Browsing: bring

Mohsin Naqvi (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board president Mohsin Naqvi has proposed organising an event in Dubai to present the Asia Cup trophy to the Indian men’s cricket team. The event is planned for November 10 following correspondence between the ACC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).”There was a series of letters exchanged with the BCCI, and the ACC has conveyed to them that we are ready to host Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav and his players with BCCI official Rajiv Shukla to take the trophy in a ceremony on November 10 in Dubai,” Naqvi told the media in Karachi.

Inside details of how PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi ran away with the Asia Cup trophy!

The Indian team did not accept the trophy from Naqvi after winning the final against Pakistan on September 28. After nearly an hour of standoff, Naqvi instructed the trophy to be removed from the stadium.The Indian captain Suryakumar later mimicked receiving the trophy with his teammates. The team departed without the actual trophy.The Indian players’ refusal to accept the trophy from Naqvi was linked to his position as Pakistan’s Interior Minister and alleged support for terrorism in India.Indian media reports indicated that the BCCI might address this issue at upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) and ACC meetings. The ICC Board meeting is scheduled in Dubai from November 4-7.”The ACC has written to the BCCI that a ceremony can be held in Dubai on November 10. Bring your captain and players and receive the trophy from me,” said Naqvi.India maintained a perfect record against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, winning all three encounters. The Indian players chose not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts in these matches.Suryakumar received a 30 percent match fee fine from the ICC for dedicating the first match victory to the Pahalgam terror attack victims in Jammu and Kashmir.Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf also faced a 30 percent match fee penalty for displaying political slogans in the second match on September 21. However, opener Sahibzada Farhan was not penalized for his bat-wielding celebration after scoring fifty runs in the same game.

Source link

The Baltimore Ravens have allowed the most points in the league (32.3 PPG) amid a 1-5 start, and that’s a major reason why the two-time defending AFC North champion’s season is on the brink in mid-October.

One league insider provided a potential solution to the problem in a conversation with The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

“Baltimore needs to bring back Dean Pees,” the insider said.

The 76-year-old Pees was the team’s defensive coordinator from 2012-2017 (winning a Super Bowl in 2012) as well as a senior advisor last season.

Pees was hired on Oct. 9, 2024 after a rough start for the defense then, with Baltimore allowing 25.2 points per game over a 3-2 start. Baltimore’s defense fared far better over its final 12 games, giving up 19.2 points per game. The Ravens finished the season 12-5, won the AFC North and reached the Divisional Round.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin gave some credit to Pees for the Ravens’ defensive improvement last year during a Dec. 20 press conference.

“When I look at their more recent tape, I really see the Dean Pees influence in terms of umbrella defense minimizing big plays,” Tomlin said. “And I think the statistics since the last time we played them bear that out. Since the last time we played them, for example, they’re No. 2 in the league in pass defense. You don’t see it in totality, because it’s tracked over the course of the full season, but since the last time we played them, they’re second in the league, and what they’ve done is minimize big plays. And really, that’s quintessential Dean Pees.”

The Ravens’ defense was solid for most of Pees’ six years as DC, finishing top 12 in scoring defense five times with a high of sixth on two occasions.

This year’s team, unfortunately, has simply been devastated by injuries, with players such as Kyle Hamilton (one game), Roquan Smith (two games), Marlon Humphrey (one game) and Chidobe Awuzie (two games) all missing time. In addition, Nnamdi Madubuike is out for the season with a neck injury suffered in Week 2.

However, the Ravens simply haven’t fared well even when most or all of those players were on the field. Last week featured some improvement in a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but this is also a team that’s allowed 37 or more points in four of its six games. The low point was a 44-10 defeat on Oct. 5 against a Houston Texans team that had averaged 16.0 PPG in four weeks leading to that date.

An opposing head coach spoke with Russini about what he’s seeing.

“The Ravens have built their defensive reputation on stopping the run, especially out of their signature split-safety looks,” the coach said. “But this season, that calling card has faded. Baltimore’s struggled to consistently control the ground game, forcing them to commit more bodies to the box and lean on run pressures. They haven’t been able to take anything away, and opposing offenses are staying balanced against them.”

