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Robes to the arena? For Panthers, it's a great fit
SUNRISE, Fla. -- The Florida Panthers often show up to work in suits. Until further notice, they're wearing robes.
The Stanley Cup champion Panthers got personalized bathrobes for their two-game trip to Finland last week, a gift from the team. They showed up for the two games there wearing the robes. They won both games.
And since hockey streaks are never messed with, the robes are still in style. Every Panthers player showed up at the arena Thursday wearing their robes -- which remain unbeaten. Florida beat Nashville 6-2.
you'll never believe what they're wearing again pic.twitter.com/mvLD0pPruB
Florida Panthers (@FlaPanthers) November 7, 2024
"I think we're just going to ride it out until our luck runs out," Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk said.
So, the robes will be worn again when the Panthers return to the ice Saturday?
"There's a very good chance," Tkachuk said.
It was a spur-of-the-moment idea by the Panthers to wear the robes -- a nod to Finland's sauna culture -- to the games in Tampere last week. The defending Stanley Cup champions decided at their morning skate Thursday to keep the new tradition alive, with captain Aleksander Barkov sending a message to the team group chat saying to wear the robes to work.
"You've got to be some kind of superstitious at some point, right?" Barkov said. "While it's working for us, we'll keep going with that."
Evidently, some were skeptical and thinking they were getting pranked. Aaron Ekblad was only convinced after Tkachuk snapped a photo of himself wearing his robe in his car on the way to the arena.
"Everybody thought there was a prank being played on them," Tkachuk said. "I tell you what, it's the most comfortable thing ever. It's nice and we're having fun with it. We're a very professional team when it comes to work. We come to the rink and we work. But it's such a long year. You've got to have fun."
Panthers general manager and hockey operations president Bill Zito said the robe idea actually started with Lucy Tallas, the wife of Florida goaltending coach Robb Tallas.
"We have to give the true credit -- it was Lucy's idea," Zito said earlier this week.
Florida coach Paul Maurice loves anything that brings a team closer together, and the robe-wearing era for the Panthers seems to be something they're all enjoying.
"Those are the best that have nothing to do with anything but the players," Maurice said. "Those are the best things that happen. It took some courage to walk into an NHL rink in a robe and I think it got them to start on time."
Maurice got a robe in Finland, as well. But he will arrive for work on Saturday in a suit, just as he did Thursday.
"Nobody -- nobody -- needs to see that," Maurice said. "These fine people pay way too much money to be subjected to those nightmares."
Amelia Kerr makes immediate impact for Sydney Sixers after injury
Sydney Sixers 104 for 1 (Perry 48*, Kerr 47*) beat Melbourne Stars 122 for 7 (Sutherland 42, Ecclestone 3-18) by six runs (DLS method)
The star New Zealand allrounder was player of the match in her Sixers debut on Friday at Junction Oval as they beat the home side by six runs under the DLS method.
Sixers' chase started badly, when Kim Garth's first delivery had Sarah Bryce caught by Meg Lanning at first slip in the second over for 1.
That brought Kerr to the crease in her first game since tearing her right quad in the October 24 one-dayer against India. Kerr made 46 not out from 41 balls, including five fours, and Perry's unbeaten 48 from 44 deliveries featured six boundaries as they took the game away from Stars.
There were concerns that Kerr, the player of the tournament in the T20 World Cup, might be sidelined for much of the WBBL. But she has recovered from her injury ahead of time. Kerr has signed with the Sixers for three seasons after five WBBL campaigns at the Brisbane Heat.
Perry won the toss and Stars made a bright start, before she removed Ines McKeon in the fourth over. Stars stuttered from 32 for 1 to 50 for 3, before Sutherland gave some substance with her 42 from 36 balls, with two fours and two sixes.
Kerr dismissed Sutherland in the final over and also claimed the wicket of Tess Flintoff two balls later to finish with 2 for 36 from four overs.
The result means the two Melbourne teams both carry losses into their Saturday derby at Junction Oval, while Sydney improve to a 3-2 record.
Chappell to Shaw: 'Visualise the cricketer and person you want to become'
"Remember, setbacks are a part of every great athlete's story," Chappell, the former Australia captain and India coach, wrote to Shaw in a letter, accessed and published by the Times of India. "Even legends like Don Bradman faced the disappointment of being dropped and had to fight their way back. What made them great was not avoiding challenges, but how they responded to them."
"The past doesn't define you, Prithvi. It's what you do from here that matters. You're still in your prime, with so many years ahead to make your mark"
Greg Chappell to Prithvi Shaw
"I understand you're facing a challenging time right now, being out of the Mumbai team. It's natural to feel frustrated and perhaps a bit uncertain, but I want you to know that these moments are often the turning points for athletes, helping to shape both their careers and their character," Chappell wrote. "I remember watching you play for India's Under-19 team, where you showcased an extraordinary talent and a spark that made it clear you were among the most exciting young cricketers of your time. Those of us who recognize your potential are still keenly watching your journey, knowing that the best is yet to come."
