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Shapovalov hits back at ex-coach

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Shapovalov hits back at ex-coach

Canadian angry over attitude accusations

 

Denis Shapovalov Indian Wells 2021

 

Denis Shapovalov has angrily hit back at former coach Mikhail Youzhny after his professionalism was called into question, Michael Graham reports for Tennishead.

 

Youzhny coached Shapovalov for the best two years of his career, helping him to a US Open quarterfinal in 2020 and a Wimbledon semi-final a year later.

 

The Canadian’s career has stalled since, though, and he finished last season ranked outside the top 100 after suffering a knee injury.

 

However, according to Youzhny, that injury is not the only think Shapovalov has to overcome, with him accusing the 24-year-old of not being willing to do what it takes to become a top player.

 

Shapovalov, though, is understandably unhappy at those comments.

 

“Awful how someone can go out of their way to say I’m not giving everything for my tennis when I’ve dedicated my whole life to it from the age of five,” Shapovalov wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

 

“Not to mention being injured since Wimbledon, rehabbing and doing everything I can every single day just to get back on court.”

 

 

What did Mikhail Youzhny say about Denis Shapovalov?

 

Mikhail Youzhny was certainly not complimentary to Shapovalov, suggesting that he was just not committed enough to his tennis to be a consistent top ten player.

 

He has suggested there are distractions ‘outside of tennis’ that holds him back, although he did not go into any details about what he was referring to with that comment.

 

“I felt like I can’t bring him the change he needed,” Youzhny said. “He is listening, but he is not fully doing what he needs to do in order to be a top player.

 

“Two or three years ago, he was one of the guys who could consistently be in the top ten, but for that to happen, he needed to change a few things outside tennis.

 

“He must be healthy 100%, first and foremost, and physically better. Main thing, he has to try to put tennis as his priority.

 

“It is his priority for most of the time, but in my opinion, he made some wrong decisions where he didn’t make tennis as the priority.”

 

Athletics Stars of the stories

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Athletics Stars of the stories

Features wrapped – most read in 2023

 

Antonio Watson competes at the World Championships in Budapest (© AFP / Getty Images)

From Tigist Assefa to Juan Carlos Zabala, we’ve had the privilege of sharing many more athlete stories in 2023.

 

As the year draws to a close, we look back at some of the most read features.

 

Antonio Watson

 

At first, he appears quiet and mild-mannered off the track, in stark contrast to his fierce competitiveness on it. But don’t be fooled by his gentle and unassuming nature; a strong sense of determination fuels him.

 

Jamaica's world 400m champion Antonio WatsonJamaica’s world 400m champion Antonio Watson (© Getty Images)

 

Meet Antonio Watson, the newly minted world 400m champion. His stunning victory on that beautiful evening in Budapest in August saw him join a distinguished group of Jamaican 400m runners who have won senior global titles.

 

Full feature

 

Femke Bol

 

Just four days after running the indoor 400m in less than 50 seconds – clocking 49.96 in Metz to go fourth on the all-time list – Femke Bol arrived in Lievin for the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting with the expectation of running something even faster.

 

Femke Bol breaks the world indoor 400m record in ApeldoornFemke Bol breaks the world indoor 400m record in Apeldoorn (© Erik van Leeuwen)

 

After winning by more than a second in 50.20, she said: “This is a good race I can be happy with. I hoped to run a 49-second race again. But this is the real world, not a dream world.”

 

Fast forward four more days – very fast forward – and the 22-year-old 400m hurdles specialist was in that dream world, coming to terms with the staggering fact that she had just beaten the oldest track world record on the books.

 

Full feature

 

Mario Garcia Romo

 

Mario Garcia Romo may be one of the newest members to the 1500m sub-3:30 club, but the Spaniard cares more about championship performances than fast times.

 

But sometimes – as was the case at last year’s World Championships – a fast time is required for a strong championship showing.

 

Mario Garcia Romo after taking bronze at the European ChampionshipsMario Garcia Romo after taking bronze at the European Championships (© Getty Images)

In fact, to simply secure his place on the Spanish team for the World Championships, Garcia Romo produced a lifetime best of 3:35.52 to win the national title, beating Spanish record-holder Mohamed Katir.

 

Garcia Romo’s momentum continued at the World Championships three weeks later as he navigated the rounds, setting a PB of 3:35.43 in his heat, finishing second in his semifinal, and then placing fourth in the final in a huge PB of 3:30.20 – just 0.30 shy of a medal.

