Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...
I Dig Sports

I Dig Sports

Ronaldo nets stunning volley to hand Al Nassr win

Published in Soccer
Saturday, 12 April 2025 16:39

Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice, including a stunning volleyed effort, to give Al Nassr a come-from-behind win over the visiting Al Riyadh in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.

After Faïz Selemani had given Al Riyadh the lead in first-half stoppage time, Ronaldo struck twice in eight minutes in the second half to grab the three points for his side.

His first goal arrived in the 56th minute, with the Portugal forward finishing into an open net from close range after a well-worked free-kick routine allowed Sadio Mané to find him wide open in the 6-yard box.

It was the 40-year-old's second goal that really caught the eye, however. After a cross was cleared to the edge of the box, Ronaldo met the ball with a first-time unstoppable volley into the top corner of the goal.

Ronaldo now has four goals in his last two games, following his double against Al Hilal last week, after what was his sixth multigoal game of the season.

Ronaldo, who has scored in five successive matches, almost turned provider for Jhon Duran in stoppage time, squaring the ball for the Colombian striker, but his shot flew over the crossbar.

The miss almost proved costly as Al-Riyadh substitute Enes Sali rattled the post with a curling effort moments later, but Al Nassr held on for their 17th win of the league season.

Al Nassr are third on the table, one point behind second-placed Al Hilal and eight behind leaders Al Ittihad.

Information from Reuters was used in this report.

Bayern held by Dortmund to keep title race alive

Published in Soccer
Saturday, 12 April 2025 16:39

Borussia Dortmund prevented Bayern Munich from going eight points clear in the Bundesliga on Saturday by fighting back for a 2-2 draw in "der Klassiker."

Bayern were on course to start thinking of title celebrations as substitutes Serge Gnabry and Raphaël Guerreiro both scored within four minutes of each other to cancel out Maximilian Beier's opener for Dortmund after the break.

But Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton equalised on a rebound in the 75th after Jonas Urbig saved Serhou Guirassy's acrobatic effort.

Harry Kane missed a big chance for Bayern, though he wasn't the only one as Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel had a busy match.

"A game of missed opportunities," said Thomas Müller after making a rare start for Bayern.

The 35-year-old Müller captained the side and was pushed onto the field by teammates before the match to receive fans' applause after the club announced last week that his contract won't be renewed at the end of the season.

The draw stopped Bayern from capitalising on defending champions Bayer Leverkusen's 0-0 draw with Union Berlin earlier, as the Bavarian powerhouse stayed six points clear at the top with five rounds remaining.

"Until the first goal ... we created chances and the game was more or less positive for us," Bayern coach Vincent Kompany told a news conference.

"After the first goal it became a cup game. I would buy a ticket to watch a game like this but as a coach you want a little bit more control.

"But we wanted to be six points ahead of Leverkusen at the end of the weekend and we have that."

It's just a little bump for Bayern, who next need to come from a goal behind at Inter Milan in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Wednesday. Munich is hosting the final in May.

Dortmund, who host Barcelona next week in their Champions League quarterfinal second leg after a 4-0 loss on Wednesday, are in eighth place on 42 points, six points off the top four.

"We have a tough game on Tuesday," said Dortmund coach Niko Kovac. "We know the situation. We want to win that game.

"[In the Bundesliga] I hope to continue this run [with two wins and a draw from the last three matches]," he said. "We still have points to earn."

Information from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.

Martínez tackle 'like a goal' as Barça close on title

Published in Soccer
Saturday, 12 April 2025 16:39

Hansi Flick celebrated Iñigo Martínez's incredible stoppage-time tackle as if it was a goal as Barcelona took another step towards the LaLiga title with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Leganés on Saturday.

Martínez's challenge on the edge of the box prevented Munir El Haddadi from equalising in the 92nd minute after Jorge Sáenz's own goal had earlier given Barça the lead at Butarque.

The win extended Barça's unbeaten run to 24 games in all competitions and temporarily moved the LaLiga leaders seven points clear of Real Madrid, who play Alavés on Sunday.

"For me, the best situation [was] not only the goal, but the last save from Iñigo was unbelievable," Barça coach Flick said in the post-game news conference.

"I celebrated it like a goal. Everyone celebrated it as a goal. It's part of the game and, again, another clean sheet. It's the perfect match here.

"Three points are three points. It's fantastic. I am really happy and very proud of my team."

Barça were far from their best against Leganés, who nearly took the lead early on when Adrià Altimira drew a smart save from Wojciech Szczęsny.

