
J-Rod Show gets All-Star stage at home despite challenging second season in majors
This All-Star week in Seattle was supposed to be Julio Rodríguez’s party, and it still might be
2023-07-10 18:18

Patient Pidcock mulls Tour de France options
Ineos star Tom Pidcock was weighing up his Tour de France tactics Monday as the riders took a well-earned rest...
2023-07-10 17:45

India eye WTC boost from struggling West Indies
India’s latest quest for an elusive World Test Championship title gets under way on Wednesday in the lush tropical setting of Windsor Park Stadium in Dominica against a West Indies team expected to struggle to cope with the formidable challenge...
2023-07-10 17:23

Chris Paul, formally introduced by Warriors, reveals plenty about his motivation
Chris Paul worked out with new teammate Stephen Curry in Atlanta on Sunday morning before traveling to Las Vegas
2023-07-10 16:54

How Harry Maguire is hoping to win back Man Utd place
Harry Maguire has taken action over the summer to try and win back his place at Manchester United.
2023-07-10 16:51

The moment Lando Norris came of age in British Grand Prix – and it wasn’t his super start
At the beginning of the season, a mere 10 races ago, Lando Norris endured an opener of excruciating torment in Bahrain. With his stricken McLaren impacted by a “pneumatic pressure leak”, the Brit valiantly took the chequered flag in dead last after pitting an astonishing six times throughout the race. It was, simply, a shambles. But that now seems nothing but a distant memory, four months on in the safe haven of the British Isles. Most observers did not raise an eyebrow when McLaren announced a number of upgrades to their car ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix last week. It is the phase of the season where every team is changing parts in search of that extra tenth or two of speed. Usually, by way of natural progression, the improvement is gradual. Yet out of an abyss of doom to start 2023, the papaya have come storming back into contention. The signs were there in Austria when Norris qualified third on the grid. Race-pace on that occasion last week was his downfall. But this time, what a sparkling Silverstone weekend it proved to be for Norris and his team-mate Oscar Piastri. One-lap pace on a Saturday? Tick. Backed up by enhanced speed on Sunday? Another tick. If it wasn’t for a mid-race safety car, it would have been a first double podium since Monza two years ago for McLaren, with Piastri unfortunate to not grasp his first top-three in F1 after finishing fourth. But it was Norris who was the star of the show at Silverstone. On paper the slowest out of the British triumvirate, with Lewis Hamilton and George Russell sporting the might of Mercedes, cautious optimism was the talk of the day heading into the British Grand Prix. Saturday was a statement. Norris had top-tier pace throughout all three qualifying sessions and for a moment, it seemed he’d grabbed pole position before Max Verstappen, inevitably, snatched it from him. Still, a front-row start. And inspired by a record 160,000-strong crowd on Sunday, Norris reacted quicker at lights out, storming down the inside past the previously irrepressible Red Bull. Such was McLaren’s raw speed to start, Piastri also almost steered his way past Verstappen. But a McLaren was out in front: Lando Norris was leading the British Grand Prix. Yet there were still 52 full laps to complete. And while Norris could do nothing to defend against the might of the Red Bull DRS on lap five, the pace of the MCL60 – so named to celebrate 60 years since the team was founded by Bruce McLaren – remained impressive. Both Norris and Piastri, in scenes unfathomable a month ago, were keeping Mercedes, Ferrari and Aston Martin behind them with ease. But the mid-race safety car changed the complexion behind Verstappen. Hamilton benefited, leapfrogging Piastri, and was on quicker soft tyres compared to Norris’ hard compound. Right on the heels of his former team. But right then, lap 39, was the coming-of-age moment. Under pressure down the Wellington Straight, Norris positioned his car exquisitely on the inside of the racing line, with Hamilton surging around the outside. He remained inches in front around Brooklands and stayed cool down at Copse Corner, scene of that infamous Hamilton-Verstappen crash two years ago. A lap later, the same scenario presented the same result. Hamilton noted afterwards that the McLaren was like a “rocketship” in high-speed corners. This time at Copse, Norris was on the outside but stayed firm on the throttle, whizzing around in front and remaining ahead of the Mercedes. Hamilton never got so close again. A much-deserved and highly-impressive second place for Norris; his joint best-result in Formula 1. And although a first win for the 23-year-old remains elusive for now, McLaren’s pace – while particularly suited to this track, in juxtaposition to the next race in Hungary – was striking. Those positive steps, so long nothing but cliches rattled out in the media, have finally been taken by Zak Brown and his team at Woking. That top tier of four teams in F1 in 2023, with Aston Martin’s arrival at the start of the season, has briskly become five. Read More Max Verstappen storms to British Grand Prix victory with two Brits on the podium Toto Wolff admits Mercedes will soon have ‘no choice’ but to switch focus to next year ‘I laugh at the bad comments’: Lando Norris on dealing with online abuse and a ‘tough’ year on-track
2023-07-10 16:25