One of Chappell's suggestions for Shaw is to move from a result-oriented mindset to a process-oriented one: "That shift - from results-focused to process-focused - transformed my approach to both practice and matches. I encourage you to embark on a similar journey of self-reflection. It's easy to blame circumstances, but ultimately, your response to these challenges will define your path."
"The past doesn't define you, Prithvi," Chappell wrote. "It's what you do from here that matters. You're still in your prime, with so many years ahead to make your mark. Take this time to visualize the cricketer and person you want to become. Surround yourself with people who inspire you to improve.
"Take care of your body, get the right amount of rest, and build the strength and focus you need. The door back to the Indian team is open if you're willing to walk through it, but it takes a commitment to growth and change.
"Know that I - and many others - believe in you and are here to support your journey back to the top. If there's ever a way I can help or if you have questions, don't hesitate to reach out. You have everything within you to reach your full potential."
Follow live: Ravens look to rebound at home vs. Bengals on TNF
Ravens' Kyle Hamilton ruled out vs. Bengals with ankle injury
Kyle Hamilton injured his left ankle with 1:09 left in the first half, turning it without making contact with anyone. He limped off the field and headed to the locker room, then later was ruled out.
2024 World Hopes Week & Challenge comes to a close in Asuncion
The World Hopes Week has concluded with a thrilling Challenge tournament in Asuncion, Paraguay. After a week of hard training and fantastic cooperation between the coaches, the Challenge tournament offered an exciting finale to the ITTFs talent identification activity.
The World Hopes Week assembled the worlds best talents for a week of training and competition under the guidance of Head Coaches Eva Jeler and Martin Ostermann. Representatives from all continents went through a continental qualification or were selected through wild cards to participate in this prestigious activity.
The training was very good. We coaches enjoyed it a lot, and the kids did as well. It was very well organized by the Paraguayan federation, everything was perfect. The coaches learned a lot, so thank you Eva, thank you Martin, and thank you ITTF. Raymond Zhaowei Zhang, Canadian coach
Training sessions in the hall were complemented by educational sessions, run by the Head Coaches and IITF Head of Sustainability Karine Teow, who offered coaches an introduction into sustainability approaches to take when working with young, high level athletes. On the free afternoon, the Paraguayan Table Tennis Federation arranged a visit to the CONMEBOL football museum, showcasing the history and strength of South American football, which was greatly enjoyed by the players.
The last training day was used for preparation for the final tournament, the Hopes Challenge, which commenced on Wednesday afternoon with the boys and girls group round. The format of the Challenge was revised. to keep the excitement going throughout the group matches. All matches were played to 4 games, with a golden point deciding the match point at 10-10. Every game counted for one point, and the final tally of points after the group stages determined progression to the quarter finals. In the event of a tie, the head to head standing would decide. Excitement rose high when Cindy Zhu from Canada and Patience Anyango from Uganda, who had drawn their head to head match, ended up with the same amount of points after the group stages. A deciding set was played, tightly contested and eventually won 11:8 by Cindy, securing her spot in the quarter finals.
In the boys groups, no deciding set was necessary to secure progression to the quarter finals. Eli Ho, New Zealand, faced first Stefan Bonchev of Bulgaria in the quarters, then Pietro Campagna of Italy in the semis to reach the finals. His opponent Alexander Malov from Spain beat Chirag Pradhan of the USA to reach the semis, and then won against Faiz Hizir of Malaysia. The final was an exciting match, won by Eli Ho after three thrilling sets.
In the girls draw, Dania Hafis of Malaysia beat Cindy Zhu and Lisa Zhao of France on her way to the final, while Abigail Yu of the USA won against Danias compatriot Choo Ke Ying and Albane Rochut of France to reach the final. Eventually, Dania emerged victorious, with her fighting spirit carrying through from training to competition.
The Hopes Program is really good, and the US team here was strong, with one of our girls, Abigail Yu, competing in the final right here in Paraguay Qi Wei, USA coach
The Malaysian players performed well, and they also had the opportunity to meet a lot of different players with different styles, which is a really good experience for them, to get exposed to this. So we hope that ITTF will continue to offer these kinds of opportunities. Leong Chee Feng, Malaysian coach
Our thanks goes to FPTM for organizing an outstanding World Hopes Week & Challenge, and to all participants for creating an engaging and inspiring environment.
