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Bears sign Scotland's Jordan for next season

Published in Rugby
Monday, 18 November 2024 11:08

Bristol Bears have agreed a deal to sign versatile Scotland international Tom Jordan from Glasgow Warriors at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old will join up with his new club in preparation for the 2025-26 campaign.

Jordan made 21 appearances as Glasgow won the United Rugby Championship last term.

He came off the bench to make his international debut against Fiji earlier this month and has since started the next two autumn internationals at full-back for Gregor Townsend's side.

BBC Sport Scotland first revealed the move had been agreed on Thursday.

"I'm really excited to be joining Bristol Bears for the next chapter of my career," Jordan told the Bears website.

"I've had an incredible few seasons with Glasgow Warriors and I'm really grateful to the club for the opportunities they have given me. I'm completely committed and focused on finishing the season on a high and giving my all for the club."

Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Jordan qualifies to play for Scotland on residency grounds after initially moving to the country to play for Ayrshire Bulls in the now-disbanded Super Six.

Jordan - who can play at centre, fly-half and full-back - moved to Warriors in 2022 and has made 55 appearances to date, scoring 104 points.

The length of his contract has not been specified.

Blackhawks' Hall blindsided by healthy scratch

Published in Hockey
Monday, 18 November 2024 11:42

Chicago Blackhawks left wing Taylor Hall said he was "surprised" to be a healthy scratch Saturday, saying coach Luke Richardson had given him no indication it was even a possibility.

Hall, 33, is in his second season with the Blackhawks. He has six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in 17 games with Chicago after being limited to just 10 games last season because of ACL surgery on his right knee. Hall is in his 15th NHL season, having won the Hart Trophy as league MVP with New Jersey in 2017-18.

"I was surprised. It was unexpected, from the standpoint of I just didn't know I was even close to being in that spot, really," Hall said Monday. "If there were some conversations in the days leading up about my game, or if I was constantly being shown video, that would be one thing. So I was a bit surprised."

Richardson indicated Saturday that he wanted to get Hall more practice time before reinserting him in the lineup. But Hall said his absence from the lineup will end Tuesday, as he expects to play at home against the Anaheim Ducks after speaking with Richardson. Both player and coach claimed they're on "the same page" after Hall left the lineup.

"We communicated. It wasn't anything argumentative. He thought it was best for me to reset, so that's what I'm going to do," Hall said. "I'm not immune to Coach or immune to being held accountable. I just want to play better and be better for our team."

Richardson admitted Monday that his communication with Hall could have been more considerate.

"That could be part of my problem, too. Sometimes you give veterans a little bit more of a grace period," he said in a postpractice interview posted by CHGO Blackhawks. "For me to communicate with him, I need to get to know the player more, to see how they like to handle that. We talked lots during and after, but maybe it needs to be more before [the scratch]."

Richardson defended the move, following the Blackhawks' 4-1 loss to the Canucks.

"I know he's been frustrated. I don't want the frustration to lead too long. So maybe it was a good time for a setback," the coach said of Hall.

The Blackhawks have the worst points percentage in the NHL through 18 games, with a lineup full of underperforming players. Hall has the same number of points as Tyler Bertuzzi, a key free agent acquisition last summer. Connor Bedard, last season's rookie of the year, leads the team with 13 points but has only three goals in 18 games.

Sharks recall touted goalie prospect Askarov

Published in Hockey
Monday, 18 November 2024 12:14

Yaroslav Askarov, one of the NHL's top goaltending prospects, was called up Monday by the San Jose Sharks in a move that had been expected since the start of the season.

Askarov, 22, played well for the Sharks' AHL affiliate in San Jose. He was 6-3-0 with a 1.92 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage for the Barracuda, third in the AHL in save percentage and sixth in both goals-against average and shots faced.

The Sharks acquired Askarov in August in a trade with the Nashville Predators in August, adding another piece in a continuing rebuild. The Sharks received Askarov, forward Nolan Burke and a 2025 third-round pick for forward David Edstrom, a 2025 conditional first-round pick that originally belonged to the Vegas Golden Knights, and goaltender Magnus Chrona.

Askarov signed a two-year contract worth $2 million annually just hours after the trade.

The Sharks, tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second-fewest points in the NHL, have built was many considered one of the NHL's strongest farm systems, including selecting former Boston University center Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL draft. Celebrini signed his entry-level contract with the Sharks within weeks of former Boston College center Will Smith, the club's No. 4 pick in 2023, who also left school to sign with the team.

The Sharks (5-10-4), however, have struggled in goal. They came into Monday allowing 3.37 goals per game, ninth-most in the league.

Selection headaches await for England, but they won't be for Marcus Trescothick. With his time as interim head coach over, Trescothick is clearing the way for England's new, new white-ball era to begin under Brendon McCullum.

