Ollie Pope is keen to prove himself as a world-class wicketkeeper after he was parachuted into the role as for the second Test against New Zealand as cover for the injured Jos Buttler.

Pope, who went into the match in Hamilton having kept in just five first-class matches previously, scarcely put a foot wrong for the entire opening day, producing some athletic takes along the way despite being slotted into the role in the absence of a specialist back-up keeper and experiencing limited exposure at Surrey, where the No. 1 keeper is Ben Foakes.

"I've seen a lot of talk on social media the last few days," Pope said. "I'm a keeper, I've kept since I was eight years old.

"Since I've become a professional it's obviously just been limited, the amount I've done, with Foakesy being at Surrey, but it's something I've had on my radar since the moment I got told I was coming on this tour. So if the opportunity were to come around I just made sure that I was ready and hopefully that shows in my performance."

In terms of keeping wicket for England as well as batting - the latter being the reason he was included on the tour of New Zealand - Pope said he would take any opportunities that arose.

"At the moment my focus in on my batting going forward but at the same time at Surrey we've got Foakesy so the amount of game time I get I don't know," he said. "I'm going to keep going as much as I can, if I'm not getting the game time hopefully the training will look after itself and then if I do get a go in the games whenever it does happen hopefully I can do a good job."

Pope, playing just his fourth Test, was confident in offering his opinion on whether to use DRS and said he would continue to do so as he had "the best seat in the house for it". Having learned he would stand in the night before match eve after Buttler suffered back spasms in the gym, Pope also revealed he had pulled up well after a rain-interrupted first day on which play was halted shortly after the tea break.

"It was a different role, I feel pretty good this morning," Pope said. "The body feels good. A bit of a surprise but I always had it on my radar that something like this could happen so yeah, I was prepared for it.

"I like keeping, I still see myself as a keeper. Obviously I haven't done a massive amount ... but it's still something in my game I want to keep going so I was excited and ready to go."

Pope is also keen to improve on his "frustrating" first-Test performance with the bat after making a 29 and 6.

"I'm feeling really good in the nets," he said. "I played well in the warm-up games so to get out in the fashion I did in that game was probably the most frustrating thing for me.

"But at the same time there's some good lessons for me as well and watching how these guys go about their stuff, how they bounce back, it's a good thing for me going forward so hopefully I can take those lessons into this game and into the future."

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Eagles and right tackle Lane Johnson have agreed to a four-year contract extension that runs through 2025, the team announced Friday.

The new deal is worth $72 million and includes over $54 million in guarantees, a league source tells ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, making Johnson the highest-paid tackle in football.

Johnson, 29, has stated his case for being the best right tackle in the NFL over recent years. The No. 4 pick out of Oklahoma in 2013 has made the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons and was named first-team All Pro in 2017 when the Eagles captured their first Super Bowl title.

Johnson commented on his deal via a tweet from the Eagles.

Let's fly, @LaneJohnson65! #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/tytUHHUrCm

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) November 29, 2019

His value comes into focus when he is out of the lineup. He played just 24 snaps against the New England Patriots in Week 11 after suffering a concussion and missed last week against the Seattle Seahawks -- both Eagles losses. Johnson has since been cleared from the concussion protocol and is expected to play Sunday at the Miami Dolphins.

Similarly, Philadelphia went 2-8 during the games Johnson missed in 2016 as a result of a positive test for performance-enhancing substances, compared with 5-1 when he was in the lineup that season.

The Eagles have been active on the contract extension front. They gave Johnson's good friend and offensive linemate, right guard Brandon Brooks, a four-year, $56 million extension earlier this month and have since signed kicker Jake Elliott and long-snapper Rick Lovato to new deals. The team has also been working toward a new deal with tight end Zach Ertz but contract talks have stalled, a source told Fowler.

NEW YORK -- The Boston Celtics didn't get a chance to see Kyrie Irving in what was supposed to be his return to Boston on Wednesday night.

They did, however, get a chance to see him at the conclusion of the Brooklyn Nets' 112-107 victory here Friday afternoon, with several of his former teammates -- along with his replacement, Kemba Walker -- going over to give him a hug after he sat out for the eighth straight game with a right shoulder impingement.

When asked about seeing Irving postgame, all of them said they are ready to move on from talking about him.

