SoccerVibes

Blog

  • Lions’ draft pick shows he knows the way to Dan Campbell’s heart 

    Lions’ draft pick shows he knows the way to Dan Campbell’s heart 

     

     

     

    While he dabbles in other genres, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell definitely tilts heavy with his musical taste. More specifically, he’s an unabashed fan of Metallica. He welcomed the band to Detroit when they announced their 2023 tour, and he quoted one of their songs during a speech captured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” in 2022 as a metaphor for the “GRIT” mentality he wants his players to maintain.

     

    “When it comes to the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, it’s just a freight train coming your way, Campbell said. “So if you’re seeing a f****in’ light, it’s a freight train. Just put your head down and go to work. It’s about to be fun men. It’s about to be fun.”

     

    The Lions took Boise State edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein in the sixth round of April’s draft. He has one heck of a back story, rooted in being the first Egyptian-born player ever selected in the NFL Draft. Over his final two seasons in college he posted 33 tackles for loss and 22 sacks, so he should be immediately helpful to a Lions’ defensive line hat sorely needs production from edge rushers not named Aidan Hutchinson.

     

    Ahmed Hassanein again shows he knows the way to Dan Campbell’s heart

    When the Lions called an understandably very emotional Hassanein to tell him they were drafting him, he dropped an all-time quote when he talked to Campbell.

     

    “I would die for you, coach. I just wanted you to believe in me”, Hassanein said. “I just wanted you to believe in me, coach. I would die on that field for you. I promise I would.”

     

    After rookie minicamp and before full-squad OTAs, Hassanein posted a collection of photos on Instagram, captioned with what Campbell said on “Hard Knocks” back in 2022.

     

    Read more: Lions are not (yet) concerned about Alex Anzalone missing offseason work

    “There is no light at the end of the tunnel. There is no light. There’s a song Metallica has, ‘No Leaf Clover,’ and it says man, when it comes to the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, it’s just a freight train coming your way. If you see an expletive light, it’s just a freight train. Just put your HEAD DOWN and go to WORK. It’s about to be fun.”

     

    Hat-tip to Hassanein for censoring Campbell’s use of, as some young folks might say, “the bad f-word” during that speech from training camp in 2022.

     

    Telling his new head coach he’d die on the field for him. Quoting his new coach from nearly three years ago, which included a quote of Metallica lyrics. Hassanein clearly knows the way to Campbell’s heart, and he’s wasting no time getting it done.

     

     

    This article first appeared on Side Lion Report and was syndicated with permission.

     

     

     

    ‘He never once said a word to me’: Packers HC Matt LaFleur breaks silence on…

     

    Cleveland Browns’ New QB Update Will Probably Surprise You

    The general consensus has been that Joe Flacco will ultimately be the Cleveland Browns’ starting quarterback come Week 1 of the 2025 NFL campaign, but apparently, it’s no sure thing.

     

    As a matter of fact, there is a chance it isn’t even probable. Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com has provided an update on the Browns’ quarterback situation, revealing that Flacco is not the frontrunner to open next September under center. “It’s a tough call before we’ve even seen the first practice of organized team activities, but I know Kenny Pickett heads in as the frontrunner to win the starting job at the outset,” Cabot wrote.

     

    “He’ll take the initial first-team reps in OTAs and probably the mandatory minicamp, and it seems like it’s his job to try to keep for now.” This definitely comes as a bit of a surprise considering that Flacco is a seasoned veteran who led Cleveland to the playoffs a couple of years ago, so the prevailing thought was that the 40-year-old would represent a stopgap until one of Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel were ready.

    Evidently, though, Flacco may be competing for a backup role. The Browns signed Flacco in free agency after swinging a trade for Pickett. Cleveland then selected both Gabriel and Sanders in the third and fifth rounds of the NFL Draft, respectively, resulting in a rather crowded quarterback room.

    You have to think that a trade will occur at some point, as it doesn’t seem likely that the Browns will carry four signal-callers into the regular season. But perhaps it’s actually Flacco who has been headed toward being the odd man out all along.

     

    Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic saw his season come to a disappointing end on Sunday, and the only thing the three-time NBA MVP seemed certain about afterward is that he was thirsty. Jokic and the Nuggets were eliminated from the playoffs with a 125-93 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals series between the two teams.

     

    Following the contest, Jokic was asked about his plans for the offseason. He had a very simple response. “We will see, you know? But for now, like the next couple of days, there’s gonna be a lot of beer, probably,” Jokic said. You can bet Jokic will make plenty of time to spend with his horses, too.

