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☆ In a Bitter Lawsuit, Chess Combatants Agree to a Draw
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Dylan Loeb Mcclain | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

As the statement made clear, all parties in the litigation will now be allowed to “talk openly about their views,” meaning without fear of legal repercussions. It would not be surprising if people in the chess world, including Carlsen, Nakamura and Niemann, continued to weigh in. In addition, there is a looming investigation from the International Chess Federation, the game’s governing body, into the matter. At the time, the federation said it would release the report in October. We always strive to do what is best for chess, and we believe this decision to move forward together is good for the game.”

Persons: Carlsen, Niemann, “, Magnus, Nakamura, Louis, Erik Allebest, Chess.com, ” Organizations: International Chess Federation Locations: St

☆ Matildas to look back in pride after thrilling host nation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Ian Ransom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

England's second goal may haunt Ellie Carpenter, whose failure to clear an innocuous long ball opened the door for Lauren Hemp to swoop. Distraught midfielder Katrina Gorry worried the Matildas had let the nation down after building them up on their first run to a World Cup semi-finals. "The joyride is over, but the glow will long remain," sports columnist Greg Baum wrote in Melbourne's The Age newspaper. Since being awarded the right to host the tournament with New Zealand three years ago, Australian soccer officials have promised repeatedly that the World Cup would leave a strong legacy for the game. Long-term, it remains to be seen whether the World Cup has moved the needle for a sport in Australia that has modest professional leagues and struggles to retain talent.

Persons: Sam Kerr, Hannah Mckay, Sam Kerr's, England's, Ellie Carpenter, Lauren Hemp, Lax, Katrina Gorry, Gorry, Greg Baum, Kerr, Vine, Ange Postecoglou, Ian Ransom, Jamie Freed Organizations: Soccer Football, FIFA, England, Rights MELBOURNE, Stadium Australia, Spain, Sweden, Olympic, Canada, Nigeria, Australia, France, Australian Rules, New Zealand, Seven Network, league, Socceroos, Thomson Locations: New Zealand, Australia, Sydney, England, Denmark, Canada, Melbourne

☆ Neymar joins Saudi club Al-Hilal from PSG in two-year deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Saudi Professional League (SPL) club Al-Hilal announced that Neymar had signed a contract until 2025, with the Brazilian saying, "I am here in Saudi Arabia, I am Hilali" in a video on the team's social media accounts. "I love winning and scoring goals, and I plan to continue doing that in Saudi Arabia and with Al-Hilal." He scored 118 goals in 173 appearances for the Paris club and won numerous trophies, including five Ligue 1 titles. Neymar won the Champions League with Barcelona in 2015 but had to settle for a runners-up medal in the 2020 final, which PSG lost to Bayern Munich. SAUDI TRANSFERSThe most successful club in Saudi Arabia and Asia, Al-Hilal have won 66 trophies and hold the record for number of league and Asian Champions League titles with 18 and four respectively.

Persons: Al Hilal's, Neymar, Fahd bin Saad Al, Al, Nasser Al, Khelaifi, Germain, We've, Pele, Hilal, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nassr, Ittihad, Karim Benzema, Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Angelica Medina, Aadi Nair, Anita Kobylinska, Ken Ferris Organizations: Soccer, Al, Saudi Pro League, REUTERS Acquire, Saudi, Paris St Germain, Champions League, L'Equipe, Saudi Professional League, PSG, Paris, Ligue, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint, Confederations, SAUDI, Asian Champions League, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Qatar, French, Real Madrid, UEFA Champions, France, Argentine, Major League Soccer's Inter Miami, Thomson Locations: Al Hilal, Paris, France, Hilal, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Al, Barcelona, Asia, Riyadh, Ittihad, Ahli, Portugal, Real

☆ South Africa bow out of World Cup ruing missed chances
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Nick Mulvenney | Thomson Reuters | Leads Coverage Of Sport Across The Asia-Pacific. Still Reports On The Full Panoply Of Sport. Many Olympics World Cups World Championships Grand Slams Grands Prix | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Aug 6 (Reuters) - South Africa coach Desiree Ellis said she thought Banyana Banyana could have beaten the Netherlands at the Women's World Cup on Sunday if they had taken their chances, rather than exiting in the first knockout stage with a 2-0 loss. Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar was named player of the match after keeping South Africa, and in particular striker Thembi Kgatlana, at bay with series of fine saves. "With a decision or a goal here or there, we could be speaking differently now, but I think the whole of South Africa should be really proud of this team." Ellis hoped that people would remember all the saves that goalkeeper South Africa Kaylin Swart made at the tournament, and not just the howler that gifted the Dutch their second goal after halftime on Sunday. "This team really punched above their weight considering that we do not have what everybody else has - a professional league."

