to that edge room. Right now they have [David] Bailey , they have [Will] McDonald - heavy pass-rush guys. [Kingsley] Enagbare , the opposite - really stout, heavy run defense. I think [Braiden] McGregor is going to be in the rotation. He is going to get more snaps than Jets fans think.""Ossai being out is just disappointing because you just hate losing a guy in the last preseason game. I get why he was playing in it in the first place. He missed basically all summer, so you wanted him to get some game reps and be prepared, but it's frustrating to not have him," Asman stated on "The Jake Asman Show."

. @RobbySabo of @jetsxfactor told @JakeAsman that he thinks the #Jets are "going to miss" Joseph Ossai on defense:"This is flying under the radar."Jake admitted that it's "disappointing" but shared a positive spin: "They've been practicing without him all summer. So guys... pic.twitter.com/XOS1ulH6eS - The Jake Asman Show - Daily Jets Podcast (@JakeAsmanShow) September 8, 2026

This offseason, the Jets made a splash in free agency. They signed Ossai to a three-year, $34.5 million deal. On Tuesday, September 8, the Jets released their depth chart ahead of Week 1. Ossai was listed as a starting EDGE defender.He was expected to be a key cog in this Jets' defensive line rotation, especially against the run.

Silver Lining to All of This

Losing any player stinks, but Asman revealed a potential positive spin to all of this."The positive, if you want to call it that, [is that] they've been practicing without him all summer. So guys should understand what their roles are because he hasn't been there basically the entire training camp and preseason," he said on the podcast.Ossai was with the team throughout the spring. However, when the players reported for training camp, Ossai was placed on the PUP [Physically Unable to Perform] list. Cimini shared that it was because "he was unable to pass the physical (undisclosed reason)."Ossai missed the first several weeks of camp before returning ahead of the preseason finale. Now he is back on the shelf. Like HEAVY's content? Be sure to follow us .This article was originally published on HEAVY The post Jets Dealing With Sneaky Big Injury Before Titans Clash appeared first on HEAVY .

Paige Bueckers details awful moment that nearly caused a 'panic attack' during U16 FIBA World Cup

Photo by Edgardo Medina/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Paige Bueckers' time with Team USA during the U16 FIBA Women's World Cup gave her a traumatic memory. Paige Bueckers and Team USA are currently in Germany competing at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.Bueckers has impressed many with her performance on the defensive end of the court. But those who have followed Bueckers' career know that the Dallas Wings star always brings out her A-Game in Team USA colors.

Photo by Carlos Gonzalez/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images

Paige Bueckers recalls scary Team USA story from 2017

Back in 2017, Bueckers represented Team USA at the U16 FIBA World Cup, where she ended the campaign with her first-ever gold medal for her country.However, before the stunning performance, Bueckers nearly had a panic attack after getting stuck in an elevator. Bueckers recently recalled that story during an interview with USA Basketball."It was like 12 of us packed into a six-person elevator. We clicked up to go to level three or something. We started going down."I was like, 'We're supposed to be going up.' So, we got rescued, thankfully. But that was an interesting moment for sure," Bueckers revealed.She added, "We started going down. Then we got stuck. So, it wasn't totally bad, but I thought we were going to run out of oxygen, so I almost had a panic attack."

Thankfully, Bueckers and her teammates were rescued before things got out of hand, but still, it must have been a scary experience for the superstar guard.Hopefully, she ends her current Team USA run in Germany without such elevator incidents. Read more:

Derek Stevens built Circa for sports fans and then he gave them a reason to keep coming back

Derek Stevens, owner and CEO of Circa Las Vegas, shows off a Fernando Mendoza Raiders jersey while drafting his fantasy football team.

LAS VEGAS - The first time I remember talking to Derek Stevens about Circa, we were standing at a construction site in downtown Las Vegas. He was describing a place that didn't exist yet, pointing toward a future where the sportsbook wouldn't be something tucked into a casino but the reason people traveled across the country to visit it.When I found him recently, he was in a cabana at Stadium Swim, surrounded by employees from his sports, risk, marketing, business development and operations departments. They were drafting a fantasy football team in the inaugural Legacy League, which carries a $100,000 entry fee. The enormous screen overlooking the pools had become a draft board, and the man who built the place was doing exactly what he had envisioned years earlier: watching sports with his friends."I've been playing fantasy football since I've been 14 years old," Stevens told me. "We've never been in anything like this. This is crazy."There are more elaborate ways to explain Circa's business model, but that scene comes pretty close. Stevens built a place where he wanted to spend his Sundays and figured other sports fans might want to join him. The screens and pools get their attention. The feeling that they have been invited into something keeps them coming back."We hang out, we work every Sunday together," he said of the group helping assemble his fantasy roster. "We watch a lot of football."Stevens fell in love with Las Vegas as a University of Michigan student visiting between a summer job and his return to campus. He eventually made the city home, building a downtown casino business with his brother, Greg, through the Golden Gate and the D before taking on their most ambitious project.When I visited the Circa construction site in January 2020, the resort was supposed to debut that December. We all know what happened between those dates. A development built around bringing people together was preparing to open as the world was being told to stay apart.Circa nevertheless opened its casino and major attractions that October, followed by the hotel in December. The first new downtown resort-casino built from the ground up in four decades arrived during one of the most uncertain periods in Las Vegas history. Stevens' vision had been clear long before that uncertainty."What we're building is going to be the mecca of sports betting," he told me during construction. "I wanted everyone around the country to know we have a destination sportsbook."He wasn't simply trying to build a better place to make a bet. He wanted to compete with the experience of attending the game itself. As a Detroit sports fan, he understood both the appeal of being there and the aggravation that could accompany it."I think watching the NFL on television is a far better experience than going to the game," he told me then. "I went to the Lions game on Thanksgiving Day and it was a seven-hour ordeal when you talk about traffic, parking, security lines and everything else. That's not including the in-game experience where you don't get all the replays and the commentary and you're in line for an hour to get something to eat or drink."His answer was a three-story sportsbook with a 78-million-pixel screen and viewing capacity for 1,000 people. Upstairs, Stadium Swim paired six pools with a massive outdoor screen and room for 4,000. These weren't amenities added to accommodate sports fans. They were the point of the property.

I'll never forget when Stevens first told me his vision for Stadium Swim, a 125-foot stadium-style screen playing games in front of six multi-tiered rooftop pools, 30 cabanas, 38 day beds and 337 chaise lounges."I love watching sports in the pool but there was no where to do it so I created the biggest outdoor sports betting pool party in the country," Stevens told me at the time.

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The scale is what people photograph, but the smaller details reveal who built it. Mike Palm, the vice president of operations for Circa, the D and Golden Gate, told me how much time they spend discussing television programming in the hotel rooms and cabanas. Regional sports coverage matters. So does allowing a group in a cabana to hear its own game even when a different broadcast is playing across the pool deck."Derek built this for himself as a customer, right?" Palm said. "That's the way he built it. How would I enjoy it? As a sports fan and as a gambler, how would I enjoy this experience?"That doesn't mean Palm agrees with every idea. Stevens originally wanted sports audio playing at Stadium Swim around the clock. Palm reminded him that someone renting a cabana on a Thursday morning might not want to spend the entire day listening to the Rays play the Orioles. There was still a place for DJs and music between the major events.Stevens adjusted. On another idea, Palm was the one who needed convincing.When Stevens proposed Grandissimo, a survivor contest with a $100,000 entry fee, Palm worried they were taking something that already worked and pulling customers away from it. Stevens believed it would attract a different audience. The inaugural contest drew 69 entries and a $6.9 million prize pool."I was the one pushing back," Palm said. "He goes, 'There's a whole different clientele,' which he's right."The Legacy League draft was another expression of that thinking. Stevens wasn't asking everyone who entered a $1,000 football contest to suddenly find another $99,000. He was giving another group a reason to come downtown."There's a lot of people that have never been down here today," Stevens told me during the draft. "They're loving this."Earlier, he had been meeting fans arriving for contest sign-up weekend, an event that has become its own gathering on the football calendar. Palm described three days of programming, from a champions dinner and time together at Bar Canada to Stadium Swim events and a panel discussing the upcoming season. Radio and podcast participation, he said, had grown from roughly a dozen outlets to more than 40.The contests now offer $30 million in combined guarantees: $20 million for Circa Survivor, $6 million for Circa Million VIII and $4 million for Grandissimo. Survivor costs $1,000 per entry and requires contestants to select a winning NFL team for each contest leg without using the same team twice. Million VIII asks for five weekly picks against the spread, while Grandissimo applies the survivor concept at its six-figure entry price. Last season, five winning Survivor entries split $18,718,000, receiving $3,743,600 apiece. Those numbers explain some of the interest, but Palm offered a smaller story that stayed with me: a young man from Kansas who saves to purchase one entry each year and schedules his trip around sign-up weekend so he can spend time with the people running the contest.A $1,000 entry is a substantial expense, and for most contestants the season will end without a payout. What Circa can control is whether the visit feels worthwhile beyond the pick sheet.Palm said contestants came from 31 countries last year. In-person registration brings them to Nevada, while registered proxies allow them to submit picks after returning home. He had recently met a man from New Zealand who flew in to enter."It's turned into like a pilgrimage to Las Vegas, a pilgrimage to the desert," Stevens said. "And they're all coming out here to sign up."There is a deliberate business calculation behind the hospitality. Circa takes no rake from the contests, and Palm estimated that putting on the three competitions costs the company $7 million in marketing, labor and other expenses. The wager is that people who make the trip will like the properties enough to spend time there and return."But it's a bet that we can get people to our property and they'll love it," Palm said.Stevens is a throwback in a city where the person who owns the casino can feel far removed from the person visiting it. You see him around his properties. You can talk to him. On this night, you could interrupt his fantasy draft long enough to ask about the place, although there was always another player coming off the board.Palm views that accessibility as part of the product, whether it means meeting Stevens or reaching someone who can resolve an account problem."I think it makes a difference when people are choosing," Palm said. "That they feel comfortable that they're actually working with a person."The success has inevitably attracted imitators. Stevens seems comfortable with that outcome. A concept this conspicuous was either going to struggle or work well enough that other operators would want their own version.Palm draws a distinction between inspiration and copying. He said the company had sent a cease-and-desist letter to an unnamed operator over what he considered an overly close imitation. He declined to identify the business. But he also acknowledged that Circa looks at successful promotions elsewhere and considers how to put its own spin on them.The more interesting question is how much of Circa can actually be duplicated. Another property can install a screen above a pool. It is harder to reproduce the relationship between a place and the people who have made visiting it an annual tradition.Stevens believes the pandemic helped accelerate the desire to watch sports together. After so much isolation, friends wanted trips with friends. They wanted a place to cheer, argue about a call and spend a weekend with people they might otherwise only see in a group text.That is what I thought about watching him in the cabana. In January 2020, he could explain the dimensions of the sportsbook and describe the pools. What he couldn't show me yet was the gathering that would eventually fill them.Near the end of our conversation, Stevens talked about what it means when someone gives his property 48 hours. The visit represents much more than two days, he said. There are weeks of planning, money spent on travel, children who need rides to practices and arrangements that have to be made before anyone boards a plane."They're doing it all just to spend 48 hours here," Stevens said. "So I'm a big person that preaches the fact that in the 48 hours that a customer is going to give us, it's our responsibility to give them the time of their life."Years ago, standing at a construction site, I listened to Stevens explain how he would build a destination sportsbook. Sitting with him at Stadium Swim, I heard the more important part of the plan.He knows the screen can get people to look. Making them feel welcome is what gets them to come back.

