NHL Rumors: 3 Boston Bruins who won’t be on the roster next season
Following a record-setting 65-win regular season and a disappointing Stanley Cup Playoffs exit, the Boston Bruins are tightening up their roster in hopes of a playoff run next season.The Boston Bruins saw a disappointing end to their 2022-23 season after a phenomenal regular season. An early Rou...
2023-06-28 21:48
Michael Chandler reassures fans over Conor McGregor fight
Michael Chandler has insisted that his fight with Conor McGregor will go ahead, despite fears that the latter has missed the deadline to compete in 2023. Chandler vs McGregor was announced by the UFC in February, but no date, location or weight class has been announced for the fight, and it appears that McGregor is unable to compete until next year due to United States Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) rules. The former UFC champion is seemingly still absent from the Usada testing pool, and athletes must be in the pool for six months and return two negative results – and zero negatives – in order to fight in the UFC. However, Chandler has reassured fans that the fight will go ahead – regardless of when. The American, 37, told ESPN on Wednesday (28 June): “Listen, I understand everybody wants answers, they want results. With a fight of this magnitude – the most exciting guy in mixed martial arts versus the biggest superstar in mixed martial arts – people want answers, and they want them on their timeline. “Their timeline is now. ‘I want my answers yesterday.’ I’m with everybody else, of course, but just let the process play out. Just know that Michael Chandler steps in the cage against Conor McGregor, we put on an electrifying event, and I separate him from his consciousness in the second round. “If there’s one thing I know about Conor: He cares about his public persona, he cares about how people see him, he cares about where he is now and what he has become to the fans. [If you’re not coming back], you don’t do a documentary saying you’re coming back; you don’t tell everybody it’s the greatest comeback in combat-sports history; you’re not out there promoting yourself and saying, ‘This is my game forever, you’ll do what you’re told;’ and calling yourself the pound-for-pound king. “Conor’s coming back. There’s one guy he’s fighting: His name’s Michael Chandler, he’s from High Ridge, Missouri. We are gonna put butts in seats, it’s gonna be an electrifying performance, but I knock out Conor and then maybe he retires after that – we’ll see.” Chandler and McGregor are coaching opposing teams of athletes on the new season of The Ultimate Fighter, which began airing in May and will conclude in August. After five episodes, Team Chandler has a 5-0 lead over Team McGregor. This month, Irishman McGregor denied an allegation that he had sexually assaulted a woman at an NBA Finals game. McGregor, 34, was accused of assault in a bathroom at a Miami Heat fixture on 9 June. McGregor also recently released McGregor Forever, the second documentary around his career, and you can read The Independent’s review of the Netflix series here. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Conor McGregor doubles down on Ultimate Fighter criticism as Michael Chandler’s team dominate How to watch The Ultimate Fighter 31 in the UK Elon Musk vs Mark Zuckerberg: Who would win a fight between tech titans? Conor McGregor doubles down on Ultimate Fighter criticism Conor McGregor complains as his team lose yet again on The Ultimate Fighter Conor McGregor’s team fall to 0-3 on The Ultimate Fighter
2023-06-28 21:30
Why Nicolas Jackson has the tools to make Chelsea a free-scoring Mauricio Pochettino team
Chelsea’s biggest issue last season was the inability to simply put the ball in the back of the net. Only four teams scored fewer Premier League goals than the Blues (38), with even relegated pair Leeds and Leicester netting more. Strengthening the frontline was always the priority for a west London side in need of a refresh this summer. Yet they had to strike a balance. Chelsea’s squad remains incredibly bloated, though the departures of N’Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly have helped, at the very least, cut the wage bill. Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz, Edouard Mendy and Mason Mount are expected to follow the pair out of the Stamford Bridge exit as the squad is streamlined. We’re not yet in July but the Blues have at least made their first move to correct their goal issues: Christopher Nkunku has arrived from RB Leipzig on the back of a solid Bundesliga campaign that saw him net 16 times – no player in Germany’s top tier scored more. The 25-year-old won’t be the only forward to rock up in the capital, however, with Nicolas Jackson set to follow suit. Jackson was prepped for a move to Bournemouth in January, only to fail a medical, and was subsequently linked with a move to Aston Villa this summer – yet Chelsea have won the race for the 22-year-old, who scored 12 goals and provided four assists in LaLiga last season, a fine return for a player who registered just 1,603 minutes of game time. Of those 12 goals, 10 were scored since the turn of the year. Only former Real Madrid hitman Karim Benzema (12) bagged more in Spain’s top tier in the first half of 