Browsing: Dont

Despite solid play on his rookie deal, Tari Eason did not get a rookie extension from the Houston Rockets.

Per ESPN’s Shams Charania, Eason and the Rockets “could not bridge gaps on multiple fronts” before Monday’s deadline, and he’ll now be a restricted free agent after the 2025-26 campaign.

Eason, the 17th overall pick out of LSU in 2022, had a solid start to his NBA career, putting up 9.3 points and six boards off the bench as a rookie. His progress was delayed in his second campaign as he was limited to just 22 games because of issues surrounding a stress reaction in his left leg.

After the injury-marred season, Eason had a career year in 2024-25, posting 12 points and 6.4 rebounds while playing around 25 minutes per game off the bench. He also showed flashes of his defensive potential as he averaged 1.7 steals and nearly a block per game.

Eason had some injury issues in his third campaign, missing 25 games because of various ailments, but it was clearly a year of progress.

Though he didn’t get a rookie extension, the Rockets seem prepared to keep Eason around in restricted free agency. The Athletic’s Kelly Iko reported in June that Houston was “comfortable matching any offer that would come” for Eason.

The Rockets also showed their affinity for Eason when they refused to include him in their trade for Kevin Durant. While Eason’s role might decrease a bit with the addition of Durant, he’ll likely still be a key piece in the rotation.

With 2025-26 now officially a contract year for Eason, he’ll look to make the most of the season as he tries to earn a lucrative deal next offseason.

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Ray Parlour’s 13-year stint at Arsenal saw him rack up more than 450 appearances and score 32 goals as the ‘Romford Pele’ proved he was more than just a cult favourite in north London.

His everyman quality would serve him well with the fans, but as his career progressed, so did his leadership abilities as he became one of Arsene Wenger’s unsung heroes.

Parlour would hoist up nine major trophies with the Gunners – but which games meant the most to him?

“My professional debut. At that stage, you’re used to playing reserve games in front of 150 people, then you’re suddenly given your big chance. I made my debut at Anfield – such an iconic ground. You don’t get much more daunting than one of the best stadiums in the world. A few days before, George Graham told me I’d get my chance and, honestly, I just tried not to think about it too much, because I wouldn’t have slept with all the nerves and excitement.

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Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton will eventually recover from the torn Achilles he suffered in the 2025 NBA Finals. The significance of the injury is something he may never forget.

“I think the grief for me is Game 7,” Haliburton told Sports Illustrated‘s Chris Mannix. “That was what I grieved more than anything, that game, that moment, and really that series. It was really hard for me after to not think about Game 2, Game 4, Game 5. Because if something would’ve changed in that game for us to win, I would’ve never been in that situation. You know what I mean? You can’t play that game necessarily because you will drive yourself crazy, you’ll never know, but I think that’s what I really dealt with early.

“And I think even when I got hurt, when I was overcome with emotion, it was more about that game and the championship. Because I know, I have the utmost faith that I’m going to come back and be better and be able to get right back and do the same things I was doing before the injury. I have no doubt about that. I think a lot of the grief for me was the series itself, the championship, because it felt like it was right there.”

Haliburton added that “I’ll never be fully over it and just be able to move on.”

The Pacers may have come up short even if the two-time All-Star never goes down. The Oklahoma City Thunder were the stronger team in the regular season, and they won three of the last four games in the Finals. Would you have bet against them in a winner-take-all Game 7 at home?

Also, it’s not as simple as assuming the Finals end differently if Indiana takes Games 2, 4 or 5, since that may have invited a different response from OKC than what we saw.

Haliburton’s general lament is understandable. There’s no telling when or if he and the Pacers can put together a run like they did in the 2025 playoffs. They got red hot at the right time, and their best player was money in clutch situations time and again.

Making the 2007 Finals wasn’t a springboard for the Cleveland Cavaliers during LeBron James’ first stint there. Two years later, the Orlando Magic made the Finals and haven’t since returned to those heights. Spurred on by their runner-up finish in 2021, the Phoenix Suns saw their all-in experiment blow up spectacularly in their faces.