If Alexis Mac Allister wants a new contract at Liverpool, he's got to earn it
When the giants from the Spanish capital visit Anfield , Liverpool 's Alexis Mac Allister has a habit of commanding attention. In 2024, Real Madrid arrived and departed beaten, with Mac Allister scoring. In 2025, the same happened. And in 2026, as Atletico Madrid prepared to kick off their Champions League campaign, Mac Allister delivered another dramatic intervention. This one did not involve angling a shot or planting a header past Thibaut Courtois.Mac Allister implied he could have been lining up at Anfield on Wednesday in the colours of Atletico. "There were options to leave this summer," he said. There may have been more reason to go with the message from Liverpool . "I received the news that the club was not in a position to offer me a new contract, which of course makes me very, very sad," he said.It made Mac Allister the odd man out among the 2025 title-winning midfield. Ryan Gravenberch signed a six-year deal in March. Dominik Szoboszlai agreed a five-year deal in July. Mac Allister was arguably the best of the trio in Jurgen Klopp's final season, after each joined in 2023. He was excellent in Arne Slot's title-winning team the following year.

Mac Allister admitted he could have left Liverpool (Getty)

He noted the difference. "I see Dominik and Ryan renewing their contracts and that's makes me very happy because they deserve it but at the same time it makes me a little bit sad I didn't get mine. Of course, there is still time." Time, perhaps, to change Liverpool's minds. Mac Allister's current deal expires in 2028. He will, though, soon be entering the frame when his transfer value deteriorates and other clubs may start making overtures. Liverpool have lost a series of players on free transfers in recent years and sold others for cut-price fees when their contracts were nearing the end. One interpretation is that the former director of football Richard Hughes has left his successor with another problem.Another is to argue that, impressive as Mac Allister was in his first two seasons after his £35m move from Brighton, his form last year scarcely merited a new deal. He will be 29 at the end of his current contract. Never blessed with pace, there is the question if he is slowing down as the game is getting quicker, making him a man out of time. If he did not leave in the summer, perhaps it was because the calibre of club he may have wanted to join did not provide a suitable offer. The World Cup was a reason why Mac Allister started the season on the bench, but with new head coach Andoni Iraola 's use of Florian Wirtz as a No 10 meaning there is only room for two central midfielders, it could have seemed an insight into his thinking.What can be said is that Liverpool already possess one of the biggest wage bills in world football. They have committed around £650m to signings in the last 15 months. A club who often describe themselves as self-sustaining may have decided their money only goes so far. Mac Allister has not had a full explanation. "What I got from my agent was that they were not in the position to renew me. It's really sad because we won the Premier League together, we went through difficult times as well together and I always give my best," he said. At the same time, there was a recognition he was not at his best last year. "I take responsibility because it was not a good season for me individually and for as a team," the World Cup winner added. Nor was it for quite a few others. Now two of last season's underachievers gone, in Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate; Liverpool did not meet the Frenchman's contract demands . Perhaps committing to Mac Allister for the long term now may have seemed a reward for recent failure.

lt="Alexis Mac Allister puts in a sliding tackle on Nottingham Forest midfielder James McAtee (PA)" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/the_independent_us_sports_articles_270/9d03511a3e7e63ac0d33ff3286530e83.jpg" data-uuid="a7c88367-5a4c-3c89-9f77-3812bd93ef13">

Alexis Mac Allister puts in a sliding tackle on Nottingham Forest midfielder James McAtee (PA)

Mac Allister's sadness did not prevent him from hinting that he understood Liverpool's reluctance to give him a deal. "Maybe, it is going to depend on how I perform during these years, like every football player, and they are right to make the decision," he said.For now, it may seem Liverpool are in the stronger negotiating position. Mac Allister wants to stay. "I don't think I have to prove something but I have to show the level I can perform and hopefully that is the case," he added. "I love this club, I love being here, I love the fans, and as a player it sometimes happens you are in a club for a long time and you don't really realise where you are. That doesn't happen to me, I know very well this is an amazing club."If he has to persuade his employers, he might have made the right kind of start with Iraola. Mac Allister had a fine World Cup as Argentina reached another final. He came into the Liverpool side for Gravenberch after the draw at Newcastle."The important thing for me is he wants to continue here in the footballing side," said Iraola. "I think very highly [of him] and definitely there is still a lot of time to talk about those contract situations." But the surprise was how much Mac Allister said and what it revealed.

Champions League | Standings and fixtures

A new edition of the UEFA Champions League is under way, with Inter opening their 2026/27 European campaign with a defeat away to Real Madrid. Europe's premier club competition will now take a break until October, when the Nerazzurri return to action at San Siro. Chivu's side will make their home Champions League debut against Club Brugge on Wednesday 13 October at 21:00 CEST. THE FIXTURES: MATCHDAY 1 Real Madrid-Inter 2-1 MATCHDAY 2 Tuesday 13 October 2026, 21:00 CEST Inter vs Club Brugge MATCHDAY 3 Wednesday 21 October 2026, 21:00 CEST Inter vs Shakhtar MATCHDAY 4 Tuesday 3 November 2026, 21:00 CEST Feyenoord vs Inter MATCHDAY 5 Wednesday 25 November 2026, 21:00 CEST Inter vs Stuttgart MATCHDAY 6 Wednesday 9 December 2026, 21:00 CEST Borussia Dortmund vs Inter MATCHDAY 7 Tuesday 19 January 2027, 21:00 CEST Inter vs Liverpool MATCHDAY 8 Wednesday 27 January 2027, 21:00 CEST Slovan Bratislava vs Inter

LA CLASSIFICA DELLA LEAGUE PHASE

1. Manchester City* 3 p.ti 2. Aston Villa* 3 2. Real Betis* 3 4. Borussia Dortmund* 3 5. Real Madrid* 3 6. AEK Athens* 3 7. Arsenal 0 7. Atlético de Madrid 0 7. FC Barcelona 0 7. Bayern München 0 7. Bødo/Glimt 0 7. Como 0 7. Fenerbahce 0 7. Feyenoord 0 7. Galatasaray 0 7. RB Leipzig 0 7. Lens 0 7. Liverpool 0 7. Manchester United 0 7. SC Napoli 0 7. Paris Saint-Germain 0 7. PSV Eindhoven 0 7. AS Roma 0 7. Slovan Bratislava 0 7. Sabah 0 7. Shakhtar 0 7. Slavia Praga 0 7. Sporting Lisbona 0 7. Stoccarda 0 7. Viking 0 31. Villarreal* 0 32. Club Brugge* 0 32. Lille* 0 34. INTER* 0 35. LASK* 0 36. Porto* 0 *Played one match more

Yankees' Cam Schlittler draws blunt label from teammate after stellar start vs Rockies

Yankees' Cam Schlittler draws blunt label from teammate after stellar start vs Rockies appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here . One day after Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease scuffled a bit versus the Athletics, Cam Schlittler strengthened his claim for the American League Cy Young Award by helping the New York Yankees (82-62) get some extra breathing room in the Wild Card standings. The 25-year-old starting pitcher decimated the Colorado Rockies (55-89) on Tuesday, allowing only one run on three hits and striking out 10 batters in a seven-inning gem. One word comes to mind when describing this fantastic hurler ."He's nasty," outfielder Heliot Ramos said after hitting a three-run homer in the Yankees' 5-3 win versus Colorado. "I've faced him before. He's one of the nastiest pitchers I've faced. Just the fact he's only throwing fastballs is crazy to me, it's mind-blowing... He's efficient, he does whatever needs to be done and he executes. And that's the best thing that he has."

"He's nasty. I've faced him before. He's one of the nastiest pitchers I've faced. Just the fact he's only throwing fastballs is crazy to me, it's mind-blowing" Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial) - Heliot Ramos on Cam Schlittler pic.twitter.com/UnyVrTjmbR - SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) September 9, 2026

Ramos has not shared a clubhouse with Schlittler for very long - arrived at the trade deadline from the San Francisco Giants - but he has quickly grasped what makes this young right-hander so lethal. The 2022 seventh-round draft pick wields considerable velocity, but he knows how to control it. He also embraces the moment.Although there is not much pressure surrounding a home game against the last-place Rockies, Cam Schlittler still embodies what it means to be an ace, and he is doing so in his first full MLB season . After dropping two out of three to the San Diego Padres, the Yankees required a momentum-changing performance in The Bronx. No. 31 obliged. Aaron Judge commanded most of the spotlight in his first big-league game since May 31, but Schlittler was the most important player in the stadium on this night. Heliot Ramos and the rest of the team are counting on him to maintain his "nastiness" through the remainder of the 2026 campaign. Related: Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s injury gets worrisome update after Yankees beat Rockies Related: The random way Yankees' Aaron Judge informed Aaron Boone he's returning

Happy Birthday, Danilo D'Ambrosio!

Grit, heart, unwavering commitment, a fierce competitive spirit and a deep connection with Inter: Danilo D'Ambrosio turns 38 today, with the Club and the entire Nerazzurri family wishing him a very happy birthday. Nine seasons in an Inter shirt, five trophies, 284 appearances and 21 goals. To mark D'Ambrosio's birthday, we look back at one of his most iconic moments in Nerazzurri colours - a decisive piece of play that helped shape the Club's recent history. It was the final game of the 2018/19 season at San Siro. Victory would take Inter back into the Champions League; defeat would send Empoli down. In many ways, the match became a microcosm of the Nerazzurri's entire campaign. Inter had to be patient before finding the breakthrough, with Keita finally opening the scoring in the second half after a fine individual move. What followed was pure drama. Icardi missed a penalty, then Empoli equalised in bizarre fashion as a low cross flashed all the way across the six-yard box before Traorè turned it in. Nainggolan put Inter back in front, reacting quickest after Vecino's effort came back off the post, but the closing stages were frantic. The Nerazzurri made a series of costly mistakes, while Empoli continued to threaten through the quality of players such as Di Lorenzo, Bennacer and Traorè. Through all the chaos, one Inter player remained completely focused. Danilo D'Ambrosio barely put a foot wrong and, with Handanovic already beaten, produced an extraordinary goal-line clearance.That, ultimately, was the measure of Danilo D'Ambrosio: he never went missing and was always there when Inter needed him most. He spent almost nine and a half years in Nerazzurri colours, one of the few players to span the difficult seasons of the mid-2010s and the Club's return to a winning cycle.He made 284 appearances for Inter in a career that began with Potenza and Juve Stabia, continued with Torino - whom he helped from Serie B to Serie A - and eventually brought him to the Nerazzurri. He may not have had Maicon's technical gifts, but he still found his way into the hearts of the Inter supporters. He did so through a physique built on meticulous attention to training and nutrition, and through a competitive intensity that never dropped, whether in a match or during a single minute on the training ground. His Inter debut came in Turin against Juventus, when he was introduced in the 58th minute with the Nerazzurri already 3-0 down. His final appearance was a painful one, but one that will always be remembered: the Champions League final in Istanbul, where he was sent on as Inter pushed for an equaliser against the strongest team in the world. In a perfect world, D'Ambro would have scored that equaliser. And then, who knows?Danilo turns 38 today. We may not yet know what the next chapter holds for him, but one thing is certain: whenever he returns to San Siro, he will always be greeted with the warmest of ovations."Nothing compares to being there," as an old slogan once put it.

Richards and Lineker in complete agreement over Man Utd man who's looking 'outstanding' and 'sharp' this season

Micah Richards was keen to single out Marcus Rashford for praise following his standout display against Everton. Although Manchester United ultimately slumped to a 2-2 draw at the home of the Toffees, the forward certainly looked back to his best.

Micah Richards and Gary Lineker laud revitalised Marcus Rashford

(Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) Reacting to the afternoon's affairs on The Rest Is Football, Richards said: "I thought Rashford was outstanding in the game." Gary Lineker echoed the sentiment, adding: "He's looking sharp." "He looks very sharp," Richards continued. "He's direct. He's not second-guessing himself. He could have had at least two or three assists in the game." Lineker proceeded to recall one moment in the match where Rashford displayed some clever footwork to weave his way into Everton's box before being dispossessed at the final moment by James Tarkowski.

Rashford looking to nail down starting spot

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) The 28-year-old was deployed from the off for the second successive outing, so he'll be hoping he's done enough to retain his place for Sunday's Manchester derby.Michael Carrick may opt to make some changes to his XI on Thursday, when the Reds take on reigning Azerbaijan league champions Sabah in M16.