     

    Jokic had another MVP-worthy season in 2024-25, though Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the heavy favorite to win the award. Jokic averaged a triple-double during the regular season for the first time in his career with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.2 assists per game.

     

    Though the result was not what Jokic had hoped for, the odds were stacked against the Nuggets after star forward Aaron Gordon had to play through a significant injury on Sunday. The Thunder were also the best team in the NBA during the regular season, and Denver gave OKC as much as it could handle. Jokic and his teammates have earned a beer or two.

     

     

    The WNBA announced on Sunday that the league is investigating whether “hateful fan comments” were made against Angel Reese during Saturday night’s game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever. Reese and Caitlin Clark were involved in another scuffle midway through the third quarter of the Fever’s 93-58 win over the Sky at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

     

    Clark committed a hard foul on Reese by slapping her longtime rival on the arm. Reese took exception to the play and stood up to confront Clark, but the two were quickly separated. Officials reviewed Clark’s foul and upgraded it to a Flagrant 1. The WNBA was later made aware that a fan or fans may have directed inappropriate comments toward Reese after the skirmish.

     

    “The WNBA strongly condemns racism, hate, and discrimination in all forms — they have no place in our league or in society,” the league said in a statement, via ESPN’s Katie Barnes. “We are aware of the allegations and are looking into the matter.” Reese was booed loudly throughout the game, which was expected. She and Clark have a rivalry that dates back to when the two played against one another in college.

     

    While no details about the alleged comments have been revealed, the Fever also issued a statement addressing the situation. “We are aware of the allegations of inappropriate fan conduct during yesterday’s game and we are working closely with the WNBA to complete their investigation,” Pacers Sports Entertainment CEO Mel Raines said in a statement. “We stand firm in our commitment to providing a safe environment for all WNBA players.”

     

    Both Reese and Clark downplayed their latest scuffle after the game, with Clark saying there was “nothing malicious about it.” Reese called the foul a “basketball play.” Clark scored a game-high 20 points and made 4-of-8 three-pointers in the Fever’s win. Reese had a team-high 12 points and 17 rebounds for Chicago.

     

     

     

    Major detail emerges about Brock Purdy’s new contract extension

    The San Francisco 49ers are really hitching their wagon to Brock Purdy, even beyond just their large-scale financial commitment.

     

    Purdy’s new contract extension with the 49ers reportedly comes with a very interesting and noteworthy detail. It contains a full no-trade clause for Purdy, according to a report by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network on Sunday. The news broke earlier this week that the 25-year-old Purdy had secured a five-year, $265 million extension from San Francisco, locking him in through the 2030 NFL season.

     

    Purdy’s contract makes him the fifth-highest paid NFL quarterback by total value and the seventh-highest paid NFL quarterback by average annual value. It also comes with a sizable amount of guaranteed money over the first three seasons in particular.

    Purdy, a 2023 Pro Bowler who led the 49ers to the Super Bowl that season as well, is coming off a relatively down year in 2024. He threw for 3,864 yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions as the 49ers went 6-11 and missed the playoffs. Fans have been largely skeptical up to this point of Purdy’s ability to live up to that enormous extension.

    The fact that San Francisco won’t even be able to trade Purdy away without his consent probably will not help the public perception of the contract either. But there is immense value in having a true franchise quarterback under contract from his age-26 to age-31 seasons. The 49ers clearly believe that the former NFL passer rating leader Purdy will be that guy for them and are giving him a contract commensurate to that belief.

  • ‘If you know, you know’ — Detroit Lions player has a special reason to circle matchup vs. Cincinnati Bengals on 2025 NFL schedule

    ‘If you know, you know’ — Detroit Lions player has a special reason to circle matchup vs. Cincinnati Bengals on 2025 NFL schedule

    Detroit Lions player has a special reason to circle matchup vs. Cincinnati Bengals on 2025 NFL schedule

     

    Cincinnati is a football town with or without the Cincinnati Bengals. A renowned high school football scene has produced great NFL players of the past and present, and Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery can proudly include himself in that company.

     

    Montgomery was a three-star recruit out of Mt. Healthy High School about 11 miles north of downtown Cincinnati. He went on to become a successful college player at Iowa State before being selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. He left Chicago to join the Lions in free agency back in 2023.