2023. Crucially, Jackson knows exactly where the goal is. Feed the Senegalese star and he’ll score. Of the 120 players to muster 25 or more shots, Jackson returned the best conversion rate (29.3 per cent) in the 22/23 LaLiga campaign. Despite a goal-shy season, Chelsea still averaged the eighth most key passes per game (9.9) in the Premier League, a return that can be improved upon, but a reasonable base nonetheless. In addition, the Blues ranked tenth for big chances created (57), yet in turn missed the sixth most (52). Kai Havertz was the biggest offender, missing 14 clear-cut goalscoring opportunities, but with the German set to leave for Arsenal there is room for a new striker at Stamford Bridge. Jackson, by contrast, performed superbly when the chances were laid out on a plate, returning a clear-cut conversion rate of 56.3 per cent, the best in Spain’s top flight last season. However, there is more to Jackson’s game than scoring goals. He’s not an old-fashioned No 9 but rather a modern-day forward, who looks to link the play as well as get on the end of chances. An average of 1.2 key passes per 90 minutes is a respectable average, while a pass success rate of 76.4 per cent from 17.9 passes per 90 are solid figures for a striker. With Mauricio Pochettino expected to use a 4-2-3-1 setup, he’ll need his leading frontman to work his way into the box and, where needed, hold up possession before laying the ball on for his teammates. Jackson, then, ticks the right boxes. Considering the exciting wingers at Pochettino’s disposal – who’ll undoubtedly benefit from a full pre-season in a settled environment under the Argentine’s watchful eye – and the possibility of Nkunku operating in the No 10 role as a second striker, Jackson’s willingness to bring others into play means Chelsea should quickly dwarf their 38-goal haul from last season. The Senegal star isn’t perhaps the same headline-stealing hitman in the form of Victor Osimhen that some supporters may crave, but then if Jackson is the ideal fit, is that really an issue? Chelsea will be landing a player who will benefit the current crop of attackers on the books at Stamford Bridge and, over the longer term, can become the complete centre-forward with the right coaching. Pochettino, after all, did turn Harry Kane into a world-beater. Read More Mateo Kovacic completes move from Chelsea to Manchester City Koulibaly exits Chelsea to become latest star joining Saudi Pro League Manchester United increase Mason Mount bid Chelsea owners buy stake in French team as part of multi-club ownership plans Robertson appreciative as Newcastle remember Tiote – Wednesday’s sporting social N’Golo Kante, the midfield miracle worker who changed football
2023-06-28 21:27
4 players the Lakers can sign not named Draymond Green or Austin Reaves
The top of the Lakers free-agent priority list is fairly well established. But the players further down that list could be the difference in chasing a title.At this point, everyone knows that priority 1A and 1B for the Lakers this offseason is getting Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura re-signed, w...
2023-06-28 21:24
Cincinnati Reds: 3 familiar faces to trade for not named Aroldis Chapman
Former Red, Aroldis Chapman has been the center of trade rumors recently. But these three former Reds provide more realistic trade options for them.Former Reds closer Aroldis Chapman has been at the center of a ton of trade rumors regarding a potential reunion with the Cincinnati Reds. This rumo...
2023-06-28 21:17
Unbeaten Warner frustrates England on 1st morning of 2nd Ashes test at Lord's
Australia has survived a tough examination from England’s bowlers and disruption from Just Stop Oil protesters to reach lunch at 73-1 in the second Ashes test at Lord’s
2023-06-28 20:49
USMNT news: Balogun to Lille, Steffen to Leicester, Pepi to PSV
Today's USMNT news includes Folarin Balogun being linked with Lille, Zack Steffen is a target for Leicester City and Ricardo Pepi is set to join PSV.USMNT news: Folarin Balogun to LilleArsenal are set to go on a tour of the USA next month, where they will play fixtures against the MLS ALL-S...
2023-06-28 20:45
Barcelona learn when they could be excluded from Champions League
Barcelona could be barred from entering the 2023/24 Champions League in the next few weeks with UEFA set to announce the results of their independent investigation into Casa Negreira.
2023-06-28 20:29
Warner shines before Australia lose Khawaja in second Test
Australia's David Warner made England pay for dropping him in helpful conditions with a quickfire fifty before the hosts removed Usman Khawaja after protesters briefly disrupted the second...
2023-06-28 20:24
Countdown to 250th anniversary begins in the US with planners hoping it can unify a divided country
The United States is about to start the countdown to its 250th anniversary
2023-06-28 20:22
Roundup: Rachel Brosnahan Is the New Lois Lane; RIP Ryan Mallett; Kings Land Pierre-Luc Dubois in Blockbuster Trade
Rachel Brosnahan picked as the new Lois Lane, Ryan Mallett drowned in Florida, the Kings traded for Pierre-Luc Dubois and more in the Roundup.
2023-06-28 19:23
Shohei Ohtani Is the Greatest Baseball Player of All Time
Shohei Ohtani is the greatest player in baseball history.
2023-06-28 19:19