Peter Schmeichel: "Coming away from that game, Rashford is now smelling of roses. I thought he was absolutely fantastic. Welcome back Marcus, we have missed you. Because he is one of the top players in the world." via @ViaplayFotball pic.twitter.com/4sYdOFyIp1

However, Rashford was withdrawn at the 70-minute mark on Merseyside , with Carrick confirming post-match that he had suffered a slight injury.Fans will be keeping a close eye on whether the attacker is involved in training at Carrington in the lead-up to the midweek encounter.While he was perhaps United's best player in matchweek three, Rashford won't feel satisfied until he opens his account for the season; he has yet to score or assist in his three appearances since being reintegrated into the squad. Share Tweet Share Share Email

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Dodgers Getting Shohei Ohtani Back vs. Reds As Irregular Usage Continues

Sep 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) in the dugout in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers are putting Shohei Ohtani back in the lineup on Wednesday, September 9th, after giving him a day off on Tuesday out of nowhere.

Ohtani sat from last Thursday through Sunday, missing the whole Washington Nationals series and the finale of the St. Louis Cardinals series, and he returned on Monday for the opener against the Cincinnati Reds.

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According to manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani will be back on Wednesday after a game of rest.

The Japanese slugger is nursing well-documented bicep and knee soreness, which are notably compromising his swing and hitting approach.

Ohtani picked up the injuries while pitching. All of the wear from his two-way responsibilities caught up to him, and now he is left handling the wreckage.

According to Roberts, to help Ohtani recover and manage his injury, the team wanted to give him Tuesday off, have him return Wednesday, and give him Thursday off to rest.

The new normal for Ohtani

Ohtani was available to pinch-hit if needed, but the Dodgers wanted to ideally avoid using him and keep him off his feet.

Going forward, he will be monitored closely , and any possible hint of obvious limitation will be put under a microscope.

"Ohtani came out of yesterday well, but talking to training staff, it's more of the thought of, 'Let's build him up slowly,'" Roberts told the media, including Dodgers Nation.

"For us, it's not about just tonight. It's about, 'What can we do to get him to be optimal as we get into the postseason?' So I think that a day here or there is not the worst thing to make sure that his body overall feels as close to 100 percent as possible."

Sep 8, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) in the dugout prior to the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Ohtani is 6-for-49 with 21 strikeouts over his last 13 games since August 19th, while not driving in a run and losing his signature slugging ability.

Still, the Dodgers rolled him out at the leadoff spot no matter what, until his wincing and results became too much to ignore.

Now, they are left balancing their current seeding race and getting Ohtani ready for the postseason.

Aaron Judge Drops Blunt Quote After First Game Back With Yankees

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees stands in the dugout before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium on September 08, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Getty

The New York Yankees secured a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night in their series opener at Yankee Stadium.It also marked the return of three-time MVP outfielder Aaron Judge, who had been out since late May with a stress fracture in his right rib.Judge finished 0-for-3 with two strikeouts before manager Aaron Boone pulled him in the seventh inning for Heliot Ramos. Boone made it clear before the game that he planned to limit Judge's playing time as he ramps back up.However, the Yankees captain wasn't happy about it one bit.

Judge Bluntly Criticizes Boone's Decision

While speaking to the media, Judge dropped a blunt quote, saying he'll do whatever his manager asks but admitting he wasn't happy about leaving the game in the seventh."I feel great... played half a game so I don't know what to say about that," Judge said postgame. "I respect Booney. So whatever he says I'm gonna do, but not happy about it. But that's where my guy Ramos picked me up and hit a nice little three-run homer there to kind of put the game out... but yeah not too happy about it."

"I feel great, I played half a game"Aaron Judge talked about being "not happy" about Aaron Boone taking him out after the 6th inning"That's where my guy [Heliot] Ramos came in and picked me up and hit a nice little three-run homer there to put the game out" pic.twitter.com/wP3Obcc2Ca - SNY Yankees (@snyyankees) September 9, 2026

Judge Speaks on Recovery Process

The 11-year veteran revealed that he actually wanted to come back months ago, but understood there was a process and certain boxes he had to check with the medical team first."I wanted to come back a couple months ago, but I'm not a trainer. So I gotta check whatever boxes they got," Judge revealed. "A box they wanted me to check was live hitting, so I said, 'Perfect, we'll do that on the off day so I can play.'"He added that the Yankees pay him to play baseball, so he owes it to the team and its fans to take the field."I get paid to do this, so I gotta go do it," he added. "That's the end of it. I get paid to go out there and give my best to the New York Yankees and these fans." Like HEAVY's content? Be sure to follow us .This article was originally published on HEAVY The post Aaron Judge Drops Blunt Quote After First Game Back With Yankees appeared first on HEAVY .

Hornets' Domantas Sabonis Trade Rumors Are Swirling Again
Over the last couple of years, the Charlotte Hornets have been connected to potential trade interest in Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis on multiple occasions.Sabonis has seemingly shown interest in a trade away from the Kings. Should they make him available on the market, the Hornets would make a lot of sense as a potential trade suitor.Throughout his NBA career, Sabonis has made the All-Star game three times. He is one of the more underrated big men in the league. Adding a player of his caliber would instantly make Charlotte a more serious contender in the Eastern Conference.Last season in Sacramento, the 30-year-old center played in 19 games and made 15 starts. He averaged 15.8 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game, while shooting 54.3 percent from the floor.Unfortunately, injuries hampered him and cut his season short.Back in the 2024-25 campaign with the Kings, Sabonis put up much bigger numbers. He averaged 19.1 points per game to go along with 13.9 rebounds, and six assists. He also shot 59 percent from the floor and 41.7 percent from three-point range on 2.2 attempts per game.On September 8th, NBA insider Jake Fischer shared the latest connection between Charlotte and Sabonis."Sabonis wants out of Sacramento himself. That seems to be evident by changing agents this summer. He's extension eligible. In today's NBA with the second apron, if you are up for an extension, you don't want to get to free agency. You want to secure that next bag from your team or you want to get traded to the next team that will do that," Fischer said .Fischer then went on to officially name the Hornets as a potential trade destination."Sabonis wants an extension. He had trade interest from the Toronto Raptors. He had trade interest from Charlotte. Both teams were in discussions with Sacramento as recently as this summer. I think Toronto's talk with the Kings were far more advanced and serious at the deadline. Charlotte is a team that could still be in the mix depending on Sacramento's trade price."If Sabonis actually is available on the trade market, Charlotte should have interest. Currently, the Hornets are projected to start Hannes Steinbach at center.While no one will take anything away from the talent that Steinbach possesses, Sabonis would be a huge upgrade. Making a trade to acquire him would instantly take Charlotte to the next level.Expect to continue hearing rumors and speculation connecting the Hornets to Sabonis. The rumors are far from dead following the latest report from Fischer.

BKFC boss says promotion can 'force excitement' out of Michael Page
The door is open for Michael "Venom" Page to return to bare-knuckle boxing.

Page completed his Ultimate Fighting Championship contract with a unanimous decision victory over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris . Despite going 5-1 in the UFC, "Venom" failed to secure a single finish and his victories were lackluster affairs, prompting the promotion to opt against re-signing him.

Dave Feldman welcomes a potential Michael Page return after his UFC run

Dave Feldman spoke about his interest in Page in an interview with Bloody Elbow . The Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship president is still unsure about Page's status with the UFC, so hasn't made a move yet, but is keen on the Englishman competing in his promotion again.

"I don't know if his contract is actually terminated," Feldman said. "That's a pretty fast time to get his contract terminated, so I don't want to make any moves on him yet. We would definitely welcome MVP. When he fought for us with Mike Perry , it was a pretty exciting match, and a lot of people actually thought he won that fight."

Feldman further emphasized that the format of BKFC brought out a different version of Page.

"You can't really be boring in BKFC, so it's hard for him to fight that type of fight in BKFC," Feldman added. "We would be interested? Yes. I think BKFC will force excitement out of MVP and I think that the fans would love that."

Page took on Mike Perry in BKFC in 2022, losing via majority decision in a close fight.

Ex-Philadelphia Phillies Player Cut Loose By New MLB Team

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Brandon Marsh #16 and Max Kepler #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate in the outfield during the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) Getty

lt="PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 07: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with Max Kepler #22 after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Chase Field on August 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/heavy_214/b3e5efd58725bf609e3f5e466e00d8f3.jpg" data-uuid="a3f2dcc9-e1c3-3128-8b7c-34d535a0b8b7">

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 07: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with Max Kepler #22 after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Chase Field on August 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) Getty

lt="LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Max Kepler #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after scoring a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers on a double by Nick Castellanos #8 during the seventh inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/heavy_214/47400b23e3516286095a167586254681.jpg" data-uuid="785d1d20-0ac0-3d13-b319-8f0c199428f9">

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Max Kepler #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after scoring a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers on a double by Nick Castellanos #8 during the seventh inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) Getty

As the Philadelphia Phillies are currently taking on the Houston Astros in a new series this week, a piece of notable roster news dropped on a recent Phillies player.Phillies fans shouldn't have forgotten by outfielder Max Kepler yet, as Kepler played his entire 2025 season with Philadelphia.Well, on Tuesday, Kepler was released by his new MLB team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. More MLB on Heavy: Jacob Misiorowski Made MLB History in Cubs-Brewers Game

Ex-Phillies Player Max Kepler Released by Diamondbacks

lt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks" class="size-inline wp-image-6352348" height="531" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/heavy_214/b3e5efd58725bf609e3f5e466e00d8f3.jpg" width="769" data-uuid="a3f2dcc9-e1c3-3128-8b7c-34d535a0b8b7">

Getty PHOENIX, ARIZONA - AUGUST 07: Nolan Arenado #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates with Max Kepler #22 after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning at Chase Field on August 07, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

According to the MLB transactions tracker, Max Kepler was released by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday, September 8. He wa designated for assignment two days ago by the club. MLBTR.com's Connor Byrne wrote (about Kepler's potential next steps):"Kepler has been released, according to the MLB.com transaction log . That was inevitable after the DFA. The Triple-A season ends in a few weeks, so there's a decent chance he'll remain unsigned until the offseason."In 2026, with the D-backs, Kepler had batted just .205 over 41 games. Kepler is a 12-year MLB veteran who spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Minnesota Twins . More MLB on Heavy: Philadelphia Phillies Fans React to Trea Turner Decision Before Astros Series

Looking at Max Kepler with the Philadelphia Phillies

lt="Division Series - Philadelphia Phillies v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game Four" class="size-inline wp-image-6352354" height="522" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/heavy_214/47400b23e3516286095a167586254681.jpg" width="782" data-uuid="785d1d20-0ac0-3d13-b319-8f0c199428f9">

Getty LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Max Kepler #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after scoring a run against the Los Angeles Dodgers on a double by Nick Castellanos #8 during the seventh inning in game four of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

While it was just a one-year tenure for Max Kepler, the Phillies were the last team he had played for before 2026, which makes the release newsworthy.Kepler signed a one-year contract before the 2025 season to play for the Phillies.Across 127 games in a Phillies uniform, Kepler batted .216 with 18 home runs, 52 RBI, 19 doubles, and a bWAR of 0.1 as one of the Phillies every day outfielders.He also added an OPS+ of 87, 58 runs, and 90 hits in his 127 games with the Phillies.It's unclear what's next for Max Kepler, but he does have very solid career numbers.The 12-year MLB veteran carries a lifetime batting average of .234 with 181 home runs, 575 RBI, and 19.9 bWAR. More MLB on Heavy: Atlanta Braves Dealt Major Reynaldo Lopez News Before Rays Series Like HEAVY's content? Be sure to follow us .This article was originally published on HEAVY The post Ex-Philadelphia Phillies Player Cut Loose By New MLB Team appeared first on HEAVY .