     

    In six NFL seasons, Montgomery has played against the Bengals once, and that game took place in Chicago. His second-ever game against his hometown team, however, will be played in the Queen City. And that has him excited.

     

    As part of a video promoting Detroit’s 2025 regular season schedule, Montgomery was asked which of the Lions’ upcoming opponents he’s looking forward to playing the most. The 27-year old proceeded to pick up the Bengals logo attached to a wooden stick.

     

    “If you know, you know,” Montgomery said to the camera. “This one personal.”

     

    Montgomery appears to be locked in on playing against his hometown team in front of his hometown. He hasn’t played an organized game in the 513 area code since 2015, so this game will be 10 years in the making. . .or at least nearly 10 years.

     

    The Bengals host the Lions in Week 5 of the NFL calendar on Oct. 5, exactly nine years, 10 months, and 29 days since Montgomery’s final home game with Mt. Healthy all the way back in 2015. Iowa State didn’t played Cincinnati from 2016-18 when Montgomery was on the team as the two programs weren’t both in the Big 12 just yet, and being drafted to the NFC added more time in the way of Montgomery’s eventual return to Cincy.

     

    This was already going to be a captivating regular season matchup for the Bengals considering how good the Lions have been in the last two years. The extra layer of Montgomery wanting to put on a show for his hometown only adds to to the intrigue, and Cincinnati’s defense best be prepared for it.

     

    This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

     

  • Mark Pope has one rule change he would like to see made in men’s college basketball

    Mark Pope has one rule change he would like to see made in men’s college basketball

     

     

    The rules in men’s college basketball are far from perfect.

     

    The block/charge call, seemingly endless monitor reviews, and late-game fouling issues are just a few of the areas where tweaks could be made to enhance the overall product. The rules we have in place are what make the sport so entertaining and fun to watch, but we’d be lying to ourselves if we said there isn’t a need for improvement.

     

    One potential change that’s recently become a topic of discussion is the movement to switch men’s college basketball from halves to quarters.

    For one, it would bring sport-wide consistency, as MBB is the only visible version of basketball still utilizing halves. But it would also reset team fouls after each quarter, reduce the number of commercials with fewer media timeouts, and eliminate the one-and-one free throws.

     

    Kentucky head coach Mark Pope has already talked several times about wanting to extend the regular season to 40 games. But that’s more of a landscape-changing idea rather than a clean-and-cut rule modification. However, he’s into the idea of swapping out halves for quarters.

     

    “I don’t know if I have a really intelligent answer on that. I do like consolidating it,” Pope recently said on The Sideline with Andy Katz. “(Men’s college basketball is) the only — not even the women — we’re the only remaining basketball entity that has halves.”

     

    But if you ask Pope what rule change he’d like to see the most, his answer might surprise you. It’s one that makes plenty of sense, though.

     

    Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning

     

    By clicking “Subscribe to Newsletter”, I agree to On3’s Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.

     

    “The change that I would really like to make, that I’d be super excited about? I’d like to be able to advance the ball out of timeouts,” Pope said. “

    I know it slows down the game, but it makes the game so much more interesting when, with 2.5 seconds or 1.5 seconds left, if you don’t have to go fullcourt, but you can advance it, you have a chance to get elite-level shots and decision-making.

     

    “It extends the game to where you have two or three or four possessions, where in college you can only really squeeze in one because you can’t advance the ball.”

     

    This is a rule already in place in the NBA and one that is widely loved. As a personal aside, I love the ability to advance the ball in the NBA after timeouts in late-game situations for the exact reasons Pope outlined.

    It creates additional drama and gives teams more opportunities to produce highlight plays and buzzer-beating outcomes. It’s much easier to craft a play with one second on the clock when the ball is at halfcourt compared to underneath the opposite basket.

     

     

  • Sha’Carri Richardson stunned in 100m season opener as fans raise concerns on suspected injury

    Sha’Carri Richardson stunned in 100m season opener as fans raise concerns on suspected injury

     

     

    Sha’Carri Richardson at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest

    In her 2025 season’s debut, Sha’Carri Richardson was handed a shocking loss, causing fans to suspect injury concerns.

    World 100m champion Sha’Carri Richardson was stunned in her season opener at the Seiko Grand Prix in Tokyo, and fans have speculated she’s recovering from a possible injury.

     

    With much expectation on her first race of the season, the American sprint queen looked out of pace after the first 30m and couldn’t gear into her trademark top-end speed to the finish line.