The only goal of the game came early in the second half, when Sáenz turned home Raphinha's cross.

Leganés pushed for an equaliser late on, but Barça dug in and Flick was especially pleased with how his team battled in what was their sixth game in 16 days since the international break.

"Today, how we fight for 94, 95 minutes, it was unbelievable," the German added.

"When you see the load the players have in the last couple of weeks, after the international break ... what they did [in those games], the performances, it's unbelievable."

The win was tempered by losing left-back Alejandro Balde to injury in the first half.

Flick said the Spain defender would undergo tests on Sunday to determine the severity of the knock.

Barça return to action on Tuesday in the Champions League away at Borussia Dortmund. They travel to Germany with a 4-0 lead from the first leg of the quarterfinal tie.

The Blaugrana then have back-to-back home games in LaLiga against Celta Vigo and Mallorca, before a showdown with Madrid in the final of the Copa del Rey on April 26 in Seville.

"Now, we focus on recovery," Flick said. "I think the word I use most is recovery, recovery, recovery.

"We will arrive back in the night in Barcelona, then [on Sunday] we recover and train with the other guys who didn't have so many minutes.

"And on Monday we fly to Dortmund. It's like that. We have no excuses. We focus on our job. The team is fantastic again, absolutely fantastic."

Martinelli: Nørgaard 'could have broken my leg'

Published in Soccer
Saturday, 12 April 2025 16:39

LONDON -- Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli has said Christian Nørgaard "could have broken my leg" and should have been sent off for a late tackle in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Brentford.

The incident occurred in the 28th minute at Emirates Stadium, when Nørgaard scythed down Martinelli to stop the Gunners launching a counter-attack.

Thomas Partey later opened the scoring on 61 minutes before Yoann Wissa earned a point with a clever turn and finish 13 minutes later but the game was overshadowed by the Nørgaard tackle, which provoked an angry reaction from Martinelli.

A source told ESPN that Nørgaard attempted to apologise in the tunnel at half-time but Martinelli waved away the midfielder.

Speaking about the tackle to Sky Sports, Martinelli said: "I didn't see that again but in my opinion, in the moment if my foot was on the floor, he could break my leg.

"He said he didn't mean it. I believe him but still, you know? He could have broken my leg. For me, it was red. I need to see it again to be sure but for me it was nasty."

Brentford boss Thomas Frank said in response: "That is his opinion. I thought it was a strong yellow but it was a yellow."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta protested furiously on the touchline at the time and later said, "I think my reaction tells everything."

Arteta also cast doubt over the availability of Ben White and Partey for Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal showdown against Real Madrid.

The Gunners travel to Spain aiming to back up a stunning 3-0 first-leg win on Wednesday as they bid to reach the semifinal stage for the first time since 2009.

White missed Saturday's game after picking up a knock in training on Friday while Partey was substituted late on.

Arteta refused to specify the problem but said of Partey: "He felt something so we didn't want to take any risks.

"We don't know [if he will be fit for Wednesday], I haven't spoken to the doctors yet. So they will check him now and see how he is."

Pushed again on White, Arteta said: "Again, we don't know. So he could not be in condition to be in the squad today and be selected. So we have a few days but we'll have to wait and see."

Gators celebrate title with 60K fans at the Swamp

Published in Breaking News
Saturday, 12 April 2025 15:41

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida coach Todd Golden already has a spot picked out for the Final Four net he cut down in San Antonio.

On Saturday, though, it felt right at home around his neck.

Golden and the Gators were revered in another national championship celebration, this one in front of nearly 60,000 fans at Florida Field during an extended halftime of the annual football spring game. The hoops team has one more get-together on tap: at the White House, presumably this summer.

"It's just absurd," Golden said. "Today was awesome. ... Our guys, especially our older guys, are going to be moving on to go train for the draft. You don't know if they're going to be around.

"To be able to put something like this together on kind of short notice and do a great job honoring our players in front of our fans, which to me is the most important thing. People that have been supporting us really all year got to see these guys together again one last time. It was special."

Golden wore the remnants of one of the nets from the Alamodome; center Micah Handlogten wore the other. Walter Clayton Jr., Alijah Martin and Will Richard carried trophies into the Swamp.

Highlights from Florida's six NCAA tournament victories flashed on the stadium replay boards as players and coaches were introduced one by one. Clayton, named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, and Golden -- hardly surprisingly -- received the loudest ovations.

Gainesville Mayor Harvey Ward presented Golden with a key to the city "so you'll always know where home is."