"I mean, there is no hard feelings," said Marcus Smart, one of the players who went over and greeted Irving at center court after Boston's loss. "I didn't hug Kyrie to get on TV. That's two guys that are trying to make a living for their families being professional athletes. That's my brother, regardless of what he did. He works hard.

"Quite frankly, I'm really, honestly, tired of hearing about Kyrie. Kyrie is no longer with the Boston Celtics, and it's a slap across the face of everybody on this team that's here now to keep hearing Kyrie's name, because every one of these guys have put in the work and we continue to put in the work and we are here and still competing and yet everybody, including the Boston fans, want to talk about Kyrie. Let's talk about the Boston Celtics."

Smart, who has been playing through a sprained left ring finger that he again aggravated during Friday's loss, was as frustrated with the injury and his own play (15 points on 4-for-13 shooting, including 1-for-6 from 3-point range) as he was with the Irving questions. That said, for all of the buildup and attention that was paid to his anticipated return Wednesday -- including the fans chanting about him during the game, despite him not being in the building, let alone on the court -- Irving continues to have good relationships with several players on the team, including Smart, Walker and Jayson Tatum.

And, while they've understood why his expected return was a story, they shrugged over the significance of saying hello to him postgame.

"It was just good to see him," Walker said. "I haven't seen him in a while, obviously. I just told him to get healthy. He asked me how I'm liking it and told me to enjoy it. That was really it. Asked me have I been back to the Bronx. That was really it. Asked how's my family. He knows my family, as well. I know his dad, so just kind of that conversation. Me and Kyrie are good friends.

"I mean, it's nothing to really talk about, you know? I know there's been some stuff between the fans and him. Hopefully that can be over. We need to just move past it at this point. It's over.

"He's here in Brooklyn, and I'm here now in Boston."

No one in Boston was closer with Irving than Tatum, the fellow Duke product who is represented by agent Jeff Wechsler, who was Irving's longtime agent until he changed representation this summer. And although several players came over to talk to Irving, none spent as long talking to him as Tatum did.

"I talk to him all the time, but I haven't seen him since the summer," Tatum said. "So it was good to see him. I ain't seen him in a long time."

Still, he doesn't expect things to change whenever Irving makes his Boston debut -- despite reiterating that there's no ill will toward him.

"I don't know," Tatum said. "Boston fans [are] tough. We ain't got no hard feelings towards him. It's still all love.

"But I don't know. We're gonna see when they come back to Boston."

As for Irving's return to the court, it remains to be seen when that will happen. After Irving sat out for an eighth straight game with that right shoulder impingement, Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said postgame that he has begun on-court work, which the coach called "a real positive sign for us."

He added, however, that Irving is out for Sunday's home game against the Miami Heat and that the team would "see going forward" about his status after that.

NEW YORK -- The number of major leaguers allowed to use otherwise-banned drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder dropped to the lowest level since the sport started issuing annual reports in 2008.

The results come in a report issued Monday by Thomas Martin, the independent program administrator for the joint drug program of Major League Baseball and the players' association.

There were 91 therapeutic use exemptions for ADHD drugs in the year ending with the 2019 World Series. That was down from the previous lows, 101 last year, and 103 in 2017. Exemptions for hyperactivity disorder had ranged from 105 to 119 annually from 2008 to 2016, prompting some to criticize their issuance as too lenient.

Drugs prescribed to treat ADHD often contain amphetamine and methylphenidate, stimulants on baseball's banned list.

Harlequins full-back Mike Brown is set to miss the rest of the Premiership season after surgery on a knee injury.

The 34-year-old, who has won 72 caps for England, is expected to return to action within "six to nine months" according to the Premiership club.

"Losing Mike is a big loss. He's tried hard to train and play over the past few weeks," boss Paul Gustard said.

"Unfortunately his situation worsened, and it would be damaging to his long-term knee health to try and play."

Brown, who has made more than 300 appearances for Quins, has played five times this term after initially suffering the injury at the end of pre-season.

He was left out of England's squad for the 2019 World Cup.

Harlequins will also be without Scott Baldwin until the new year with the hooker needing surgery on a neck injury sustained in their Champions Cup tie against Clermont Auvergne.

RANSOMVILLE, N.Y. – Two more divisional sponsors have renewed for the upcoming racing season at Ransomville Speedway.