Liverpool midfielder joins Man United, he's gone

Liverpool and Manchester United were linked with a lot of the same players in the summer transfer window. Both teams could've done a lot better than they did last season and, while the Red Devils managed to finish higher than Liverpool in the Premier League, the fact that they only had England's top flight to focus on will have certainly helped them out.This term, both clubs are in the same competitions and, at the moment, Liverpool are the ones coming out on top with Andoni Iraola's men in sixth while Michael Carrick's are 11th in the table.United and Liverpool both spent a hefty chunk of change in the summer with both of their problem areas more or less the same.So, the fact that the arch-rivals were linked with the same player is hardly surprising.However, even with the transfer window shut, it hasn't stopped a deal being made between the two clubs.

Manchester United have signed Isaac Konde from Liverpool

The midfields of Liverpool and Man United were one of their main problem areas last season.Neither club really had players with enough legs to run for the entire 90 minutes and, although there were exceptions such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Bruno Fernandes, they couldn't single-handedly carry their teams.So, the fact that Man United strengthened their midfield in the summer made sense.And, even though Liverpool didn't manage to bring anyone in for the centre of the park, players such as Alexis Mac Allister seem to be getting back to their best .But, even with the transfer window shut, the deals haven't stopped with Fabrizio Romano now sharing that a Liverpool midfielder has joined the Red Devils. "Manchester United have completed deal to sign 16-year-old midfielder Isaac Konde from Liverpool, here we go," he wrote via X."All set for Manchester United FC move as formal steps have been completed in the last 24 hours."

Liverpool losing Isaac Konde is a big blow for them

One of the main problems that most teams are facing at the moment is the lack of midfield talent that they have among their ranks.Of course, there are some exceptions such as Manchester City but, since they basically have a blank cheque book every window, it's not surprising to see their midfield be one of the best in the world.So, any midfield prospects such as Trey Nyoni or even Elliott Anderson need to be treasured.But, with the merry-go round of Northern academies that has been going on over the last few months, it's hardly a surprise to see Konde leave.Last term he played six games for the Reds Under-18s and even managed to earn himself an assists.Obviously, at 16 years old, there's still a lot of time for him to grow as a player so, Man United prising the youngster away from Liverpool is certainly a massive blow.Here's hoping that Liverpool don't end up regretting not putting more of a fight up to keep him in L4.

Washington Wizards Promote Rising Exec Within Front Office

With all eyes on the new look roster and coaching staff, the Washington Wizards made another move to its front office after news of a promotion broke on Tuesday afternoon.Amber Nichols is now set to serve as the vice president of basketball operations and personnel of the Wizards, a promotion for the longtime basketball executive. General manager Will Dawkins praised Nichols during the 2026 NBA Draft process in a notable move in her career.After graduating from the University of Georgia with a degree in sports management and policy, Nichols began her career as an intern in player strategy and development where she focused on the upcoming draft classes and free agency developments. Nichols then moved into a basketball operations analyst role beginning in Sept. 2017 where she worked on scouting, stats and gameday operations before joining the Wizards' organization.Nichols first arrived in Washington as the director of basketball operations and player development for the Capital City Go-Go beginning in Sept. 2018, but she did not last long in that role after being promoted to assistant general manager of basketball operations the following August. Nichols was then promoted to general manager role of the Go-Go beginning in Jan. 2021 where she served in the position for nearly four years. Nichols climbed the ladder again when she was promoted to the Wizards' newest director of amateur evaluation before Tuesday's promotion cemented her as an integral part of the Wizards' front office.After becoming the second women named to a general manager position in the NBA's G League, Nichols oversaw a Go-Go team that reached the conference quarterfinals in four consecutive seasons while finishing above .500 in her final three seasons with the team. She also serves as an adjunct lecturer at Georgetown University in addition to being named in Forbes' 2022 edition of the 30 Under 30 for sports.The Raleigh, NC native also played four seasons at Richmond where she started in two games and appeared in 85, averaging 2.4 points and 0.8 rebounds in ten minutes per game.With the latest addition to the front office all but finalized, the Wizards are set to unofficially kick off a new chapter for the franchise exactly one month from today when they travel north to face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 8 for the first preseason game. The Milwaukee Bucks will then head to Capital One Arena for the regular season opener on Oct. 21.

DAILY THREAD | Sep 9, 2026

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 08: Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid CF celebrates during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Real Madrid C.F. and FC Internazionale Milano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 08, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Diego Souto/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Daily Merengue is a place where you can feel free to discuss all things football. Do not be alarmed by the overt RMCF bias. It's in the name! Shoutout to the mods who do a fantastic job Kung_Fu_Zizou, Juninho, NeRObutBlanco, Felipejack, Ezek Ix and yours truly, Valyrian Steel.

Smash and Grab.

Not great but 3 points to begin the UCL campaign. Once again thank god for Courtois even though Fede Valverde was named MOTM.

Managing Madrid Podcast: Real Madrid 2 - 1 Inter Milan, Post-game Reaction, Champions League 2026 - 2027

Hosted by @KiyanSo & @CastillaStats for Members.

On Patreon: https://t.co/l5slkbCTcC

& YouTube: https://t.co/FGS0j1N7RV - Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) September 8, 2026

Player Ratings: Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan https://t.co/pg5sqzWIjx - Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) September 9, 2026

The set-pieces: Real Madrid 2-1 Inter

Madrid won the first contact from two of their seven deliveries and generated four shots, three of them in the second phase

Analysis by @MHassanFootball : https://t.co/Aeiw1rIotV - Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) September 9, 2026

6 stats from Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan

Vini equalled a record set in 2008

Article by @samleveridge : https://t.co/DT8mp5gXUe - Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) September 9, 2026

Top 10 players: Real Madrid 2-1 Inter

Inter led in a significant number of metrics

Analysis by @MHassanFootball : https://t.co/66VPnIOros - Managing Madrid (@managingmadrid) September 9, 2026

Balon D'or Nominee List is out.

OUR 2026 MEN'S BALLON D'OR NOMINEES! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/GQFsH5u5lO - Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026

🚨�-�️ Thierry Henry: "Ballon d'Or? Kylian for me deserves it. He was the BEST individually.

He was the top goal scorer in the UCL, La Liga and World Cup." pic.twitter.com/ua3GxwXMrE - Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 9, 2026

🚨�-�️ Thierry Henry: "People can say Kylian went trophyless, but it has already HAPPENED in history.

People need to do their research. The Ballon d'Or has been WON without any trophies." pic.twitter.com/VOCL9Xp7ky - Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) September 9, 2026

Bottom of Houston Astros' lineup does heavy lifting to key win over Philadelphia Phillies

Houston Astros center fielder Daulton Varsho catches a line out by Philadelphia Phillies' Trea Turner during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Matt Slocum/Associated Press)

PHILADELPHIA - In the top half of the Houston Astros ' lineup reside a slugger vying for a Triple Crown and a second baseman with more career hits than all but one active player. Tuesday, they combined for 10 at-bats that did not produce a hit, part of a 2-for-18 night for the top four spots in the Houston order.A top-heavy lineup has seldom looked equipped to overcome such a showing. That the Astros did in the opener of a series against the Phillies, a team that shares their October aspirations, offered a glimpse of the more rounded offense that may be needed to realize them.Hitters in the 5-through-9 spots of the lineup combined to go 9-for-20 with three home runs and drive in all six of Houston's runs in a 6-5 win at Citizens Bank Park. Eleven total hits were the most for the Astros' offense in two weeks. A three-home run game was just their second since Aug. 1."Obviously, you want your horses up top to do everything, but at the same time you want the bottom of your lineup to contribute," said center fielder Daulton Varsho, who struck three hits Tuesday. "And I thought we did a really good job tonight of kind of being pests down there and making them work." That has not occurred regularly. The Astros' lineup Tuesday included three hitters with an OPS over .725 in Jeremy Peña, Yordan Alvarez and Isaac Paredes, who occupied the top three spots. The risk in relying so heavily on them is reflected in the past month-plus .Houston scored three runs or less in 18 of its first 31 games after the trade deadline, a stretch in which Peña had a .511 OPS and Alvarez hit two home runs. Paredes and Alvarez both had a wRC+ above MLB average, as did Jose Altuve and Yainer Diaz, but the offense's dip accentuates need for more options.Varsho, the Astros' lone trade deadline addition , posted a .542 OPS in that same span while taking the team's fourth-most plate appearances. Christian Walker compiled a .524 OPS and two home runs over the sixth-most. No active Astros outfielder had a wRC+ above 89 during that stretch.Tuesday illustrated the difference it can make. Varsho's three hits included a double that started a four-run second inning and a seventh-inning home run that proved the decisive run. Walker hit a three-run home run. Right fielder Cam Smith had a solo homer, walked and scored twice.It balanced out a night on which Alvarez and Altuve, who is perched on 2,499 career hits, combined to go hitless in 10 at-bats. Peña finished 1-for-5 with an RBI double. Paredes went 1-for-3 with two walks."Those guys have been carrying us all year," Walker said. "Yordan's been unbelievable. I think it's good to make sure he knows that he can try to figure some stuff out and go through something and it's not going to come at the cost of ... not winning games."Winning without Alvarez having to be otherworldly behooves both Houston and the slugger. But doing it consistently will require more contributions such as the Astros received Tuesday. ASTROS 6, PHILLIES 5

Houston	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg.
Totals	38	6	11	6	4	10
Peña ss	5	0	1	1	0	1	.270
Alvarez dh	5	0	0	0	0	1	.311
Paredes 3b	3	0	1	0	2	1	.258
Altuve 2b	5	0	0	0	0	1	.244
Allen 2b	0	0	0	0	0	0	.275
Varsho cf	5	2	3	1	0	2	.230
Diaz c	5	1	2	0	0	0	.267
Walker 1b	3	1	2	3	1	0	.230
Trammell lf	4	0	1	0	0	3	.206
Smith rf	3	2	1	1	1	1	.214

Philadelphia	AB	R	H	BI	SO	Avg.
Totals	35	5	10	5	6
Schwarber dh	5	1	1	1	0	.242
Turner ss	4	1	2	2	1	.241
Harper rf	4	0	1	0	1	.271
Arraez 2b	3	0	1	0	0	.316
1-Stubbs pr-1b	0	0	0	0	0	.167
Bohm 1b-3b	4	1	1	0	2	.246
Stott 3b-2b	3	1	1	0	0	.252
Marsh lf	3	0	1	1	1	.267
b-Sosa ph	1	0	1	1	0	.237
Realmuto c	4	0	0	0	0	.215
Crawford cf	2	1	1	0	0	.263
a-Hill ph-cf	2	0	0	0	1	.246

Houston	040	100	100_6	11	0
Philadelphia	000	003	101_5	10	0

a-struck out for Crawford in the 7th. b-doubled for Marsh in the 9th.

1-ran for Arraez in the 8th.

LOB_Houston 9, Philadelphia 5. 2B_Varsho (23), Peña (17), Crawford (18), Bohm (26), Marsh (19), Turner (27), Sosa (9). HR_Walker (25), off Painter; Smith (18), off Painter; Varsho (11), off Raley; Turner (18), off Wesneski. RBIs_Walker 3 (80), Peña (47), Smith (51), Varsho (39), Schwarber (88), Turner 2 (54), Marsh (58), Sosa (41). SB_Sosa (4).

Runners left in scoring position_Houston 3 (Trammell, Smith, Paredes); Philadelphia 3 (Hill, Bohm, Schwarber). RISP_Houston 2 for 7; Philadelphia 2 for 9.

LIDP_Realmuto. GIDP_Stott.

DP_Houston 2 (Walker, Peña, Walker; Peña, Altuve, Peña).

Houston IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA

Wesneski, W, 5-1 6 5 3 3 0 3 82 3.35

Blubaugh, H, 10 2-3 2 1 1 0 0 18 3.15

Sousa, H, 9 1-3 0 0 0 0 1 5 5.79

Abreu, H, 14 1 1 0 0 0 2 20 3.63

Hader, S, 24-24 1 2 1 1 0 0 17 0.89

Philadelphia IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA

Painter, L, 3-9 5 10 5 5 2 6 98 5.71

Mayza 1 0 0 0 0 0 15 3.23

Raley 1 1 1 1 1 1 22 2.31

Shugart 1 0 0 0 0 1 11 4.50

Alvarado 1 0 0 0 1 2 21 5.40

Inherited runners-scored_Sousa 1-0. HBP_Blubaugh (Stott), Abreu (Arraez).

