Author: Mikesportz
It did not take a body language expert to decipher the lack of enthusiasm in the conversation. Bradley Beal was sitting on a trainer’s table at the Phoenix Suns facility after practice April 4, having what looked like less of a conversation and more of a listen to an elongated message from then-head coach Frank Vogel. At a distance, Beal did not seem engaged nor thrilled. Who could blame him? Beal has been through some challenging seasons, but last year surely tops the list.
Markelle Fultz has yet to sign with a new team after the Orlando Magic didn’t bring him back. ORLANDO — Former Orlando Magicpoint guard Markelle Fultz is still looking for a new home a month after the start of free agency. Fultz, 26, has played with the Magic since 2019 when he was dealt to Orlando from the Philadelphia 76ers, who drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick at the 2017 NBA Draft. Even though he couldn’t find a way to stay in Orlando, Fultz still has value and is one of the best free agents available in the…
SAINT-DENIS, France — Noah Lyles’ sprint double quest came up just short. He finished third in the 200 final, clocking in at 19.70 for the bronze medal. Lyles ran despite testing positive for COVID-19. Following the race, Lyles, who has a history of asthma, received medical attention and collapsed into a wheelchair. “I woke up early about 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning and I was feeling really horrible. I knew it was more than being sore from the 100,” Lyles said after the race. “Woke up the doctors and we tested and it came back as positive for COVID. My first…
BOSTON — When Alex Cora calmed the masses in Red Sox Nation by signing a three-year contract extension last month, he wasn’t just putting down roots for his family and the players who enjoy playing for him so much. With his increased commitment to Boston, Cora has positioned himself to become one of the most accomplished managers in Red Sox history. On Monday night in Kansas City, Cora notched career victory No. 500 as a manager, all with Boston. Sometimes, a round number is just a round number. But this one was more when you put it into historical context.…
Ajax have made a major step in erasing their turbulent 2023-24 season performance on Thursday. The Dutch giants beat Panathinaikos F.C. 1-0 in the first leg of their Europa League third-round qualifier, finally breaking a concerning record. A goal from Steven Berghuis was enough to put the club in the driver’s seat ahead of the trip to Amsterdam. The win means Ajax have finally kept a clean sheet in a European away game for the first time since 18 March, 2021. They previously went 16 consecutive games without one on the road, their longest in club history.
Last year it was expected that Justus Boone was going to be a key cog for the Florida Football defense. He had a solid 2022 campaign as a true sophomore and had all the buzz in the world for a breakout 2023 season. Then, he tore his ACL during training camp and was out for the season. Back for 2024, the Gators are hoping for a big splash from Boone to bolster an EDGE group that is low on depth heading into the season. Florida Football: Guess Who’s Back? Back Again? In 2022, Boone played 282 total snaps. On Florida’s…
NEW YORK — Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider was so sick of seeing Aaron Judge swing the bat that he did something no other manager had done in 52 years. With two outs and no one on base in the second inning for the New York Yankees on Saturday, Schneider intentionally walked Judge. “I honestly didn’t feel like seeing him swing. That was kind of it,” Schneider said, chuckling. “He’s in a different category, I think, than anyone else in the league to where he can just flip the script of a game with one swing.” Not even Barry…
Justin Steele threw 6 2/3 solid innings to help lead the Chicago Cubs to a 6-2 win over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. In his first victory since July 11, Steele (3-5) allowed two runs on three hits, while striking out six and walking two. Mike Tauchman and Miguel Amaya each finished 2-for-4 with a solo home run for the Cubs, who won their fourth game in five tries. St. Louis managed just four hits, including Masyn Winn’s two-run homer in the third. Miles Mikolas (8-9) suffered the loss for the Cardinals, who dropped three of four in…
With heavy rain in the forecast prior to Thursday’s Jets-Commanders joint practice, Jets HC Robert Saleh made it an early decision to keep QB Aaron Rodgers out of action. “Woke up this morning and saw the weather,” Saleh said. “He’s taking every rep in practice, so I just felt it was unnecessary. Heightened environment, unfamiliar foes in terms of taking care of one another. I just didn’t want to expose him to do it. … If it was clean outside, he would have practiced today. Call it overprotection, but it was just a decision that I made.” Rodgers, who has…
Arizona had potentially looked to replace the loss of BJ Ojulari, who is now out for the season with a serious knee injury. The Cardinals also feature Zaven Collins and Dennis Gardeck at the top of their rotation, though many had hoped Ojulari’s second-year jump would have propelled the Cardinals’ pass rush to new heights. Lawson would have been a veteran presence in the room, though he likely would have operated in just a rotational role. He played just six games last year due to injury but reached seven sacks in 2022 during his stint with the New York Jets.…