Champions League with Larne ‘means a lot more’ to Arsenal old boy Mark Randall
Mark Randall believes lining up for Larne on the club’s Champions League debut will top his experiences with Arsenal. The Irish Premiership champions are set to make history on Wednesday when they begin their two-legged first qualifying round tie against HJK Helsinki in Finland. Former Gunners midfielder Randall made 13 appearances under Arsene Wenger between 2006 and 2009, including two European outings and a brief cameo in a north London derby against Tottenham. The 33-year-old trained and played alongside the likes of Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry back then but is now preparing for what he anticipates will be the highlight of his career. “This will be at the top, I think, because of the achievement for the club and the fans,” he told the PA news agency ahead of the midweek visit to the 10,770-capacity Bolt Arena in Finland’s capital. “It’s little old Larne but it’s a massive achievement and everyone’s really looking forward to it. “I think this tops it because at clubs like Arsenal you get that every year but this is such a massive thing for the club and the town. “It’s not expected over here, especially to have a good run. For me, it means a lot more, competing in that competition for Larne.” Randall helped Larne claim the Irish Premiership title for the first time in their 134-year history last season. The former England Under-18 international made his Champions League debut aged 18 in August 2008 when eventual semi-finalists Arsenal defeated FC Twente in the final qualifying round before he appeared in a group stage clash with Porto four months later. Yet, following just two Premier League substitute appearances for the Gunners and a handful of loan spells, he moved on to Chesterfield in 2011 before arriving on Northern Ireland’s east coast via stints with Italian side Ascoli, MK Dons, Barnet, Newport, Crawley and Hemel Hempstead. Randall is loving life in County Antrim after being tempted over by the vision of millionaire owner Kenny Bruce – co-founder of online estate agent Purplebricks – following the club’s promotion to the top flight in 2019. “This was a new challenge for me and my family,” said the father-of-three. “We were looking to get away from England and this came up. “I was a hundred per cent in, my wife was a bit worried at the start but as soon as she came over she absolutely loved it, the kids love it here, so it’s probably the best thing we’ve ever done. “I wanted to come over and play in a league where I could win things instead of being in League Two, League One just floating about at mid-table teams. “I could see the vision before I signed when I met Kenny and the manager (Tiernan Lynch) and they’ve been true to their word. “I love it here. People around the town are just really great people. After games we’ll go and have a beer with the fans and it’s just little things like that that make a massive difference.” Randall was initially tipped for big things by long-reigning Arsenal boss Wenger. He has no real regrets about his time in north London but concedes his attitude and work ethic perhaps dipped below the required level. “It’s the best coaching you will get at that age,” said Randall, who remains in contact with former Gunners team-mate Kieran Gibbs from that era. “Back then, they had unbelievable players that you can learn so much from on a daily basis. “At a top Premier League club, you’re going to get the best facilities, best training ground, best food and the lower you go, you don’t really get that. “Probably, if I’m honest, my attitude and maybe my work ethic weren’t up to scratch as the top players are. They are 100 per cent professional and maybe that’s where I let myself down.” Larne’s greatest European adventure follows two successive Europa Conference League qualifying campaigns, which included a run to the third round in 2021-22. They will play next week’s second leg against HJK at Cliftonville’s Solitude stadium in Belfast after the synthetic pitch at their Inver Park home failed to satisfy FIFA criteria. The 32-time Finnish champions have far more experience at this level and even reached the group stage in 1998-99, leading to clashes with Kaiserslautern, Benfica and PSV Eindhoven. “We feel like on our day we can give anyone a good game,” said Randall. “I don’t think it’s going to be a walk in the park for them.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Football rumours: Romelu Lukaku willing to take pay cut for permanent Inter move The sporting weekend in pictures Third Ashes Test: England keep series hopes alive in latest Headingley thriller
2023-07-10 16:17

Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz: Details about undefeated boxer who got added to August 5 match revealed
The undefeated super middleweight champion will be fighting in a 10-round matchup during the Jake Paul vs Nate Diaz PPV event
2023-07-10 14:45

Yankees fire hitting coach Dillion Lawson in 1st midseason change under GM Brian Cashman
Hitting coach Dillon Lawson was fired by the New York Yankees after a 7-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs, a rare midseason change by a franchise that has prized stability since Hal Steinbrenner took over from his father as controlling owner
2023-07-10 14:27

Football rumours: Romelu Lukaku willing to take pay cut for permanent Inter move
What the papers say Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku, who was on loan at Inter Milan last season, is reportedly willing to take a £1million pay cut for a permanent move to the Italian club, the Telegraph reports. Lukaku featured in the Champions League final for Inter, scoring 10 goals and assisting six times in his 25 matches in Serie A last year. Bayern Munich have reportedly sent a revised offer of £70million plus add-ons to Tottenham for Harry Kane, the Guardian said. The Daily Mail says Al-Ettifaq manager Steven Gerrard is keen to sign free agent Wilfried Zaha, who saw his Crystal Palace contract expire this summer, for around £16million per season. Ajax defender Jurrien Timber has completed a medical at Arsenal and the Metro says he has returned home for a farewell party before he completes his move to the club. Social media round-up Players to watch Harvey Barnes: The Leicester winger is reportedly keen on a move to Newcastle following the Foxes’ relegation to the Championship, according to Football Insider. Rasmus Hojlund: The 20-year-old has reportedly reached an agreement in principle with Manchester United, who are set to submit a new bid to Atalanta for the Danish striker. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-07-10 14:25

Hamilton happy his old team McLaren is competitive again despite losing out for 2nd at British GP
Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton is happy his old team McLaren is competitive in Formula One again
2023-07-10 13:18

World Cup glory the missing piece for Australian superstar Kerr
Sam Kerr says the only thing missing in her life is a major trophy with Australia -- and the Chelsea forward plans to change that by...
2023-07-10 12:27