ABS Challenge_Trammell (Strike-Confirmed); Altuve (Strike-Overturned to Ball); Smith (Strike-Confirmed); Smith (Strike-Confirmed); Schwarber (Strike-Confirmed); Bohm (Strike-Confirmed).

Umpires_Home, Dan Iassogna; First, Brock Ballou; Second, Jeremie Rehak; Third, Adam Beck.

T_2:59. A_39,262 (42,901).Phillies right-hander Andrew Painter, who entered with a 3.12 ERA across his past seven starts, worked around a single by Paredes in a scoreless first. Varsho pulled a first-pitch fastball for a leadoff double in the second. Diaz sliced a single to the right-field corner, sending Varsho to third.Walker entered batting .159 with two home runs over his past 25 games. He had driven in 10 runs over that stretch, with Paredes passing him for second on the team in RBIs after Alvarez. Painter threw a 1-1 sinker and Walker hit it 440 feet into the seats in left-center field."Felt like they were going to try to play for a ground ball right there, I think that's why they stuck with the sinker," Walker said. "The goal was to get something in the air, stay off the ground. And found the barrel, so that was good."Smith came into the game with a .243 on-base percentage since the All-Star break, with seven walks over 140 plate appearances. Painter walked him on four pitches, eliciting a one-out mound visit. Peña then lined a 1-1 changeup into the left-field corner.The ball bounced to the wall and caromed off it. Brandon Marsh barehanded it on the warning track as Smith neared third base. Astros third-base coach Tony Perezchica held up his right hand. Smith ran past him. Shortstop Trea Turner hesitated briefly before his relay. Smith slid home safely."I did," Smith said when asked if he saw the stop sign. "I did, but there was no way I was stopping."I just wanted to go, honestly. I just wanted to be aggressive, that's all." Two innings later, Smith hammered a hanging slider from Painter for his 18th home run of the season. It gave Houston a five-run lead the Phillies pared to two in the sixth. Left-hander Brooks Raley entered for them in the seventh inning.Raley retired Altuve on a fly out to bring up Varsho, the left-handed hitter, who had one home run in 113 at-bats against lefties this season. Raley had held lefties to a .547 OPS. Varsho fell behind 0-2, worked the count full and hit a center-cut sinker 406 feet."He threw me a couple good sliders that I was able to take and I got my pitch in the middle part of the plate and didn't miss it," Varsho said.It stood as the decisive swing after the Phillies closed to within a run in the ninth inning, their comeback attempt scuttled by some questionable baserunning and timely Houston defense. Smith later observed, soundly, that "against good teams, no lead is safe." On this night, though, hitters from whom the Astros need more built one wide enough to maintain a two-game AL West lead."The bottom of our order, it was really good today to see those guys picking up the top of our order," manager Joe Espada said. "That's how you stay in the race, man. ... We need everyone to contribute. Everyone."

There's more to Houston with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢. This article originally published at Bottom of Houston Astros' lineup does heavy lifting to key win over Philadelphia Phillies .

Seattle Mariners Pitching Staff Stumbles in 10-5 Loss to Texas Rangers

SEATTLE - In what has become a shocking shift of circumstance over the past two months, the Seattle Mariners pitching staff was again unable to keep the opposing lineup in check in a 10-5 loss to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday at T-Mobile Park.The loss dropped the Mariners to 67-78 on the season, seven games out of first place in the American League West and 6.5 games out of the final wild card spot in the American League.The M's fell behind early after shortstop Corey Seager hit a lead-off solo home run with one out in the top of the second.The Rangers bolstered their lead to 2-0 after second baseman Nick Lopez hit an RBI single.After a clean third inning, Texas bolstered its lead once again in the fourth.With the bases loaded and one out, Seattle starting pitcher Bryce Miller struck out Texas catcher Danny Jansen. He gave the ball to left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer to get the final out of the inning.Ferrer surrendered a two-RBI single to pinch-hitter/designated hitter Justin Foscue, which gave the Rangers a 4-0 advantage.The two runs were attributed to Miller due to the inherited runners. Miller finished his outing with a line of six strikeouts, three walks and four earned runs allowed on four hits (one homer) in 3.2 innings pitched.Tuesday marked the fourth-straight start for Miller where he failed to pitch through the fifth inning and the fifth time in six outings he surrendered four-or-more earned runs."I wanted to at least go through five (innings), ideally," Miller said in a postgame interview Tuesday. "I don't know. I felt like, really, today the splitter's the best it's been all year. ... Overall, it was just too many long at-bats. We had a couple quick at-bats but it felt like everything was five-to-nine pitches."Despite the early deficit, the Mariners were able to pull back within striking distance via a historic home run from Lazaro Montes .The top 100 prospect's first homer at T-Mobile Park was a three-run shot in the bottom of the fourth that cut Seattle's deficit to 4-3 and traveled 474 feet, a ballpark-record in the Statcast era."Right when I hit it I said 'Oh man, this is far,'" Montes said in a postgame interview Tuesday. "Right through. Right through."

Lazaro Montes hit one WHERE?!?! pic.twitter.com/uYM8mtlNYD - MLB (@MLB) September 9, 2026

The jubilation of Montes' monster homer didn't even last a full inning.Right-handed reliever Eduard Bazardo, who took over from Ferrer in the top of the fifth with a runner on and one out, surrendered a two-run home run to left fielder Wyatt Langford. Later in the inning, Jansen hit a three-run shot off Bazardo. The pair of homers ballooned the Rangers advantage to 9-3.Texas scored one more run in the top of the seventh and the Mariners scored one run apiece in the bottom of the eighth and ninth inning, courtesy of an RBI single hit by right fielder Dominic Canzone and an RBI sacrifice fly hit by left fielder Randy Arozarena, respectively.Seattle will attempt to even the series against its AL West rivals in the second of the three-game set at 1:10 p.m. PT on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park. Kade Anderson will start for the Mariners and Cody Bradford will start for the Rangers.

Tiafoe consoles tearful Michelsen after remarkable comeback

Frances Tiafoe consoles Alex Michelsen — Frances Tiafoe (right) hugged compatriot Alex Michelsen at the net, with the two good friends off the court [Reuters]

Frances Tiafoe came from two sets and a break down to beat fellow American Alex Michelsen in a thrilling comeback to reach the US Open semi-finals. Eleventh seed Tiafoe was outplayed by world number 46 Michelsen for the first half of the match, but battled back from 5-3 down in the third set to ignite a remarkable turnaround.In a final set of multiple breaks and swings of momentum, Tiafoe triumphed in the 10-point tie-break to win 5-7 3-6 7-5 6-3 7-6 (10-6).Victory means 28-year-old Tiafoe reaches his third US Open semi-final in five years, where he will play defending champion Carlos Alcaraz or American eighth seed Ben Shelton.Michelsen, 22, who was competing in his first Grand Slam quarter-final, was in tears as the pair embraced after a match which lasted four hours and 38 minutes."He's a hell of a player and he easily could have won today. Shout out to Alex Michelsen," said Tiafoe."Everyone was asleep in the first couple of hours, I was too. As it went along the energy was incredible as it is always. You guys are rooting for me and I appreciate that."

'I'm a different person' - Tiafoe's transformational year

Tiafoe is hoping to reach the final at Flushing Meadows for the first time, following semi-final defeats by Alcaraz in 2022 and Taylor Fritz in 2024.But it was a straight-set third-round loss to Jan-Lennard Struff in last year's tournament which brought about a change in coach - and mentality."This time last year he was losing matches because of his fitness, now here we are four hours and 40 minutes into a match and he's raining down the fastest serve of the match," former Grand Slam doubles champion Ryan Harrison told Sky Sports."This is why he put the hard work in at the gym when nobody's watching. At the end of last year when he was having to hear all the chatter about his commitment, things he wasn't doing well - at 28 years old it's so hard to make a change like that, and his willingness to go through the process."For him to go through all that work, to fight to put himself in this position its great to see."While it has taken until now for Tiafoe's renewed work-ethic to bear fruit in a major, he is unequivocal when asked how he compares to the player that reached the last four previously in New York."I'm just a different person in general," he said."Those two runs were great, something I will cherish forever, but I'm not that person who I was when I made one in 2022 and when I made one in 2024. I'm not that person."I think I've been so routine-oriented all year, just continuously on a routine. Ideally you want to make every day feel the same."

Unseeded Michelsen came into the match in fine form, having not dropped a set at the tournament prior to facing Tiafoe, and grasped the momentum in the first set.After the pair traded breaks of serve early in the match, Michelsen got the deciding break at 6-5 in a set where he fired 15 winners to Tiafoe's four.Michelsen continued to have the upper hand, with his backhand proving decisive on key points and, after taking the second set, he went up a break early in the third.It was not until Michelsen was serving for the match at 5-4 that nerves began to hit. He served two double faults and Tiafoe broke to level, won the set and took the opening three games of the fourth set.After holding Michelsen off, Tiafoe took the match to a deciding set where the pair traded multiple breaks of serve - invigorating the spectators on Arthur Ashe Stadium.A fan favourite, Tiafoe thrived off the energy of the New York crowd as he then got the better of the tie-break to seal his fourth five-set victory at a major in 2026."He's a great guy for consoling me in that moment," said Michelsen of their post-match embrace."I was trying to keep it together, and I didn't do a good job of that. He was saying a lot of nice personal things."I've got a lot of time to grow physically and mentally. I'm going to be here again. I know it."

Napoli vs Arsenal Champions League Preview: Team News, Form & How to Watch
Arsenal are back in the Champions League on Wednesday night, just over three months after going all the way to the final.Napoli provide the first test for this season's European run at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with Mikel Arteta's side travelling to Italy having made a perfect start to their Premier League title defence.Coventry City and Aston Villa were both seen off without Arsenal conceding a goal. Sunday's 2-1 win over Chelsea , though, was a different story. Morgan Rogers stunned the Gunners with a goal inside 77 seconds, but Arsenal held firm with Kai Havertz levelling things up and Martin Odegaard finding the winner early in the second half.For Arsenal, it's been a short turnaround for the trip to Napoli, a side who have had a less comfortable start to their domestic campaign. Massimiliano Allegri's side started with a 2-0 win at Genoa before losing 2-1 at home to Como, and Saturday's trip to Inter produced an even more painful result. Napoli were 2-0 ahead shortly after half-time through Matteo Politano and Rasmus Hojlund, only to lose 3-2 after Lautaro Martinez scored in stoppage time, making it back-to-back defeats ahead of the Gunners' arrival.

Arsenal Team News

William Saliba is still sidelined, meaning Arteta faces another decision at the heart of his defence.Cristhian Mosquera sat out the Chelsea game after picking up a muscular issue at Aston Villa . Arteta played down the severity afterwards, but was not seen during the Gunners' open training session on Tuesday.Ezri Konsa stepped in against Chelsea, giving a comfortable performance against a side which had been scoring for fun in the league.Jurrien Timber continues to edge closer to a return. He has been back training with the squad ahead of the Napoli fixutre after undergoing minor surgery during the summer and was considered for Chelsea, although Arteta ultimately left him out of the matchday squad. Bruno Guimaraes is another option for Arteta in midfield. He made it back to the bench against Chelsea after picking up a knock at Villa Park, but didn't get on the pitch whilst also training on Tuesday. Zubimendi instead replacing Myles Lewis-Skelly in the second half. With the Gunners back in Premier League action on Saturday night, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Zubimendi take a starting position given the options Arteta has available to him for rotation.Meanwhile further forwards, Havertz has led the line in all three league games so far and got himself on the scoresheet against both Chelsea and Coventry. Viktor Gyokeres is still waiting for another chance, while Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke are among those yet to nail down a starting spot under Arteta this season.