Investor’s Service and Ki-Po Chevrolet will both continue as key supporters of the racing program at Ransomville.

“We’re proud of the long-term relationships we have with our divisional naming partners,” said Jenn Martin, Ransomville Speedway general manager. “The title sponsorship of our weekly divisions is one of the most valuable and visible forms of activation that we offer.”

Investor’s Service will return as the sponsor for the DIRTcar Sportsman division. Ki-Po Chevrolet will continue in their role as the title sponsor of the full fender Street Stock division.

LONDON -- It's not long after 10 a.m. on Friday. The Arsenal training ground in London Colney, just off the M25, is basking in the sun. The countless pitches of the complex are still, quiet.

Inside the main building, Freddie Ljungberg is facing his players for the first time. An hour earlier, he was still one of Unai Emery's assistants. Now, he is in charge of the Gunners first team following Emery's dismissal as manager. He has just accepted the caretaker job. He doesn't know how long he will be in the role, and he knows that this is quite the jump forward, but he feels ready.

This is his first speech to his team. He knows how important it is. His words need to have an impact. He has to inspire them. He tells his players that he wants them happy again so they can enjoy their football. He insists on going back to play the Arsenal way, with flair, movement and energy. He wants energy, spirit and belief. He also mentions the fans and the importance of getting their support, how he wants to put smiles back on their faces.

It's a strong speech, and the players are receptive, focused. They welcome the change of dynamic and message. Ljungberg is popular with the players. They like his energy, his ideas, his personality: full of life. In many ways, he is the opposite of Emery. He has also coached the U23, so he knows all the youngsters.

This is the first day of Ljungberg's new life, a life as Arsenal manager.

He has his UEFA Pro Licence, which means he is eligible to coach Premier League and UEFA matches. At the moment, the club is not in contact with anyone else. The hope is that Ljungberg does well and can steward the club through the end of the season, when it should be easier for Arsenal to choose a permanent manager for a long-term project. Halfway through the campaign, it's never easy to get someone, especially if they are already in a job.

Ljungberg's first training session is a light one, because Arsenal played on Thursday night against Eintracht Frankfurt. Those who started against the German side are on a warm-down, the rest practise properly. On Saturday, however, he will have his full squad available to prepare tactically for the Norwich game. Then, they will get to Norfolk by coach.

After lunch, it is time for him to think about his coaching staff. Who will come in? Will Steve Bould return to the first team after a short exile with the U23s? Who will be the goalkeeper coach? There is a lot to do, as well as analysing Norwich performances and working on the videos to present the players on Saturday. It has been a crazy morning. It has all happened so fast.

Emery's exit

Emery left a while ago. He cleared out his desk and his office. His staff did the same.

He arrived at the training ground with his staff early, as usual, to take the training session at 11 a.m. He was met by technical director Edu and head of football Raul Sanllehi. They informed Emery & Co. of their decision to part ways. There was no tension in the meeting; it was cordial, amicable and Emery and his assistants understood the decision. There was maybe even a sense of relief. The season has been difficult, almost from day one. Emery might have felt that he ran out of ideas and options.

He is now a memory. His 18 months in charge makes his tenure the fourth-shortest in the club's 133-year history.

- Arsenal sack Emery after worst run in 27 years
- Marcotti: Arsenal hung Emery out to dry, but he's not blameless

Making the decision

His dismissal was only a matter of time. He knew it when he left his house in Hadley Wood, an upmarket suburb in North London, on Friday morning to make the 15-minute drive to the training ground. On Thursday night, his team lost 2-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League in a half-empty Emirates Stadium. The Spaniard knew the pressure on him had intensified. He heard the boos, he dodged the questions from the media about his future, but he knew that the chop was getting closer. The club have supported him for as long as they could. Since the start of the season, the board has backed him and given him opportunities to turn things around.

As a club, Arsenal don't sack managers. The club believe in stability and positivity. Edu, Sanllehi, managing director Vinai Venkatesham and the owners, the Kroenke family, were willing to keep Emery. Last week, Sanllehi and Venkatesham travelled to Los Angeles to meet Josh and Stan Kroenke. They regularly chat about the club, in person, over the phone or on their WhatsApp group. But this time, the purpose was solely to discuss Emery's future. They decided not to sack him then, agreeing to give him a bit more time.