Ultimately, second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr has a tough task at hand to get the Ravens back on track. Perhaps the Ravens do try to call Pees out of retirement one more time to help out, but in the meantime, they have the benefit of a bye week to reassess things and try to figure out solutions.

The Ravens will host the Chicago Bears on Oct. 26 out of the bye week before going on a three-game road trip from Oct. 30-Nov. 16 against the Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns.

Source link

Goaltender Carter Hart is joining the Vegas Golden Knights organization, making his return to the NHL after he was among the five Canadian hockey players found not guilty of sexual assault charges this summer.

The Golden Knights announced Hart’s addition Thursday, noting in a statement that the goalie had been reinstated by the NHL and NHL Players’ Association.

“The Golden Knights are aligned with the process and assessment the NHL and NHLPA made in their decision,” the team said. “We remain committed to the core values that have defined our organization from its inception and expect that our players will continue to meet these standards moving forward.”

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Sources said Hart, 27, is on a paid tryout that is expected to be converted to an NHL contract. If Vegas signs Hart, he will be eligible to begin playing in the NHL on Dec. 1.

Hart was one of five players on Canada’s 2018 under-20 world junior team who was found not guilty of sexual assault charges in July. The trial in London, Ontario, stemmed from an alleged assault that took place after the 2018 Hockey Canada Foundation Gala. The players were criminally charged in 2024.

The players were on trial for assaulting a woman, known as EM, in a hotel room after she agreed to have consensual sex with McLeod. In her ruling after an eight-week trial, Ontario Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia said prosecutors did not meet the onus on any of the counts, and that she did not find EM’s evidence “credible or reliable.”

At the time, Hart was the starting goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers. He took an indefinite leave of absence shortly before the charges were announced, and the Flyers said last month that Hart would not be rejoining the team. Unlike other players involved in the case, Hart chose not to play professionally overseas and instead trained in Nashville.

Sources said Hart will report to Vegas, where he can begin training with the team, according to conditions set by the NHL and NHLPA. He is expected to then go to Henderson, Nevada, and get some game action beginning Nov. 15 with the Golden Knights’ minor league affiliate.

Several teams, including the Carolina Hurricanes, had explored the possibility of signing Hart, sources said.

In March, Vegas signed starting goaltender Adin Hill to a six-year extension. The team also has 25-year-old Akira Schmid under contract for this season.

Hart was a second-round pick by Philadelphia in the 2016 draft. He has played in 227 career NHL games, recording a 2.94 goals-against average and .906 save percentage.

The other four players in the Team Canada case — Dillon Dubé, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Michael McLeod — are not expected to join NHL teams in the immediate future, sources said. The Ottawa Senators hold Formenton’s rights but are not expected to sign him, although other teams have explored trading for his rights. McLeod signed a three-year deal earlier this month to play in Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.

Source link

Solo Sikoa stepped into the ring on the October 10 edition of WWE SmackDown to face an unexpected challenger.

After The Wyatt Sicks retained their WWE Tag Team Championship against The Street Profits, Nikki Cross marched down the ramp alone. She confronted Solo Sikoa in Perth, standing toe-to-toe with the Samoan powerhouse as MFT members looked on from ringside. The silence was thick until Sikoa slipped away, leaving fans buzzing over what this cryptic stare-down could mean for Crown Jewel 2025.

Throughout 2025, Sikoa has rebuilt the Bloodlineâ€s reputation on SmackDown. He added JC Mateo, Talla Tonga, and Tonga Loa to create his own formidable faction. The sudden appearance of Cross, acting on behalf of the absent Uncle Howdy, signaled a new chapter in Sikoa’s ongoing war with Wyatt Sicks.