What to Expect From Napoli

Massimiliano Allegri has Napoli playing mainly from a 4-3-3, although the shape can change considerably once they lose the ball.Against Como, Matteo Politano dropped alongside the midfield at times, and Napoli defended more like a 5-4-1, with Allegri looking for a compact shape rather than asking his side to press high throughout the game. Both wide players looked to hold their width when Napoli had possession, with Rasmus Hojlund giving them a much more direct option through the middle.Hojlund has already scored against both Como and Inter. Arsenal 's centre-backs will have to deal with his willingness to run in behind as well as his physical presence when Napoli decide to go longer. A task which Gabriel and Konsa will likely be up for.Politano offers something different from the right. He works back more than a conventional winger and gives Allegri some protection on that side, but he will also come inside when Napoli break. That was how they hurt Inter after half-time on Saturday, with Napoli taking advantage of mistakes and getting forward quickly rather than having to dominate possession. They still created two good counter-attacking opportunities after Inter began their comeback.Kevin De Bruyne is the more difficult player to place.Allegri has started him on the bench in each of Napoli's last two matches and brought him on when they needed more control with the ball. He gives Napoli somebody capable of finding Hojlund early or playing through Arsenal 's midfield, although he managed only 15 touches after coming on against Inter.Allegri has already said his side needs to understand the different phases of a match better. They equalised against Como and conceded again four minutes later, then went 2-0 ahead at Inter before losing 3-2. Showing they gave the opposition unnecessary chances whilst they should have been shutting the game down.That could make the opening spell important for Arsenal. Napoli have enough pace and quality to punish mistakes, particularly if Arteta's side leave space when pushing players forward, but they have not looked especially comfortable when opponents have been able to change the tempo and keep pressure on them.

How to Watch Napoli vs Arsenal

Napoli host Arsenal on Wednesday, September 9. Kick-off is at 8pm BST at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.In the UK, the game will be shown live on TNT Sports 2 and TNT Sports Ultimate, with streaming available through HBO Max. Coverage begins at 7pm.In the United States, Champions League coverage is available through Paramount+.

Prediction

Napoli have shown they have enough attacking quality to cause problems. It's unlikely, though, that they have come up against a defence as well structured as Arsenal's. Naples is a tough place to go, so it won't be plain sailing for the Gunners.Napoli still have a fragility about them. Como found opportunities against Napoli's defence and Inter eventually overwhelmed them after falling two goals behind. Arsenal meanwhile arrive with three wins from three and have already shown against Chelsea that conceding first doesn't have to take them out of their game.Arteta may make a couple of changes with Sunderland coming at the weekend, but there should still be enough quality in the side to take advantage if Napoli give up the same spaces they have in their last two matches. Prediction: Napoli 1-2 Arsenal

How to Watch Pitt vs. Tennessee Volleyball: Channel, Live Stream & Start Time for NCAA Match

How to Watch Pitt vs. Tennessee Volleyball: Channel, Live Stream & Start Time for NCAA Match originally appeared on SportsNet Pittsburgh . Add SportsNet Pittsburgh as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The No. 2-ranked Pitt volleyball team will face No. 17 Tennessee at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Wednesday as part of the Shriners Children's Showdown at the Net.Four of Pitt's first six victories have come against ranked opponents, and the Panthers will try to add another to that total against Tennessee. Their most recent win came against a non-conference opponent in Utah, rallying after dropping the first set to win the next three.Tennessee also enters the matchup undefeated at 5-0. The Lady Volunteers most recently swept No. 21 Indiana in the Broadway Block Party on Sunday.Here is everything you need to know about Pitt vs. Tennessee, including TV and streaming options for the match.

How to watch Pitt vs. Tennessee volleyball: TV channel, live stream

TV channel: ESPN2
Live stream: fubo

Pitt vs. Tennessee will air on ESPN2. The match will also be available to stream on fubo . Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

Pitt vs. Tennessee volleyball start time

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 9
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Pitt vs. Tennessee is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Sept 9. The match will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.

Pitt volleyball schedule 2026

Here is the upcoming schedule for Pitt:

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
Sept. 9	vs. Tennessee	6:30 p.m.
Sept. 11	vs. Jacksonville	7 p.m.
Sept. 12	vs. High Point	5 p.m.
Sept. 13	vs. Wright State	1 p.m.
Sept. 25	vs. California	7 p.m.

Tennessee volleyball schedule 2026

Here is the upcoming schedule for Tennessee:

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
Sept. 9	vs. Pitt	6:30 p.m.
Sept. 12	vs. Coastal Carolina	3 p.m.
Sept. 15	at Queens	5:30 p.m.
Sept. 19	vs. USF	1 p.m.
Sept. 20	at Penn State	2 p.m.

Where to watch Pitt vs. Tennessee volleyball today: Channel, time, TV schedule, live stream for college match

Where to watch Pitt vs. Tennessee volleyball today: Channel, time, TV schedule, live stream for college match originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The No. 2-ranked Pitt volleyball team will face No. 17 Tennessee at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Wednesday as part of the Shriners Children's Showdown at the Net.Four of Pitt's first six victories have come against ranked opponents, and the Panthers will try to add another to that total against Tennessee. Their most recent win came against a non-conference opponent in Utah, rallying after dropping the first set to win the next three.Tennessee also enters the matchup undefeated at 5-0. The Lady Vols most recently swept Indiana in the Broadway Block Party on Sunday and have yet to drop a set this season.Here is everything you need to know about Pitt vs. Tennessee, including TV and streaming options for the match.

How to watch Pitt vs. Tennessee volleyball: TV channel, live stream

TV channel: ESPN2
Live stream: fubo

Pitt vs. Tennessee will air on ESPN2. The match will also be available to stream on fubo .Fubo offers a free trial for new subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and 100-plus top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

Pitt vs. Tennessee volleyball start time

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 9
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET

Pitt vs. Tennessee is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Sept 9. The match will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.

Pitt volleyball schedule 2026

Here is the upcoming schedule for Pitt:

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
Sept. 9	vs. Tennessee	6:30 p.m.
Sept. 11	vs. Jacksonville	7 p.m.
Sept. 12	vs. High Point	5 p.m.
Sept. 13	vs. Wright State	1 p.m.
Sept. 25	vs. California	7 p.m.

Tennessee volleyball schedule 2026

Here is the upcoming schedule for Tennessee:

Date	Opponent	Time (ET)
Sept. 9	vs. Pitt	6:30 p.m.
Sept. 12	vs. Coastal Carolina	3 p.m.
Sept. 15	at Queens	5:30 p.m.
Sept. 19	vs. USF	1 p.m.
Sept. 20	at Penn State	2 p.m.

How to watch NFL games in Canada: TV channels, live streams for 2026 football season

How to watch NFL games in Canada: TV channels, live streams for 2026 football season originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The NFL is back for the 2026-27 season. A year after the Kansas City Chiefs ' dynasty was derailed, the race for Super Bowl 61 looks wide open. The Seattle Seahawks will try to follow the Chiefs' recent example as repeat winners, of course, but the odds will be long with a series of legitimate contenders set for the challenge. A veteran Los Angeles Rams team leads that group, with Matthew Stafford and a defense that now includes Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald looking for another title. Others expected to be in the mix include Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills , Lamar Jackson's Baltimore Ravens , and of course the Chiefs once again if Patrick Mahomes is healthy and can regain his superstar form. Here is everything you need to know about watching NFL games during the 2026 season, including the best TV and streaming options for this year's top matchups.

How to watch NFL games in Canada

TV channels: TSN networks
Live stream: DAZN

NFL Game Pass on DAZN is the best way to keep up with all of the action throughout the 2026 campaign. The streaming service gives subscribers access to every game during the regular season and playoffs, including Super Bowl 61.DAZN offers live and on-demand streams of each game. It is available on mobile devices, smart TVs and gaming consoles.Select games each week also will air on TSN networks and can be streamed live on TSN.ca .

How much does DAZN cost in Canada?

DAZN price in Canada (Standard): $24.99 monthly
DAZN price in Canada (Ultimate): $29.99 monthly

NFL Game Pass is available to Canadian users who have already purchased a DAZN subscription. New users can purchase a Standard plan, which costs $24.99 per month over the course of the 12-month contract or $249.99 upfront, or an Ultimate plan, which costs $29.99 per month or $269.99 upfront.Here is a breakdown of each plan:

Standard ($24.99 monthly)

Watch every game live and on-demand, including NFL RedZone
Up to two streams in one IP location
HD video quality and standard audio

Ultimate ($29.99 monthly)

Watch every game live and on-demand, including NFL RedZone
Up to three streams in two IP locations
4K/HDR and Dolby 5.1 audio
Downloads for offline viewing
Multi-view allows users to watch multiple games at once
No pre-roll advertising

What is DAZN?

DAZN is a streaming service that is available in more than 200 territories around the world. It allows fans to watch hours of live and on-demand content, covering a wide array of events and giving subscribers a one-stop shop for all of their sports needs.

When does the 2026 NFL season start and end?

Start date: Sept. 9, 2026 (Patriots vs. Seahawks)
End date: Feb. 14, 2027 (Super Bowl 61)

The 2026 NFL season will begin on Sept. 9 with a rematch of Super Bowl 60, featuring the Patriots and Seahawks. Super Bowl 61, scheduled to be played on Feb. 14, will mark the end of the season. The game will be held at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Full list of NFL teams, divisions 2026

AFC East

Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
New England Patriots
New York Jets

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers

AFC South

Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans

AFC West

Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Commanders

NFC North

Chicago Bears
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay Buccaneers

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals
Los Angeles Rams
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks

Where is Dianna Russini now?

The clock continues to count down until the 2026-27 NFL season's opening kickoff. For now, Russini has not officially been signed with another news company, podcast, or any media group. There have, however, been rumors stating that the former The Athletic reporter has been seeking new opportunities.According to Front Office Sports , Russini is "absolutely" planning a return to sports media. The lead candidate to hire Russini is allegedly Barstool Sports. The media personality has reportedly had discussions about some job opportunities ahead of Week 1, though the clock is ticking to get a new role before Seattle and New England get the new campaign started. Fox Sports Radio host Jon "Stugotz" Weiner also invited Russini, a friend of his, to join his show. "I am not a mouthpiece for Dianna Russini. I am simply saying, it's her story to tell, it's not my story, and I am simply going to support my friend," Weiner said on his show back in May. "I did say if The Athletic fired her, I would hire her. They didn't fire her. She stepped down from The Athletic, and the offer holds forever. If Dianna Russini decides one day, three months from now, a year from now, two years from now, that she wants to get back into this game, she has a place right here." MORE NFL NEWS:

Why was Dianna Russini fired?

Russini was not formally fired, however, on April 14, she made the first move to resign from her duties at The Athletic.Russini released a resignation letter on her X, formerly Twitter, account that has since been deleted. Here is a look at her full resignation from The Athletic:

Please accept this letter as my resignation from The Athletic, effective immediately. I have come to this decision with deep sadness but with clarity about what is right for me, my family, and the work I have spent my career building.You and I have already publicly addressed the recent attacks against me, and I have nothing to add publicly to what we have said. I have covered the NFL with professionalism and dedication throughout my career, and I stand behind every story I have ever published. When the Page Six item first appeared, The Athletic supported me unequivocally, expressed confidence in my work and pride in my journalism. For that I am grateful. In the days that followed, unfortunately, commentators in various media have engaged in self-feeding speculation that is simply unmoored from the facts.Moreover, this media frenzy is hurtling forward without regard for the review process The Athletic is trying to complete. It continues to escalate, fueled by repeated leaks, and I have no interest in submitting to a public inquiry that has already caused far more damage than I am willing to accept. Rather than allowing this to continue, I have decided to step aside now - before my current contract expires on June 30. I do so not because I accept the narrative that has been constructed around this episode, but because I refuse to lend it further oxygen or to let it define me or my career.Over a career spanning more than fifteen years in sports journalism - at NBC, ESPN, and The Athletic - I have built a body of work I am proud of. I have broken stories, earned the trust of sources across the league, and been guided by the highest of standards of professional conduct. That record speaks for itself.I remain grateful to The Athletic and for the extraordinary colleagues with whom I have worked there, for the platform it provided, and for the support you showed me during this difficult time. I wish you nothing but continued success.Sincerely,Dianna Russini

MORE: Who are the best RBs heading into the 2026 NFL season?