Persons: Desiree Ellis, Banyana, Daphne van Domselaar, Thembi Kgatlana, Ellis, Swart, Nick Mulvenney, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: SYDNEY, South Africa, South, Thomson Locations: South Africa, Netherlands

☆ Velez Sarsfield fans violently attack club's players at gunpoint
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Uruguayan defender Diego Godin’s farewell match ended with his team Velez Sarsfield losing to Huracan, sparking a violent incident on Sunday, as some of the Argentine club’s own fans viciously attacked the players, assaulting them at gunpoint. When the team returned to their training camp at the Villa Olimpica Stadium hours after the match, they suffered a brutal visit from the club’s supporters, as cars ambushed some of the players. We came out and it was all dark when the cars of the ‘Barra Brava’ came across us. “Atletico Velez regrets and strongly repudiates the intimidating situation experienced last night by some of our first team players in the vicinity of the Villa Olimpica,” the club said in a statement. With only five wins in 27 games, Velez finished 25th out of 28 after the loss in the last round of the Argentine Professional League.

Persons: Diego Godin’s, Velez, “, Gianluca Prestianni, didn’t, Diego Godin's, Roberto Tuero, ‘, ’, Leonardo Jara, ”, Forward Santiago Castro, Francisco Ortega, “ Atletico, Sebastian Mendez Organizations: Velez Sarsfield, Huracan, Argentine, Villa, ESPN, Former Boca Juniors, Forward, “ Atletico Velez, Argentine Professional League

☆ Velez fans violently attack club's players at gunpoint
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 31 (Reuters) - Uruguayan defender Diego Godin's farewell match ended with his team Velez Sarsfield losing to Huracan, sparking a violent incident on Sunday, as some of the Argentine club's own fans viciously attacked the players, assaulting them at gunpoint. When the team returned to their training camp at the Villa Olimpica Stadium hours after the match, they suffered a brutal visit from the club's supporters, as cars ambushed some of the players. We came out and it was all dark when the cars of the 'Barra Brava' came across us. "Atletico Velez regrets and strongly repudiates the intimidating situation experienced last night by some of our first team players in the vicinity of the Villa Olimpica," the club said in a statement. With only five wins in 27 games, Velez finished 25th out of 28 after the loss in the last round of the Argentine Professional League.

Persons: Diego Godin's, Velez, Gianluca Prestianni, didn't, Leonardo Jara, Forward Santiago Castro, Francisco Ortega, Atletico, Sebastian Mendez, Angelica Medina, Sonali Paul Organizations: Velez Sarsfield, Huracan, Argentine, Villa, ESPN, Former Boca Juniors, Forward, Atletico Velez, Argentine Professional League, Thomson Locations: Uruguayan, Mexico City

☆ China was once a women’s soccer superpower. This year’s World Cup is a first step in reclaiming that status
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( Simone Mccarthy Andrew Mcnicol Candice Zhu Cnn | Simone Mccarthy | Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The rapid development of women’s soccer programs across Europe and the Americas has fielded a new generation of powerful teams-to-beat. I hope through these matches, we can form a clearer picture of the current position of Chinese women’s soccer,” she told state media earlier this month. China scores against New Zealand during a group match at the 1991 Women's World Cup in Guangzhou. That’s even as more than thirty years ago, when China hosted the first ever-women’s World Cup in its southeastern Guangdong province. But as norms change, seeing China’s women’s team competing on the world stage at events like the World Cup would also “inspire girls” to play, Peng added.

Persons: Shui, ”, Xiao Yuyi, Rajanish, Xi, –, China's Zhang Ouying, Carla Overbeck, Vincent Laforet, Wang Shuang, Germain, Zhang Linyan, Chan Yuen Ting, Chen guo, Chan, Denmark’s Amalie Vangsgaard, Zhang, they’d, China's, Gary Day, William Bi, “, it’s, Qi Peng, China’s, Peng Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, AFC Asian, womens, FIFA, Americas, Roses, Denmark, Haiti, AFC, Asian, America, Rose Bowl, Veterans, Paris Saint, Swiss, Grasshopper Club, League, Jiangsu, CNN, New Zealand, Sports, AP Soccer, Xi, Sport Management, Manchester Metropolitan University, “ Locations: Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, United States, Europe, China, England, South Korea, Mumbai, India, Pasadena , California, France, “, Guangzhou, Guangdong, Beijing