Nikki Cross was ready to take on Solo Sikoa by herself if she needed to 😭#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/Snd0qkrjMQ

— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) October 10, 2025

The most intriguing twist comes from whispers that Sikoa may turn to a familiar face for reinforcements. Tamina Snuka, daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka, has not wrestled on television since January 2023 but remains under contract with WWE despite her long absence. Fans recall her powerful runs with Natalya as Womenâ€s Tag Team Champion and her early days leading The Usos. Bringing back Tamina would not only shore up Sikoa’s forces but also reunite two generations of wrestling heritage inside the squared circle.

MORE: MFT Member Sends Determined Message Following WWE SmackDown

Solo Sikoa Might Recruit Tamina Snuka in MFT

Tamina Snukaâ€s name carries weight. She debuted in 2010 alongside The Usos and has held the Womenâ€s Tag Team Championship once. Though she hasnâ€t been on an active roster since mid-2024, reports confirm she is still signed to WWE and simply hasnâ€t been booked on recent shows.

A surprise Tamina return at SmackDown would deepen the Bloodline narrative, offering Sikoa a veteran ally against The Wyatt Sicks. Her explosive style and family legacy could tilt the balance in MFTâ€s favor as they look to finally topple their eerie rivals.​

Fans will be watching the upcoming SmackDown episodes closely. If Sikoa does reach out to Tamina, it could mark one of the most memorable reunions in recent WWE memory and set the stage for a blockbuster tag match at Crown Jewel.

Source link

New Pittsburgh Penguins’ defenseman Caleb Jones may have suited up for the Los Angeles Kings’ organization last season prior to becoming an unrestricted free agent. But, oddly enough, he found himself training with some players from a different organization this summer.

And what better guys to train with in the National Hockey League right now than the back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers?

Caleb, 28, is the younger brother of Seth Jones, 31, who was dealt from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Panthers prior to the 2025 trade deadline. It just so happens that Seth arrived at the perfect time, as he was an instrumental part of Florida’s 2025 run and put up four goals, nine points, and a plus-11 rating in 23 playoff games for the Cats.

During that playoff run, Caleb was in town, too, to watch his brother play on the NHL’s biggest stage – and to learn a few pointers from some of the very best the league has to offer.

“It was a great experience for me to see those guys,” Caleb said. “Theyâ€re obviously the champs, and everyoneâ€s trying to chase them right now and see their work ethic and their mindset every day.

“I think thatâ€s why Iâ€ve had a really good camp. I was able to be down there with those guys and learn a lot of good habits, and kind of just put them into myself and bring them here.â€

Of course, that ‘here’ is in Pittsburgh, where he signed a two-year, $1.8 million contract this summer.

Former Penguins’ Defenseman Signs New Deal With Blackhawks
After an offseason of uncertainty, a former Pittsburgh Penguins’ defenseman finally has a home for the 2025-26 season.

Jones was drafted in the fourth round (117th overall) by the Edmonton Oilers – ironically, the team that Florida beat in the Final for the second consecutive season – and spent the first three seasons of his NHL career there. Sure enough, he spent the next two seasons with the Blackhawks, which happened to fall within the same timeline as Seth being with the organization.

Caleb has relished the opportunity to go through the experience of NHL hockey with his brother and best friend, and he especially enjoyed those two years.

“Itâ€s been pretty cool,” Caleb said. “Weâ€ve trained together every summer since I turned about 20. And, obviously, getting the chance to play with him for a couple years in Chicago, that was really special. When youâ€re kinda in the moment, you donâ€t realize – you lose sight of, like, how actually cool that is… and then, once youâ€re done doing it, youâ€re like, ‘Wow, that was an awesome experience.—

But now – after a stint with the Colorado Avalanche in 2023-24 and the one in L.A. last season – he’s found a new home in Pittsburgh, and he’s ready to bring some of those “good habits” to the black and gold. For much of training camp, he has been paired alongside Penguins’ veteran defenseman Kris Letang, and it’s a combination that has stuck, even as the rosters were trimmed down to 23 on Saturday.

Of course, Jones is aware of the strengths in his own game. But he’s making sure to pick the brain of, arguably, the greatest Penguins’ defenseman of all-time.

