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'Worst performance': Maresca decries Chelsea loss

Published in Soccer
Friday, 14 February 2025 17:54

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has said "everything" went wrong as his team succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at Brighton on Friday, describing it as the worst performance of his tenure.

It marks the second time in a week that Chelsea have fallen foul of Fabian Hurzeler's team. Maresca's side, who were without Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu through injury, were toothless up front and failed to register a single shot on target.

"My frustration was about everything," Maresca told Sky Sports after the loss. "We feel sorry for the fans that came. In the position that we are, arriving with 14 games to go, we need to do much better.

"We are in a moment when we feel we can concede easily and struggle to score. I think before the goal they didn't have some chances. There are many things we can do better.

"Now is the moment we need to stick together. I always feel pressure but this was the worst performance since I arrived. We are still fourth and still in the race to finish in Europe."

Chelsea have won just two of their last nine Premier League games and crashed out of the FA Cup at the hands of Brighton last week.

They remain fourth in the table, though one of Manchester City or Newcastle United could leapfrog them with a win in their clash on Saturday.

Brighton, meanwhile, moved into eighth with the win having won their first league game since the 7-0 humbling away at Nottingham Forest.

Sources: Royals, Ragans reach 3-year extension

Published in Breaking News
Friday, 14 February 2025 17:14

Left-hander Cole Ragans and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a three-year, $13.25 million contract extension, sources told ESPN on Friday, guaranteeing the ace's salary up until a year before he reaches free agency.

The deal for the 27-year-old covers the 2025 to 2027 seasons and gives Ragans $1.25 million this season, $4.5 million next year and $7.5 million the following season. Ragans will hit free agency after the 2028 season.

Ragans' emergence into one of the most feared pitchers in baseball came after back-to-back Tommy John surgeries, often a career-ending injury. Ragans didn't throw a professional pitch for nearly three years, and after ascending to the big leagues with Texas, he made nine starts and 17 relief appearances before getting shipped to Kansas City for free agent-to-be reliever Aroldis Chapman.

While Chapman helped the Rangers win the World Series, Ragans blossomed almost immediately into a front-line starter. With a fastball that can reach triple digits and a vast array of off-speed pitches, Ragans mixed strikeout stuff with plenty-good control and made his first All-Star team last year en route to a 3.14 ERA with 223 strikeouts and 67 walks in 186 innings.

Ragans, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha -- who re-signed as a free agent in November -- formed the backbone for Kansas City's surprising playoff run. In addition to the returning Wacha, the Royals signed closer Carlos Estevez and traded right-hander Brady Singer for second baseman Jonathan India to complement MVP runner-up Bobby Witt Jr.

The Royals will give Ragans nearly a half-million dollars over the major league minimum this year and are buying out the first two years of arbitration with near-top-of-the-market salaries in a system that is comparable-based. For instance, as a first-time arbitration-eligible player with similar numbers to Ragans', Seattle Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert made $4.05 million last season.

Avoiding arbitration allows Kansas City to sidestep the possibility of Ragans winning a Cy Young Award and using the achievement to seek an arbitration salary similar to Corbin Burnes, who parlayed the award into a $6.5 million settlement.

Ex-ESPN reporter Wojnarowski wins Gowdy award

Published in Basketball
Friday, 14 February 2025 17:38

SAN FRANCISCO -- Adrian Wojnarowski, the award-winning former ESPN sportswriter who redefined the journalism industry with his breaking news prowess, was honored Friday with the Curt Gowdy Media Award.

"I only had ever hoped to have a career as a sportswriter, and so to me this honor is reflective of all the people who believed in me, gave me opportunities, helped me along this road, and that's what comes to mind first," Wojnarowski told ESPN shortly after Friday's announcement. "So many of my idols, from Jackie MacMullan to Michael Wilbon to Doris Burke to Harvey Araton, have been honored previously, and it's beyond my wildest dreams to be in that company."

Wojnarowski's journalism career began in his native Connecticut in Waterbury, where he covered the University of Connecticut before moving on to the Fresno Bee in California and then the Bergen Record in New Jersey.

He went to Yahoo! Sports in 2007, where his relentless drive created a seemingly never-ending series of breaking news, which came to be known as "Woj Bombs." A decade later, he joined ESPN in his hometown of Bristol, Connecticut, and spent the next several years solidifying his place as one of the most influential sportswriters ever.

"I came along at a unique time in media," Wojnarowski said, "and I came along at a time media and the league were changing, and I was the beneficiary of good timing and incredible support from people I worked with at the NBA, ESPN and Yahoo."