 

Full feature

 

Mary Moraa

 

Athletics may be painful for world 800m champion Mary Moraa, but it has changed her life. It has made her a somebody.

 

“Athletics has uplifted me, from a nobody to now a somebody, from the poorest of all,” Moraa says.

 

Mary Moraa in BudapestMary Moraa in Budapest (© Getty Images)

“If I stayed in the village in Kisii, western Kenya, I wouldn’t be known, but my talent has made me known. Yes, athletics has changed my story, my life greatly. It is hard to explain,” adds Moraa, who has been nicknamed the Kisii Express.

 

Moraa likens athletics to being in school, each day with different subjects for the students – which translates to different training and workouts for athletes.

 

Full feature

 

Donald Thomas

 

By now, many others would have walked away. But not Donald Thomas. Not when he has so much left to give.

 

Donald Thomas at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22Donald Thomas at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 (© Getty Images)

It’s 16 years since the Bahamian won the world title in the high jump, soaring over 2.35m in Osaka. That marked his debut at the World Athletics Championships. He was 23. He’s 39 now and, in the years since, Thomas has returned to every edition, racking up nine appearances in all, which no other jumper has ever achieved.

 

There’s a good reason for that, given the strain that the vertical and horizontal jumps put on the joints and tendons, meaning athletes with Thomas’s longevity are rare.

 

Full feature

 

Faith Kipyegon and Patrick Sang

 

For three years Faith Kipyegon had been ready to break the world 1500m record, says her coach Patrick Sang.

 

Multiple world record-breaker Faith KipyegonMultiple world record-breaker Faith Kipyegon (© Vincent Riemersma / NN Running)

 

That a week later she would then take down the 5000m mark too, well that wasn’t in the plan. The Kenyan star has since added the mile record for good measure – taking it to 4:07.64 – and she believes that the four-minute barrier will one day be broken.

 

Since 2019, Kipyegon’s journey has been guided by 1992 Olympic steeplechase silver medallist Sang and his assistants at the Global Sports Camp in Kaptagat in the Kenyan Rift Valley. Every session meticulously planned, splits on the track exact, led by her pacemaker of 13 years, Bernard Soi. Everything else done with uncompromising purpose.

 

Full feature

 

Jakob Ingebrigtsen

 

Following the successful defence of his 1500m title at the European Athletics Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Norway’s 22-year-old Jakob Ingebrigtsen was asked to describe his ambition.

 

“My main goal is to become the best runner that ever existed,” said the athlete who has already accrued Olympic, world and multiple European gold medals as well as a world indoor 1500m record. “To do that, I will need to win more races and the next one is tomorrow.”

 

Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the European Indoor ChampionshipsJakob Ingebrigtsen at the European Indoor Championships (© Getty Images)

 

Guess what? He won that race too, a 3000m heat. And the following day he won the next one, the 3000m final, to repeat the double he achieved at the 2021 edition of the championships in Torun.

 

Full feature

 

Sintayehu Vissa

 

Most people who know Italian middle-distance runner Sintayehu Vissa simply call her ‘Sinta’.

 

In both Italy and the US, people had trouble understanding her full name, and shortened it to make it easier.

 

But her full name, Sintayehu, in Amharic, loosely means: “I have seen many things”.

 

Middle-distance runner Sintayehu VissaMiddle-distance runner Sintayehu Vissa (© Kelcey McKinney)

Even though Vissa remembers little Amharic from her childhood, she knows the meaning of her name. “The meaning of my name makes me proud,” she says. “I feel like I’ve seen a lot of things.” The 26 year-old, who later this week will vie for a medal at the European Indoor Championship in Istanbul, Turkey, has indeed seen a lot.

Full feature

 

Woody Kincaid

 

Many athletes have a trademark tactic. For Woody Kincaid, it’s his kick. No matter the distance, something switches when he hits the bell.

 

“It’s like, I have to give everything now,” he says. “I’ve come this far, maybe I have something left and we’re about to find out.”

 

Now Kincaid is applying the same strategy to the rest of his elite racing career.

 

Woddy Kincaid at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22Woddy Kincaid at the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 (© Getty Images)

 

“It’s definitely the back nine of my career, no doubt, but it’s also time to make it happen,” he says. “I have the development, I have the workouts underneath me, I have the aerobic base. Everything is there, if I can just put it together.”