“Itâ€s been awesome,” Jones said. “Iâ€ve been with him every day so far, and heâ€s obviously done a lot of great things in the league, knows a lot of tricks, and kinda has that veteran savvy to him. So, you kind of just try to take as much information from him as he gives you and, at the same time, just have confidence in yourself… trust yourself and your game and just try to play well with him. Thatâ€s all it is.â€

And Jones is fairly confident in the defining qualities of his game. The 6-foot-1, 184-pound blueliner brings an element of speed to the Penguins’ defensive corps, and he contributes a little bit of everything, bringing a defensive conscience while also aiding in the transition game and chipping in on offense occasionally.

Penguins’ Pre-Season: Surprising Cuts Made, Two Top Prospects Likely To Start In NHL
After a grueling training camp that included a successful 5-1-1 pre-season, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ roster appears to be set for the 2025-26 season.

“Iâ€m playing with a lot of energy, playing with a strong gap, and kind of just using my skating to disrupt plays and move the puck and join the rush,” Jones said. “Getting a chance on the PP, PK… Iâ€ve been in those roles. So, you try to just be solid and try to have the coaches†trust. Iâ€ve gotten good feedback through [camp], so I’m just trying to stay energized and keep my confidence high, and do my thing.â€

Of course, there will be a bit of a battle for playing time on a crowded Penguins’ blue line. It appears the team is opting to carry eight defensemen – one of them being top prospect Harrison Brunicke, who figures to get some runway on the right side along with Erik Karlsson and Letang.

That means right-shot guys like Connor Clifton and Matt Dumba will, likely, be faced with some time on their off-side, potentially leaving little margin for error for the left-side blueliners in Jones, Parker Wotherspoon, and Ryan Shea.

Jones is aware of the competition within team walls, even as he’s felt extremely welcomed by the organization and his teammates. But he is focused on his game, his strengths, and bringing some of those champion habits he pried from Florida – as well as from some of the longstanding veterans in his current locker room – to the rink on a daily basis.

“I’m just trying to keep going day by day,” he said. “And I’ll keep trying to do something a little better every day.â€

Penguins Defensive Prospect Set To Start 2025-26 Season In ECHL
Pittsburgh Penguins defensive prospect Emil Pieniniemi won’t be in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to start the 2025-26 season.

Bookmark THN – Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!

Source link

Now back in AEW after a long absence, Jack Perry is ready to show fans a new side of Jurassic Express.

Perry joined forces with Luchasaurus at All Out earlier this month, reuniting their team that was one of the most popular acts during the early years of AEW. It marked Perry’s return to AEW after having been away from TV since late 2024.

Though he’s back to being more of a babyface, Perry told Vice that he likes when that designation isn’t so black and white. He thinks Jurassic Express will have a darker vibe in this reunion run.

“It was interesting with the Scapegoat thing because I would get a mixed reaction. At certain times, I almost felt like a babyface. My idea was, Iâ€m not the bad guy, Iâ€m really the ultimate good guy here,” Perry said.

“I think itâ€s more interesting when itâ€s not so black and white and I think even if itâ€s leaning more towards the babyface side, I think thereâ€s definitely a darker vibe with both of us than there was before. Itâ€s a story, itâ€s always evolving. We are evolving. The sort of world that we are in is evolving. I think the more we can be open to that the more interesting itâ€ll be and the better it is.â€

Jurassic Express had one reign as AEW Tag Team Champions in 2022, while Perry and Luchasaurus have each held the TNT title individually.

Perry told Vice that a Jurassic Express reunion was always going to happen at some point — and he believes their popular “Tarzan Boy” theme music is here to stay for this run.

On AEW Dynamite’s sixth anniversary episode this Wednesday, Jurassic Express will officially make their return to the show. Opponents for their first match back have not been announced yet.

“In terms of physicality, this is the longest that Iâ€ve gone [without wrestling] in my life since I was like 16 or 17 years old,” Perry said. “Iâ€m sure itâ€s gonna feel absolutely horrible the day after my first match back; thatâ€s just part of the game. But Iâ€m looking forward to it.â€

previous story

Source link

Only this can bring back this released WWE star.