In September, Wojnarowski's last "Woj Bomb" might have been his most shocking one of all, when he retired from journalism to step into a new role as the general manager of the men's basketball team at his alma mater, St. Bonaventure University.

Wojnarowski was one of four Gowdy award winners announced Friday, receiving the honor in the insight category.

Michelle Smith, a longtime chronicler of women's sports and specifically women's basketball, won the print media award, having written for ESPN, espnW, the San Francisco Chronicle and AOL FanHouse, among other publications.

There were two recipients of the electronic media award: Clark Kellogg, the longtime CBS college basketball analyst, and George Blaha, the legendary Detroit Pistons play-by-play man. Kellogg has been an essential part of CBS' college basketball coverage since 1993, especially its annual chronicling of March Madness. Blaha is in his 49th season calling Pistons games. According to the team, he has called more than 3,700 regular-season games and more than 260 playoff contests.

The Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award winner is longtime Celtics public relations official Jeff Twiss, who began working for the franchise in 1981 and has been part of four championships in Boston.

"To be honest, I'm still pinching myself till my arm hurts," Twiss told ESPN. "Red Auerbach was my boss for a few years, and I got to spend some time rubbing shoulders with people at the Hall of Fame and could only dream about being in there with them one day, and now that dream is a reality."

The Gowdy winners will be honored on Sept. 5-6 alongside this year's Naismith Hall of Fame class, for which the finalists were also announced Friday.

Report: Shaq, TNT have deal; keep 'Inside' intact

Published in Basketball
Friday, 14 February 2025 17:38

Shaquille O'Neal is staying with TNT Sports on a new contract worth more than $15 million per year, Front Office Sports reported Friday.

The news means the cast of "Inside the NBA" is staying together even as TNT is set to license out the show to ESPN starting next season.

TNT was the odd network out in the NBA's recent TV rights negotiations, as NBC and Amazon joined previous rightsholder ESPN in inking deals for basketball games.

That left TNT without a need for pregame and postgame NBA shows. TNT is licensing "Inside the NBA" to ESPN in exchange for a package of Big 12 college football and basketball games.

Per Front Office Sports, Charles Barkley and Kenny "The Jet" Smith are staying on "Inside the NBA," although Barkley had interest from NBC and Amazon.

"I'm informing NBC that I will not accept their offer," Barkley said on the podcast he co-hosts with Ernie Johnson, the anchor of "Inside the NBA." "I'm gonna cancel future meetings with Amazon. ... My heart is always and will be at Turner Sports."

Barkley's most recent contract extension, signed in 2022, pays him $21 million per year.

As for O'Neal, the Hall of Fame center best known for his time with Kobe Bryant on the Lakers, also heard from NBA and Amazon, according to a CNBC report.

NBC is in talks with Carmelo Anthony for a studio analyst position and Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford as color commentators, per Front Office Sports.

Middleton thanks Bucks, fans for 'believing in me'

Published in Basketball
Friday, 14 February 2025 17:38

MILWAUKEE -- Khris Middleton thanked Milwaukee for helping shape him "into the person and player I am today" a week after the Bucks traded the three-time All-Star to the Washington Wizards.

"From the moment I stepped foot in this city, you embraced me," Middleton said Friday in a social media post. "Together, we experienced the rebuilding years, the emergence of a championship contender, and ultimately, the unforgettable journey to the 2021 NBA Championship. That magical run will stay with me forever -- the late-game shots, the comeback victories, and most importantly, bringing the Larry O'Brien Trophy back to Milwaukee after 50 years."

Middleton, who had been with the Bucks since the 2013-14 season, was sent to Washington at last week's trade deadline along with 2024 first-round pick AJ Johnson in a deal that brought Kyle Kuzma to Milwaukee. Both teams also received draft compensation in the trade.

Bucks general manager Jon Horst said this week that trading Middleton "has to be the hardest thing transactionally that I've ever done, from the human side of it, the roster side of it, the culture of the team, our community."

Middleton thanked the Bucks in his post.

"To the Bucks organization: Thank you for believing in me, developing me, and giving me the opportunity to grow from a trade piece into an All-Star and champion," he said.

Middleton, 33, is the Bucks' career leader in 3-pointers (1,382) and ranks behind only two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in games (735) and minutes (23,039). He's third in franchise history in points (12,586) and assists (2,990).

Injuries limited him to 33 games in 2022-23 and 55 in 2023-24. He didn't make his 2024-25 debut until Dec. 6 after recovering from offseason surgery to each of his ankles.