 

Full feature

 

Wayne Pinnock, Tajay Gayle and Carey McLeod

 

Shortly after the men’s long jump final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, bronze medallist Tajay Gayle was asked about Jamaican athletes finishing second, third and fourth, with Wayne Pinnock, Gayle and Carey McLeod filling the spots behind Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece.

 

“That’s never happened before,” a Jamaican journalist told Gayle, who smiled as he responded: “Yeah, but a 1-2-3 sounds better.”

Wayne Pinnock, Tajay Gayle and Carey McLeod at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23Wayne Pinnock, Tajay Gayle and Carey McLeod at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (© Getty Images)

 

As the focus starts to turn towards the Paris Olympics, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility, even if Tentoglou will take some shifting from the top of the long jump tree. Still, the evidence was there in Budapest, just as it has been across the breadth of the long jumping landscape in recent years: Jamaica is on the rise, and fast.

Culled from World Athletics

 

Pinnock, Gayle, and McLeod

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Pinnock, Gayle, and McLeod

Making big leaps for Jamaica

 

FacebookTwitterEmailWayne Pinnock, Tajay Gayle and Carey McLeod at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (© Getty Images)

Shortly after the men’s long jump final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23, bronze medallist Tajay Gayle was asked about Jamaican athletes finishing second, third and fourth, with Wayne Pinnock, Gayle and Carey McLeod filling the spots behind Olympic champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece.

 

“That’s never happened before,” a Jamaican journalist told Gayle, who smiled as he responded: “Yeah, but a 1-2-3 sounds better.”

 

As the focus starts to turn towards the Paris Olympics, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility, even if Tentoglou will take some shifting from the top of the long jump tree. Still, the evidence was there in Budapest, just as it has been across the breadth of the long jumping landscape in recent years: Jamaica is on the rise, and fast.

 

Tajay Gayle, Miltiadis Tentoglou and Wayne Pinnock in BudapestTajay Gayle, Miltiadis Tentoglou and Wayne Pinnock in Budapest (© Getty Images)

 

Across the first 16 editions of the World Championships, Jamaica won a total of two medals in the men’s long jump. In the last three editions, they’ve bagged three, the victory by Gayle in 2019 having a clear ripple effect on his compatriots. Chief among them was Pinnock, who won silver in Budapest, his 8.50m leap in the final leaving him just 2cm adrift of Tentoglou.

 

“Seeing Tajay in 2019, I told myself, ‘I want to be on that level,’” he said. “I did it and I’m forever grateful.”

 

Gayle, Pinnock and McLeod have taken similar journeys to this point. The trio are all natives of Kingston. Gayle grew up in August Town, an underprivileged area of the Jamaican capital, and after long jumping 6.50m at the high school ‘Champs’, he earned a scholarship to the University of Technology in Kingston, or UTech.

 

“Coming from August Town, I had nothing else to do,” he said in an interview with Spikes. “It was a straight road to UTech. No turn-off, no other choices.” At UTech, he came under the guidance of Stephen Francis, who has guided many Jamaican greats, and Gayle improved rapidly, jumping eight metres for the first time in 2017.

 

Pinnock also grew up with few resources, but with a plentiful supply of both ambition and potential. “Coming from the poor population in Jamaica, (athletics) made a big, big impact on my life,” he said in Budapest, shortly after winning silver. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from: anything you put your mind to, you can achieve it. I always tell myself that. It doesn’t matter where your background is. Pressure builds diamonds.”

 

Pinnock, 22, started out as a sprint hurdler before gravitating more towards the long jump in recent years. In 2017, he finished sixth in the world U18 long jump final in Nairobi, jumping a PB of 7.27m at the age of 16. The following year, he improved to 7.99m and won bronze at the World U20 Championships in Tampere. He broke the eight-metre barrier for the first time in 2018, while lowering his 110m hurdles best (at the U20 height of 99.1cm) to 13.06, a Champs’ record.

 

In 2021, he enrolled at the University of Tennessee, joining McLeod, who had been his high school teammate at Kingston College. McLeod, now 25, has done a different juggling act to Pinnock in recent years, combining the long jump with the triple jump, holding respective personal bests of 8.40m and 17.17m. McLeod won gold in both of those events at Champs back in 2017 and claimed long jump gold and triple jump silver at that year’s Carifta Games.