All information about the World Hopes Challenge results can be found on the Hopes program page: https://www.ittf.com/hpd/programmes/athletes/hopes-program-2/
Blues' Holloway back 2 days after puck hits neck
ST. LOUIS -- Blues forward Dylan Holloway returned to the lineup Thursday night against Utah in the team's first game since he was taken to the hospital after being hit in the neck with a puck.
Holloway participated in the Blues' morning skate at Enterprise Center and declared he felt good to return, and coach Drew Bannister put him in the starting lineup.
"Talking to the doctor at the hospital, he said just no activity for 24 hours. But other than that, I'm fine," Holloway said. "All my tests came back good. There's no further damage -- nothing. It was kind of the best news I could get, and I feel like I'm ready to go."
Holloway was hurt late in the first period of St. Louis' 3-2 victory on Tuesday night when he was struck by a puck off the stick of Tampa Bay's Nick Paul. Play was stopped with 1:11 left in the period, and referees sent the teams to the locker rooms early after Holloway was taken from the bench area on a stretcher.
"It was definitely kind of crazy. I felt pretty fortunate. I had a Iot of people reach out to see if I was OK," said Holloway, who signed with the Blues after appearing in the Stanley Cup final last season with Edmonton.
"I appreciate all the love and the support that I was getting. The team has been great, all the boys have been great, the coach has been great. I'm just thankful to have such a supportive group around me."
Holloway said he felt dizzy and nauseated at the hospital but has had no other ill effects other than a bruise at the base of his neck.
"I just want to go out there and kind of forget about it, put it in the past," Holloway said. "I feel good and I'm just excited to get out there."
Bannister said Holloway rode an exercise bike Wednesday and then "pushed himself hard" during the morning skate.
"He's a worker. He has a high motor. The way we want to play, he dictates a lot of the play," Bannister said. "He dictates a lot of the energy that happens on the bench and on the ice. He just works to get pucks back and he uses his speed. He does a lot of things really well and he's fit in nicely."
"Whether we've put him at center or put him at wing, he's found a way to contribute to the team game and contribute on the scoreboard but also defensively."
Mexico legend Andrés Guardado announced his retirement from professional soccer and will likely play his last match with fringe Liga MX playoff contenders León this Sunday.
Guardado, 38, had already announced his retirement from the national team in May, and unless his club side defy the odds and sneak into the Liga MX playoffs, the all-time caps leader for Mexico will say goodbye in his upcoming away match against Monterrey.
"I wanted to make public my decision to leave soccer at the end of this season and to stop being a professional player after 19 years," said the veteran midfielder on a social media post on Wednesday. "[I want to] thank [club president] Jesus Martinez, who gave me the opportunity to retire in Mexico. I know that things didn't turn out the way we wanted, but I'm proud to belong to this institution."
Despite the addition of the Mexican icon earlier this year, León failed to qualify for the 2024 Clausura playoffs and are on the cusp of doing so again in the current Apertura tournament. If León is able to get into the postseason, Guardado would then take part in the playoffs that begin on Nov. 20.
"We are still with a slight hope of playing in the Play-In, let's hope it happens, but if it doesn't Sunday will be my last game as a professional," he added. "I leave grateful and very proud of everything I was able to achieve, of having fulfilled my dream."
During last month's 2-0 win over the United States, Guardado was given a farewell match for El Tri in his hometown. Guardado is one of just eight players that have been called-up to five World Cups.
At the club level and after debuting with boyhood Liga MX side Atlas in 2005, the pacey playmaker made a name for himself through a long European stint that began in 2007.
"[I want to] thank Atlas that developed me, that gave me the opportunity to play soccer and to each of the teams I belonged to. To Deportivo de la Coruña, to Valencia, to Bayer Leverkusen, to PSV, to Betis," said Guardado.
With León in 2024, the midfielder earned 24 appearances and scored once for the Liga MX side. During his time with Mexico, Guardado scored 28 international goals across 181 games and clinched three Gold Cup titles in 2011, 2015 and 2019. In 2015, he was given the tournament's Golden Ball award.
He helped Betis win the Copa del Rey in 2022 and was part of the PSV side which won back-to-back Dutch titles from 2014-2016.
Hazlewood returns, Pakistan unchanged and bowl first
Pakistan won the toss and decided to bowl against Pakistan
Josh Hazlewood has returned for Australia in the second ODI at Adelaide Oval as they aim to wrap up the series before the Test players take a break from the final game in Perth.
Sean Abbott is the player to drop out from the side that played in Melbourne and scrapped over the line by two wickets after Pakistan's quicks, especially Haris Rauf, had jolted the middle order.
Pakistan have named an unchanged side, resisting the urge to bring in a frontline spinner, and will bowl first after Mohammad Rizwan won the toss. Pat Cummins said he, too, would have bowled on a surface with a good covering of grass but he expected it to play well throughout. Naseem Shah is fit after leaving the field late in the game at the MCG.
