3 Astros to blame for failing to close out ALCS vs. Rangers in Game 6
The Houston Astros couldn't find their groove at home in Game 6 of the ALCS, losing to the Rangers. Who is at fault?
2023-10-23 12:58
Denver Broncos are relevant heading into December for the first time since 2016
The surging Denver Broncos will take a winning record into December for the first time since 2016 when they visit the Houston Texans next weekend in a matchup of 6-5 teams trying to edge their way into the AFC playoff picture
2023-11-28 04:55
Lee Hodges gets his 1st PGA tour victory with a wire-to-wire win at the 3M Open, by 7 strokes
Lee Hodges shot a 67 in the final round for a wire-to-wire title at the 3M Open and his first tour victory
2023-07-31 06:59
Why Katie Taylor’s rematch with Chantelle Cameron has all the makings of a classic
It was a hard, hard night back in May for Katie Taylor when she lost for the first time as a professional boxer. This Saturday, back in Dublin, she fights Chantelle Cameron again and this time it is personal. The belts mean nothing, it is all about revenge and for Cameron it is all about respect. In many ways, Cameron was the underdog the first time, she was defending her four belts at super-lightweight, but she was the opponent for Taylor’s triumphant return to Ireland. She knew her role, played it perfectly all week and then ruined the fairytale on fight night. This time it is different, and she will not play the loser once the week’s events start. She will start as the favourite, the champion, the conqueror. But it will probably still all be about Katie. “I’m the champion and I need to start getting a bit more respect,” said Cameron. She is not angry, just looking for a bit more recognition for her role in the fight. Cameron is unbeaten in 18 fights and arguably the No 1 attraction in the women’s game; beating Taylor comes with benefits. Back in May, there was tremendous pressure on Taylor and that was part of the attraction, part of the fight’s story; Taylor could have picked an easy fight for her return to Ireland, but she picked the unbeaten, four-belt champion from the weight above. It was a bold move; Cameron praised her at the time. Taylor is now 37, the Cameron fight was her 17th consecutive world-title fight. She was, for years, untouchable as an amateur and won Olympic, European and World championships. She once went on a winning streak of 62; she does not like losing and the build to this rematch has been intense. It was a very personal defeat for Taylor, a loss she was never going to take in her stride. “I have watched the fight, made some adjustments,” said Taylor. “I’m not concerned with what Cameron is doing; I’m only concerned with what I can do.” In the lexicon of Katie Taylor quotes, that is close to trash talk. In May, Cameron started fast, stayed fast and it took Taylor four or five rounds to get going; it was tight in the last few rounds, but Cameron secured victory in the first five. One judge scored a draw, the other two went for Cameron by two rounds. Taylor never complained and, more importantly, the capacity crowd of 10,000 never booed. It was a great fight. The rematch was obvious from the last bell, perhaps even sooner. There was talk of the fight being in Cameron’s hometown of Northampton, but the romantic pull of Dublin, revenge, redemption and one of the world’s smartest audiences, led the two women back to the venue, the 3Arena on the banks of the Liffey. The money was also in Dublin. Cameron will deliver her four super-lightweight belts again on Saturday night, Taylor will move up in weight once again, and their rivalry will lead to a fierce fight. The rematch might be better; Taylor has to win. And Cameron knows that she can repeat the first victory; there are a lot of big, big fights for Cameron, who is 32, if she can win. There are, arguably, even bigger fights for Taylor if she can win; one of those fights might be a scuffle with reason, and the pull of finally walking away. Taylor has devoted nearly 30 years of her life to this unforgiving business. All fighters want to leave on a high, after a great win. Make no mistake, Taylor will always be boxing’s queen. There is far more pressure on Taylor this time and far less pressure on Cameron; they both have a calmness in fight week that is deceptive. This week might just be different as Taylor seeks revenge, and Cameron another win. She is also determined to get the credit that she has perhaps not quite received in full from the first dramatic fight. A repeat is likely, a classic is certain. Read More Taylor questions whether women’s boxing is capable of switch to three-minute rounds Katie Taylor ‘aware of what is at stake’ in Chantelle Cameron rematch What is an exhibition fight and how is it different to a professional bout? What is an exhibition fight and how is it different to a professional bout? The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings Tyson Fury unleashes explosive verbal assault on Oleksandr Usyk at face-off in London
2023-11-20 18:24
Purdy runs for a TD before Chargers backups roll past 49ers 23-12