 

Carey McLeod in long jump action in BudapestCarey McLeod in long jump action in Budapest (© Getty Images)

 

Having initially studied at Emporia State in Kansas, he transferred to the University of Tennessee in 2019 and won long jump bronze at the 2021 NCAA Championships, qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in both the long and triple jump. McLeod was a little below his best in 2022 but after transferring to the University of Arkansas along with Pinnock, he bounced back better than ever in 2023, winning the NCAA indoor long jump title in March with 8.40m and the NCAA outdoor title in June with 8.26m. The pair train under the guidance of coach Travis Geopfert, who returned to Arkansas in 2021 after three years at Tennessee.

 

Back in 2021, McLeod was asked about the growth of Jamaican jumpers by Sportsmax. “We all are the younger generation coming up in the sport,” he said. “I can happily say we are on the rise to taking over in the jumps in the years to come.”

 

It has proven to be prophetic, given the trio’s recent exploits.

 

Heading to Budapest, McLeod, Pinnock and Gayle were ranked fourth, sixth and ninth respectively based on their season’s bests, but they rose together towards the top in the final. Pinnock opened with 8.40m, then improved to 8.50m, edging ahead of Tentoglou on countback at the head of the standings. It was only in the final round that the Greek star pulled it out of the bag, his 8.52m handing him the one title he’d been missing in his career. Gayle jumped 8.27m for third, the same distance as McLeod, who was edged into fourth on countback.

 

For Gayle, the bronze felt like a huge victory, given the injuries he’d dealt with since winning the world title in 2019. The 27-year-old competed through pain in 2021, managing a best of just 7.69m in the Olympic final in Tokyo while jumping with a knee injury, while a bone bruise plagued him in 2022.

 

“The injuries kind of develop a phobia in the run-up so I don’t want to run too fast out of fear of getting hurt again,” he said in Budapest. “But it’s something I’ve been overcoming since last year, on to this year. I’m sure I’m going to get it (right) by next year.”

 

Tajay Gayle at the 2019 World ChampionshipsTajay Gayle at the 2019 World Championships (© AFP/Getty Images)

Gayle trains with the MVP Track Club and hitting a high speed on the runway is an essential part of his optimal jump. His chance in Budapest looked in jeopardy when he re-injured his knee just two weeks before the World Championships. “I wasn’t training for three days, and by the fourth or fifth day it was getting better and better,” he said. “I’d like to thank MVP and the staff for helping me to overcome that. It’s a good day today, we have silver and bronze. We wanted 1-2-3 but the boy showed up today, so we have to go again.”

 

Gayle knows that with a clean bill of health, that bronze could be upgraded to silver or gold in 2024. “I know I can do better, but it’s hard for me to really get the run-up since that injury,” he said. “But by next year, everything good, man.”

 

For McLeod, a new life now beckons. He recently joined Gayle in the professional ranks, while Pinnock is “going to talk about that” same move in the weeks ahead. Whatever is decided, he plans to finish his studies at Arkansas.

 

“The first thing to do is to finish school, the most important thing,” he said. “You don’t know when you can go out there and not (be able to) compete anymore.”

 

For Pinnock, the silver medal crowned a steady rise to the top rank of global long jumping, and in the aftermath of his achievement, his two-year-old daughter Zaharah was foremost in his mind.

 

“I did this for my baby girl, she made all this possible,” he said. “My mind was clear, go out there and compete, and I got a silver. Words can’t explain how I’m feeling. It’s really a dream come true.”

 

Wayne Pinnock at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23Wayne Pinnock at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (© Getty Images)
As the youngest of the trio, he spent many years following the exploits of McLeod and Gayle, while he also spent countless hours poring over the technique of their international rivals on YouTube, figuring out ways he could surpass them. “Watching people like Tentoglou gave me the motivation as a youngster to reach the top,” he said. “And now I’m there, nearly there.”

Pinnock had injury issues in 2021 that sidelined his bid to reach the Tokyo Olympics, but he bounced back to win the Jamaican title in a PB of 8.14m last year before finishing ninth in the world final in Oregon. Having improved his PB to a world-leading 8.54m during qualification in Budapest, he knows what could be possible in 2024, for him and his compatriots.

 

Tentoglou, of course, remains the man to beat, but while the Jamaicans were content to fill the next three positions behind him on this occasion, they’ll be looking for more in Paris.

 

“Congratulations to him,” said Pinnock. “We’ll come again for the Olympics, and see what we’ve got in the bag.”