You don’t want to get too morose, but some stars only get one crack at the Finals.

Haliburton, 25, still as a lot of career left ahead, and you hope the stars will align again to put him in contention for a championship.

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Liverpool striker Alexander Isak was the story of the summer as he managed to force through a move from Newcastle United on deadline day.

With the move involving the Swede effectively going on strike ahead of the new campaign before getting his Anfield switch, he understandably has few fans left in the north east.

Those aggrieved Magpies may, therefore, take an element of pleasure in Isak’s most recent setback.

Isak is joined by Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres in a star-studded Sweden attack, but that was not enough to overcome the tiny state of Kosovo, ranked 91st in the world by FIFA, in their most recent World Cup qualifier.

As quoted by Fotbollskanalen, Isak said: “It’s awful. Embarrassing. Disappointing, yet again. Everything is too bad. We’re playing too badly. The way we’re playing doesn’t work.

“We’re doing it too badly individually too. It’s a combination of everything. It’s sad that we’re in this situation. It’s a bit of a crisis situation. That’s clear.”

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The 1-0 loss leaves them at the bottom of Group B with just a single point to their name. Switzerland and Kosovo has raced into the lead with 10 and seven points respectively, leaving Sweden’s World Cup hopes in the balance.

“I don’t know what we’re going to do. But it’s all too bad,” Isak admitted. “There has been a negative development since the World Cup qualifiers started, there hasn’t been any progress. It’s bitter.”

Sweden should certainly be doing better, in FourFourTwo’s opinion, that much is clear.

Isak still awaits his first Premier League goal with Liverpool; the Reds will hope his difficult experience with Sweden has fired him up (Image credit: Getty Images)

With Isak and Gyokeres at your disposal, along with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur’s Lucas Bergvall, Aston Villa’s Victor Lindelof, and well-respected Stoke City goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, there should be enough quality to beat the likes of Kosovo.

Isak is valued at €120m, according to Transfermarkt.Liverpool next face Manchester United when Premier League action returns this weekend.

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New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge discussed the team’s 2025 season after getting eliminated by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS.

“It’s what you play for, you play to win,” Judge told reporters (1:04 mark). “When you don’t win, it’s not a good year. Just gotta put in more work, review the season, see what I can keep doing to try to help this team and put them in the best position to win every single night.”

While the Yankees’ postseason run came to an end with a 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays in Game 4 on Wednesday night, Judge already had his sights set on improving in 2026.

“I want to get back out there right now,” Judge said (4:40 mark). “I wish Spring Training was in a couple of weeks and we could get this rolling.”

Although New York wasn’t able to capture its second consecutive AL pennant this year, Judge still put together another stellar season at the plate.

He led the majors with a .331 batting average, racking up 53 home runs and 30 doubles to go along with 114 RBI in 152 games. Judge also led all MLB players with a 1.144 OPS.

The seven-time All-Star followed it up by slashing .500/.581/.692 during the postseason, hitting a three-run home run that helped the Yankees climb back from a 6-1 deficit and keep their season alive in Game 3 against Toronto.

Still, Judge wasn’t satisfied with the season as a whole following New York’s latest postseason exit.

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University of Colorado head coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders offered some fatherly advice to his son, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, before undergoing surgery to alleviate blood clots this week.

In a video posted on Well Off Media’s YouTube account (beginning at the 16:35 mark), Deion strikes up a FaceTime conversation with Shedeur while in his hospital bed, awaiting surgery:

Deion stressed the importance of making the safe, smart play, saying, “Checkdown, checkdown, checkdown. Don’t be scared of that checkdown. Everybody else using it.”

Shedeur played four collegiate seasons under Deion with the first two being at FCS Jackson State and the final two being at Colorado.

Collectively, Shedeur posted a 36-14 record as the starter at the two schools, and in his final college campaign at Colorado, he completed 74.0 percent of his passes for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions en route to being named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.

Sanders was widely expected to be one of the first quarterbacks off the board and a likely first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, but he experienced one of the most shocking falls in recent memory, dropping all the way to the Browns at No. 144 overall in the fifth round.