     

     

    Sha’Carri Richardson in her season opener at the Seiko Grand Prix in Tokyo

    Australia’s sensation Bree Rizzo blazed to a famous victory in 11.38s (-0.9), outrunning American Twanisha Terry, who finished second in 11.42s, while Richardson was fourth in 11.47s.

     

    After the race, fans noticed Richardson’s rustiness and a taped calf, suggesting the track star could be recovering from an injury, and she’s just getting back to fitness.

     

    “I don’t think Carri did a lot of strength training this offseason, That’s telling me she was/is dealing with some injury! Not sure about the severity but she didn’t have a lot of power!,”

     

     

    Favour Ofili shatters women’s 150m World Record, joins Tobi Amusan in elite league of history makers on athletics all-time list

    Meanwhile, her boyfriend Christian Coleman’s struggle for a win this season continued after finishing third in a time of 10.11s.

     

    Japan’s Hiroki Yanagita was the surprise winner in 10.06s, slightly ahead of 19-year-old Christian Miller in 10.08s.

     

    With the Seiko Grand Prix done and dusted, Richardson and Coleman will aim to improve all the necessary difficulties in training and return to their best form, with full focus on the World Championships in Tokyo this summer.

  •  Women’s 1500m Final – Big Ten Outdoor Championships 2025

     Women’s 1500m Final – Big Ten Outdoor Championships 2025

    The 2025 Big Ten Outdoor Championships Women’s 1500m Final, held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, on May 18, 2025, was a showcase of strategic racing and athletic prowess. The event featured top middle-distance runners from the Big Ten Conference, each vying for the coveted title.

    The race commenced with a conservative pace, as athletes jostled for optimal positioning. The initial laps saw a tightly packed group, with no clear leader emerging. This tactical approach kept the audience on edge, anticipating a dramatic finish.

    As the bell signaled the final lap, the intensity escalated. Runners began to make their moves, shifting gears in preparation for the decisive stretch. The final 400 meters transformed the race into a thrilling sprint, with athletes pushing their limits.

    In the concluding 100 meters, the competition reached its zenith. The leading contenders unleashed their finishing kicks, drawing on every ounce of energy. The crowd’s roar crescendoed as the athletes approached the finish line, culminating in a photo finish that underscored the race’s competitiveness.

    The Women’s 1500m Final at the 2025 Big Ten Outdoor Championships exemplified the spirit of collegiate athletics—combining strategy, endurance, and sheer willpower. The athletes’ performances not only highlighted their individual talents but also contributed to their respective teams’ overall standings in the championship.

     

  • Akani Simbine Runs a 9.86 in the Men’s 100m at 2025 adidas Atlanta City Games

    Akani Simbine Runs a 9.86 in the Men’s 100m at 2025 adidas Atlanta City Games

     

    South African sprint star Akani Simbine delivered a powerful performance at the 2025 adidas Atlanta City Games, clocking an impressive 9.86 seconds to win the men’s 100m. The event, held in the heart of downtown Atlanta, drew top global sprinters and thousands of enthusiastic fans, but it was Simbine who stole the show with his fastest time since 2021.

    Simbine, known for his explosive starts and consistency in the sub-10 range, looked sharp from the blocks and never let up. The 30-year-old surged ahead of a stacked field that included American sprinters Fred Kerley and Trayvon Bromell, as well as Jamaican talent Oblique Seville. Despite the high-caliber competition, Simbine maintained his composure and held off a late push from Kerley, who finished second in 9.92 seconds.

    The time of 9.86 places Simbine among the top performances of the 2025 season and signals a strong return to form as he eyes the upcoming World Athletics Championships. It also ties his personal best, which he first set in July 2021 in Hungary. More importantly, the performance reaffirms Simbine’s status as one of the world’s elite sprinters, capable of challenging for medals on the global stage.

    “It feels amazing to run 9.86 again,” Simbine said after the race. “I’ve been training hard with my team, focusing on the small details, and today it all came together. Atlanta has great energy, and I really fed off the crowd.”

    The adidas Atlanta City Games is part of the growing trend of street athletics meets, where temporary tracks are installed in city centers to bring track and field closer to fans. The vibrant setting, lined with spectators, created an electric atmosphere that seemed to elevate the athletes’ performances. Simbine’s run was undoubtedly the highlight of the day and was met with roaring applause as he crossed the finish line.