Earlier this week, on the September 23rd episode of NXT, fans saw Fallon Henley and Jacy Jayne cut off their ties with Jazmyn Nyx following an ambush on her. Indirectly kicking her out of the faction, the promotion reportedly wrote her off television.

Soon after, the actual reason behind it emerged. After being offered a shockingly low salary contract offer, Nyx rejected the deal and decided to move on from WWE. Nyx’s contract allegedly runs out in October, making her a free agent in the process.

Recently, during a Q&A session on Snapchat, Nyx was asked if she would return to WWE if a better deal was offered. To which she answered,

100% I would it was a really hard decision for me and I didnâ€t want my experience to end I loved wrestling and had so much fun training and learning for the best.â€

Following this, Nyx also answered a question about her wrestling and in-ring future,

Iâ€m leaving the door open for any other wrestling opportunities that come my way.â€

Details About Jazmyn Nyx’s WWE Exit

Through a recent social media post, Jazmyn Nyx updated her fans about the actual reason behind rejecting her new NXT contract.

“As you know, thereâ€s been things circulating, and I want to just set the record straight that I am not re-signing with WWE. This was a personal decision I had to make for myself and for my future. Personally, the contract that they were offering me for the next three years just wasnâ€t going to cut it for me financially, and thatâ€s okay. I just wanted to give a backstory of everything.

I was playing professional soccer in Iceland, and then I got recruited, obviously, to WWE, which I left everything out there to come here for this opportunity, which Iâ€m very, very grateful for. I was held back a little in the beginning. I had four knee surgeries, so I had to recover and rebuild my knees in order to step in the ring. As some of you know, I broke my nose. Thatâ€s why I was wearing the mask. I had other injuries, concussions that helped me out of TV for a little bit.

Weâ€ll say that there has been a lot of opportunities that Iâ€ve had to turn down and pass up. But now that I am out of the job, I can explore these opportunities more and take them more seriously. Love my Jazmyn Nyx fans. Thank you guys so much for supporting me and having my back for the past three years. Itâ€s been an amazing journey, and I will miss you guys. And yeah, that is it for Jazmyn Nyx. So thank you guys for watching and I love you guys so, so much.â€

In other news: A popular AEW star has been ruled out of action for the rest of 2025.

Source link

Scottie Scheffler went to the 1st tee on Saturday afternoon backed by the theatrics of a prize-fighter making his ringwalk. He crossed the bridge from the practice green to the grandstand alongside Bryson DeChambeau, the thumping bassline and clavinet riff of Sirius by the Alan Parsons Project rattling the aluminum beneath their feet: the same track that once summoned Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls thundered from the speakers, the closest US analogue to the All Blacks’ haka for spine-tingling pregame stagecraft. The scene was set for the world’s best golfer to spark a comeback, to pull the United States back from the edge of humiliation at Bethpage Black.

Instead, it became the overture to a historic dud.

Europe had surged to an 8½–3½ lead after the morning foursomes, becoming the first side in the 98-year history of the competition to sweep the opening three sessions on foreign soil. The mathematics offered a sliver of hope. The psychology offered none. And at the heart of it was Scheffler, presumptive spearhead of an American fightback, becoming an emblem of its futility.

Scottie Scheffler tried to get things going but failed. Photograph: Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

No world No 1 had ever started a Ryder Cup by losing three straight matches. No player in the modern era had begun 0–3 and been sent back out for a fourth try. Scheffler managed both. On Friday, he and Russell Henley had been flattened by Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Åberg, before falling 3&2 with JJ Spaun to Jon Rahm and Sepp Straka. On Saturday morning, paired with Russell Henley, he lost the anchor match to Hovland and Robert MacIntyre after he was left standing on the 18th tee with a chance to salvage a half, only to shove a wedge from 104 yards into ignominy. It was a shot that told the story of his week: the swing unbroken, the outcome betraying him.