At the start of training camp, Sanders was one of four quarterbacks battling for a roster spot in Cleveland, but through attrition, he is now up to No. 2 on the depth chart.

The Browns traded Kenny Pickett to the Las Vegas Raiders before the season started, and on Tuesday, Cleveland traded Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel took over as the Browns’ starting quarterback last week, and with Flacco out of the picture, Sanders has moved into the backup role by default.

It is unclear if or when Sanders will get a chance to see some game action this season, but he is now one injury or a couple of poor Gabriel performances away from getting on the field.

If and when that happens, Shedeur would perhaps be wise to take his Hall of Fame father’s advice on taking what the defense gives him.

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India are currently leading 11-0 in WODIs against Pakistan (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra took a sharp swipe at Pakistan while doing commentary, highlighting India Womenâ€s dominance in the limited-overs format. “Here, you donâ€t need evidence to prove whether you win or lose, the proof is visible to everyone. And that proof is, India leads 11-0,†Chopra said, referencing India Womenâ€s unbroken record against Pakistan in ODIs.His remark comes amid several disputed claims from Pakistan in the wake of heightened political tensions. Backing the team, India menâ€s captain Suryakumar Yadav also dismissed any notions of a rivalry between the womenâ€s sides, expressing confidence in India extending their winning streak and making the record 12-0. “Iâ€ll again say rivalry is when the competition is neck to neck. 11-0 is not a rivalry. If our women’s team focuses on playing good cricket, it will be 12-0,†he said.Watch Aakash Chopra’s moment on the mic here On the field, India Women maintained control as Pakistan found it difficult to chase a modest target. At the end of 36 overs, Pakistan were 130 for five in their 50-over innings, needing 118 runs from 84 balls to reach Indiaâ€s total. Muneeba Ali was the first wicket to fall, departing for 21, while Sadaf Shamas (6) and Aliya Riaz (28) also fell cheaply. Sidra Amin, however, was steady with 66 runs off 49 balls, striking at 170.21, while Natalia Pervaiz contributed 33. Fatima Sana, the Pakistan captain, could only manage 21 before being caught by Smriti Mandhana off Deepti Sharma. Sidra Nawaz remained unbeaten on 11. Indiaâ€s bowlers were clinical, with Kranti Gaud taking three wickets for 12 overs and Deepti Sharma claiming two, keeping Pakistan under pressure throughout.

Poll

Do you think India’s women’s cricket team will maintain their winning streak against Pakistan?

Eventually, India secured an 88-run victory, ensuring that they not only extend Indiaâ€s dominance over Pakistan to 12 consecutive ODI victories but also reinforced the growing gap between the two sides in the womenâ€s game. The victory in Colombo also saw India rise to the top of the standings over Australia, with four points from 2 games.

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Just prior to the onset of training camp, Pittsburgh Penguins’ general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas took to the podium and made a declaration of sorts.

And, truthfully, the words shouldn’t have come as a shock to anyone who pays attention to the current situation with the team.

“The message to the veteran guys is that, with where we’re at, the young guys are coming. They’re going to get opportunity, they’re going to have to earn everything… but it’s been very clear to them what the expectation is,” Dubas said. “And it’s up to them to hold onto their jobs and hold onto their spots and their places with the Penguins and in the NHL.”

He also said this: “If [the young guys] continue to push all the way – and it’s very clear that they should be on the team – they’ll make the team, and we’ll deal with whatever the ripple effects of those are on some of the more veteran guys.”

If that wasn’t a clear message that youth would truly be pushing for the NHL roster this time around, I don’t know what is. This pre-season has not been akin to pre-seasons past, as there is legitimate talent at every position making strong cases to be included on the NHL roster for the opener against the New York Rangers on Oct. 7.

So who has made that strong case for themselves? Last season, the list had two names on it in forward Rutger McGroarty and defenseman Harrison Brunicke – only one of whom made the roster. This season, that’s not what has transpired.