 

Countdown to AFCON 2023: Cote D’Ivoire

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Countdown to AFCON 2023: Cote D’Ivoire

Host country

 

File:Flag-map of Cote d'Ivoire.svg - Wikipedia

Located in West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire covers an area of 322,462 km² with a population of over 28 million inhabitants (RGPH 2021).Independent since August 7, 1960, the country is bordered to the north by Mali and Burkina Faso, to the west by Liberia and Guinea, to the east by Ghana and to the south by the Atlantic Ocean.

 

Its economy is essentially based on agriculture, especially coffee and cocoa, which ensured a remarkable development from the very first hours of its independence, making it the leading country in the West African sub-region.

 

Five (5) heads of state have succeeded each other since its independence: Félix Houphouët-Boigny (1960-1993), Henri Konan Bédié (1993-1999), Robert Guéi (1999-2000), Laurent Gbagbo (2000-2010), and Alassane Ouattara since 2011.

AFCON 2023: Cameroon reaches for the sky

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AFCON 2023: Cameroon reaches for the sky

Indomitable Lions aiming for sixth TotalEnergies AFCON gold medal

 

  • The Indomitable Lions aim for a sixth title
  • Cameroon is in Group C with Senegal, Gambia and Guinea
  • Start of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast 2023 on 13 January

 

Former captain of the Indomitable Lions, double African champion with the green, red and yellow nation, Rigobert Song is preparing to play his first TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations as head coach.

 

Third in the last edition which took place at home, Cameroon is looking for its sixth continental title in Ivory Coast. As fate would have it, Cote d’Ivoire is the land where Cameroon won their one of their five TotalEnergies titles back in 1984.

Cameroon’s Group C matches

January 15

Cameroon – Guinea: 17h00 GMT, Charles-Konan-Banny Stadium, Yamoussoukro

January 19

Senegal – Cameroon: 17h00 GMT, Stade Charles-Konan-Banny, Yamoussoukro

January 23

Gambia – Cameroon: 17h00 GMT, Stade de la Paix, Bouaké

How they qualified:

They were twenty-fourth and last nation to qualify for Cote d’Ivoire. Cameroon secured its ticket to Côte d’Ivoire by beating Burundi 3-0 on the last day to go top of Group C and secure a place at the finals.

Player to watch: Vincent Aboubakar

Top scorer in the last TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations with 8 goals, Vincent Aboubakar will once again be the offensive asset to watch for the Indomitable Lions in Ivory Coast.

 

Renowned for his qualities of being able to hold on the ball for his players and find the back of the net, Aboubakar is without a doubt one of the key marksmen of the Indomitable Lions.

 

His last seasons at Beşiktaş demonstrated that he was an excellent pivot in a system using lane attackers.

 

The coach: Rigobert Song

Rigobert Song is a man who advocates an ideology of “hemlè”, the Cameroonian fighting spirit. Regardless of Rigobert Song’s playing system, the wingers are crucial in his offensive system.

 

Players often go wide to stretch the opposing block while offering options to the creative midfielders. The important thing for the Cameroonian is always having numerical superiority in the space where the ball is located.

 

Cameroon TotalEnergies AFCON record:

1970: 1st round

1972: Third

1982: 1st round

1984: Winner

1986: Finalist

1988: Winner

1990: 1st round

1992: Fourth

1996: 1st round

1998: Quarter-final

2000: Winner

2002: Winner

2004: Quarter-final

2006: Quarter-final

2008: Finalist

2010: Quarter-final

2015: 1st round

2017: Winner

2019: Round of 16

2021: Third

 

Nigeria Premier Football League results

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Nigeria Premier Football League results

NPFL: Football made in Nigeria

 

NPFL Table

Nigeria Premier Football League > NPFL Table

NPFL 2023/2024

George Finidi coach of  Enyimba FC

 

Fixtures & Results

 

Mark Cuban’s reason for selling Mavericks

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Mark Cuban’s reason for selling Mavericks

…Is the changing NBA landscape of the NBA game

 

Mavericks owner Marc Cuban on the sidelines during the first half against the Lakers on Dec. 12, 2023.Mavericks owner Marc Cuban on the sidelines during the first half against the Lakers on Dec. 12, 2023. (LM Otero/AP)

 

Mark Cuban sees a future of NBA ownership where the advantages will be in real estate, Schuyler Dixon reports for the Associated Press.

 

The high-profile billionaire says that’s why he sold his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks to a pair of families with strong ties to the hotel and casino industry.