"We're waiting for the finalised side of what happens from January onwards," Trescothick said of when the ultimate call will be made on what the coaching set-up will look like. "I think when Brendan and Rob [Key] get together, they'll finalise that probably during New Zealand."

Trescothick has been in charge for England's series against Australia in September and now their tour of the Caribbean, the latter of which he described as "perfect" and leaving the team in the best place possible to be taken over by McCullum.

"If you look at the end result," Trescothick said, "we've won one of the two series and we've won various games in both series that we've played and we've seen more players. So you sit back and you look at it on paper and go: perfect."

Because of the crammed schedule, England had taken several young players out to West Indies, with four making debuts across the tour. The balance, Trescothick argued, was to blend winning with learning - an objective that was achieved.

"Of course, you always want to win. But I think if we'd have had one objective on this trip, more than anything else that was to see the players we've seen and see whether they're going to be good enough next week, next month, next year, or for three years' time."

The shiniest new toy that awaits McCullum is Jacob Bethell. The Bajan-born left-hander looks the real deal. During the ODI series, he became the third youngest half-centurion for England in the format's history, and across the four T20s, he made two fifties, averaged 127 and struck at 173.97. Job done.

McCullum will be able to get to know Bethell sooner rather than later, with the 21-year-old set to be the reserve batter on England's tour of New Zealand. That despite a meagre first-class record where he has zero centuries in 20 appearances.

"All the attributes are there," Trescothick argued in favour of Bethell's chances of transferring his white-ball ability across. "If you had markers to be able to go, right, you need to do this, this and this, he'd be knocking on the door for that.

"There's no reason why he can't break through and succeed, because he's flourished in both formats that we've seen in the recent period of time. You could almost see him being the next youngster after Harry Brook, the real exciting one coming through for the next journey this group will take."

Saqib Mahmood was also singled out for his "superb" performances and was arguably the only player already established within the England set-up to cement his spot moving forward. His nine wickets across four matches earned him the Player-of-the-Series award.

McCullum's appointment will also present captain Jos Buttler with the first real opportunity to mould a team in his image. Since taking over in 2022, Buttler has largely ridden the momentum of the Eoin Morgan era - which carried them to their T20 World Cup victory - before attempting to get the band back together for one last ODI dance in 2023, only for it to all fall apart.

Now, however, as Buttler targets the final years of his career as potentially the most "rewarding", he has the chance to start afresh with a new group of players.

After four months out, Buttler returned to form almost immediately, with 83 in his second innings and captaining with a smile on his face throughout. His fields were inventive and often hyper-aggressive, with two slips and a short-leg in position thanks to Mahmood and Jofra Archer taking early wickets in the powerplay.

"You can sort of see it falling back into place for him almost," Trescothick said of Buttler. "A little bit where it's hopefully some more enjoyable times coming forward with the growth of the team, but also with other other players coming back in and a bit more settled structure with the coaching as well."

The question of ODI returns for Ben Stokes and Joe Root will be the ultimate litmus test. Both are still fantastic players, but arguably represent a step backwards if, after pursuing a policy of youth, you return to two men who have been absent since the 2023 World Cup.

That, however, is also easier said than done. The ODI side was desperately lacking experience, with the absence of a Root or Shai Hope-style player from England's line-up glaring across the series.

"I don't know exactly," Buttler said of whether the pair will be back in February. "It's conversations for the next few weeks with the guys in charge. The guys here have played really well. Some of the young players have done themselves no harm at all. There are people who aren't here who will have aspirations to be in the white-ball side as well. It's really exciting."

Whatever happens next, the latest new era is set to begin.

Cameron Ponsonby is a freelance cricket writer in London. @cameronponsonby

Jos Buttler has said that Ben Stokes and Joe Root are not guaranteed to return to England's white-ball set-up for the Champions Trophy, but hopes the pair retain ambitions in white-ball cricket.

Neither Stokes nor Root have represented England in ODI cricket since their disastrous World Cup defence in 2023, with the Champions Trophy set to begin in exactly three months' time.

Stokes has previously said that the answer would "definitely be yes" if Brendon McCullum, who takes over the white-ball side in January, asked him to return, but added that: "I'm not going to be too disappointed if I don't."
In August, England selector Luke Wright said that there was "no reason" why Root couldn't come straight into a major tournament, although Root himself hasn't spoken publicly about his own desire to return to the format.

"I don't know exactly," Buttler said of whether Root and Stokes will be back in February. "Obviously Brendon McCullum is coming in full-time and he'll be in touch with the guys."

England have a white-ball tour to India in January that includes three ODIs, which are the only 50-over matches they have before the Champions Trophy begins.

Asked whether the pair are guaranteed to come back in if they are available, Buttler added: "It's conversations for the next few weeks with the guys in charge. The guys here have played really well. Some of the young players have done themselves no harm at all. There are people who aren't here who will have aspirations to be in the white-ball side as well. It's really exciting."