‘The Young Guys Are Coming’: 3 Observations From Dubas’s Pre-Season Press Conference
On Thursday, the Pittsburgh Penguins opened their 2025 training camp with a few words from general manager and president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas.

– Brunicke has, once again, proven that he is already one of the Penguins’ six best defensemen. And, honestly, “six” is a stretch. He is probably one of their three best defensemen – with the other two being semi-obvious future Hall-of-Famers. His skating is a marvel to witness, and his hockey sense is very advanced for a blueliner at 19 years of age.

– Ville Koivunen has left no doubt that he should and will be included on the final 23-man roster, and he has proven that his seven points in eight NHL games to close out the season last year were no fluke. His vision is unmatched among Penguins’ prospects – and nearly among Penguins’ skaters, period – and he has consistently been working alongside Sidney Crosby.

– Tristan Broz’s versatility – and ability to put the puck in the back of the net – have been on full display all throughout camp, and he is such a responsible player. The level of maturity in his game is something that can’t be taught, and he’s someone who can thrive in an NHL bottom-six role without it being hindrance to his development.

– Avery Hayes has shown a knack for always being in the right place at the right time to make something happen, as he can create offense off the forecheck and generate chances around the net-front. His tenacity and work ethic are also hallmarks of his game, and his style of play is remniscent of Bryan Rust’s in the early years.

Penguins Make Wave Of Roster Cuts, Place Six Players On Waivers
With each passing day, the Pittsburgh Penguins’ roster is coming more and more into focus.

– Filip Hallander is showcasing his two-way prowess and his playmaking smarts, which were both evident last season in the SHL, when he put up 23 goals and 53 points in 51 games. He is another player with offensive upside who can be effective in a bottom-six role, and he’s making the most of his second chance with the organization in camp.

– Sergei Murashov has been – without a smidgen of a doubt – the best goaltender in camp, and he is leaving very little doubt that he may very well be NHL-ready now. Of course, there’s no sense in rushing a young netminder with his ceiling and potential, but goaltenders have a tendency to tell you when they’re ready – and his agility, quickness, athleticism, poise, and performance have all indicated that he may not need AHL seasoning after all.

– Owen Pickering may not be having the most flashy training camp on the Penguins’ blue line, but he’s showing an ability to keep things simple and steady, which is something that blue line needs. He may not be in mid-season form quite yet, but a 25-game sample size last season, his performance in camp, and the Penguins’ less-than-ideal left side certainly work in his favor.

– Finally, there’s Ben Kindel – the Penguins’ 11th overall pick in 2025 – who has been the story of the pre-season. He’s played in six pre-season games, is riding a three-game point streak, and hasn’t looked out of place at all. It’s safe to say that no one expected Kindel to be in the roster conversation, but he’s forced his way in there by being the best player on the ice most nights. Size be darned, that nine-game trial is looking like something he has flat-out earned.

Should Ben Kindel Get The Nine-Game Trial? The Case For And Against
There are a lot of stories coming out of Pittsburgh Penguins’ training camp this year. Many of them involve young players making an impression and pushing for the NHL roster.

This isn’t a case where there are two players pushing for the NHL roster but barely – if at all – outperforming veterans. Nope. In this case, all eight of these players are outperfoming veterans within their positional battles.

So, if Dubas and the Penguins’ organization actually want to follow through on what they said about the young guys coming, there should be no doubt that, at least, most of these guys will be on the NHL roster come Oct. 7. It’s not reasonable to expect all of them to make it, but it’s absolutely reasonable to expect five or six of them to make it, right?

It seems pretty straightforward. But, for some reason, it still feels like there is a certain degree of inevitability to veterans – once again – getting the benefit of the doubt in battles that aren’t really even 50-50.

For example, what is the sense in Ryan Shea, Ryan Graves, or Caleb Jones – none of whom figure to be part of the bigger picture going forward or have put together remarkable camps – making the roster over Pickering or Brunicke, both of whom do figure to be part of the big picture and have shown a degree of readiness high enough to have earned a spot?