Those deals, though, pale into comparison with its most ambitious target yet: Kylian Mbappé. Over the weekend, one of the Saudi Professional League’s more prominent teams, Al Hilal, submitted an offer worth $332 million for the France striker to his current team, Paris St.-Germain. Should the deal go through, it would make Mbappé the most expensive player in the sport’s history by some distance, dwarfing the $263 million P.S.G. On Tuesday, it was reported by some news outlets that P.S.G. for a team in what was most recently ranked as soccer’s 58th strongest domestic league.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Al Hilal, Germain, ’, Nasser Al, Al Hilal’s, Fayza Lamari, Mbappé, Ronaldo, Lionel Messi Organizations: Saudi, France, Mbappé Locations: Saudi, Paris St

☆ Jordan Henderson looks set to join a Saudi Arabian club. Once seen as an ally for LGBTQ groups, his move has drawn criticism
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

On Thursday, the BBC reported that Liverpool had agreed to Henderson joining Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq in a £12 million ($15.4 million) transfer. Liverpool and Al-Ettifaq did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment on Henderson’s widely reported impending transfer. Except Henderson’s transfer has attracted more scrutiny than those other players who have moved to Saudi Arabia. Henderson wears a rainbow captain's armband in support of the Rainbow Laces campaign during a match. The country regularly receives criticism for its treatment of LGBTQ people, women and migrant workers, as well as its human rights record.

Persons: Jordan Henderson’s, He’s, Jürgen Klopp’s, Henderson, Ettifaq, Ballon d’Or, Karim Benzema, N’Golo, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Roberto Firmino –, Laurence Griffiths, ‘ Football Ally, Mr Henderson, ” “, ’, 3LionsPride, “, Robbie de Santos, Jordan Henderson, ” De Santos, ” Organizations: CNN, England, Liverpool, English Premier League, Champions League, BBC, Saudi Arabian, Saudi Professional League, Stonewall, ‘ Football, Human Rights, Ukraine, Twitter, LGBT, CNN Sport, Communications, Affairs Locations: Saudi Arabia, Dammam, Al, Saudi, England

Instead, Gomez Cabrera has to juggle a part-time nannying job beside strenuous practices. Now, Santino runs girls’ soccer program La Nuestra in the Villa 31, where Gomez Cabrera has played for nearly a decade. Becoming a soccer star is a common dream for boys and girls alike where Pereira grew up. "How can we realize our dream to become top players if they don't give us a chance?" Oliveros works part-time as a girls' soccer instructor.

Persons: Carla Carniel, Camila Lujan Gomez Cabrera, Gomez Cabrera, Maradona, Pele, Monica Santino, Santino, Christiane Rozeira, Gabrielle Cardoso, Paola Genes, it's, Genes, Nicole Pereira, Pereira, Laurina Oliveros, Oliveros, Lucila Sigal, Anna, Catherine Brigida, Daniela Desantis, Lucinda Elliott, Leandro Benassatto, Sebastian Rocandio, Christian Radnedge Organizations: REUTERS, Buenos Aires's Villa, Villa, Belgrano, SOUTH, Olimpia, National Cancer, Rocinha Soccer, Argentina women's, Argentina's Boca Juniors, Thomson Locations: Sao Paulo, Brazil, Carla Carniel BUENOS AIRES, Buenos, South America's, Buenos Aires, Nuestra, South America, Paraguay, Rio de Janeiro, United States, Argentina, Uruguay

☆ Former Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy found not guilty of rape and attempted rape Benjamin Mendy: Former Manchester City footballer found not guilty of rape and attempted rape
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —Former Manchester City footballer Benjamin Mendy has asked for privacy to begin “rebuilding his life” after he was found not guilty on a charge of rape and a separate charge of attempted rape. But jurors at the time failed to decide on two charges, resulting in the second trial. Outside court, Mendy said, “Alhamdulillah,” meaning “praise be to God” in Arabic. Mendy, who plays as a left-back, was suspended by Manchester City in August 2021 when the original charges against him were announced. He began his career playing professional leagues in France for Le Havre, Olympique de Marseille, and Monaco before moving to Britain to play for Manchester City.