Brock Purdy ran for a 5-yard touchdown during a brief tune-up for the season opener for San Francisco before the Los Angeles Chargers backups beat the 49ers 23-12 in the exhibition finale
2023-08-26 13:23
Riots in France Expose Decades of Failure in Tinderbox Suburbs
As fierce clashes burst out last week in France’s worst riots in nearly two decades, protesters set buses
2023-07-06 12:59
Phillies radio commentator puts Braves fans on blast for trashing Truist Park
Atlanta Braves fans threw trash on the field after a Game 1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
2023-10-08 22:57
Casemiro goal puts Manchester United on verge of Champions League qualification
Manchester United moved a step closer to playing in the Champions League next season as Casemiro’s brilliant overhead kick earned a 1-0 win away at Bournemouth. Victory on the south coast, together with Liverpool’s failure to beat Aston Villa, strengthened United’s grip on a top-four spot with two games to play and meant Erik ten Hag is close to achieving his primary objective in his first season in charge. This was not Ten Hag’s side at their best, but once they were in front they limited a spirited and organised Bournemouth to a handful of chances, with David de Gea in form to deny Gary O’Neil’s side whenever they threatened. A point against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Thursday will ensure the team go into the final day with the top-four job complete. United took the lead after nine minutes, partly through good fortune, but the goal owed much to the quick thinking and improvisational brilliance of Casemiro. Christian Eriksen’s floated ball into the box was flicked on inadvertently by the boot of Marcos Senesi. The defender’s intervention played Casemiro onside and in one movement he swivelled acrobatically and whacked an effort on the turn past Neto to give United the perfect start. The game settled down, United largely controlling the ball and probing for gaps in behind Bournemouth, most of which were plugged well by O’Neil’s side. The next real chance fell to Dominic Solanke. A long, reaching pass arrived invitingly at his feet, though the opportunity looked to have gone when Aaron Wan-Bissaka hustled him off the ball. But Solanke would not be deterred and, winning it back, he cut inside United and made space for a low drive which De Gea turned aside brilliantly. Casemiro tried once again to execute the spectacular when he hit a thumping drive first time from 35 yards which Neto got down well to and held. On the whole, though, the first half ended with Bournemouth in the ascendency, Solanke reminding United once again of his and his team’s threat by planting a header fractionally over with the last action before the break. David Brooks, making his first start since being diagnosed with cancer in 2021, tested the reflexes of De Gea minutes after the restart, the goalkeeper throwing up an arm to turn a fizzing drive over the bar. Brooks was substituted shortly afterwards and left to a standing ovation from the Vitality Stadium. United were without top scorer Marcus Rashford, out with an unspecified illness after also missing the previous victory against Wolves, and their attack lacked a focal point in his absence. A goalscorer of Rashford’s instincts might have brought Bournemouth an equaliser when Solanke ran the ball to the byline and sent over a cross that rolled inches in front of the goal. No one in red and black had kept pace with the forward and the ball drifted to safety. Illya Zabarnyi was in the right place at the right time to turn Bruno Fernandes’ first-time effort over the bar from Wan-Bissaka’s cut-back as United probed for a second. Fernandes stung the palms of Neto with a volley from outside the box, the keeper requiring two strong palms to beat it away. Dango Ouattara came off the bench and caused problems down United’s left, bursting past Luke Shaw and crossing one moment, linking up well with Solanke the next. If Bournemouth were going to find a way back, it looked likely that it would be via the substitute. Instead it was another of O’Neil’s replacements, Kieffer Moore, that spurned the hosts’ best chance. Moore’s movement was clever to run in behind, but, with only De Gea to beat, his shot was straight at the keeper, who saved with his leg. United hearts were in mouths when Senesi volleyed on to the roof of the goal in added time. But the visitors saw the job out and one more point will ensure Ten Hag can turn attentions to an FA Cup final meeting with Manchester City at Wembley. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Callum McGregor rescues point for Celtic from dramatic draw with St Mirren Joel Ward’s late equaliser earns Crystal Palace draw with Fulham Yerry Mina’s last-gasp equaliser at Wolves gives Everton hope of survival
2023-05-21 00:16
New Zealand becomes first host nation to ever be knocked out of Women's World Cup group stage
New Zealand picked up an unwanted record by becoming the first host nation knocked out of the Women's World Cup group stages, after its 0-0 draw against Switzerland on Sunday.