Observations from Thursday’s Penguins Practice
The Pittsburgh Penguins practiced on Thursday, and the players were split into two groups. The first one consisted of many players who are expected to be in the AHL this year, while the second was the main NHL group.

What about the fact that Broz, Hayes, and Kindel have all worked their rears off – and have the results to prove it – to earn a spot on the roster, while veterans like Blake Lizotte, Tommy Novak, and Noel Acciari have not replicated the same energy or output?

The goaltending situation may the only one that makes sense, should Tristan Jarry and Arturs Silovs be the final two. Even if Murashov has been the best of the three, development is paramount for goaltenders, and the Penguins cannot afford to screw that up with Murashov. Jarry and Silovs have performed well enough to earn their way onto the roster, too.

The right call is – without a shred of a doubt – to reward young players for standout camps by following through on what was stated from the beginning. What kind of message does it send to younger players if they’re not rewarded for their efforts? When the organization does not follow through on Dubas’s pre-camp declaration?

Maybe there is a timeline to consider. It’s not a stretch in the least to assume that the Penguins may be a better team this season if they let the kids play, which may not be what the goal is or what is deemed in the best interest of the organizational rebuild. Keeping them around also kicks off their respective entry-level contracts, which may be something to consider as well.

If the Penguins opt for a veteran roster, that’s a pretty clear indication of what they’re trying to – or, perhaps, not trying to – accomplish this season. Maybe a top-10 pick in the 2026 draft is paramount to the trajectory and success of the rebuild.

But, the young guys are just that: young. There are going to be mistakes and growing pains. It’s not as if keeping them around guarantees that the team will finish higher in the standings, as performing immediately is an unfair expectation for young players.

What’s the cost of holding the young guys back if they are ready? Does the need to ensure a very precise timeline outweigh that cost? Does the incentive for fans to see an imperfect but, at least, hopeful product on the ice outweigh catering to the season’s expectations?

The Penguins have until Monday to submit final rosters for the start of the NHL season. If there are not at least four of these names on that list, they’re – quite simply – doing it wrong.

Penguins’ Pre-Season: Final 23-Man Roster Prediction Edition
A few days ago, we had our Mailbox Monday, and I gave my final predictions for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ final 2025-26 roster.

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

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Manchester United host Sunderland tomorrow, sitting 14th in the Premier League table after a continuation of their bad form under Ruben Amorim.

The Red Devils slid to 15th last season after Amorim’s appointment – the club’s lowest finish since their return to the top flight 50 years earlier.

Last weekend they lost 3-1 at Brentford, to leave them on only seven points from their first six games of this season, once again increasing the scrutiny on Amorim.

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Former Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher has likened his former side to a basketball team and said that head coach Arne Slot needs to “really earn his money” to fix the teething issues at Anfield this season.

A disjointed Liverpool side fell to a 1-0 defeat at Galatasaray on Tuesday night with Victor Osimhen scoring the only goal of the night from the penalty spot, their second defeat in succession after the loss to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

“I’m not watching a top team,” Carragher told CBS Sports. “Liverpool aren’t playing football at the moment, they are playing basketball. It is just end to end and I don’t think top teams play like that.

“And they haven’t gained anything going forward but they have lost a lot defensively. I think for the manager now, last season was such a smooth ride for them, he’s now got to really earn his money.”

Liverpool struggled infront of a hostile crowd in Istanbul on Tuesday. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

“This [defeats] has been coming. This is not a shock. And the manager needs to fix it.”

One of the Liverpool’s big-money summer signings Florian Wirtz struggled in Istanbul and is yet to register a European or league goal contribution for his new club and Carragher doesn’t believe he has justified his spot in the starting XI yet this season.

“Right now I don’t think the balance of the team is right and the obvious one that stands out is Florian Wirtz,” Carragher said.

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“He’s just not at the races at all. He’s a young boy coming into a new league — he has got plenty of time to go as a Liverpool player but right now I think he needs to come out of the team, Liverpool go back to what they were last season and then go from there and build some confidence, build some defensive solidity.

“Because right now it is a mess. It’s not the losses, it is not the defeats. This has been coming from day one.”

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