MLB Rumors: Cardinals open for trade deadline business, but 1 key player off table
In this week's edition of First Pitch, let's look at what could be a trade deadline-altering rumor involving the St. Louis Cardinals and their potential direction as August 1 draws near.As play begins on Monday, the St. Louis Cardinals sit at the bottom of the National League Central s...
2023-06-19 22:16
MLB Power Rankings: 1 reason why each team won’t win the World Series
MLB Power Rankings of the one reason why each of the 30 teams won't win the 2023 World Series.Thirty teams enter. One team leaves victorious. It’s how every MLB season goes. Twenty-nine ball clubs will fall short. This week’s MLB Power Rankings takes a direct look at why each cl...
2023-06-19 21:48
Tom Watson is the latest to want answers on the PGA Tour's deal with Saudi backers of LIV
Eight-time major champion Tom Watson is the latest to want answers on the PGA Tour’s new business partnership with Saudi backers of LIV Golf
2023-06-19 21:48
USMNT news: Nations League win, Pepi to PSV, Tillman to Rangers
Today's USMNT news includes the Stars and Stripes winning the Nations League, PSV are expected to make a move for Ricardo Pepi and Rangers have had a bid rejected for Malik Tillman.USMNT news: Nations League victoryThe USMNT won the Nations League after defeating Canada 2-0 in the final inL...
2023-06-19 21:25
Wrexham AFC stadium suffers ‘structural damage’ after torrential rain
Thunderstorms and heavy rain have caused flooding in Wrexham, leading to some “structural damage” to the Racecourse Ground, home of Wrexham AFC. A hospitality suite on Sunday 18 June was cleared of diners enjoying a Father’s Day meal due to the flooding. “Wrexham AFC can confirm the 1864 Suite was evacuated during the third sitting of today’s Father’s Day meals at the Racecourse Ground,” the statement read. “In the wake of the torrential rain that hit the region late this afternoon, some structural damage has resulted in a large leak inside the Macron Stand reception area.” The statement added that all diners were safely evacuated. Read More Moment Rob Burrow and his children cross finish line of Father’s Day fun run Wyndham Clark knows he made late mother ‘proud’ with US Open win Dias ‘threw up’ in Grealish’s mother’s bag during treble celebrations, Ederson says
2023-06-19 16:58
Fury vs Usyk: Behind the scenes, laughter is turning to anger
The heavyweight division is a bad pantomime now with Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, a chorus of fighters, a few promoters and some hefty backers all trying to work out what part of the dancing horse they are. Moving away from the ugly sisters, there is every chance that the gap between the last championship fight and the next will be the longest in over 50 years. This break is not common, ignore people telling you that. Fury defended his WBC title last December against his old, old friend, Dereck Chisora, and Usyk beat Anthony Joshua for the second time last August in Saudi Arabia to retain his IBF, WBA and WBO titles. Fury has no date, just social media plans, and Usyk is due to defend in Poland in late August against Daniel Dubois. It is hard to find a solitary reason for the break and even more difficult to put the blame on just one single person. There are a lot of people on the stage, and they all have a role to play. And to be honest, during the last six months they have all said too much. Sure, greed, rivalries, stupidity, lies and ego are at the very core of the problem, but boxing at the highest level has always had the same flaws, the same fluid obstacles. The standard excuses are there to overcome - that is how boxing works. Fury and Usyk for all the tarnished marbles was meant to have been signed and sealed last September. It was scheduled for April and is now a plan for December. Both boxers have insulted the other, and the theme of their mutual abuse is simple: greed. Obviously, both deny they are the greedy, money-grabbing party in the sad affair. Actually, the righteous outrage from both sides is comedy gold at times. Fury’s father, the unstoppable “Gypsy John” Fury, has demanded that Usyk apologise for his criticism. He has warned that if there is no apology, there might be a straightener in a field somewhere, man-to-man. There is honour at stake. It is endless mirth, it really is. c. Some of boxing’s wisest, richest and smartest brains have been involved in this ongoing lunacy. The men and women in the Fury camp blame Usyk, and the men and women in the Usyk camp blame Fury. The two main players in the Fury business, Bob Arum and Frank Warren, have a combined total of 98 years of promotion; they are both battling this madness. There is, according to some insiders, a one-off offer on the table from the government of Saudi Arabia for Fury and Usyk to fight there at the end of the year. Usyk has signed his deal. This offer is non-negotiable, and we know this because the media flown out to Saudi by the Saudi government