Root is arguably England's greatest ODI batter, with more than 6500 runs and 16 hundreds in 171 matches since 2013. However, he has struggled over the past three years in the few 50-over matches he has played. Since July 2021, he averages 22.94 in the format across 20 matches. His last ODI century came during the 2019 World Cup.

Similarly, Stokes has played just 19 ODIs in the last five years. However, in that time, he has averaged 43.38. Across the 2023 World Cup, he scored 539 runs at an average of 59.88.

"I can't speak for them individually but I hope they have white-ball aspirations," Buttler said of the pair. "They're two great players.

"Naturally the teams will become closer in terms of personnel now the overall messaging will be coming from one man who is in charge of England cricket now. The guys who play all three formats, they won't feel it's red or white as much anymore.

"Maybe you'll see the same faces and the same guy in charge, no matter what colour the ball is. It's certainly going to give more consistency."

Buttler was speaking in the moments after a washout in St Lucia had secured England a 3-1 series win over West Indies, the T20I side's first away series win in over two years.

"To come and beat the West Indies here is a great effort. We've had some close series against them over the last few years which has been good. I'm really pleased for everyone in the dressing room who put in the performances we did to get the results we got."

In particular, Buttler singled out the performance of Saqib Mahmood, whose nine wickets across four matches led to him being named as Player of the Series, after two years in which the fast bowler had been plagued by injuries.

"It's a great piece of work," Buttler said. "Having just gone through an injury recently - nothing as serious as Saqi - you realise how much hard work it is. It's an eye-opener for how much resilience and hard work and all the rehab that the guys who have had these back injuries and long-term injuries must go through.

"More than anything he showed great skill with the ball and he got the results he deserved."

Buttler himself returned this series after four months off with a calf injury, but was able to come through the series unscathed. On this trip, he opted not to keep wicket to gain experience of captaining from the field.

"I don't know exactly but I've enjoyed it," Buttler said, when asked if he will give up the gloves for good. "It's been good for me to take one less thing off my plate. Tres has been great at doing that as well, he's really led the side and really helped me and pushed me towards those kinds of things. Change is good sometimes. I've enjoyed being closer to the bowlers."

Cameron Ponsonby is a freelance cricket writer in London. @cameronponsonby

Top 12 women's teams stay put; TCU enters at 19

Published in Breaking News
Monday, 18 November 2024 12:34

No. 19 TCU entered The Associated Press Top 25 women's basketball poll with its best ranking in 16 years Monday while the first 12 teams, led by No. 1 South Carolina, were unchanged.

The Horned Frogs joined the rankings after topping then-No. 13 NC State on Sunday. It was the team's first ranked win since 2021 and victory over a top 15 opponent in six seasons. TCU has its best spot in the poll since the school was also 19th in 2008.

"It means a lot as we build this program," TCU coach Mark Campbell said of getting ranked. "We've come a long way. I inherited a program that was 1-17 (in the conference) and at rock bottom. Last year's group laid an incredible foundation to springboard into this season."

The Gamecocks remained the unanimous No. 1 team, receiving all 31 first-place votes from a national media panel. They routed their two opponents last week by an average of 36.5 points. South Carolina visits No. 5 UCLA on Sunday.

No. 2 UConn, No. 3 USC and No. 4 Texas followed South Carolina. No. 6 Notre Dame heads west to play the Trojans in a top-10 clash Saturday. LSU, Iowa State, Oklahoma and Kansas State round out the first 10.

Stanford fell out of the rankings after losing at Indiana on Sunday.

CLIMBING

West Virginia moved up to No. 13 for its highest ranking since 2018 when the Mountaineers were 12th. After a win over Texas A&M, the Mountaineers have won 32 straight nonconference home games dating to the 2018-19 season. They could potentially face Texas in the Gulf Coast Showcase over Thanksgiving weekend.

FALLING

NC State has had a challenging start to its season, playing both No. 1 South Carolina and TCU on the road. The Wolfpack, who reached the Final Four last season, fell to No. 20 in the poll after the loss to the Horned Frogs. Coach Wes Moore's squad could face LSU in the Bahamas during Thanksgiving week.

RECORD-BREAKING

UConn coach Geno Auriemma will have his first chance to become the all-time wins leader on Wednesday when the Huskies host Fairleigh Dickinson. UConn is bringing back many of its alumni for the game. Auriemma has 1,216 victories in his Hall of Fame career and is tied with retired Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer.

GAMES OF THE WEEK

All eyes are on Los Angeles this weekend: No. 6 Notre Dame at No. 3 USC on Saturday and No. 1 South Carolina at No. 5 UCLA on Sunday. All four teams have looked solid in their wins so far, combining to go 16-0.