 

On Wednesday, the NBA approved Cuban’s sale of a controlling interest in the Mavericks to the Adelson and Dumont families, who run Las Vegas Sands Corp.

 

The deal was approved just shy of a month after Miriam Adelson, Sivan, and Patrick Dumont announced their intention to buy the club. The purchase is in the valuation range of $3.5 billion.

 

Patrick Dumont, Adelson’s son-in-law and president and chief operating officer of Las Vegas Sands, will serve as Mavericks governor. Adelson is the widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.

 

Cuban will be the alternate governor with a 27% stake in the club and maintain control of basketball operations. He made it clear that the franchise had no plans to leave Dallas.

 

“The advantage is what you can build and where, and you need somebody good at that,” Cuban said before the Mavs’ game against Cleveland on Wednesday night. “Patrick and Miriam, they’re the best in the world at what they do literally, around the world.

 

“When you get a world-class partner who can come in and grow your revenue base, and you’re not dependent on things that you were in the past, that’s a huge win,” Cuban said.

Miriam Adelson is the controlling shareholder of Las Vegas Sands Corp. This publicly traded Las Vegas company built the Venetian and Palazzo resorts but now only has casino operations in Macau and Singapore. Sheldon Adelson, the founder of Las Vegas Sands, died in 2021 at age 87.

 

Dallas Mavericks 2011 team

 

“Through our commitment and additional investment in the team, we look forward to partnering with Mark Cuban to build on the team’s success and legacy in Dallas and beyond,” the Adelson and Dumont families said in a statement. “The goal is to win and to have a team that proudly represents the greater DFW area and serves as a strong and valuable member of the local community.”

 

Cuban said when he bought the Mavericks in 2000, he had the advantage of understanding technology. He became a billionaire when Yahoo purchased the radio internet streaming company he co-founded.

 

Now, the future of media rights deals is in question. Diamond Sports, the company that owns the regional sports network that carries the Mavericks, is in bankruptcy proceedings.

Cuban said the sale makes revenue from media rights deals much less of a concern for the Mavericks.

 

“Financially, we’re in a far better position this afternoon than yesterday afternoon to compete like that,” Cuban said.

 

The 65-year-old insisted he would have the final say in hiring and firing coaches and signing free agents “unless we’re going to go hire somebody that cost $300 million a year.”

 

And Cuban said spending to keep the team competitive won’t be an issue with Patrick Dumont.

 

“He said, ‘Do what you’ve got to do. I want to win,’” Cuban said.

 

Gambling isn’t legal in Texas, and efforts to legalize it face steep odds. Still, Miriam Adelson has made no secret of her push to bring casino gambling to the Lone Star State.

Last year, she pumped more than $2 million into a political action committee called Texas Sands, which donated lavishly to state legislators and swarmed the GOP-controlled Capitol with lobbyists. She gave an additional $1 million separately to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.

 

But the spending blitz failed to deliver a breakthrough this year in the Texas Legislature, where resistance to legalizing casinos runs deep.

 

Asked how active he would be in trying to get gambling legalized in Texas, Cuban said, “As active as I need to be because I think it’s the right thing for the state of Texas.”

 

“Honestly, I don’t care so much about sports betting,” Cuban said. “If you look at destination resorts and casinos, the casino part is tiny, relative to the whole bigger destination aspect of it. Could you imagine building the Venetian in Dallas, Texas? That would change everything.”

 

Dallas was one of the worst franchises in pro sports in the 1990s but turned into one of the best under Cuban, with a lot of help from star forward Dirk Nowitzki — now a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and the leader of the team that won the 2011 NBA championship.

 

A self-professed basketball junkie who graduated from Indiana University, Cuban is almost always courtside for Mavericks games. He still will be.

“It’s a partnership,” Cuban said. “They’re not basketball people. I’m not a real estate person. That’s why I did it. I could have gotten more money from somebody else. I’ve known these guys for a long time. They’re great at the things I’m not good at.”

 

Colts, Raiders Injury Report

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Colts, Raiders Injury Report

Great News Coming for Playoff Push

 

Nfl Las Vegas Raiders 12"x 12" 2024 Wall Calendar : Target

 

The Indianapolis Colts got good news on the injury report about a pair of critical offensive starters ahead of their showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders, Jake Arthur reports for the Horseshoe Huddle Fan Nation.

 

he Indianapolis Colts hit the practice field on Wednesday for a walk-through as they prepare to put last weekend’s disappointing loss in the rearview mirror and shift focus to this Sunday’s matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium with the Las Vegas Raiders.

 

The importance of the Colts’ remaining two regular-season games is massive and the good news is that a pair of critical offensive starters in wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. and right tackle Braden Smith were listed as participants.

 

Both teams held walk-throughs on Wednesday rather than full practices, leading to the injury report being an estimation of a player’s participation if there was a practice.

 

Here are the reports for the Colts and Raiders for Week 17.

 

COLTS

WEDNESDAY

  • Did Not Participate – LB Cameron McGrone (illness), WR D.J. Montgomery (groin)
  • Limited Participant – RB Zack Moss (forearm), LB Segun Olubi (hip), WR Michael Pittman Jr. (shoulder/concussion)
  • Full Participant – C Jack Anderson (illness), OT Braden Smith (knee), CB Ameer Speed (knee)

 

Indianapolis Colts | National Football League, News, Scores ...

 

While it’s premature to say either Pittman or Smith will play on Sunday, both being listed as participants to start the week is a great sign. Pittman progressed through the concussion protocol last week, even being cleared before suffering a setback and landing back in the protocol. Smith has been out for most of the last four games and hasn’t practiced since.

 

In Pittman’s absence last week against the Atlanta Falcons, outside receivers Alec Pierce and Montgomery combined to catch 4-of-10 targets for 38 yards. Pittman alone averages 7 receptions (10 targets) for 76 yards per game this season.

 

Smith’s replacement, rookie Blake Freeland, ranks 22nd out of 24 qualifying rookie offensive linemen in pass-block efficiency (93.8%) this season according to Pro Football Focus after allowing at least 4 quarterback hurries in 7 games.

 

Las Vegas Raiders Beat Writer: 'I Could Definitely See Utah ...

 

RAIDERS

WEDNESDAY

  • Did Not Participate – RB Josh Jacobs (quadriceps), TE Michael Mayer (toe)
  • Limited Participant – DE Maxx Crosby (knee), OT Jermaine Eluemunor (knee), C Andre James (ankle), DE Malcolm Koonce (ribs), OT Kolton Miller (shoulder), WR D.J. Turner (shoulder)
  • Full Participant – LS Jacob Bobenmoyer (knee)

 

Jacobs and Mayer are a couple of key players to watch as starters on an already-struggling Raiders offense.

 

The Raiders also placed tight end Jesper Horsted on Injured Reserve this week with a hamstring injury.

 

Napoli trains hard for Monza’s visit

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Napoli trains hard for Monza’s visit

Walter Mazzarri plans Ambush surprises for

 

Jesper Lindstrom trained with the squad while Stanislav Lobotka followed a custom schedule

 

 

By Ed Emeanua

 

Walter Mazzarri;s Napoli are preparing very hard for Friday’s Serie showdown with visiting Monza at the Stadio Armando Maradona.

 

The The Parthenopeans got down to serious business training on Christmas day as they lay ambush for the visitors on Friday’s fixture.

 

The team also rolled out on Wednesday, as well as Thursday for more training  at the SSCN Konami Training Centre today. The players returned for training again on Thursday afternoon at the Konami Training Centre to continue preparation for visiting Monza.

 

The players worked on pitch two, kicking off with a warm-up and rondos on Thursday

 

That was followed by speed work and technical and tactical drills. There was a series of small-sided games to finish off

Stanislav Lobotka was in full training, while Diego Demme trained in the gym

Stanislav Lobotka was in full training, while Diego Demme trained in the gym

 

Mazzarri’s side are leaving no stone unturned as they prepare to take on Monza, Friday, in a Serie A Matchday 18, kicking off at 18:30 CET.

 

Mazzarri then fielded questions from the Media after Thursday’s training.

 

“It’s a huge game against Monza tomorrow,” Mazzarri said in his pre-match press conference on the eve of the match with Monza.

 

“We need to play with attacking impetus and also strike the right balance. We can’t have any more slip-ups. We need to get back to our brilliant selves and restore our confidence levels.

 

“I’m pleased about the expected attendance tomorrow. I’d like to thank the fans as they’re showing us all their support. That’s also why I’m expecting a great performance.”

 

Based on the January transfer market, are fans going to see a tactical revolution for the team?

 

“You don’t have revolutions in January. I want to help the players so that they can rediscover the confidence that they had last year, the ability to play well and stay solid,” he said.