Golden might not be going anywhere anytime soon. The coach said he and athletic director Scott Stricklin are close to a contract extension. Four of the past five national championship-winning coaches at Florida -- J.C. Deacon (men's golf), Mike Holloway (track and field), Kevin O'Sullivan (baseball) and Tim Walton (softball) -- signed 10-year deals in the wake of their titles. Could Golden be next?

"My family and I love being here," said Golden, who made $3.6 million this season and ranks 12th in the Southeastern Conference in annual salary. "In three short years, we've been able to meet a lot of great people and get comfortable. Florida's a place that we can win national championships, as we just proved. Yeah, we love being here.

"Scott and I have been talking a lot. I feel like we're very close to putting something together that will keep the Goldens in Gainesville for quite a while. I think in the next week or two, we'll get to the finish line on that."

Golden unveiled a working poster of the program's third championship banner, which will be hung in the O'Connell Center to open next season. He also took time to thank fans and several key boosters, one of whom donated $1 million to the program this week. The Gators also have an $8 million renovation to their practice facility on tap this summer.

"At this point in college athletics, it's the lifeblood," he said. "And the reality of it is we need a lot more. We need a lot more to retain our players. We have a good problem right now. We have a lot of great players in our program that we need to support and retain, and we need to get a couple guys."

Clayton, Martin and Richard have exhausted their eligibility and will be moving on, and Golden said big man Alex Condon will go through the NBA's predraft testing process to see whether he turns pro or returns to school.

"If we're fortunate enough to get Alex back, I think we'll have one of the strongest front lines in America," Golden said. "We're deep there. We're athletic now. We're very accomplished. Guys have played a lot of minutes on a really good team."

The Gators finished 36-4 and won their final 12 games. They won four of six in the tournament by rallying late: "Beat the odds to say the least," Golden quipped.

The 39-year-old Golden became the youngest coach since North Carolina State's Jim Valvano in 1983 to win it all. Golden flung what was left of the net around his neck Monday night and still had it on when the team returned home Tuesday afternoon.

He insisted Saturday he hasn't slept in it or even thought much about it since.

"But I wanted to bust it out for today," he said. "This will be, along with some other important mementos over the last month, in my office at home. ... This is a little more important and a little more impactful on the trophy shelf now."

Reports: McKennie named in gambling probe

Published in Breaking News
Saturday, 12 April 2025 15:41

MILAN -- United States midfielder Weston McKennie is among 13 soccer players being investigated for illegal online betting in Italy, according to widespread media reports.

A new investigation by Milan prosecutors stems from evidence given by Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Fagioli in 2023. Both then served lengthy bans, ruling them out for most of last season, after agreeing to plea bargains that also included therapy for a gambling addiction.

Juventus midfielder Fagioli -- currently on loan at Fiorentina -- was banned for seven months after admitting to betting on matches, while Newcastle's Tonali received a longer suspension of 10 months as his bets also included his team's games -- at the time AC Milan.

The duo are also named in the new investigation, along with Fagioli's then-Juventus teammate McKennie and nine other current or former Serie A players, as well as Leeds defender Junior Firpo.

There is no evidence that the other players ever gambled on soccer matches but their names emerged from depositions given by Tonali and Fagioli and analysis of their devices.

The players are being investigated for using illegal platforms for online poker and betting on other sports. As such they do not risk a ban but instead a maximum fine of 250 euros ($284) from Italian authorities.

Tonali and Fagioli have also been accused of promoting those sites among their teammates and other soccer players.

Fagioli said in a deposition: "I pointed out to [former Aston Villa forward Nicolò] Zaniolo illegal sites where he could make online bets, on roulette or poker ... the organisers of the sites had told me that they would give me some advantages if I brought other bettors."

A message about Zaniolo found on Fagioli's phone also said: "Bravo, capture him, work for me."

Vols, Iamaleava split; 'no one bigger' than team

Published in Breaking News
Saturday, 12 April 2025 15:41

Tennessee has moved on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, with coach Josh Heupel telling reporters Saturday that "no one is bigger than" the program.

Heupel said the tipping point came Friday morning, when Iamaleava was a "no-show" for practice amid his ongoing NIL contract discussions with the school.

"This program has been around for a long time," Heupel said after the Volunteers played their spring game Saturday. "There are a lot of great coaches, a lot of great players who came before that laid the cornerstone pieces, the legacy, the tradition that is Tennessee football. It's going to be around a long time after I'm gone and after they're gone."