Dianna Russini-Mike Vrabel controversy, explained

In the beginning of April, a Page Six report included photos of Vrabel and Russini "holding hands and hugging at a luxurious hotel."The Patriots head coach and longtime NFL reporter had reportedly been seen "two weekends ago," around mid-late March, at the Ambiente in Sedona, Ariz. Sources told Page Six in the report that Vrabel and Russini "had breakfast on the patio of the hotel restaurant," then spent "a leisurely hour or so together at the pool and lounging side-by-side in a hot tub." Additionally, later that evening, the two were seen together "on the private rooftop of one of the hotel's bungalows."In the photos, Vrabel and Russini could be seen hugging, holding hands and lying together by the hotel pool. Vrabel and Russini both denied having any relationship beyond friendship in their statements to Page Six.After Russini resigned from The Athletic on April 14, roughly a week after Page Six's original report was published, with reports and photos depicting a potential romantic relationship with Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel, The Athletic opened an internal investigation into her reporting for the company and whether it violated newsroom standards.On Thursday, shortly before the dawn of the 2026 NFL season, Mike Semel, the company's Editorial Director for Standards and Quality, and The Athletic released its findings . They found that "Russini's relationship with Vrabel was in clear violation of The Athletic's standards," though she showed no clear bias in her reporting due to that relationship.The company said it reviewed 903 stories and 77 videos published with Russini's byline in its investigation, plus 204 podcast episodes and 25 off-platform appearances from Russini and interviews with various employees. "Regardless of whether the relationship was romantic, it was a breach and should have been disclosed," the company said in its release. "The photographs published by Page Six on April 7 and April 23 and by TMZ on April 23 indicate a relationship that puts The Athletic's credibility in jeopardy and gives the appearance of a conflict of interest."The Athletic also provided a timeline of Russini's exit, sharing that she first reached out to company executives on Apr. 7 to inform them of an impending article that "would suggest a romantic relationship between Russini and Mike Vrabel." She "acknowledged a close relationship with Vrabel" but emphasized that the relationship was "strictly professional," and The Athletic initially supported her "as it began an internal investigation of the allegations." MORE: Big board of top 100 NFL Draft prospects in 2027

Wednesday's Everton News: Balogun fallout, Icardi links

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 06: James Tarkowski of Everton applauds the fans during the warm up before the Premier League 2026/27 match between Everton and Manchester United at Hill Dickinson Stadium on September 06, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Your daily dose of Everton news and rumours

Hear from Tyrique George on Everton's unbeaten start. [ EFC ]

Landon Donovan and Tim Howard share their thoughts on Folarin Balogun's failed move. [ All Out Soccer via Unfiltered Soccer Podcast ]

USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino also shared his view on the situation. [ ESPN ]

18-year-old Everton keeper Douglass Lukjanciks joins National League side Southport on loan. [ Southport FC ]

" Tarky [James Tarkowski] is an all-rounder. There will be moments where he might be questioned but he's always there. He's a great trainer every day, he leads by example in a lot of things he does ," says David Moyes. [ Echo ]

Would you take Mauro Icardi for the Blues?

�-�️Everton are considering a move for Argentinian Striker Mauro Icardi who is a free agent

(Source - @LARGOESPN ) pic.twitter.com/bqoPbX26jE - �-��-��-� �-��-��-��-��-��-� �-��-�𝘂�-�𝘀 (@EvertonNewsFeed) September 8, 2026

What to Watch

Champions League action continues today. Plenty of other action from around the globe on, too.

Full schedule of games here .

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Three takeaways from Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan

The festival called the UEFA Champions League returned to the Santiago Bernabeu last night as Los Blancos hosted Inter Milan in their very first game in the competition this season.

Jose Mourinho had massive selection dilemmas in midfield, and eventually opted to start Trent Alexander-Arnold alongside Federico Valverde in the absence of Arda Guler, Bernardo Silva and Eduardo Camavinga.

That experiment did not work out, and Real Madrid consistently lost the midfield battle on the night. Yet, they managed to capitalise on moments of individual brilliance and hold on to a 2-1 win to register their biggest win of the season yet.

Madrid Universal brings you three takeaways from Real Madrid 2-1 Inter Milan.

Two lucky goals

Real Madrid did not take long to go 2-0 up against Inter Milan last night, but that had more to do with the visitors' sloppy defence rather than Los Blancos' brilliance. Real Madrid scored two early goals vs Inter Milan. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The men in white started the game pressing well, but Inter Milan looked very shaky in possession. They made two errors in the first 20 minutes, and Real Madrid capitalised and converted both.

Kylian Mbappe's opener came off a moment of mayhem between Inter Milan's defenders where the ball was left in no man's land. Brahim Diaz pounced on it and played it through to the French forward, who made no mistake.

Minutes later, Federico Valverde directly dispossessed the goalkeeper with his press and deflected the ball into the back of the net, making it 2-0. Those were the only goals Los Blancos scored on the night.

While there is nothing wrong with capitalising on defensive errors and using that to lay the foundation for the win, the fact remains that Real Madrid were largely unimpressive throughout the 90 minutes. Inter Milan committing those errors, needless to say, was lucky for Real Madrid who rode on them to take three points.

Thibaut Courtois saves the day

Despite Real Madrid taking an early lead and even having the home advantage, it was Inter Milan who dominated large parts of the game and kept the lion's share of possession. Thibaut Courtois was once again fantastic. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

At one point, it looked like Jose Mourinho's men did not even bother having possession as they sat back and defended, hoping to break on the counter and convert.

That plan, needless to say, led to Inter Milan seeing a lot of the Real Madrid goal and putting serious pressure on the hosts' defence.

Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konate and Marc Cucurella all had strong games at the back, but in the end, it was Thibaut Courtois who saved the day for Los Blancos.

The Belgian goalkeeper made a staggering seven saves for his side on the night including two from inside the box. Inter Milan's finishing was indeed poor, but Courtois' greatness stood out and ensured Real Madrid held on to their tight lead.

If not for the veteran goalkeeper, Mourinho's men could well be staring at defeat. Their performance, after all, was unimpressive and Inter Milan had some big chances to equalise denied by Courtois.

Three massive points

The team's performance against Inter Milan was not convincing, and that will be something for Mourinho to dig into and look to improve. Federico Valverde was on the scoresheet. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

What Real Madrid will be pleased about, however, is taking all three points away from the night, for they are absolutely massive from the point of view of the competition.

Inter Milan represented one of Real Madrid's biggest challenges in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League alongside Arsenal, and to take three points from one of their two elite opponents is worth its weight in gold.

They still have Arsenal, PSV Eindhoven, RB Leipzig, LASK Linz, Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens to come, and Real Madrid will back themselves against most of the teams in that list.

Taking three points in one of their two most difficult games will go a long way in tying them down to a top-8 finish if they can win the easier clashes while also handing them some leeway for a potential defeat at some stage in the competition.

Jude Bellingham makes brutally honest admission after Real Madrid win in Champions League

Real Madrid may have defeated Inter Milan in their opening match of the 2026-27 Champions League , but it was far from a perfect evening. Jose Mourinho's side were under the cosh for much of the 90 minutes, and this was largely due to their inability to score more than the two goals they mustered at the Bernabeu.Real Madrid missed a number of big chances, with two of the biggest falling to Jude Bellingham. The Englishman has been in fantastic form to start the season, but Tuesday was an off-night for him - and he acknowledged this when he spoke to CBS Sports Golazo . "It's frustrating, but not for me personally because it's just a goal. It's more that we could've made the game easier for the team, I take responsibility. We're defending a one-goal lead, backs to the wall, everyone will probably forget all the good things we did because we didn't win 4-0 or 5-0, and that's partly my fault. Brahim chipped it over and I was waiting for the ball to see it, it's finally come and it looked a bit high so I thought do I head it in, but in the end I just got in my own head and I even still managed to get a good chance but the goalkeeper got back well to make the save. I had two sitters today. The goalkeeper did well, but I've just got to put the ball in the net."

Bellingham hails Mourinho impact at Real Madrid: "He's brilliant"

Bellingham was also asked about how he's finding life at Real Madrid with Jose Mourinho as manager, and he admitted that everyone is buying into the Portuguese's methods. "(Mourinho is) brilliant. He and his staff have been amazing at setting standards on and off the pitch. In terms of the values he wants his team to look like, we understand what he wants, and everyone is on board and behind them. I know he gave up a few chances here and lost to Betis, but I think we played pretty well - that's all down to the manager and the intensity we play with. The two goals come from putting high pressure on the ball, which is something we didn't do as well before."

Inter president reveals what happened when Barcelona contacted Lautaro Martinez: ‘Conditions for opening negotiations…’

Lautaro Martinez had no intention of negotiating with Barcelona despite genuine interest from the Catalan club, Inter president Giuseppe Marotta has revealed.

Barcelona identified the Inter captain as one of their attacking targets during the summer as they looked for a top-class addition to their forward line.

Contact took place between the two clubs, but the discussions never developed into formal negotiations.

According to Marotta, the decisive factor was Lautaro himself , as he chose to remain in Milan, strengthening his importance to an Inter side that sees him as a key figure for both the present and the future.

Marotta reveals Lautaro's Barcelona stance

Marotta discussed Barcelona's interest before Inter's Champions League clash with Real Madrid, which the Nerazzurri lost 2-1. Giuseppe Marotta reveals contacts with Barcelona. (Photo by Tullio M. Puglia/Getty Images)

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia (h/t SPORT ), he praised Lautaro's conduct during the period of speculation.

"His behaviour was exemplary. He has shown an immense sense of loyalty in avoiding any kind of negotiations with Barcelona," explained the Inter president.

Marotta also made clear that Inter's position was closely linked to the striker's importance within their long-term plans.

"The two clubs did have discussions, but the conditions for opening negotiations were not in place in the slightest.

"Lautaro represents the present and future of our club. To stand a chance of winning, you also need players like him," added Marotta.

Barcelona left without a deal

Lautaro Martinez did not want to leave Inter Milan. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

For Inter, retaining Lautaro represents more than keeping an established goalscorer. He is the club captain and a central figure in their sporting project, making his commitment particularly valuable.

Barcelona, meanwhile, were searching for greater quality and depth in attack and viewed the Argentina striker as one of the options capable of strengthening their forward line.

The failed move ultimately came down to two factors: Lautaro's contractual situation and, more importantly, his desire to continue in Milan.

Barcelona ultimately ended the transfer window without a number 9, but their outstanding start to the season suggests they might need a new name for this position.