Persons: Benjamin Mendy, Mendy, “, Jenny Wiltshire, “ Benjamin Mendy, ” Organizations: London CNN — Former Manchester City, French, Chester Crown, CNN, Crown Prosecution Service, CPS, Manchester City, Le Havre, Olympique de Marseille Locations: England, France, Monaco, Britain

☆ Nathan's hot dog eating contest crowns Joey Chestnut men's champion and Miki Sudo women's champion
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Eric Levenson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It’s the 4th of July, I got to eat some hot dogs and get a win.”“I feel great,” he added. People take shelter from the rain Tuesday at the Nathan's hot dog eating contest. A spectacle of gluttonyMayoi Ebihara and Miki Sudo compete in the Nathan's hot dog eating contest on Tuesday. Amr Alfiky/ReutersChestnut was the heavy favorite on the men’s side and has now won 16 of the last 17 Independence Day contests, including 63 hot dogs last year. Sudo won last year’s title with 40 hot dogs and holds the women’s world record for eating 48.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Persons: Joey Chestnut, Miki Sudo, Chestnut, ” Chestnut, I’m, ”, “ I’ve, I’ll, ” Geoffrey Esper, Australia’s James Webb, Amr Alfiky, Ebihara, “, “ It’s, Mayoi Ebihara, Michelle Lesco, Sudo, Nathan’s Organizations: CNN, National Weather Service, FDNY, Lutheran Medical Center, Nathan’s, Professional League, WABC Locations: Coney Island , New York, Coney, Brooklyn, Coney Island, Sudo, Surf, New York City

☆ Magnus Carlsen headlines new chess tournament ‘to scale the game to a billion fans’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Ben Church | Coy Wire | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The inaugural Global Chess League (GCL), which got underway in Dubai on June 22, is the latest event to offer a new format for the game. The franchise-style format allows fans to follow teams, as well as players, and some of the game’s biggest stars are getting involved. “I think this is definitely something quite special,” grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, who is participating in the tournament, told CNN. Carlsen hopes the new league format will succeed in opening the game up to a new audience, an ambition matched by the GCL chairperson Jagdish Mitra. “I think it’s an opportunity for the sport of chess and its 600 million fans,” Mitra told CNN Sport.

Persons: it’s, Magnus Carlsen, Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Ian Nepomniachtchi, ” Carlsen, ” Magnus Carlsen, Ali Haider, Chess.com, Jagdish Mitra, “, ” Mitra, It’s, Mitra Organizations: CNN, Global Chess League, “, FIDE, Tech Mahindra, SG Alpine Warriors, Global, GCL, CNN Sport Locations: Dubai, Indian, Russian

☆ 2023 NBA draft: How to watch the next wave of basketball talent find their new teams
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —It marks the dawn of a new generation of basketball talent; the NBA draft is here and its more exciting than ever. How to watchThe 2023 NBA draft takes place on Thursday, June 22 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, and is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. To see who is selected by which team, fans can watch the draft on ABC, ESPN or via the NBA league pass. Two-time NBA MVP Jokić is what all general managers are stiving for, a late round pick who blossoms into a superstar player. First round draft orderHere is who will pick where in the first round of the 2023 NBA draft:1.

Persons: Victor Wembanyama, Wembanayama, he’s, “, ”, ” Wembanyama, Wembanyama, Gregg Popovich, Brandon Miller, Scoot Henderson, Henderson, Miller –, Miller, Damian Lillard, Lillard, Thompson, Ausar Thompson, Amen Thompson, Dale Zanine, Cam Whitmore, Jarace Walker, Taylor Hendricks, Nikola Jokić, Jokić Organizations: CNN, NBA, Barclays Center, ABC, ESPN, San Antonio Spurs, Spurs, Morning, of Fame, Charlotte Hornets, Portland Trail Blazers, Miami Heat, AP, City, G League, City Reapers, USA, Sports, Reuters, Villanova, UCF, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, . Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, Sacramento Kings, Memphis Grizzlies, Indiana Pacers, LA Clippers Locations: Brooklyn , New York, Europe, “ San Antonio, “, Morning America, San Antonio, Alabama, LaMelo, Portland, Houston, Serbian

☆ ‘I Can’t Continue This Fight Any Longer’
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Jonathan Abrams | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The aromatic vineyards of Würzburg and the city’s architectural masterpieces hardly registered with Tyrell Terry as he journeyed to the Franconia region of Germany in December. His life in basketball, once a source of joy to him, had collapsed into a debilitating and lonely loop, and he could see little beyond his own misery. If anything could renew his desire to play basketball, Terry reasoned, it would be joining up with his buddy Nico Carvacho, who now played in a professional league in Germany. In the mornings, he dashed to the bathroom, fell to his knees by the toilet and threw up. The cycle had come for him again, the same relentless anguish that had drained the enjoyment from his life and stripped away his N.B.A.