    Track analysts were quick to praise the run, noting his flawless technique and controlled acceleration phase. “Simbine was near-perfect today,” said former Olympic champion and commentator Michael Johnson. “He’s always been a technician, and when he’s in this kind of form, he’s a real threat.”

    The victory gives Simbine a confidence boost heading into the rest of the outdoor season. With the World Championships in Tokyo just a few months away, he is peaking at the right time. South African fans will be hopeful that he can finally secure a major global medal, something that has narrowly eluded him in past championships, where he has finished just outside the podium on several occasions.

    For now, Simbine’s focus remains on maintaining his fitness and sharpening his performance. But if Atlanta was any indication, he’s firmly back in the conversation among the world’s best. With a blistering 9.86 on the books, 2025 might just be the year that Akani Simbine achieves the global glory he’s long been chasing.

     

  • Upset Victory for Rizzo in the Women’s 100m | Continental Tour Gold 2025

    Upset Victory for Rizzo in the Women’s 100m | Continental Tour Gold 2025

     

     

     

    In a stunning upset at the Continental Tour Gold 2025 in Nairobi, Italy’s Martina Rizzo blazed to victory in the women’s 100m, defeating a stacked field of favorites and firmly placing herself on the global sprinting map. The 22-year-old sprinter clocked a personal best of 10.91 seconds, edging out pre-race favorite and reigning world bronze medalist Asha Thompson of Jamaica, who finished second in 10.94 seconds.

     

    Rizzo’s victory was unexpected not just because of her relatively low international profile, but also due to the caliber of competition. The women’s 100m lineup included seasoned stars from the U.S., Jamaica, and Nigeria — all ranked in the top 10 globally. However, Rizzo showed no signs of intimidation, executing a flawless start and maintaining a strong drive phase through the line.

     

    “I came here with nothing to lose,” Rizzo said in the post-race interview. “I’ve been training hard all winter, and I knew I had a good race in me — I just didn’t know it would be today.”

     

    Her triumph electrified the Kenyan crowd at the Kasarani Stadium, who cheered as the Italian raised her arms in disbelief after crossing the line. This win marks Rizzo’s first major international title and shaves nearly a tenth of a second off her previous personal best of 11.00, set earlier this season in Rome.

     

    Asha Thompson, who had been unbeaten in 2025 until this race, was gracious in defeat. “Martina ran a great race. It caught me off guard, but that’s what happens in sprinting. It only takes one perfect race to change everything.”

     

    Third place went to Blessing Okon of Nigeria, who also dipped under the 11-second mark with a season-best 10.98. The result pushes all three medalists into strong contention for the upcoming World Championships, with Rizzo now viewed as a serious contender in Paris later this summer.

     

    The women’s 100m at the Continental Tour Gold event has often been a preview of breakout stars, and Rizzo’s win continues that trend. With confidence and momentum on her side, she’ll now face the challenge of consistency — and the pressure that comes with being the one to beat.

     

    But for now, Martina Rizzo is savoring the moment: the upset victory that made her a household name overnight.

     

     

     

     

  • Lions being forced to face the music in preseason against 2 rookie pass rushers

    Lions being forced to face the music in preseason against 2 rookie pass rushers

     

     

    The Detroit Lions’ big swing move in the 2025 NFL draft was to trade up for wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa out of Arkansas, a questionable move considering the rookie hadn’t been very targeted with the Razorbacks in 2024 nor had he been on many teams’ radars headed into the 2025 draft.

     

    But, he’s here. He’ll be likely utilized as a blocker on most plays, and likely as a trickster playmaker in Dan Campbell’s universe of trick play calls. He’s big, athletic, and has solid hands, so he should carve a role in the Lions’ offense if he works at it. It’ll make the trade up far more digestible if he does.

     

    However, the Lions were outshined in terms of trade ups during the draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Not only did they take linebacker Jalon Walker at 15th overall in the 1st round, but they traded back up to snag James Pearce Jr. off the board at 26th overall. All of a sudden, Atlanta has a scarily young and athletic pass rush.

     

    It’s the type of draft that Lions fans could’ve only dreamed of seeing from Detroit, especially since they really could have used Pearce, for example, to pair up alongside Aidan Hutchinson in their pass rush. Alas, the Falcons decided to get greedy, and now the Lions get to bear the brunt of that immediately in the preseason.

     

    Atlanta squaring off with Detroit in preseason bout

    The Falcons will be hosting the Lions on August 8th at 7 p.m. EST, where both teams are likely to trot out their respective rookies. Ahmed Hassanein, who the Lions selected in the 6th round of the draft, will probably get some burn at pass rush and will compete with Pearce and Walker for bragging rights in this contest.