Hazlewood, Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne will skip the Perth match on Sunday to focus on preparations for the India Test series meaning that if Pakistan can force the series to a decider they will face a significantly changed side.
Australia 1 Matt Short, 2 Jake Fraser-McGurk, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Josh Inglis, 5 Marnus Labuschagne, 6 Aaron Hardie, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood
Pakistan 1 Saim Ayub, 2 Abdullah Shafique, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk), 5 Kamran Ghulam, 6 Salman Agha, 7 Irfan Khan, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Mohammad Hasnain
Ravens' Lamar Jackson hits Nelson Agholor with 6-yard TD pass
BALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Ravens tied their AFC North matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in the second quarter with a familiar sight -- Lamar Jackson working outside the pocket.
After initially faking a quarterback run to the right, Jackson pulled up and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide-open Nelson Agholor in the end zone. It marked Jackson's eighth touchdown pass outside the pocket, which are four more than anyone else in the NFL. Of those eight touchdown passes outside the pocket, three have come against the Bengals.
Lamar Jackson finds Nelson Agholor WIDE open for the TD!#CINvsBAL on Prime Video
NFL (@NFL) November 8, 2024
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/yKwHBZixaf
Agholor's second touchdown catch in his past three games tied the score at 7-7.
It has been quite a stretch for Jackson. Over his past four games, Jackson has thrown 11 touchdowns and no interceptions.
McCaffrey expected back vs. Bucs, says Shanahan
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- After observing Christian McCaffrey participating in the San Francisco 49ers' most strenuous practice of the week, coach Kyle Shanahan said he has seen enough to believe that the star running back will make his season debut Sunday.
Speaking to KNBR radio in San Francisco on Thursday, Shanahan said McCaffrey has done well enough in practice this week to return against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"He's been awesome these last two days," Shanahan said. "You never know [about] a setback or anything, but these two days have been great, and I expect to see him out there."
McCaffrey has been on injured reserve since Sept. 14 because of bilateral Achilles tendinitis that followed a calf injury that began to bother him in early August. McCaffrey traveled to Germany to meet with a specialist while the 49ers were in Los Angeles to play the Rams on Sept. 22.
Before last week's bye, Shanahan said McCaffrey would stick around the team facility and do simulated practice activities that would lead to his return to practice. There were no setbacks from that, which led to the practice window opening Monday.
McCaffrey took part in the team's "bonus" practice that day and has since participated on a limited basis in sessions Wednesday and Thursday. But the Thursday practice was always thought to be the most important; it's the one padded session of the week and the longest.
Now, all that stands between McCaffrey and his season debut Sunday is a lighter Friday practice that is a little more than a walk-through and then a cross-country flight to Tampa, Florida, on Friday evening. Barring any issues there, the Niners would then activate McCaffrey from injured reserve Saturday.
To make room for him on the roster, they will need to make a corresponding move to open a spot.
For the better part of the past few weeks, Shanahan and the Niners have pointed to this week for McCaffrey's potential return as he continued the rehab that kept him out of the team's first eight games.
McCaffrey's return to practice has offered a notable boost for the 4-4 Niners, according to coaches and teammates.
"It's been awesome," quarterback Brock Purdy said. "Just what he brings to the table and really just firing everybody else up around. All of us coming off the bye week and feeling good and fresh and then you get 2-3 next to you in the backfield, it's been awesome. Looks great moving around and he's trending in the right direction. So, we're excited to see what happens."
Assuming McCaffrey does play against Tampa Bay, it remains to be seen if he will take his usual workload. When healthy, McCaffrey has been the team's primary back, racking up a career-high 417 touches (including playoffs) on his way to winning the league's Offensive Player of the Year award in 2023.
Jordan Mason, who stepped in for McCaffrey and ranks third in the NFL in rushing yards per game, offers depth, but he, too, was limited in practice Thursday because of an ongoing shoulder injury. Rookie Isaac Guerendo and veteran Patrick Taylor Jr. are the other backs on the 53-man roster.
Despite those options, Shanahan has indicated that McCaffrey's workload will be determined by how he feels as the game nears and noted Wednesday that he does not believe McCaffrey's injuries are the result of being overworked in previous seasons.
"I think things happen to a body," Shanahan said. "I think they happen in offseason, but I don't think that really has to do with numbers. When a guy is healthy and good, they're usually good. But we've got to see where his conditioning is at, how he is. I know he is conditioned as well as he can be, but how his football conditioning is and stuff. But usually, I don't chalk up to numbers one year to affect the injury the next year."
If things go according to plan, Shanahan also indicated to KNBR that a pair of other key Niners -- receivers Jauan Jennings (hip) and Deebo Samuel (rib, oblique) -- are also expected to play against the Bucs.
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