Iamaleava notified offensive coordinator Joey Halzle late Friday night that he was in the process of filling out his paperwork and planned to enter the transfer portal when it opens Wednesday, sources told ESPN's Chris Low. Heupel and other staff members had been trying to reach Iamaleava and his representatives to no avail after he missed practice and meetings earlier Friday, sources said.

Tennessee was aware that Iamaleava's representatives had reached out to at least one other school, Oregon, prior to the start of spring practice, sources told ESPN, but Oregon said it wasn't interested.

The day before the winter portal ended in January, Iamaleava's representatives asked for his deal to increase to the $4 million range, but Tennessee didn't redo it.

"We weren't going to flinch this time either," a source told ESPN.

Iamaleava was making $2.4 million on a contract that was reported to be $8 million when he signed it. But he started receiving payments when he was still in high school, and the total value of the contract would have been closer to $10 million over the life of the deal, sources told ESPN.

Iamaleava just completed his redshirt freshman season, which means he would have three seasons remaining at his next destination. The spring transfer portal opens Wednesday, and he is expected to be the most notable player available.

"I want to thank him for everything he's done since he's gotten here, as a recruit and who he was as a player and how he competed inside the building," Heupel said. "Obviously, we're moving forward as a program without him. I said it to the guys today. There's no one that's bigger than the Power T. That includes me."

Iamaleava showed promise his first year as a starter, leading Tennessee to the College Football Playoff and a 10-3 season. He threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He completed 63.8% of his passes.

The Volunteers' offense finished No. 9 in the 16-team SEC in scoring offense last year in league play, and Iamaleava was the conference's No. 10 quarterback in passing yards per game (200.6).

The move puts both Tennessee and Iamaleava in difficult situations heading into the 2025 season. Iamaleava's departure leaves Tennessee with just two scholarship quarterbacks, neither of whom has started a college game.

Heupel said Saturday that the program will look to add another quarterback in the spring portal.

Sources added to ESPN that with Iamaleava's future uncertain, officials from Tennessee's collective began to make calls Friday to see what the potential market could look like for his replacement. One quarterback got more money from his school Friday after Tennessee's collective called third-party officials tied to him, a source told ESPN.

One factor looming over both sides is that SEC rules prohibit transferring within the conference in the spring if the player desires immediate eligibility. That means Iamaleava can't go to an SEC school and no quarterback on an SEC roster can go to Tennessee if they hope to play in 2025.

This move puts redshirt freshman backup quarterback Jake Merklinger in the driver's seat to be Tennessee's starter next year. It's difficult, though not impossible, for a college quarterback to come in, learn the offense and win the starting job in summer camp. True freshman George MacIntyre is the backup, and Tennessee has a top-10 recruit in the Class of 2026, Faizon Brandon, committed. He is a five-star recruit who is ESPN's No. 3 overall quarterback.

The market for Iamaleava will be a fascinating one, especially if he is seeking the same amount of money (in the mid-$2 million range). While there is available money in the system the next few months before the era of revenue share is codified, it's difficult for a program to bring in a quarterback transfer with high-priced NIL demands in the late spring portal.

It not only is potentially disruptive for the current quarterback room, but it also could disrupt the locker room. Also, many schools have their quarterback salaries structured for 2025.

The move to cut ties with Iamaleava has unfolded as a classic tale of modern college football, as he arrived at the school with a historic contract and now leaves both Tennessee's quarterback room and his own future shrouded in uncertainty.

The Volunteers, meanwhile, move on, with players emphasizing Saturday that the team is greater than any individual.

"I've been on some talented teams that haven't done too well because there were a bunch of individuals on those teams," senior tight end Miles Kitselman said. "I'm not just saying this to be saying it, but man, this team is different. ... This team is a team. Like I said before, there's no one else I'd rather go to war with and letting these guys know that we're good with whoever we've got back there at quarterback. We've got some dogs here, these two guys [Merklinger and MacIntyre].

"We've got some guys who want to be here."

The third round of the Masters is underway, with plenty of early fireworks among the top players in contention.

It has been all Rory McIlroy in the third round. Looking for his first green jacket, he was 5 under on his first five holes after three birdies and an eagle to jump into the lead. He also had a strong second-round showing, joining Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau near the top of the leaderboard.

But there's still a lot of golf to be played for the biggest purse ($21 million, with $4.2 million for the winner) in Masters history. Here are some of the best moments from the third round of the Masters on Saturday.