     

     

    Both Walker and Pearce would have been the ideal pass rushers to add to the Lions’ defense, but both were always going to be a bit out of reach for Detroit in the draft. Atlanta had to give up a haul just to nab Pearce – a first rounder in 2026 to the Los Angeles Rams in addition to a 2nd round and 7th round pick in 2025.

     

    That was always going to be too rich for Lions GM Brad Holmes’ blood. But, it’ll be just a tad bittersweet to see what could’ve been with Pearce, at least, with Detroit. Hopefully, Hassanein can prove us all wrong and show out in preseason and the regular season.

     

     

    This article first appeared on Side Lion Report and was syndicated with permission.

     

     

     

    Steelers learn more about Aaron Rodgers’ personal issues amid NFL uncertaint

    Former Packers kicker signs with 49ers

    Earlier this offseason, the Green Bay Packers accomplished one of their primary goals by locking in a reliable kicker for the foreseeable future. Brandon McManus, signed midseason after Brayden Narveson struggled through the first seven weeks, inked a three-year, $15.3 million contract to stay with the Packers.

     

    In 2024, McManus made 20-of-21 field-goal attempts, his 95.2% percentage ranking second in franchise history for a single season. At the time of his addition, Narveson had the worst field goal percentage in the NFL among qualified kickers with 70.6%. Packers started 2024 offseason with Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph competing for starting job Of course, neither McManus nor Narveson was part of Green Bay’s roster when the 2024 offseason began.

     

    Anders Carlson was drafted in 2023 to replace franchise-leading scorer Mason Crosby. The expectation was that he would continue the reliable kicking standard that Crosby had set during his 16 seasons with the Packers. But he did not. As a rookie, Carlson made 81.8% of his field goals and a woeful 87.2% of his extra points.

     

    Due to his struggles, Green Bay signed veteran kicker Greg Joseph to compete with Carlson for the starting job in 2024. Unfortunately, both were underwhelming in training camp and the preseason, leading the Packers to release them and sign Narverson. Former Packers kicker Greg Joseph hopes to find home with 49ers After being released by the Packers, Joseph, who has a career field goal percentage of 82.3% and has made more game-winning field goals than anyone in NFL history, bounced around the NFL.

     

    He beat out Carlson for a spot on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad, but was soon claimed by the New York Giants, with whom he played six games. However, the Giants only used him as a placeholder and eventually released him. Joseph also appeared in a game apiece for the Washington Commanders and New York Jets in 2024.

     

    He finished the season with an 80% field goal percentage and made all his extra points. Earlier on Friday, it was reported that he is joining the San Francisco 49ers, hoping that he will win their starting job: Joseph will be competing against Jake Moody, whom the 49ers inexplicably drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

    Last season, Moody played 14 games while dealing with some injuries and made just 70.6% of his field goals. If Joseph has a good training camp, he could easily displace Moody in San Francisco.

     

    Chicago Sky receiving shame for Angel Reese Player of the Game post after 93-58 loss

     

    Dallas Stars Owner Makes Touching Gesture to Mark Scheifele After His Father’s…

    Mark Scheifele has been through a very tough last 48 hours, and now the Dallas Stars owner has made a very touching gesture towards the Winnipeg Jets star. The Winnipeg Jets lost in Game 6 against the Dallas Stars, but the bigger overall story of this whole series was the tragic passing of Brad Scheifele, Mark’s father just hours before Game 6 in Dallas.

    There have been some incredible tributes given to Schefiele and his family, as he shown amazing courage and strength to get through the game, scoring the only goal in the Jets 2-1 overtime defeat. Stars fans have taken to donating $55 for 55 to Scheifele’s charities following the news breaking, and now, it’s been revealed that the Dallas Stars owner himself has made a very touching gesture towards the veteran forward.

    It has been revealed that Tom Gaglardi has flown Scheifele home to Kitchener in Ontario on his private plane after Game 6, allowing Scheifele to get home and be with his family following the tragic weekend that he’s been through. If this is true, it would be an amazing gesture from Gaglardi to Scheifele, and although it’s not much of a financial burden, it’s a very small move that has allowed the veteran to get home to his family much quicker and in much more comfort.

    Once again, this is just another example of how this is all much bigger than hockey, as the players and people involved in the sport are much more important than what happens on the ice, so this is a great way to show love towards Scheifele after a brutal series between the two teams.