It wasn’t that Scheffler completely unravelled. Europe simply played sublime golf, all but devoid of mistakes. But by nightfall Scheffler had become the first American ever to lose in each of the first four sessions of a Ryder Cup, joining only two Europeans – Peter Alliss in 1967 and Peter Townsend in 1971 – in that unwanted company.

There was no respite for Scheffler on Saturday afternoon as the agony piled on. Rising tensions and temperatures on either side of the ropes prompted spectator etiquette warnings that flashed across the grounds, drawing lusty boos from eight-deep galleries packed with mostly American fans. When Justin Rose holed from seven feet to close out a 3&2 win on 16, the broader US defeat was in effect sealed and thousands in red, white and blue made a mass exodus to the gates with two matches still on the course. Europe had not reached the 14-point threshold to retain the trophy formally, but the 11½-4½ scoreline when the dust settled made it clear we wouldn’t need Sunday to determine the winner.

It was a bleak punctuation to what had been two years of near-unbroken supremacy for Scheffler. For much of that span it seemed only the Louisville police could slow his roll. The 29-year-old has won six times this year, with two majors, on top of seven titles and a second Masters crown in 2024. It’s the kind of all-time heater that has drawn straight-faced comparisons to Tiger Woods. But those comparisons cut both ways. Woods never imposed himself on the Ryder Cup, never looked quite the same in the fourball and foursomes crucible. Scheffler is tracing the same line, his authority dissolving the moment he is asked to blend his game with another’s.

And it’s here where the flaws in his own game, papered over by the relentless volume of birdies in stroke-play golf, have been ruthlessly exposed. His ball-striking remains magnificent, the thing that separates him from everyone else. But the putting can be uneven, sometimes merely streaky, sometimes worse. At Bethpage it has looked fragile, a weakness that seeps into the rest of his rhythm, tightening the shoulders, clouding the judgment.

He has tried to present an even keel. “We battled hard out there,†he said after Saturday morning’s loss. But his face told a different story: the blank stare later that afternoon following his approach on the 9th, which struck the flagstick and bounded into the rough; the sag of his shoulders as another par putt slid past the edge. For a player who has made a career of managing his emotions, of walking slowly, speaking softly, never flinching, the Ryder Cup has laid bare a rare unraveling.

That detachment was something he spoke about openly three months ago, on the eve of the Open at Troon (which he went on to win). He expounded thoughtfully for five minutes on how he does not invest his ego in his golf. But after watching the camaraderie, respect and passion of the Europeans’ display this week, it gives rise to questions over whether his mindset is an asset or a liability in a team event.

‘Keegan Bradley [left] had little choice but to keep calling Scottie Scheffler’s number.’ Photograph: David Davies/PA

Nothing in his scintillating form augured the results of the past 48 hours. He has been the best golfer in the world by a distance, at times so far clear in the rankings it invited statistical comparisons with peak Woods. Yet golf is cruelly specific about where it chooses to test you. A Ryder Cup is not a 72-hole marathon, it is five violent sprints. It does not reward the steady accumulation of small advantages and dumbfounding consistency that has become his signature, but demands the nerve to hole a five-footer at the exact moment everything depends on it. That is where Scheffler has been found wanting.

The USA captain, Keegan Bradley, had little choice but to keep calling his number. On paper he was always America’s best chance, the player most likely to conjure something from nothing in a competition where it got late early. And so Scheffler kept marching back to the tee, head down, music blaring, sent out to turn back a tide that had already swept the United States away. In Sunday’s singles, he will go out with Rory McIlroy in a showdown of the world’s top two, even if only one has looked the part this week.