2023-07-30 17:59
Northern Ireland’s Euro 2024 hopes suffer huge blow with Slovenia defeat
Northern Ireland’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2024 are all but over after they slumped to a fourth consecutive defeat, losing 4-2 to Slovenia in Ljubljana. Although Isaac Price’s first international goal quickly cancelled out Andraz Sporar’s third-minute strike, Petar Stojanovic’s strike deflected off Jonny Evans to put the hosts back in front in a frantic start to the match, and Benjamin Sesko added a third before the break. Evans got Northern Ireland back into it with a deflected strike in the 53rd minute, but only briefly as Sporar got his second moments later. Defeat leaves Northern Ireland three places and seven points off second in Group H going into Sunday’s trip to Kazakhstan, with the dream of heading to Germany next summer effectively dead. After three straight 1-0 losses Michael O’Neill could again claim his side had not been hugely outplayed, with Conor McMenamin particularly impressing as they created more chances than Slovenia. But Northern Ireland’s defensive solidity deserted them and they simply do not have the firepower to match the likes of RB Leipzig’s Sesko. The 20-year-old was involved as Slovenia breached the Northern Ireland defence inside three minutes. Shea Charles missed an interception and Sesko easily flicked the ball into the path of Sporar, who had time to beat the exposed Bailey Peacock-Farrell. It was a dreadful start, but somehow Northern Ireland roused themselves to equalise with their first goal since the opening qualifier against San Marino in March. McMenamin and Matty Kennedy – earning his first cap since March 2021 – came into the side as O’Neill stuck to his word to choose players in form at club level, with all but Evans having been regulars in the opening weeks of the season, and both were involved in the equaliser. McMenamin’s cross from the right was aimed at Kennedy and when his shot was blocked by Atletico Madrid’s Jan Oblak, it fell for Price to fire in. But soon after Slovenia were back in front. Stojanovic left Ciaron Brown in a heap as he cut in from the right, with the Sampdoria man’s cross taking a deflection off the luckless Evans to beat Peacock-Farrell as Northern Ireland appealed in vain for a foul. It was the last involvement for Brown, who became the 17th Northern Ireland player to suffer an injury in this campaign, hobbling off to be replaced by Craig Cathcart – playing his first competitive football since June a day after signing for Belgian club Kortrijk. McMenamin’s cross narrowly evaded Paddy McNair but it was Slovenia who thought they had a third 10 minutes before half-time when Sesko finished from close range, with the loud celebrations cut short once the stadium DJ belatedly noticed the flag was up for offside and play had resumed. But Sesko would have his goal before the break. After Kennedy missed a chance to clear, Sesko wriggled away from Evans with his back to goal before hitting a powerful low left-footed strike on the turn to find the corner of the net. O’Neill sent on Josh Magennis and Conor Washington for Kennedy and Dion Charles at the break but it was Slovenia who threatened again, with Sporar seeing a powerful effort cannon back off the crossbar from close range. Hope was rekindled in the 53rd minute when a deflected strike from Evans beat the scrambling Oblak. But that hope lasted barely three minutes before Sporar raced through the centre of the pitch, rounding Peacock-Farrell and rolling the ball into an empty net, and Northern Ireland could not capitalise on late chances for Magennis, McMenamin, and substitute Paul Smyth. Northern Ireland’s injury curse struck again 15 minutes from time as the substitute Cathcart hobbled off, as if to underline the problem that has dogged Northern Ireland since before this doomed campaign began. Read More Talking points ahead of Northern Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifier in Slovenia Erik ten Hag says Rasmus Hojlund could make Manchester United debut at Arsenal Tchouameni and Thuram on target as France dent Republic of Ireland hopes Tchouameni and Thuram on target as France dent Republic of Ireland hopes Steve Clarke did not seek Elliot Anderson assurance over Scotland allegiance Wales share predictable stalemate with South Korea in Cardiff friendly
2023-09-08 05:25
Coco Gauff picks up her 13th win in 14 matches to stay on course to meet Iga Swiatek at the US Open
Coco Gauff has taken another step toward a possible quarterfinal showdown against No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the U.S. Open
2023-08-31 08:59
A man arrested over death of a hockey player whose neck was cut with skate blade is released on bail
A man who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in the death of American ice hockey player Adam Johnson, whose neck was cut by a skate during a game, has been released on bail
2023-11-15 19:57
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