Toronto Blue Jays' Vlad Guerrero Jr. Should Win His 2nd Gold Glove

Toronto Blue Jays v Kansas City Royals — KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - SEPTEMBER 05: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 05, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) Getty Images

Toronto Blue Jays Vlad Guerrero Jr. is not only a terrific offensive player, he's an outstanding defensive first baseman.This old scout was able to watch Guerrero Jr. make some sparking plays recently in a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians.There is no question, Guerrero Jr. deserves strong consideration for the American League Gold Glove at first base.Frankly, he should easily win the award.If Guerrero jr. does nail down the Gold Glove, it will be his second. He won a Gold Glove with the Blue Jays at first base in 2022.

lt="Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/forbes_contributor_845/73218059ff60c8d799a74e6e033e8caf.jpg" data-uuid="227fa7ae-305d-331d-adbb-852d53a927c5">

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 23: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays warms up during the second inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on August 23, 2026 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) Getty Images

Toronto Blue Jays Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s Sparkling Career;

Guerrero Jr. has been with the Blue Jays organization since he signed with the team as an International free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2015.The Blue Jays gave Guerrero Jr. a $3.9 million signing bonus. Guerrero Jr. is such a good slugger, he won the 2023 All Star Home Run Derby in Seattle.Vlad Guerrero Jr. is the son of Vlad Guerrero Sr., who was a tremendous Hall of Fame player with power, speed, and outstanding arm strength.Clearly, his son has inherited those skills.Guerrero Jr.s uncle, Wilton Guerrero, also played Major League Baseball, Now 27-years-old, Guerrero Jr., who is often called "Vladdy" was born in Montreal.The Blue Jays awarded Guerrero Jr. for his tremendous play by signing him to a 14-year, $500 million contract which will run from 2026-2039.As baseballreference notes, Guerrero Jr., won't be eligible for Major League free agency until 2040.Guerrero Jr. has been an All Star six times, from 2021 until this year. He won Silver Slugger Awards in 2021 and 2024.This year has been a tremendous challenge for "Vladdy."As of the start of play September 8, Guerrero Jr. had hit only eight home runs. Ironically, all of Guerrero Jr.'s home runs have come on the road.While there are less than three weeks remaining in the season, Guerrero Jr. has hit better in the month of September.That said, Guerrero Jr. won't come anywhere close to the 48 home runs and 111 runs he drove in during2021 A a spectacular, 2021 All Star season.Guerrero Jr. has been somewhat inconsistent in his home run production since that massive 2021 season.Here are his home run totals since 2021:2022=322023=262024=302025=232026-8 (as of the start of play September 8)

lt="Toronto Blue Jays v Chicago White Sox" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/forbes_contributor_845/29c1a61e627dfdaf07440b0237f4d11a.jpg" data-uuid="9882b4f9-da7d-383d-8682-f9f16ff31fb1">

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JULY 8: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays plays first base in a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field on July 8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Getty Images) Getty Images

Toronto Blue Jays Vlad Guerrero Jr. At First Base:

sports.yahoo.com states, "Although Guerrero's offense has been an issue this year, his defensive play has been stellar and arguably the best of his career."This season, baseballreference.com shows Guerrero Jr. making only eight fielding errors in 901 chances as of the start of play September 8, which is outstanding.Guerrero Jr. has been known to play third base occasionally, with the most recent occurrence being in 2024, when he played third base in 12 games.Guerrero Jr. has also served as the Designated Hitter in the Blue Jays lineup. However, those instances are rare, with only 15 such appearances this season.

lt="Toronto Blue Jays v Cleveland Guardians" src="https://media.zenfs.com/en/forbes_contributor_845/3c69627be69d1a508c3b26e0ae2e28a9.jpg" data-uuid="3e161094-3080-38a0-a72f-8c7be54013c1">

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 02: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates with teammates after hitting a three-run home run during the second inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on September 02, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) Getty Images

Conclusions Regarding Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his Quest For A Gold Glove:

heavy.com indicates, "...He leads all AL first basemen with eight Defensive Runs Saved and a plus-6 Fielding Run Value."While "Vladdy" isn't having the best season at the plate, his defense at first base for the Toronto Blue Jays has been outstanding.With lightning quick hands and feet, Guerrero Jr. has outstanding range at first base. He is lithe and highly coordinated in his quick first step, and movements to the ball.This old scout believes Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vlad Guerrero Jr. is on the cusp of winning his second American League first base Gold Glove Award. This article was originally published on Forbes.com

49ers news: Kyle Shanahan's reaction to Aaron Donald Week 1 update is gold

49ers news: Kyle Shanahan's reaction to Aaron Donald Week 1 update is gold appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams will make history on Friday when they battle in the NFL's first-ever regular-season game in Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground.One of the biggest storylines is the much-anticipated return of Rams defensive end Aaron Donald , who came out of retirement to try to win his second championship.Fans, however, will have to wait a little more to see Donald back in action, as he will be unavailable against the 49ers. Watch sports LIVE with fuboTV (free trial) San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan predicted that the three-time Defensive Player of the Year will "definitely" suit up in Week 1. But after the Rams announced Donald's status on Tuesday, Shanahan did not hide his relief."I've never been more excited to be wrong about something," said Shanahan, as quoted by ESPN's Sarah Barshop.With the 35-year-old Donald sitting out, the 49ers will have one less enforcer to worry about.He was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday, along with Rams linebacker Grant Stuard, who is hobbled by a hamstring injury.On Monday, Shanahan said he was sure that Donald would play despite the Rams' lack of a definitive update. He also heaped praise on the eight-time All-Pro."I decided a month ago it was happening. So I prepared for that the right way. It is what it is. He's a hell of a player, and we'll have our work cut out for us," said Shanahan.Meanwhile, he revealed on Tuesday that defensive tackle Alfred Collins will be sidelined for the upcoming season after suffering a knee injury, further handicapping the 49ers' defensive unit. Related: 49ers' Kyle Shanahan reveals 2nd-year DT suffered season-ending patellar tendon tear Related: 49ers' Brock Purdy credits George Kittle for 'going hard' in Achilles recovery

How should Chelsea line up against Leeds United in the League Cup?

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 06: Xabi Alonso manager / head coach of Chelsea during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on September 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It's back to League Cup action today as Leeds United come to town. As good an opportunity as any to quickly put the Arsenal defeat from Sunday behind us.

Unfortunately one thing we can't simply put behind us is injuries, namely to Moisés Caicedo, Marco Palestra, Jordan Henderson, and Emmanual Emegha, all of whom will miss out once again. All four are said to be dealing with relatively minor issues, but when those relatively minor issues keep players out for a relatively not-short time, perhaps it's time to start calling them non-minor issues.

"[Caicedo and Palestra] are still not ready to go. Not the moment to take too early risk. So we go game by game with them and it's too early. [For the other two,] ask me on Friday."
-Xabi Alonso; source: Football.London

I guess the question today then is how to keep accounting for their absences, especially of Caicedo and Henderson in the middle of the pitch.

Choose wisely .

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Miami vs Florida A&M Prediction: The Hurricanes Have Work To Do
Miami couldn’t have looked sharper or more explosive in a 45-6 win over Stanford to open the season. Everything clicked, the stars came out to play, and it was over in a hiccup. Now the Hurricanes fly the 3,000 miles back home to deal with a Florida A&M team that toughed out a 20-7 win over Albany State.

vs Florida A&M: Quick Hits

Florida A&M beat Miami 16-13 in 1979. The next 11 meetings have gone a little differently, with the Hurricanes winning each one in total annihilations.
already has an ACC win under its belt, and next week it’s off to Wake Forest. The next ACC game is at Clemson, and then five of the last six are at home.
hasn’t allowed more than 14 points to an FCS team since a 48-16 win over Florida A&M in 2009.

How To Watch Miami vs Florida A&M

Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026
Game Time: 8:00 PM ET
TV: ACC Network
Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL
– Week 2 Schedule, Picks
– CFN Expert Picks: Week 2

Why Florida A&M Will Win

The Rattlers have a decent offense that can normally run a little bit, but their real positive recently has been not screwing up. They don’t turn the ball over, and they don’t give teams too many easy chances.

Against Albany State, the defense attacked with seven tackles for loss, holding the Golden Rams to less than a yard per carry.

Why Miami Will Win

The Hurricanes will dominate on the lines right away.

Florida A&M’s defensive front was great against Albany State, but that’s about to end. The Rattler attack that, again, should be solid this season, had a hard time getting its own running game working. Miami gave up one decent run to Stanford, and that was it.

vs Florida A&M Prediction, Betting Lines

Oh yeah, the stars. Darian Mensah threw for over 400 yards with five scores against the Cardinal, and Malachi Toney set a school record with 234 receiving yards and three scores on 12 catches. But the ground game didn’t do too much. The Canes will run 50 times. 58, Florida A&M 3
Latest Consensus Line: Miami -56.5, o/u: 62.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5) : 1.5
Must See Rating (out of 5) : 1.5 Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Noche UFC 4 odds: Alexa Grasso an underdog, massive -850 favorite emerges
The Ultimate Fighting Championship 's fourth edition of Noche UFC goes down on Sept. 12.

Noche UFC 4 takes place at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, with Jean Silva taking on Jose Delgado in the main event. The card also features former champions Brandon Moreno and Alexa Grasso , several Mexican fighters and some highly anticipated matchups.

Noche UFC 4 betting odds feature Alexa Grasso at +205 and Yousri Belgaroui at -850

Per Bovada , Silva is a -430 favorite against Delgado (+335) in the main event. Delgado accepted the fight on just a few weeks' notice after former interim champ Yair Rodriguez withdrew from the event due to injury.

Former flyweight champ Moreno is a slight underdog at even money against his compatriot, Joseph Morales (-120), in the co-headliner. "The Assassin Baby" is looking to break a losing skid, having lost his last two bouts.

Meanwhile, Manon Fiorot is favored at -245 against former women's flyweight queen Grasso (+205). Yousri Belgaroui is the biggest favorite on the card, opening at -850 against Djorden Santos (+575). Ignacio Bahamondes is also a substantial favorite at -575 against Muslim Salikhov (+425).

Curtis Blaydes enters his matchup with Waldo Cortes-Acosta as a +173 underdog, while Tommy McMillen is favored at -170 against Marwan Rahiki (+145).

Here are the Noche UFC 4 odds for the full card:

Jean Silva (-430) vs. Jose Delgado (+335)
Brandon Moreno (-120) vs. Joseph Morales (-120)
Manon Fiorot (-245) vs. Alexa Grasso (+205)
Waldo Cortes-Acosta (-205) vs. Curtis Blaydes (+173)
David Martinez (-370) vs. Dan Ige (+295)
Tommy McMillen (-170) vs. Marwan Rahiki (+145)
Tim Elliott (+176) vs. Edgar Chairez (-210)
Ignacio Bahamondes (-575) vs. Muslim Salikhov (+425)
Yousri Belgaroui (-850) vs. Djorden Santos (+575)
Drakkar Klose (+385) vs. Thomas Gantt (-510)
Rafa Garcia (+163) vs. Zhu Rong (-190)
Sean King (-170) vs. Jessie Rosas (+145)
J.J. Aldrich (+230) vs. Regina Tarin (-280)

Haway The Podcast | Haway The Q&A! | Jules Ahoka, Wingers, and Cup Runs

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Man United vs Sabah: How and where to watch the game across the globe

1 Manchester United return to Champions League action for the first time since 2023 tomorrow night. Michael Carrick's side will take on Azerbaijani side Sabah for the very first time in their history.Numerous fans from across the globe will be tuning in for the Champions League match-up on Thursday night, and this is where you can watch it.

UK and Ireland

The match will be televised on TNT Sports and will kick off at 20:00 BST. TNT Sports will also show the game in Ireland, but RTE will also be broadcasting the game.

Rest of Europe

Supporters can watch the game in Norway on TV 2 Play. In Sweden, the match can be seen on Viaplay Sweden and in Denmark, TV3+. The match will start at 21:00 CET.In Spain, you can see the game on Movistar Plus, in Portugal on DAZN, and in France, Canal+ have the rights for European matches. The game will also kick off at 21:00 local time.

North America

In Canada, the match will kick off at 15:00 local Eastern time and you can see the match on DAZN. In the United States, the match will be at 15:00 Eastern Time, 14:00 Central Time, 13:00 Mountain Time and 12:00 Pacific Time. Fans can catch the game on Paramount+ or DAZN.

Africa

In Nigeria, the match can be seen at 20:00 local time on SuperSport Football, and in Cameroon on the same channel at the same time. South African fans can find the match on SuperSport Premier League at 21:00. In Kenya, the match starts at 22:00 local time on SuperSport as well.

Asia

Indian supporters can catch the match at 00:30 local time on Friday morning, and it will be broadcast on Sony LIV.Chinese fans can watch on iQiyi at 03:00 Friday morning, and Japanese followers at 04:00 on WOWOW Prime.Australian supporters will have to wait until Friday morning at 05:00, and the game will be shown on Stan Sport, with the game also being shown on DAZN in New Zealand.

Distributed by aarss.com.

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