Persons: Tyrell Terry, Terry, Nico Carvacho, Snow, Carvacho Locations: Würzburg, Franconia, Germany

☆ Australia recommends testosterone limits for transgender athletes in elite female sport
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MELBOURNE, June 16 (Reuters) - Australia's peak sports authority has recommended testosterone limits for transgender athletes seeking to compete in elite female competitions as part of guidelines on inclusion released on Friday. The 'Transgender & Gender-Diverse Inclusion Guidelines for HP (high-performance) Sport' recommends transgender athletes have plasma testosterone levels of less than 2.5 nanomoles per litre for two years prior to competition. Transgender inclusion in female competition has become one of the most contentious and divisive issues in sport. Australia's guidelines come months after the national basketball federation rejected a transgender athlete's application to play in a semi-professional league, drawing criticism from LGBTI groups. Eligibility requirements for transgender athletes in elite female competition vary broadly in Australian sports.

Persons: Ian Ransom, Peter Rutherford Organizations: MELBOURNE, Australian Sports Commission, HP, AIS, Australian Institute of Sport, ASC, rugby, Australian Football League, Australian Rules, Cricket Australia, Thomson Locations: Melbourne

☆ Pro wrestlers return to China as global bouts resume after pandemic
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Casey Hall | Thomson Reuters | Casey Has Reported On China'S Consumer Culture Her Base In Shanghai For More Than A Decade | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SHANGHAI, June 7 (Reuters) - Not only presidents and chief executives are making their way to China to reconnect after three years of border closures, but also international professional wrestlers, who returned this week after the COVID-19 pandemic. "We are glad to let the world know, 'Hey, Chinese wrestling is back'," said event promoter Adrian Gomez. A cast of colourfully dressed characters - both heroes and villains - hammed it up for the audience, in the spirit of the storied WWE, the best-known pro wrestling body. International participants included former WWE pro wrestler Yoshi Tatsu from Japan and Malaysia's Nor "Phoenix" Diana, who is known as the first hijab-wearing pro wrestler. Gomez said the return of international wrestlers signalled a huge change in fortunes for Chinese pro wrestling, which has battled to stage domestic live matches since COVID curbs were imposed in early 2020, sometimes with no audience at all.

Persons: Adrian Gomez, colourfully, Yoshi Tatsu, Diana, Wang Tao, Gomez, we've, Casey Hall, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Middle Kingdom, WWE, Thomson Locations: SHANGHAI, China, Japan, United States

DUBAI, June 5 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund will take control of four of the kingdom's top soccer clubs including Al-Nassr, which Cristiano Ronaldo plays for, as the government revives a plan to privatise several state-owned sports clubs. All are in the top-flight Saudi Professional League, except Al-Ahli which is in the second-tier Saudi First Division. The privatisation plan, mainly focused on soccer clubs and launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, allows companies and development agencies to invest in and take over clubs, SPA reported earlier on Monday. The kingdom aims for the revenue of the Saudi Professional League to increase to 1.8 billion riyals ($480 million) annually by 2030 from 450 million riyals. Saudi oil giant Aramco will own Saudi First Division club Al-Qadsiah, Third Division side Alula FC will be owned by the Royal Commission for Al-Ula while First Division club al-Diraiyah FC will be controlled by Diriyah Gate Development Authority.

Persons: Cristiano Ronaldo, PIF, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ula, Ronaldo, Al Nassr, Lionel Messi, Jana Choukeir, Yousef Saba, Sriraj Kalluvila, Emelia Organizations: Al, Public Investment Fund, Twitter, Saudi Professional League, Saudi, Division, Saudi Crown, Second Division, NEOM, Saudi First Division, Alula FC, Royal Commission, First Division, Diraiyah FC, Diriyah, Development Authority, Investment, Premier League, Newcastle United, Reuters, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Saudi, al, Ittihad, Al, Ahli, Hilal, Saudi Arabia, Portuguese, Argentina

☆ Second U.S. Women’s Pro Soccer League to Launch in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Rachel Bachman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The 11-year-old National Women’s Soccer League has enjoyed a recent growth spurt after years of business challenges and scandal. Now it has another challenge: competition from an upcoming women’s professional league. United Soccer League, an organization that operates soccer leagues at several levels of the sport, announced plans Tuesday to launch a women’s professional circuit called the USL Super League.