McIlory is taking full control of Round 3


Corey Conners is moving his way up


DeChambeau is owning No. 8


McIlory's day just keeps getting better


McIlory is feeling it on No. 3


Eagle for McIlory on No. 2


McIlory picks up where he left off


DeChambeau starts Round 3 the right way

Curry awaits 'Game 7 vibe' in crucial Clippers tilt

Published in Basketball
Saturday, 12 April 2025 14:39

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Stephen Curry aggravated his right thumb injury but was able to play through it Friday and said he will be ready for Sunday's crucial regular-season finale against the LA Clippers.

Curry banged the thumb on his shooting hand and left with 1:59 remaining in the first quarter of the Golden State Warriors' 103-86 win over the Trail Blazers. Curry underwent an X-ray on the thumb, and the results were negative, according to the team. He returned in the second and third quarters before sitting out the fourth with the Warriors up by as much as 27.

Curry dealt with a painful thumb injury in January. He said this latest throbbing thumb issue will not hold him back from facing the Clippers at Chase Center.

"From what I know, just an aggravation," Curry said of the latest injury. "The same thing [as the earlier thumb injury], but hopefully it wasn't anything serious."

He added: "I just know it hurts right now, but I'll be all right."

Curry finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in 27 minutes. He shot 6-for-14 overall and said the injury affected his shooting "a little bit" after he had the thumb taped up.

"Because it was freshly ringing, new pain," Curry said. "But I don't think it'll last too long."

The Warriors will need their franchise star feeling as good as possible Sunday. The winner will secure a spot in the top six in the Western Conference and a playoff series.

"I don't want to be too dramatic," Curry said when asked what the finale will be like. "It should be like a Game 7 kind of vibe. You win and you control your destiny on a guaranteed playoffs series. If you lose, you roll the dice."

Golden State can fall no lower than seventh and a play-in spot with a loss. The Clippers can finish as high as fourth or as low as seventh.

The Warriors (48-33) and Clippers (49-32) last met Dec. 27. Kawhi Leonard hadn't made his season debut after rehabbing his injured knee. And the Warriors did not have Jimmy Butler III, who came in a trade shortly before the February deadline. The Clippers are 3-0 this season against the Warriors.

"[It will be] like a playoff game," Warriors forward Draymond Green said. "Super intense. Two teams fighting for their playoff lives. Expected to be a very physical, high-intelligent, high-level basketball game."

Avoiding the play-in, in which the Warriors are 0-3 all time, would give Golden State a week off to rest and prepare.

Curry said he is ready to play Sunday. But a week off could do wonders for his thumb.

"I'm feeling great," Curry said of the thumb after the game. "Ready to play Game 82 on Sunday. Excited about it."

Celtics fill last roster spot with G League MVP

Published in Basketball
Saturday, 12 April 2025 14:39

The Boston Celtics are filling their final roster spot to end the season, converting G League MVP JD Davison to a standard two-year NBA contract, his agent Corey Marcum told ESPN on Saturday.

Davison, who has played 34 career NBA games, averaged 25.1 points, 7.6 assists and 5.6 rebounds for G League Maine this season.

The 22-year-old guard has appeared in games over the past three seasons for the Celtics since they drafted him in the second round in 2022. He has averaged 1.7 points per game in the NBA.

The Celtics (60-21) hold the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and are awaiting the winner of the first play-in game between the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks.

Soccer

Amorim defends Højlund despite scoring woes

Amorim defends Højlund despite scoring woes

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRuben Amorim has insisted that Rasmus Højlund is not solely to blam...

Weekend review: Real Madrid still in title race, plus much more

Weekend review: Real Madrid still in title race, plus much more

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThroughout the course of the weekend, the LaLiga title race went fr...

Lewandowski (hamstring) in doubt for UCL semis

Lewandowski (hamstring) in doubt for UCL semis

EmailPrintBarcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is a major doubt for the Copa del Rey final and the C...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Rockets' defense 'good enough,' but offense lags

Rockets' defense 'good enough,' but offense lags

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHOUSTON -- Silence enveloped the Houston locker room shortly after...

Butler's poise helps Dubs win Game 1 out of '1997'

Butler's poise helps Dubs win Game 1 out of '1997'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHOUSTON -- Jimmy Butler sized up Alperen Sengun, milked the shot cl...

Baseball

O's give up 24 runs in 'embarrassing' loss to Reds

O's give up 24 runs in 'embarrassing' loss to Reds

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBALTIMORE -- The Baltimore Orioles began Sunday with right-hander C...

Padres' Arraez exits on stretcher after collision

Padres' Arraez exits on stretcher after collision

EmailPrintHOUSTON -- San Diego Padres designated hitter Luis Arraez was carted off after colliding w...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated