Sports

Lloyd Howell, the new executive director of the NFL Players Association, isn’t your typical employee hire. He has a background in defense consulting and contracting, not pro football. Despite initial struggles finding his feet, Howell quickly embraced his role. His year on the job has been a whirlwind of fact-finding missions and building relationships with players, owners, agents and coaches. Why trust a stranger? Howell’s outsider status is exactly what some players find attractive. He has no baggage from past negotiations and brings a fresh perspective to the table. His analytical mind and business acumen impressed the selection committee, which…

The U.S. women's water polo team is making waves both inside and outside the pool. An unlikely partnership with rap icon Flavor Flav has brought a wave of attention to the sport as the team seeks an unprecedented fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal. From Hobbyist to Publicist Flavor Flav, who initially had limited knowledge of water polo, was inspired by the team’s dedication and the challenges faced by the athletes. His social media message, offering support and a donation, turned into a unique sponsorship deal. A team full of stars and new faces The U.S. team boasts a strong core,…

Christina Unkel's journey through the world of football is unlike any other. The breakout star of this summer's Euros was not a player on the pitch, but a former referee turned analyst who captivated audiences with her insightful commentary. A power with a thousand facets Unkel wears many hats: team president, lawyer, app creator, and now, a rising star in European soccer analytics. After years of gracing American screens, Euro 2024 made his breakthrough in the UK, where he impressed with his calm, authoritative style. Bridging the knowledge gap Unkel's experience shines through in his ability to navigate the complexities…

This article delves into the fascinating history of Statcast, Major League Baseball's revolutionary tracking system. It's a tale of unexpected beginnings, technological innovation, and profound impact on the sport. Mysterious Email Sparks Innovation In 2011, a seemingly random email landed in the inbox of Cláudio Silva, a Brazilian data science professor who was unfamiliar with baseball. Major League Baseball was starting a “secret project” to track players and ball movement in real time. Intrigued by the challenge, Silva and fellow expert Carlos Dietrich partnered with MLB, laying the groundwork for what would become Statcast. From Idea to Reality: Overcoming Obstacles…

A spectacular goal from young talent Lamine Yamal sent Spain through to the Euro 2024 final with a dramatic 2-1 victory over France at the Allianz Arena. The 16-year-old midfielder defied expectations with a breathtaking 21st-minute equaliser, cancelling out France's opener and silencing the previously dominant Kylian Mbappé. Yamal's moment of brilliance came after France had taken control. Mbappé, free from the constraints of his protective mask, set up a goal for Randal Kolo Muani, seemingly putting Les Bleus on course for another victory. But then, the universe changed. Yamal picked up a loose ball near the halfway line and…

Julien Bernard’s Tour de France journey took an emotional turn on Friday, but it came at a surprising price. Riding on his home turf of Burgundy during the stage seven time trial, Bernard veered off the course for a quick embrace with his cheering wife and son. The touching moment, greeted with cheers from the crowd, earned Bernard a 200 Swiss franc ($223) fine from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for "unsporting conduct." The governing body's decision sparked a debate online, with some questioning how a show of family support could tarnish the image of the sport. “It was a…

DETROIT – Miles Russell’s pants didn’t quite fit during the first round of the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Thursday. A recent growth spurt has left the 15-year-old, now 5 feet 7 inches, in pants designed for someone shorter. Russell, who weighs 120 pounds and has a 28-inch waist, showed off his ankles as he strolled around Detroit Golf Club. Russell made his PGA Tour debut, shooting a 2-over 74. Born in 2009, he signed autographs for kids and adults while being followed by a PGA Tour Live camera. He teed off for 7,370 yards and played alongside the top-ranked players.…

Orlando Cepeda, the second Puerto Rican-born player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, died Friday at the age of 86. The San Francisco Giants announced his death but did not disclose a location. Cepeda played 17 MLB seasons, mostly as a first baseman, hitting 379 home runs, hitting 2,351 hits and driving in 1,365 runs with a .297 batting average. He was the National League Rookie of the Year in 1958 and the MVP in 1967, helping the St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series that year. He batted over .300 in nine seasons and appeared in…

He didn't win a single match. In the third round of the French Open on Saturday, China’s Wang Xinyu faced Iga Swiatek, the reigning women’s singles champion and the top seed. Despite the impressive credentials of Wang, a 21-year-old who reached her peak ranking of No. 59 in April, she suffered a crushing defeat: 6-0, 6-0, a double bagel in tennis terms. The match ended almost as quickly as it began. Yet there is a certain glory in this kind of imperfection. Long live the tired, the exhausted, the fighters and the stragglers. The athletes who endure public defeats. Long…

About thirty minutes before a Brooklyn Cyclones game in mid-August, a family of three, a reporter, and a man in a Jedi robe stepped into an elevator at Maimonides Park. As the doors closed and the elevator ascended, the Jedi asked, "What planet are you from?" “Um, Brooklyn,” the family matriarch replied. The Jedi began humming “Mad About Me” by Figrin D’an and the Modal Nodes, alluding to his Tatooine roots. As the elevator doors opened and they descended onto the field apron, they joined hundreds of other Jedi Knights and Padawan apprentices mingling with fans armed with scorebooks, pencils,…