Crazy stat shows just how advanced Victor Wembanyama already is on defense
He's still just a 19-year-old rookie, learning the ropes in the best basketball league in the world. But there is no denying Victor Wembanyama's defensive impact.
2023-11-28 03:49
IndyCar champion admits breaching McLaren contract in £18.2m lawsuit over potential F1 seat
Two-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou concedes in court documents that he breached his contract with McLaren Racing when the Spaniard did an about-face and stayed at Chip Ganassi Racing, having been the reserve driver for McLaren at F1’s Miami Grand Prix. The admission came in Palou's response to a lawsuit filed against him by McLaren in September seeking to recoup at least $23 million (£18.2m) in losses the team calculated Palou's reversal cost the organisation. Palou's 20-page response was filed in the High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts of England and Wales Commercial Court. The Associated Press reviewed the filing Monday. In the response, Palou says he changed his mind about joining McLaren ahead of the 2024 season when he "lost trust and confidence that (McLaren) genuinely intended to support his ambition to race in the Formula One Series and decided to continue racing with CGR in the Indy Car Series instead." Palou "therefore admits that he renounced his contractual obligations" with McLaren and "the real issue between the parties is as to the quantum of any damages which the Defendants are liable to pay," the documents say. The spat over the 26-year-old between two IndyCar teams began when Palou initially disputed a Ganassi claim that the team had picked up the 2023 option year on his contract. McLaren in July 2022 said it had signed Palou and had him earmarked for an IndyCar seat and a reserve driver role with its Formula One team. Chip Ganassi Racing said it had the contractual rights for Palou for the 2023 season. Palou and Ganassi entered mediation and a resolution was reached a year ago in which Palou would drive for Ganassi in 2023 but was also McLaren's reserve F1 driver when it did not interfere with IndyCar. He was able to participate in a practice session, tested for the F1 team both on track and in a simulator, and was the reserve driver for McLaren at F1's Miami Grand Prix in May. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown was contacted Aug. 8 and told by attorneys for Palou that Palou would not be joining McLaren and had instead signed a three-year extension with Ganassi. Palou won the 2021 and 2023 championships with Ganassi and is now signed there through 2026. IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward last week was named Palou's replacement as McLaren's F1 reserve driver and participated in a practice session during the season-ending race weekend in Abu Dhabi. O'Ward is a full-time IndyCar driver for Arrow McLaren Racing. The bulk of Palou's response focuses on McLaren's loss of revenue claims and attempts to mitigate what Palou will owe in damages. The nearly $23 million in damages McLaren is seeking is broken down in future sponsorship tied to Palou joining McLaren, the costs of using him as a reserve F1 driver, how much McLaren spent developing Palou for F1 and a $400,000 advance on his 2024 salary. McLaren is not seeking repayment of legal fees it says it covered for Palou in last year's fight with Ganassi. McLaren has contended Palou signed two contracts: the first with McLaren Racing as the F1 reserve driver and a separate deal with Arrow McLaren to compete in IndyCar for the team while also serving as the F1 backup. Among the damages McLaren is seeking is nearly $15.5 million in lost revenue under official partner agreements with sponsors NTT Data and General Motors that anticipated Palou would be the driver, including $7 million in revenue and prize money from IndyCar itself. "This claim is embarrassing for want of particularity and speculative in the extreme," the response said. "The performance of any team in a future Indy Car Series cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. Driver performance is variable." The response also disputes McLaren's claim to lost revenues that Palou "would otherwise have earned in relation to the Formula One Series." It notes that claim would only be valid if Palou was actually McLaren's F1 driver, and that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are under contract through 2025 and 2026. The response also claims that if Palou was an F1 driver, all the claims to IndyCar financial losses would be moot. McLaren also wants to recoup all money spent on Palou when he was the test driver, both on track and in the simulator, and money it spent seeking a replacement for Palou. O'Ward became Palou's replacement in the F1 role, while David Malukas was hired to fill the open seat in the IndyCar Series. AP Read More MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi returns to competitive motorsport ‘It did not fail’: W Series enters administration Raul Torras Martinez: Spanish rider dies at Isle of Man TT MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi returns to competitive motorsport ‘It did not fail’: W Series enters administration Raul Torras Martinez: Spanish rider dies at Isle of Man TT
2023-11-28 03:46
Chelsea ready to test Napoli resolve over Victor Osimhen with January bid
Chelsea are prepared to pursue Napoli striker Victor Osimhen in the January transfer window.
2023-11-27 18:58
5 front office execs on the hot seat if 2023 MLB Winter Meetings go wrong
The 2023 MLB Winter Meetings are just over a week away. Expect free agency to pick up, with some executives under fire to make a move.
2023-11-27 09:27
MLB Rumors: Shohei Ohtani dark horses, Tigers E-Rod replacement, Yankees reunions
MLB Rumors: Two teams emerge as dark horse threats for Shohei Ohtani. The Tigers have a replacement in mind for E-Rod. Jordan Montgomery to the Yankees?
2023-11-27 07:16
Watch: Florida defensive lineman ejected for despicably spitting at FSU player
Jamari Lyons crossed a line and was ejected as Florida tried to pull off an upset over No. 5 Florida State.
2023-11-26 10:26
NBA Rookie of the Year ladder: Big rise from Brandon Miller in Week 4
Brandon Miller's 29-point flourish against the Knicks has the Hornets' wing on the rise in this week's NBA Rookie of the Year ladder.
2023-11-26 03:26
Cubs rumors: Ohtani pitch becoming clear, Bo Bichette trade, reliever fix
The Chicago Cubs are expected to target Shohei Ohtani, but what if another trade strengthens their chances? Plus, a potential boost to the bullpen.
2023-11-25 09:25
3 offseason moves the Buffalo Sabres might already regret
Click here to find out why the Buffalo Sabres are already regretting their offseason moves.
2023-11-25 04:27
Ferran Torres reveals differences between Pep Guardiola and Xavi
Barcelona forward Ferran Torres reveals what it's like to play for two of the world's best managers in current head coach Xavi and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
2023-11-24 21:17
3 players the Cubs must include in any Bo Bichette trade
If the Chicago Cubs want to acquire Bo Bichette from the Toronto Blue Jays, they must include at least these three players.
2023-11-24 03:24
5 new teams that should trade for Juan Soto if latest report is correct
With Juan Soto's potential price tag revealed, these five teams should do whatever they can to try and steal Juan Soto away from the New York Yankees.
2023-11-24 02:53