have reported it as fact. As a guide to the way boxing works, there are seldom any facts involved when deals are being made, broken and made again. The real insiders are furious that Usyk and Fury, the biggest fight in boxing, is not yet across the line. The sanctioning bodies, who get paid a fee for fights, have promised to get tough with their heavyweight champions, but have not said a word or done a thing; everyone is holding out for a slice of the Saudi cash pie. ‘Hey, it’s a business,’ they will say, but that little claim is wearing very thin. Fury, meanwhile, has mentioned 10 possible opponents in his social media rants in the last few weeks, including a plan to fight two UFC icons in one night. Usyk and Dubois went to purse bids, which is one of boxing’s ancient rituals, and Usyk’s team won. The fight is scheduled for August. Looking in from the side of the crowded stage is Joshua. His fight with Fury was announced by Fury on 10 June, 2020; it would have been a fight for the ages, for all the belts and all the bragging rights. It never happened and it has come close a couple of times since then. Joshua, meanwhile, will fight in August and it might be Dillian Whyte. There is a rumour that Whyte wants too much for the fight; the flip side of that rumour is that Whyte was offered too little. In America, Deontay Wilder, twice beaten in classics by Fury, has not fought since last October. There is a plan, under the Saudi deal, for Wilder to fight Joshua in Saudi Arabia on the same night as Usyk and Fury fight. There is, so the paid publicists insist, a total purse of $400million on the table for the four boxers to split. It must be a strong table. There are bold plans right now for the deadlock to be broken soon and some concrete dates and fights to finally be announced. The traffic, as they say in the world of espionage, is heavy. Let’s hope for some fights – the old game needs the best heavyweights back in action and out of the back end of that horse suit. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Tyson Fury claims UFC has offered him ‘hybrid fight’ with Jon Jones Joe Rogan is right: Tyson Fury has ‘no chance in hell’ against Jon Jones Why has Saudi Arabia become big player in world sport and what does future hold? Tyson Fury claims UFC has offered him ‘hybrid fight’ with Jon Jones Tyson Fury promises ‘imminent’ announcement of ‘big fight’ Joe Joyce on knockouts, oil painting, and teaching 60-year-olds to swim
2023-06-19 16:58
Body language, knowledge of the game and luck: the art of chess photography
Two people hunched over a black and white checkered board, deliberating what moves they will make, how their opponent might counter and how they might counter that counter, with barely a flicker of emotion passing over their faces.
2023-06-19 16:58
The U.S. Men's National Team Is the Best It Has Ever Been
This is the best the USMNT has ever been.
2023-06-19 14:20
Ruben Dias ‘threw up’ in Grealish’s mother’s bag during treble celebrations, Ederson says
Ederson has claimed Ruben Dias “threw up” into Jack Grealish’s mother’s bag during Manchester City’s press conference. The goalkeeper struggled to hold in his laughter as he revealed the story during a press conference ahead of Brazil’s friendly against Guinea. He explained that some players who do not normally drink alcohol made an exception during the treble celebrations. “Ruben Dias made this exception, but it didn’t work out for him,” Ederson said, chuckling. “Two shots and he threw up everything. And you might not believe it, but it all went into Jack Grealish’s mother’s bag.” Read More US Open: Why LACC’s 15th hole at the prestigious golf tournament just made history Watch: Usman Khawaja’s adorable daughter steals the show in Ashes press conference Rugby legend Jason Robinson creates pitch art to celebrate iconic World Cup moments
2023-06-19 13:59
3 ways the Miami Heat can add another star this offseason
The Miami Heat were four wins away from championship glory; how can the team add more star power to aid their title pursuit next season?The Miami Heat are never out of the contenders circle, no matter how much the regular season product leads one to believe otherwise. That's the lesson we a...
2023-06-19 11:54
NBA rumors: Kyle Kuzma suitors, Bucks and Middleton, Ayton’s trade value
NBA rumors: Deandre Ayton doesn't have a lot of trade value right nowAfter trading for Bradley Beal, the Suns are really short on depth going forward. This will result in them attempting to move Deandre Ayton for depth.According to Adrian Wojnarowski, this may be hard to do due to the fac...
2023-06-19 11:24
The Open Championship odds: Rory McIlroy favored after US Open performance
The US Open has wrapped up and now we're three quarters of they way through the 2023 major championships.The final one is scheduled for next month. It's the Open Championship, formally known as the British Open, and it's set to be hosted at Royal Liverpool Golf Club.Ironically...
2023-06-19 10:19