"To the Milwaukee community: This city has become my home," Middleton said. "The relationships built, the community initiatives we've worked on together, and the countless memories made both on and off the court will stay with me forever.

"As I begin this new chapter, I'm excited for the opportunities ahead. But Milwaukee will always hold a special place in my heart. This isn't goodbye -- it's thank you."

Carmelo, Howard, Bird headline finalists for HOF

Published in Basketball
Friday, 14 February 2025 17:38

SAN FRANCISCO -- Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard and a team they were part of -- the gold medal-winning 2008 U.S. Olympic men's basketball team -- headline the group of finalists for this year's Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class announced Friday.

Among the other nominees are women's basketball legends Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Sylvia Fowles. Coaches Billy Donovan and Mark Few were also nominated.

Anthony, a 10-time All-Star, is 10th on the NBA's all-time scoring list with 28,289 points. He also led Syracuse to a national championship in 2003.

Howard was the preeminent defensive presence of his era, winning three straight NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards (2009 to 2011). He made eight All-NBA teams, led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals and won a title with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

The 2008 Olympic men's team returned Team USA to the top spot internationally after it earned a bronze medal at the 2004 Games and no medals at the 2002 and 2006 world championships. The 2008 team included Anthony, Howard, the late Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Chris Bosh and LeBron James. It was assembled by Jerry Colangelo, the chairman of the Hall of Fame.

Moore won two national championships at the University of Connecticut and four WNBA titles in her seven-year career with the Minnesota Lynx before she retired in 2018 during her prime to pursue criminal justice reform. Bird also won two titles at UConn and four in the WNBA during her career with the Seattle Storm and is considered one of the greatest point guards in the history of women's basketball.

Fowles was a dominant interior presence at LSU, which she led to four Final Four appearances. As a professional, she won two titles with Moore as a member of the Lynx. She was the WNBA's MVP in 2017.

Donovan led Florida to four Final Four appearances in 19 seasons with the Gators, winning back-to-back national titles (2006-07). Those title-winning teams included longtime NBA stars Al Horford and Joakim Noah. Donovan left the college game and has spent the past decade coaching the Oklahoma City Thunder and Chicago Bulls.

Few is the winningest active coach by percentage at Gonzaga and has led the Bulldogs to two national championship games (2017, 2021) and 25 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.

Other Hall of Fame finalists include longtime NBA referee Danny Crawford, five-time All-Star forward Marques Johnson, longtime college coach Jerry Welsh, three-time NBA All-Star Buck Williams, former Stanford and WNBA star Jennifer Azzi, women's basketball pioneer Molly Bolin, Serbian basketball coach Dusan Ivkovic, Miami Heat owner Micky Arison and Israeli basketball legend Tal Brody.

The group moves to the final round of the nomination process, when a panel of 24 anonymous voters will consider the candidates. A candidate has to receive votes from at least 18 of those 24 panelists to gain election to the Hall of Fame.

The 2025 class will be announced April 5 in San Antonio during the NCAA Men's Final Four.

Enshrinement weekend is Sept. 5-6.

The 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend has arrived with festivities taking place in the Bay Area.

The Golden State Warriors will host NBA All-Star Weekend for the first time since 2000, a year full of iconic moments such as Vince Carter's performance in the dunk contest. The events will take place at Chase Center and Oakland Arena.

The star-studded weekend will begin on Friday with the annual Celebrity Game before transitioning to the Rising Stars game. Saturday's slate includes the skills challenge, 3-point contest and slam dunk contest. The 74th NBA All-Star Game will take place on Sunday.

This year's game features a new format with four teams competing in a mini-tournament. Three squads -- Team Chuck, Team Shaq and Team Kenny -- were drafted by TNT's "Inside the NBA" analysts, while the fourth, Team Candace, is made up of the Rising Stars game champion.

The tournament includes three games: two semifinals and a championship, with each player on the winning team earning $125,000. Second-place players receive $50,000, while those on the third- and fourth-place teams take home $25,000 each.

Here are the highlights from the 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend.

Roses & gym dates - Which BBC pundit is most romantic?

Published in Rugby
Thursday, 13 February 2025 22:46

BBC Sport rugby union pundits Sam Warburton, Ugo Monye, John Barclay, Martin Johnson, Hamish Watson and Chris Paterson reveal who is the most romantic, what they would cook each other on Valentine's Day and who their rugby soulmates are.

WATCH MORE: 'That was terrible!' - Six Nations captains take on reactions challenge

Watch Six Nations Rugby Special on BBC iPlayer

A version of this video was first published in February 2024.