     

    Utah Jazz Could Have Opportunity to Trade for Warriors Rising Star

     

    Browns veteran has message for NFL over disrespectful move

    The NFL has determined that the Cleveland Browns are a team most fans will not have interest in watching during the 2025 season, and veteran defensive tackle Shelby Harris recently delivered a message to the league about that. The Browns do not have a single prime-time game on their schedule heading into the upcoming season.

    They have an international game against the Minnesota Vikings in London in Week 5, and there is always a chance one of their games could be flexed into prime time. For now, it appears as though the NFL is not expecting much improvement from a Browns team that went 3-14 last season.

     

    Harris was asked about that during an appearance on the “Honor the Land” podcast after the full NFL schedule was released on Wednesday. The 33-year-old insisted he is not letting it bother him. “I’ll say it like this, you know, they can count us out all they want to,” Harris said, via Bobby Cownack of NFL.com.

    “It’s up to us to go into the season and start whooping people’s a–es. I get it. Last year wasn’t the season that we expected, and now this year they’re going to say we didn’t get prime time because of all of the quarterback controversy. Who cares? Screw ’em.”

    Deshaun Watson is expected to miss the entire 2025 season after he suffered a setback during his recovery from a torn Achilles. That has left the Browns with an open competition at quarterback between Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. While the Sanders storyline is an intriguing one, there is as much uncertainty as ever surrounding the Browns.

    The NFL obviously does not want to gamble on giving Kevin Stefanski’s team a prime-time slot given how things went last season and the lack of clarity at the most important position on the field. If the Browns are competitive this season, most people would be surprised. Harris and his teammates would be wise to use that skepticism as motivation.

     

    Jimmy Butler makes his feelings on Warriors very clear

     

    Caitlin Clark took shot at Angel Reese while explaining hard foul

    Caitlin Clark seemingly took a shot at Angel Reese in explaining her hard foul that sparked an incident during Saturday’s WNBA opener. Clark was assessed a flagrant for a hard foul against Reese during Saturday’s game between the Chicago Sky and Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, In. Reese reacted badly to the foul and tried to confront Clark after as the Indiana guard was walking away.

    ESPN’s Holly Rowe asked Clark about the foul during a postgame interview, and Clark responded by essentially questioning why Reese was so upset over it. “It’s just a good take foul,” Clark said. “Either Angel gets a wide-open two points, or we send them to the free-throw line. Nothing malicious about it. It’s just a good take foul. Every basketball player knows that.”

     

    To many, the last portion of Clark’s comment was a shot at Reese’s reaction to the foul. Of course, the Sky were losing at the time, so it is entirely plausible that there was much more than just the foul that went into Reese’s response. After all, she and Clark have plenty of personal history. Reese, for her part, was not eager to escalate the situation in her own postgame remarks about the foul.

    The personal rivalry between Clark and Reese will only continue to draw more attention as long as incidents like this keep happening. Clark got the better of Reese on Sunday, scoring 20 points and notching a triple-double in a blowout 93-58 victory.

  • British sprinter who ran faster than Usain Bolt aged 14 now lives a much different life 12 years on

    British sprinter who ran faster than Usain Bolt aged 14 now lives a much different life 12 years on

     

    Usain Bolt might be the undisputed fastest person in human history but British sprinter Ryan Gorman does have one claim to have been even faster.

     

    Bolt isn’t as fast as a cheetah. When he was 14, he also wasn’t as fast as Gorman at the same age.

     

    In 2013, 14-year-old Gorman ran a time of 21.76 seconds in the 200 metres event at the England Under-17 Indoor Championships.

     

     

     

    That’s five hundredths faster than the Jamaican sprint icon’s personal best at 14, not that Gorman or the people around him knew at the time.

     

    Speaking exclusively to SPORTbible, Gorman explained: “A lot of people, a lot of coaches, they said, ‘That’s quick’. I didn’t realise, I was oblivious as to how quick it was.

     

    “It must have been about two or three days afterwards, as a lot of people did take quite a lot of interest when I ran it. Someone got in touch to say, ‘We’ve done a bit of research and it’s actually faster than Usain Bolt.’”

     

    Buoyed and confident, Gorman kept getting faster as he progressed through the junior ranks and into senior athletics.

