Arkansas vs. TCU prediction and odds for Fayetteville Regional (Horned Frogs offense has answers)
TCU throttled Arkansas on Sunday to clinch a spot in the Fayetteville Regional Finals, but the Razorbacks bounced back and beat Santa Clara to extend its season.This is the first of potentially two games for the Horned Frogs and Razorbacks as the host team must win both to advance to the Super R...
2023-06-06 00:00
Newcastle owners take majority stakes in four Saudi clubs including Al Nassr
The Saudi sovereign wealth fund which owns Newcastle has taken majority stakes in four of the Middle Eastern country’s biggest clubs, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s team Al Nassr. The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is taking 75 per cent stakes in Al Nassr, Asian Champions League finalists Al Hilal, Al Ahli and Al Ittihad, who are understood to be interested in signing Karim Benzema after his intention to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season was confirmed. The PIF also own an 80 per cent stake in Newcastle following the completion of a protracted and controversial takeover in October 2021. Sources close to the fund have told the PA news agency that the move to take controlling stakes in the four Saudi clubs does not constitute the creation of a multi-club ownership model involving Newcastle. Each club will be managed by an independent board and have separate executive management, the sources said. Clubs in the Saudi top flight, who have technically been owned by the country’s Ministry of Sport until now, are being privatised as part of a government initiative to help the sport further develop. FIFA has been approached for comment on the issue. A statement on the PIF Twitter account read: “As part of today’s announcement of the Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project, four Saudi clubs – Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Hilal – have been transformed into companies, each of which is owned by PIF and non-profit foundations for each club.” PIF said existing members of each club would be included in the four foundations and that the fund was working closely with the Ministry of Sport on the necessary regulatory procedures to complete the clubs’ transfers to their new structures as newly-founded companies alongside non-profit foundations. “The transfer of the four clubs will unleash various commercial opportunities, including investment, partnership and sponsorships across numerous sports,” the PIF statement concluded. The Saudi government said in a release from the country’s national press agency issued earlier on Monday that it hoped that as well as further bolstering participation in sport at grassroots level, the move to privatisation would raise the league’s revenues from 450million riyals (£96.7m) last year to 1.8 billion riyals (£386.7m) and increase its market value to more than 8bn riyals (£1.72bn) by 2030. The extent to which the Saudi government controls Newcastle came back into the spotlight in February this year after the publication of court documents in the US. The Premier League approved the PIF-led takeover of the club only after receiving “legally-binding assurances” that the Saudi state would not have control of the club. However, documents from PIF’s legal team published in a court case related to the LIV Golf and PGA Tour dispute described PIF as “a sovereign instrumentality of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia” and PIF governor and Newcastle chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan as “a sitting minister of the Saudi government”. The Premier League has declined to comment on whether it had opened an investigation following the publication of the court documents. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Andy Murray determined to show he remains among the elite on grass courts Ange Postecoglou: Who is he and what can Tottenham fans expect? Alfie Hewett adapting to his new status as the man to beat in wheelchair tennis
2023-06-05 23:57
LSU vs. Oregon State prediction and odds for Baton Rouge Regional
LSU and Oregon State meet on Monday afternoon with the Beavers in need of two wins to advance out of the Baton Rouge Regional while the No. 5 seed Tigers need only one win to advance.The Beavers bolster one of the best pitching rotations in the country, but LSU is arguably the most talented with...
2023-06-05 23:56
NBA Draft rumors: Warriors work out high-riser, Wemby capes for Coulibaly, Rockets divided
Draft season is in full swing and NBA Draft rumors are flying — the Warriors are working out a big sleeper, the Rockets are divided and Victor Wembanyama capes for his teammate.We're just over two weeks out from the NBA Draft and while the top is taking shape trades and high-rising pr...
2023-06-05 23:51
Ange Postecoglou: Who is he and what can Tottenham fans expect?