14-Year-Old Hayden Wise Set For Rookie Xtreme Run

Published in Racing
Friday, 14 February 2025 11:05

CONCORD, N.C. Hayden Wise adds a new chapter to her rising career with an Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota Rookie of the Year campaign.

The 14-year-old driver will race in a family-owned No. 94 Toyota-powered midget for her first foray into national midget racing.

The Huntersville, N.C., driver got her start in quarter midgets, with championships in the NASCAR Youth Series and Dixie Shootout Series before stepping up the ladder to micro sprints.

I pretty much got comfortable in (the quarter midget) at a young age, Wise said. As soon I was done, I hopped right into the micro and Ive been going out to (Trackhouse Motorplex) since I was 10 to get some more seat time. Its really all about getting comfortable and all these cars are pushing my limit to get that comfortable. Im really excited for this year, so well see how it goes.

Wise knows the benchmark of family members who raced before her, as her uncle Josh Wise is a former NASCAR Cup Series competitor.

Its gonna feel good knowing that I have the support of my family, Wise said. Im very grateful that they take me out to race every week with them, so I cant thank my dad and pop enough. Its really cool to have that support from all of my family, my mom, my sisters, and my grandparents. Its just awesome having them there for me to take me along the racing journey.

Wise can try her hand at multiple disciplines, as she will get to race the midget, micro sprint, and sprint car for 94 Racing to craft her experience and familiarity in dirt racing.

This year is gonna be a lot of work because all of this year is gonna be lots of learning for me, Wise said. I really just have to get a lot of seat time between the Sprint Car, the Midget, and getting prepared for next year because we have a lot coming. This year is all about getting comfortable and being able to give my effort 100 percent every time.

Looking forward to the schedule ahead of her, Wise is interested in traveling to the Xtreme Appalachian Midget Week, California Sprint Car events, and the Xtreme World Championship at Millbridge Speedway her home track.

Definitely the (Pennsylvania) tracks, Wise said. Im really excited to check out some of those places. Well be going to California too, so thatll be fun for me.

Im excited for (Millbridge) too. Its definitely gonna be a lot different from what Ive been doing. Theres gonna be some really good drivers and thats one Im really focusing on giving my best for my family. When I hit the track, its really making sure I pay attention to how Im driving and doing what I need to do to get better at it.

Evans Storms To The Front In Sweden

Published in Racing
Friday, 14 February 2025 12:38

Elfyn Evans emerged from a thrilling Friday at Rally Sweden with a slender lead, as an intense battle at the top saw just 9.1 seconds covering the leading five drivers.

The FIA World Rally Championships only pure snow rally delivered a day of fluctuating fortunes, with multiple lead changes across the seven snow and ice-laden speed tests. Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 driver Evans set the early pace and led at midday service, but as conditions evolved, so did the leaderboard.

Takamoto Katsuta briefly hit the front on SS5 before Evans responded immediately to reclaim the top spot. Then, as darkness fell over the Bäck stage, Ott Tänak edged ahead only to lose his advantage on the final Umeå Sprint test as worn tires cost him valuable time. Evans seized the opportunity, clocking the fastest time to move back into the lead once more.

Katsutas strong pace kept him within just 0.6 seconds of his Toyota teammate, while Tänak slipped to third, 2.5 seconds off the lead.

Adrien Fourmaux was one of the standout performers in the morning, winning two stages and running as high as second. His momentum slowed slightly in the afternoon, but the Frenchman still ended the day a strong fourth, just 5.4 seconds behind Hyundai i20 N Rally1 colleague Tänak. A stall on SS5 at the same tricky corner that caught out Kalle Rovanperäand Josh McErlean was his biggest setback.

Defending champion Thierry Neuville endured a frustrating start, struggling with understeer, but found his rhythm later in the day. A stage win helped him claw back some time, and he completed the leg 9.1 secods down on Evans in fifth overall.

Two-time world champion Rovanperä had an uncharacteristically subdued day. Not helped byan overshoot on SS5, the Finn failed to break into the top three on any stage and trailed Neuville by 16.4 seconds at close of play.

Mārtiņš Sesks impressed on his return to M-Sport Fords Puma Rally1, posting a pair of top-three stage times on his way to seventh. Team-mate McErlean, in only his second Rally1 start, continued to build confidence and finished the day eighth.

Toyotas Sami Pajari showed flashes of strong pace but was hampered by an early brush with a snowbank that dislodged a tyre from the rim and limited him to ninth. Grégoire Munster completed the top 10 in his Puma.

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