     

    “In 2016, I was running consistently under 21 seconds,” said the Englishman. “I knew I had qualification for the world juniors, which went brilliant. But unfortunately I came down with quite a bad sickness between the heats and the semi-final, so I didn’t run particularly great in the semi-final.

     

     

     

    “I was quite level-headed in my training. I ate well, my training was consistent, so I trusted in that whole process to get me to where I’d like to be.”

     

    Gorman’s development was first paused and then halted by back-to-back hamstring injuries. He admitted it was a crushing blow.

     

    “I just couldn’t get past my injury, mentally. Physically, I was absolutely fine. I could run a race. But I could feel my hamstring was going to go. And I still can’t get past that fear of tearing it again,” he recalled.

     

    Ryan Gorman (left) leaves the starting blocks in a 60m race at the 2020 Spar British Athletics Indoor Championships

    Ryan Gorman (left) leaves the starting blocks in a 60m race at the 2020 Spar British Athletics Indoor Championships

     

    In 2022, after plugging away in hopes of a full recovery, Gorman reluctantly called it a day.

     

    “Now, I don’t really compete in any sport, or train for a sport as such. That fear just kind of takes over a bit. For me now, it’s just about focusing on gym, going strong over that and hopefully mentally preparing myself for If I do want to go into a sport,” he told SPORTbible.

     

    At 25, Gorman is using his experience to help other athletes to deal with the physical and mental impact of injuries and rehabilitation.

     

    “I’ve got 10 years of experience, cardio, skeletal. And I’ve got a degree in sports therapy, so I combine all of that together,” he added.

     

     

     

    “I’ve also got the mental experience as well. I’ve got my own personal experiences. I can relate to people – I can say, ‘I’ve had that injury, I know what to do, I know how it works for me, or how to speak to somebody about an injury.’

     

    “To me, the injury physically is easy to repair. But mentally, it’s really difficult. And I, for one, know how difficult it can be, I know that’s my downfall and it’s difficult for me to get past it. But I know how others might feel about it.”

     

     

  • Kentucky Has a National Championship Level Backcourt | Zoom Action

    Kentucky Has a National Championship Level Backcourt | Zoom Action

     

     

    The University of Kentucky has long been synonymous with elite basketball, producing NBA talent and competing for national titles year in and year out. But this season, the Wildcats may possess something truly special: a backcourt that can take them all the way to a national championship. Under the guidance of head coach John Calipari, Kentucky has assembled a guard group that combines speed, skill, and basketball IQ at an elite level — and it’s drawing national attention.

     

    At the heart of this high-powered backcourt is a mix of veteran leadership and dynamic young talent. The floor general, DJ Wagner, brings pedigree and poise. As a third-generation basketball standout, Wagner has shown that he can control the game’s tempo, make the right reads, and score at all three levels. Alongside him is Rob Dillingham, whose electric handle and scoring flair can break down any defense. Together, they form one of the most exciting and unpredictable backcourt duos in the country.

     

    What separates Kentucky’s guards from the rest isn’t just their individual talent, but how they complement each other. Wagner’s steadiness and vision allow Dillingham to freelance and create chaos in transition. Add in Reed Sheppard, a high-IQ combo guard with a knockdown jumper and a relentless motor, and you have a three-headed monster that can play at any pace, guard multiple positions, and shoot the lights out from deep.

     

    One of the keys to Kentucky’s title hopes lies in their ability to execute in the half-court while turning defense into offense. This group thrives in both areas. They apply pressure on the perimeter, forcing turnovers and igniting fast breaks. In the half-court, their spacing, ball movement, and shot-making ability stretch defenses to the breaking point. With Sheppard shooting over 40% from beyond the arc and Dillingham able to score in isolation, opposing teams often have to pick their poison.

     

    Perhaps most importantly, these guards embrace the moment. In tight games, they’ve shown the confidence to take and make big shots. They’re not just stat stuffers — they’re competitors with a championship mindset. Their chemistry is evident on and off the court, and it’s clear they trust each other in crunch time.

     

    Of course, a great backcourt alone doesn’t guarantee a title. But history shows that in March Madness, guards win games — and Kentucky has the type of backcourt that can survive and thrive in the chaos of the NCAA Tournament. With a mix of shot creation, defensive toughness, and fearless leadership, this group has the tools to lead a deep tournament run.

     

    If Kentucky stays healthy and continues to evolve, fans in Lexington and beyond may witness something special. This backcourt isn’t just good — it’s championship caliber. And come March, they might just be the difference between another solid season and cutting down the nets.