Indeed, before the game against Southampton on Nov. 23, the manager was told that the club still believed in him. But things got worse in the past four days. On that Saturday, the last-minute draw against Saints was another poor performance, and the loss to Frankfurt sealed his fate.

Late after Thursday's game, as the rain was pouring down on North London, the decision was taken. Emery's position was untenable. He had to go. For the board, things had gone too poorly and the situation was too toxic. There was no way back.

Emery's strained relationship with the players

The players were due in at 10 a.m. for training on Friday. On Thursday night, they believed that Emery would still be in charge for the Norwich game on Sunday. Then, maybe, it would be the end if they suffered another bad game. As soon as they arrived at the training ground, though, they knew something was up.

Emery's relationship with many in the dressing room was complicated this season. Some of the players didn't understand some of his decisions. When Arsenal were 2-1 down to Frankfurt with just 15 minutes to go, Emery brought on defensive midfielder Lucas Torreira while three attacking players -- Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson -- were sat on the bench. Emery's choices have baffled them all season. The constant tweaking, changing and tinkering lost them. The lack of clear communication and instructions was felt heavily by the squad. There was a feeling among them that Emery had lost his way.

In the same way, the former manager's man-management was poor all season, not just in the cases of Mesut Ozil and Granit Xhaka. There was not much of a relationship left between the players and the manager, and the gap was too big to be bridged. The players respected him, but they had had enough. He had to go.

It's a new chapter now starting at Arsenal. Another one. They desperately need this one to go better.

Ole Miss and receiver Elijah Moore apologized Friday for the dog urinating celebration in the final moments of the Egg Bowl that contributed to the Rebels' loss to Mississippi State.

"I apologize to my teammates, coaches and Rebel Nation for my actions at the end of the game," Moore said in a statement. "It was an emotional moment, and I deeply regret it. It does not represent who I am or who we are as a team, and I will grow stronger from this mistake."

Moore scored a touchdown in Thursday's game with four seconds left to bring the Rebels within one point of tying the game and sending it to overtime. Moore then crawled on all fours through the end zone, lifting his leg to imitate a dog urinating. That drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and pushed the extra point attempt back. Kicker Luke Logan missed the 35-yard attempt wide right and Ole Miss lost, 21-20.

Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke and athletics director Keith Carter issued a joint statement about Moore's celebration, apologizing as a program to the Ole Miss family for the "disappointing and unacceptable action" that occurred during the game.

"Elijah is a fine young man who lost control of his emotions in the moment," the statement said. "This incident does not reflect in any way the type of student-athletes on our football team or the culture of respect that permeates our locker room. Discipline is a staple of our program as evidenced by being the least penalized team in our league, and we will continue to uphold uncompromising standard of behavior on and off the field."

The statement continued to say that the issue will be addressed and disciplinary action will be handled internally.

It was not the first time an Ole Miss player had simulated a dog urinating in the Egg Bowl game. Wide receiver D.K. Metcalf also drew a penalty for the celebration in 2017 after scoring a touchdown. Ole Miss went on to win that game 31-28.

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Josh Shaw has been suspended through at least the end of the 2020 season for betting on NFL games multiple times this season, the NFL announced Friday.

Shaw is currently on injured reserve.

The NFL said its investigation didn't uncover any evidence indicating that Shaw used inside information or that any games were "compromised in any way." The league said that there was no evidence that any of Shaw's teammates, coaches or players on other teams were aware of Shaw's betting activity.

"The continued success of the NFL depends directly on each of us doing everything necessary to safeguard the integrity of the game and the reputations of all who participate in the league. At the core of this responsibility is the longstanding principle that betting on NFL games, or on any element of a game, puts at risk the integrity of the game, damages public confidence in the NFL, and is forbidden under all circumstances." commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "If you work in the NFL in any capacity, you may not bet on NFL football."

The NFL said that Shaw can apply for reinstatement on or after Feb. 15, 2021. He also can appeal the suspension by filing notice within three days, per the collective bargaining agreement.

Shaw, 27, was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth round of the 2015 draft. After playing his first three seasons in Cincinnati, Shaw split time between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.

Shaw made headlines in 2014, while at USC, when he said he suffered a high ankle sprain jumping from a second-story apartment to save his 7-year-old nephew who was struggling in a pool. Shaw later admitted to lying about that story and was suspended indefinitely by the school.