☆ Victor Wembanyama: How ‘Wembymania’ gripped France due to the most exciting draft prospect since LeBron James
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

There have been few players whose journey to the pinnacle of basketball have been as highly followed; in figures released by the NBA, Wembanyama is No. And I keep having to explain to them that having a sold-out, 15,000-people crowd for a regular French professional basketball game is not normal at all,” she said. His father was a high jumper, his mother was a former basketball player who is now a coach and his two siblings – older sister Eve and younger brother Oscar – are basketball players. And the French basketball system where he has been nurtured has helped develop his unique talent, says Krasnoff. “And it certainly has driven US interest in French basketball, at least as far as Wembanyama is concerned.

☆ EFL signs record broadcasting deal with Sky Sports
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

EFL clubs unanimously voted to accept the deal, which will see over 1,000 matches being broadcast or streamed from the 2024-25 to 2028-29 seasons. The EFL, which organises the professional leagues below the top flight Premier League, said the arrangement would be made up of guaranteed payments of 895 million pounds and 40 million pounds in marketing benefits. "This is the biggest deal in football, in terms of the number of matches being broadcast," Sky Sports Managing Director Jonathan Licht said in a statement. "We look forward to working with the EFL and its 72 member clubs to give fans the most entertaining viewing experience." The deal is worth only a fraction of the value of the Premier League's, however.

☆ Top pro leagues, media outlets team up to combat problematic sports-betting ads
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Stefan Sykes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The nation's top professional leagues are teaming up with some TV broadcasters to tackle irresponsible sports-betting advertising. The NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, WNBA, NASCAR, and MLS have joined media companies NBCUniversal and Fox to form The Coalition for Responsible Sports Betting Advertising. The coalition, led by NFL vice president of public policy and government affairs, Jonathan Nabavi, aims to regulate sports-betting advertising as it floods television, internet and print media. The move comes as sports betting becomes legal in more states and opponents worry its advertising targets minors. The National Council on Problem Gambling has commended the coalition and promised to work in collaboration with it to "better mitigate problem gambling related harm."

☆ Soccer Ronaldo angered by blow to title hopes of Al-Nassr, opponents hail 'checkmate'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

April 10 - Al-Nassr suffered a huge blow to their hopes of winning the Saudi Professional League after a goalless draw with lowly Al-Feiha, and Cristiano Ronaldo left the pitch in anger after a frustrating performance on Sunday. Leaders Al-Ittihad did not waste the opportunity to widen the gap with Al-Nassr to three points with the last seven remaining, with a victory 2-1 against Al-Wehda. "There are seven games left, we will try to recover, and we realize that it’s not easy after we lost two points, but everything is possible." The image captioned "checkmate", drew more than 1.9 million views, compared to fewer than 100,000 views for other page posts. Reporting by Ahmed Mostafa, Osama Khairy and Shady Amir; Editing by Clarence FernandezOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Club holdings Apple (AAPL) Ford Motor (F) and Estee Lauder (EL) were in the news Thursday. Apple has primarily released its content directly on Apple TV+, with some projects getting limited runs in a handful of cinemas. The Club's take: We welcome Apple making smart, strategic investments that make Apple TV+ a more valuable streaming service to potential subscribers. Estee Lauder EL YTD mountain Estee Lauder stock performance year-to-date. The news: Citi outlined its bull and bear cases for Club holding Estee Lauder in a research note Thursday.

☆ Spanish police detain 23 for alleged soccer match-fixing in Spain, Andorra and Gibraltar
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A group of 23 people, including soccer players, have been arrested as part of a probe into suspected match-fixing in non-professional Spanish, Andorran and Gibraltarian soccer leagues, Spanish police said on Tuesday. "A second layer of the scam comprised soccer players who took advantage of their position to organise the fixing in the teams under their influence," police said. No players were identified, but police said the ring targeted some 30 games in non-professional leagues such as Spain's third division and the local leagues of micro-state Andorra and British enclave Gibraltar. The investigation was carried out in 2021 and 2022 with the help of several organisations, including Spain's football federation RFEF, LaLiga, the Betting Market Global Investigation Service (SIGMA) and European governing body UEFA's Anti-Match-Fixing Unit. ($1 = 0.9246 euros)Reporting by Inti Landauro and Emma Pinedo; Editing by David Latona, Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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