Heat's Butler cleared to return; Jaquez, Rozier out

Published in Basketball
Monday, 18 November 2024 12:37

Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler has been cleared to return for Monday night's game against the Philadelphia 76ers, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Terry Rozier have been ruled out.

Butler, who has missed the past four games with a sprained right ankle, has been upgraded to "available" for the game against the Sixers.

Butler is averaging 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.9 assists in eight starts.

Jaquez sprained his right ankle during Sunday's loss to the Indiana Pacers, while Rozier will miss his first game with right foot discomfort.

It's unclear when Rozier sustained the injury. He played the entire game against the Pacers, scoring nine points in 27 minutes. He's averaging 12.9 points and 3.7 assists in 12 starts this season.

Jaquez scored just two points in 15 minutes before exiting late in the third quarter after turning the ankle. He did not return. He's averaging 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in nine games this season. Jaquez missed three games earlier this season with a stomach illness.

Lakers to honor Riley with statute outside arena

Published in Basketball
Monday, 18 November 2024 12:37

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Lakers will honor former coach Pat Riley with a statue outside their downtown arena.

The Lakers announced Monday that they have commissioned a statue to stand in Star Plaza immortalizing the coach who won four championships with the "Showtime" Lakers of the 1980s. Riley also won championship rings with the Lakers as a player and an assistant coach.

The 79-year-old Riley has been part of the Miami Heat as a coach and executive for the past three decades, but his NBA roots are planted firmly with the Lakers. He played for Los Angeles from 1970 to 1975, and he was a team broadcaster before becoming Paul Westhead's assistant in 1979.

He took over as head coach in 1981 and led the Lakers through one of the most dynamic eras for any team in NBA history. With Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leading an exciting team with a groundbreaking fast-break offense, the Lakers went 533-194 (.733) in Riley's tenure and added 102 playoff victories over nine mostly outstanding seasons.

"Pat is a Lakers icon," Lakers owner Jeanie Buss said in a statement. "His professionalism, commitment to his craft and game preparation paved the way for the coaching we see across the league today. My dad recognized Pat's obsession and ability to take talented players and coalesce them into a championship team. The style of basketball Pat and the Lakers created in the 80s is still the blueprint for the organization today: an entertaining and winning team."

Riley will become the eighth Lakers luminary to be honored with a statue in Star Plaza, which has become a popular tourist attraction. The others are Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal and broadcaster Chick Hearn.

Riley went on to coach the New York Knicks for four seasons before becoming the Heat's team president and coach in 1995. He has remained Miami's president ever since, and he won another NBA title in 2006 during his two stints as the Heat's head coach.

Martinez accepts Reds' $21.05M qualifying offer

Published in Baseball
Monday, 18 November 2024 11:50

Right-hander Nick Martinez has accepted the Cincinnati Reds' $21.05 million qualifying offer.

Agent Scott Boras said Monday that Martinez had informed the MLB players' association he will accept.

Martinez, 34, opted to stay put after a breakout season in which he finished 10-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 42 games in16 starts and struck out 116 batters in 142 innings.

The deadline for players to accept or decline qualifying offers is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

Martinez is 37-45 with a 4.09 ERA in 240 games (103 starts) with the Texas Rangers (2014-17), San Diego Padres (2022-23) and Reds.

After four years of middling success with the Texas Rangers, Martinez spent four seasons in Japan, thriving in 2021 with a 1.60 ERA in 140 innings. He returned stateside with more fastball velocity and an elite Vulcan-grip changeup he learned while in Japan.

Before he joined the Reds, Martinez had opted out of the final two years of his contract with San Diego that would have paid him $16 million after the Padres declined their two-year, $32 million club option.

He signed a two-year deal with the Reds in 2023, which included the opt-out after the first season.

ESPN's Jeff Passan, Field Level Media and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The mood in the British camp has been far from tense during their time in Malaga.

When they could not leave their hotel on Wednesday because of heavy rain and flash flooding in the Andalusian city, spirits were kept high with games of spikeball and a yoga session.

The group also celebrated Raducanu's 22nd birthday together. Balloons and banners were hung outside her bedroom door in the morning, followed by the presentation of a candlelit chocolate cake in the evening.

The camaraderie has also been strengthened with what Raducanu describes as a "few inside jokes" running through the camp.

"I don't think there is any pressure. We're just enjoying ourselves," said Boulter.

"I know they've got my back, so no matter what happens, I'm just going to go out and do my best. I know they'll support me."

While Raducanu and Boulter have been leading from the front, Keothavong stresses her team is more than just a double act.

Harriet Dart, Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls all put points on the board in Britain's run to the 2022 semi-finals and, although they have not yet been called upon in Malaga, have already played key roles.

Watson is described as the "life and soul" of the group, with Nicholls also behind a lot of the "banter".

"Sometimes it's like when I leave my children at home, what are they up to today? It's like picking up extra kids," said Keothavong.

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