 

“I’m only focused on Monza today. I don’t like talking about the long term. The priority right now is getting a good result tomorrow and then we can look ahead.

 

 

“Monza play good football. They have a fine coach and know how to make life difficult for everyone. My thought is purely on the game tomorrow, which is so important for us.”

 

Victor Osimhen and Matteo Politano are out, so what sort of attacking set-up could we see? Could it be time for Jesper Lindstrom to return?

 

“We’ve almost got Lindstrom back, but he certainly won’t be able to play the full 90 minutes. I’ll assess what’s best based on our resources after the last training session today and which formation to play in.

 

“We can make five changes and we can switch our tactical set-up during the game. The idea is to understand who can be at their best based on how many minutes they’ve played.”

 

What have you made of the team’s form over the last month since you returned to Napoli?

 

“We’re experiencing an injury crisis at the moment. We’ve also lost Natan for a period of time. I think that we’ll have deserved two or three more points from my first cycle back in charge based on how we’ve performed and how we’ve played on the front foot. That’s my only regret, but I’m here to help the lads out and I’m confident we can improve.

 

“When we’re playing well, we usually impose our game on everyone. We’re also improving defensively. Unfortunately, we’ve paid for some mistakes which have led to us dropping points. The aim is to have attacking threat while striking the right balance and remaining solid.”

 

Could we see Giovanni Simeone and Jack Raspadori play together tomorrow?

 

“I do like them both to tell the truth, but playing them together is difficult at the moment because it would mean changing our tactical approach and we would then be short of options on the bench. Tomorrow one of them will start and we’ll then see how the game pans out.

 

 

“We’re often in and around the opposition box, but what we’re missing is our finishing. I’d like to work harder on our attacking game in training, but with all our commitments, it might tire the players out. I say that sometimes all you need is a slice of luck to turn things around in terms of taking chances.

 

“I can see that mentally this team has fire on the inside and is acquiring the sort of spirit that I like. We need to channel that energy in a positive way. I’m sure that as soon as a few things go our way, we’ll see a Napoli side that never gives up and shows what we are capable of. That’s what will show we are on the right path.”

 

Super Eagles are giants-Mikel Obi

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Super Eagles are giants-Mikel Obi

‘We are always the favorites,’ Says the former Nigeria skipper

 

 

Like any international competition, the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Cote d’Ivoire 2023, will have several teams carrying the heavy burden of being tournament favorites.

 

Drawn against tournament hosts Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau, the Super Eagles of Nigeria head to Cote d’Ivoire as one of the teams poised to do well and potentially go all the way.

 

This is according to their former skipper, John Obi Mikel, who lifted the title 10 years ago to end a 19-year drought for the Super Eagles when they edged Burkina Faso 1-0 at Soccer City in Johannesburg back in 2013.

 

Mikel was speaking to CAFOnline when admitting that the three-time champions will always go into the TotalEnergies AFCON as favorites and was hoping that this generation of players could emulate what they did a decade ago.

 

“We are always favorites; this is true every time we go into the tournament, and it’s no different this time. Everyone knows that we are one of the favorites – not the massive favorite, but one of the favorites”, said the former skipper.

 

Nigerian football was made proud just a few weeks ago when star player Victor Osimhen was voted the best African player in the men’s category at the CAF Awards 2023, coupled with Asisat Oshoala replicating this in the women’s category.

 

A fourth TotalEnergies AFCON title for the Super Eagles would be a massive achievement for the African powerhouse that has contributed significantly to the rich history books of the tournament over the years, lifting it in 1980, 1994, and 2013.

 

They were also runners-up in 1984, 1988, 1990 and 2000.

 

“To be able to do it again will be a massive achievement for us, which I think the country needs right now as well. We need to get our football back where it should be, and by winning this tournament, it will take it back to where it should be”, urged Mikel.

 

Asked whether there were any similarities that he could draw inspiration from in the two generations, the former Chelsea midfielder conceded that the game had evolved a great deal since they lifted the title but believed in the potential of the side.

 

“Football has changed dramatically, and I think this group of players are a good young team and play a different brand of football than we did, so let’s hope we can see a good performance from the Nigerian team,” he said.

 

Nigeria kicked off their campaign on 14 January against Equatorial Guinea before facing the hosts four days later in what will be a repeat of the 2013 edition quarter-final that saw them overcome Cote d’Ivoire 2-1.

 

They conclude the Group A campaign with a tie against Guinea-Bissau on 22 January.

 

Culled from Cafonline

 

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