Quick GuideRyder Cup singles pairings and timingsShow

12.02 EDT/17.02 BST Cameron Young v Justin Rose
12.13 EDT/17.13 BST Justin Thomas v Tommy Fleetwood
12.24 EDT/17.24 BST Bryson DeChambeau v Matt Fitzpatrick
12.35 EDT/17.35 BST Scottie Scheffler v Rory McIlroy
12.46 EDT/17.46 BST Patrick Cantlay v Ludvig Ã…berg
12.57 EDT/17.57 BST Xander Schauffele v Jon Rahm
13.08 EDT/18.08 BST JJ Spaun v Sepp Straka
13.19 EDT/18.19 BST Russell Henley v Shane Lowry
13.30 EDT/18.30 BST Ben Griffin v Rasmus Højgaard
13.41 EDT/18.41 BST Collin Morikawa v Tyrrell Hatton
13.52 EDT/18.52 BST Sam Burns v Robert MacIntyre
14.03 EDT/19.03 BST Harris English v Viktor Hovland

Thank you for your feedback.

There will be time to pick apart what this defeat means for the United States as a whole. The inquest will not be quick. For now it is Scheffler who embodies the horror of it, the champion who came in gilded and will leave diminished, the world No 1 who discovered that in the Ryder Cup, numbers don’t count, rankings don’t matter, reputation is immaterial. Only the shots you hit in the moment. And for Scheffler, too many of them have missed the mark.

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics are expecting a smooth ownership transition – and not just because much of the old brain trust is sticking around.

New owner Bill Chisholm says he isnâ€t going to mess with the success of the people who won two NBA championships in their 23 years in charge.

“Letâ€s do whatever we can to win championships and raise banners, and raise as many as we can,†he said in a news conference on Thursday, flanked by former lead owner Wyc Grousbeck, incumbent president Rich Gotham and president of basketball operations Brad Stevens. “I will do whatever it takes, whatever the Boston Celtics need me to do.â€

A Massachusetts native who made his money in private equity, Chisholm leads a group that will pay at least $6.1 billion for the Celtics – at the time, a record price for an American professional sports franchise; the NBA unanimously approved the deal last month. He told reporters on Thursday that the opportunity to buy into his favorite team was too good to pass up.

“The Celtics have brought me joy my entire life,†he said. “I feel like I have something to add here. This was an opportunity that was a dream that came true. For me to have this chance, I would never forgive myself if I didnâ€t go for it.â€

Grousbeck and co-owner Steve Pagliuca led a group that bought the Celtics in 2002 for $360 million and presided over an era in which the Celtics won two NBA titles, lost in the Finals two other times and made the playoffs in 20 of 23 seasons. The teamâ€s most recent title came in 2024, led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Grousbeck said he will continue with the team as the CEO for five years – with no plans to leave after that. His ownership share will dip below the 15% required for him to continue as the teamâ€s designated governor for league matters, though, so he will serve as alternate governor.

“Iâ€m staying in, shoulder-to-shoulder with Bill,†he said. “I want a third ring. And then I want a fourth ring. Iâ€ve got two, itâ€s a nice start.â€

In all, Grousbeck said, more than half of the old ownership group will be sticking around, along with Stevens, Gotham and coach Joe Mazzulla.

But there should be no question who is in charge.

“Thereâ€s a governor, and the governor has the final say, and thatâ€s me,†Chisholm said. “Ultimately, Iâ€m the one responsible.â€

Chisholm said he supported the idea of a WNBA team in Boston.

The Connecticut Sun are for sale, and Pagliuca offered to buy them and move them to Boston. (Pagliuca also made an offer for the Celtics but was outbid by Chisholm.)

But the league nixed the deal, saying cities that had already applied for expansion teams were a higher priority.

“Itâ€s definitely something weâ€re going to look at. And I know the (WNBA) has a process,†Chisholm said. “Weâ€ll do what we can to expedite things. Thereâ€s a process there. But philosophically it makes so much sense.â€

Chisholm also sounded like he wasnâ€t eager to move out of TD Garden, which the Celtics share with the NHLâ€s Boston Bruins, saying “weâ€ve got a great thing going right now.â€

“I really like the Boston Garden, personally. More importantly, the team and the players really like the Boston Garden. And equally important, the fans really like the Boston Garden. So thatâ€s a starting point,†he said. “The second thing is I think the Celtics and the Bruins belong together.â€

Also meeting the media on Thursday was Aditya Mittal, the son of one of Indiaâ€s richest men and the CEO of a ArcelorMittal, the second-largest steel-producing company in the world. He said he first visited Boston in the 1980s and attended a Celtics game at the old Boston Garden.

“It was magical,†he said. “I fell in love with it.â€

Chisholm takes over the team in a bit of a transition just two seasons after its latest title.

Tatum is recovering from surgery to repair the ruptured right Achilles tendon he suffered in Bostonâ€s Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the New York Knicks, dooming the Celtics†hopes of a repeat.

And in order to avoid the second apron penalties of the NBAâ€s salary tax, the Celtics traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis – key parts of the title-winning team – this summer. Grousbeck said those deals would have happened even if the team wasnâ€t sold.

Stevens said the deals werenâ€t about the financial penalties as much as the roster restrictions: If Boston had been over the second apron at the time, it would not have been able to acquire Porzingis, Holiday or Derrick White in the first place.

“You have to give yourself the flexibility and opportunity to jump at the right deals. You donâ€t always know when those are present themselves,†Stevens said. “So the second apron was the key.â€

Chisholm said his message to the basketball operations crew is “Letâ€s go for it, but letâ€s do it in a reasonable way.â€

“The flexibility the Brad talks about, I think thatâ€s paramount to doing that,†he said. “But, ultimately, weâ€re going to do everything we can to win. Itâ€s job No. 1.â€

Source link

Keegan Bradley said he was seeking “fire†from his United States team from the outset of the Ryder Cup after selecting Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas to open the hosts’ attempt to reclaim the trophy in New York. In what is likely to be an emotionally charged opening foursomes clash, DeChambeau and Thomas take on Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton at 12.10pm BST (7.10am ET).

“Besides the fact that he’s a world-class player and one of our best on the team, we wanted to send out a fiery group to lead us out with these fans that have been waiting years to see this tournament,†said Bradley, the US captain, when asked about DeChambeau’s position.

“Bryson just relishes these opportunities. He wants them. He’s one of these guys you hear on a basketball team who wants the ball for the last shot. He’s one of those guys and so is Justin. Let’s not forget, Justin is the heartbeat of our team. They are to go out and be a really tough team to beat.†Bradley raced the length of the 18th hole at Bethpage Black on Friday afternoon, waving a US flag to whip up spectators.

“I’m stoked to be playing with Bryson,†said Thomas. “I think trying to set the tone in that first match is always important. I think all of us were in agreement that Bryson needed to be in that first match, and being his partner, I’m very excited that we get to do that together.â€

In match two of the foursomes the world No 1, Scottie Scheffler, will play alongside Russell Henley for the US. Ludvig Ã…berg and Matt Fitzpatrick will represent Europe. This marked a slightly surprising call by the European captain, Luke Donald, given Ã…berg combined with Viktor Hovland to trounce Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, 9&7, in a 2023 foursomes contest.

Hovland instead has Robert MacIntyre as his partner in match four, with Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay in opposition. In the penultimate game Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood don European colours against Collin Morikawa and Harris English. “I think it’s our strongest eight to go in foursomes,†said Donald. “We have so many options that it’s really quite fun for me as a captain.â€

Bryson DeChambeau revs up the crowd during practice. He has been chosen to lead out the US in the morning foursomes. Photograph: Paul Childs/Reuters

Europe’s captain denied he intended to jab at the US team during his opening ceremony speech on Wednesday. In that, Donald made multiple references to money. A theme of the Ryder Cup buildup has been the payment that will be made directly to the US players for the first time. “It wasn’t directed at the US,†said Donald. “My speech was directed at my players. I wrote that speech six months ago. We have been very consistent where we stand and what we play for. We’re not concerned about what the US are doing.â€

skip past newsletter promotion

The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend’s action

Privacy Notice:Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

after newsletter promotion

The foursomes selections mean Shane Lowry, Sepp Straka, Rasmus Højgaard and Justin Rose will sit out the morning for Europe. JJ Spaun, Sam Burns, Ben Griffin and Cameron Young are the US foursome absentees. All but Burns of that American quartet are Ryder Cup rookies.