Ange Postecoglou appears set to leave Celtic and take over at Tottenham. Spurs fans appear to be split on the selection with some questioning his pedigree, but that will not faze the single-minded 57-year-old. So what do Tottenham supporters need to know about their prospective new boss? – Who is Ange Postecoglou? The Australian, who emigrated from Greece at the age of four, won two titles as a South Melbourne player, where he worked under Real Madrid great Ferenc Puskas, and won four Australia caps before injury forced him to move into coaching at a young age. – What success has he achieved?Postecoglou led South Melbourne to two titles as manager in his early 30s and then spent seven years coaching Australia’s youth teams. He burst back on to the domestic scene, leading Brisbane Roar from finishing bottom of the A-League to consecutive Grand Final victories in 2011 and 2012, with the help of a record 36-game unbeaten run. He took charge of Australia at the 2014 World Cup, won the Asian Cup the following year and led his country to 2018 World Cup qualification before taking charge of Yokohama F Marinos, guiding them to their first J-League title in 15 years in 2019. – And how about in Scotland? He won five out of six domestic trophies during his two years in charge of Celtic, including a treble in what appears to have been his final campaign. European football was the missing piece of the jigsaw. However, Celtic generally performed well in the Champions League this past season – against Real Madrid, RB Leipzig and Shakhtar Donetsk – while squandering chances that should have got them more than two points on their return to the elite stage. – Does he have the experience for the Premier League? Postecoglou addressed the fact there was a mixed response to his appointment as Celtic manager and was also unfazed by the fact a deal for Eddie Howe had fallen through. “You’re assuming I was second choice, I might have been fifth choice, you never know,” he said at his unveiling. “It doesn’t really bother me. What’s important is that I have been given the responsibility and opportunity.” He also dismissed suggestions he was making a “jump” in standard. “I have coached at a World Cup, I have coached against some of the best teams in the world,” he said. He will not be concerned by the reaction to his Tottenham appointment given his total focus and belief in his process. – What style of football does he employ? Postecoglou has matched success with an attacking style and prides himself on building teams that get people talking and excite the fans. Celtic scored a post-war club record 114 league goals this past season. His goalkeeper will need to pass the ball out, his centre-backs get on the front foot and are aggressive, while he employs inverted full-backs. His team played with two attacking central midfielders and two wingers who have to get in front of goal when balls come in from the other flank, while the centre-forward can expect plenty of chances. His mantra is “we never stop” and even the Celtic ball attendants are in tune with his demand to keep the game moving. – What kind of manager is he? Postecoglou has spoken of his love of a challenge and building something special from scratch. “Just about every job I have had has been an extensive rebuild,” he once said. “Usually you come in when people are needing change. Secondly, the way I get my teams to play is challenging, and requires a major shift, usually both in playing staff and the way we work.” He exerted control over a number of areas of the football department at Celtic and oversaw a massive rebuild while winning the title against a Rangers side who finished 25 points ahead the previous season and reached a European final in his first Scottish campaign. He quickly won respect from Celtic players and fostered a culture of togetherness but also takes a step back from them and lets the dressing room run itself on match days. Australia international Ryan McGowan remarked how he sat next to Postecoglou on a long-haul flight in total silence as his manager does not want to be swayed by personal relationships when making decisions. – What relationship can Tottenham fans expect to have with their manager-in-waiting? Celtic fans bought into their manager’s style of play, how he represented the club and stood up for it in the media, although he very rarely talked about referee decisions. He also understood how important the club is to people’s lives and used that as a motivation. They gave him total backing in return, although success is obviously paramount to that. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Alfie Hewett adapting to his new status as the man to beat in wheelchair tennis Where might Lionel Messi go next after Paris St Germain spell ends? Ange Postecoglou agrees to leave Celtic for Tottenham – reports
2023-06-05 23:00
3 must-have free agents for the Chicago Bulls this offseason
The Chicago Bulls desperately need to upgrade their roster to get back into the playoff hunt. Here are three key free-agent targets to help them get there.The Chicago Bulls are at a crossroads.In 2021, they formed a new "Big 3" in DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Nikola Vucevic. The...
2023-06-05 22:50
Texas Tech vs. Florida prediction and odds for Gainesville Regional elimination game
The No. 2 seed in the 2023 NCAA college baseball championship Florida Gators saved its season with two wins on Sunday against Connecticut and Texas Tech to force an elimination game on Monday afternoon in Gainesville, Florida.The Gators will play at home at Condron Family Ballpark on Monday in h...
2023-06-05 22:24
Cubs: Marcus Stroman meant no disrespect despite trolling Juan Soto to no end
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Marcus Stroman had a lot of fun at Juan Soto's expense, striking him out and stealing his celebration.Cubs starting pitcher went six strong against the San Diego Padres on Sunday in an eventual 7-1 victory. Stroman has been excellent so far this season, and cou...
2023-06-05 22:18
Alexis Mac Allister edges closer to Liverpool transfer as agent arrives in UK
Liverpool are closing in on Brighton midfielder Alexis Mac Allister. The 24-year-old’s father, Carlos, who acts as his representative, arrived at the weekend for talks regarding the World Cup winner’s future. It is understood the Argentina international has a release clause, believed to be between £45million and £55m, in a contract he only signed in October and Liverpool are close to triggering that. Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi admitted last month he is already resigned to losing a player who was key in securing their first European participation with a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League, just five points behind Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp is looking to rebuild a midfield which misfired this season and Mac Allister has been a long-term target, with James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain departing at the end of their contracts. Liverpool were also interested in Mason Mount, entering the final 12 months of his contract at Chelsea, but Manchester United appear to be the front-runners and Klopp does not want to get into a protracted – and often expensive – process so has moved on to other players. The Reds have been linked with Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, Nice’s Khephren Thuram and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Manu Kone and will be looking to get their business done early in time for the start of pre-season on July 8. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-06-05 21:55
Gerrit Cole loves 2 things in life: Winning and Harry Styles
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole holds a very near and dear place in his heart for a certain pop star. One might even call him a Harry Styles stan.The New York Yankees have a potential Cy Young winner in their hands with star pitcher Gerrit Cole, but even if he doesn't earn league-wide recognition i...
2023-06-05 21:55
Cubs-Padres Umpire Wanders into Basepath And Collides With Jake Cronenworth
What was he doing?
2023-06-05 21:54
2023 NBA Draft scouting report: Jett Howard
Jett Howard hails from NBA royalty and he could be one of the most polished offensive players in the upcoming NBA Draft.Jett Howard played his freshman season at Michigan under the watchful eye of head coach Juwan Howard, a 19-year NBA vet who also happens to be Jett's father. The early ret...
2023-06-05 21:49