Catégorie : Sport News

For college players, bowl games are viewed as mere exhibition matchups that they have the option to skip. This is considered a strategic move, as they don’t want to get hurt in a game that isn’t contributing to the success of their careers. And if injured, it could jeopardize their next season and even harm their NFL draft stock. Cam Newton, however, is strictly against this popular notion.

“There’s no such thing as a student-athlete, not in the Division 1 level,” Cam asserted (via 4th&1 podcast) while criticizing D1 college players having the luxury to skip one of the most cherished CFB traditions — bowl games.

The 2010 Heisman winner argued that if college players are earning hundreds of thousands of dollars, some even millions, they should be treated as professionals and not student-athletes. In order to hold these players accountable, Cam suggested that they should forfeit a certain amount of their NIL deals if they decide to skip Bowl games.

“To fix that, have a clause in it. If you don’t play, give some of that money back,” the former QB asserted.

Adding to the list of reasons why coaches and programs should implement such clauses, Newton mentioned that skipping games should have consequences, just as any other job. “If your dad doesn’t show up to work, if your mama doesn’t show up to work, do they still get paid?” he asked.

Cam resonated with the ‘Last Chance U’ coach Jason Brown’s views on this matter, who also believed that college players should not be treated as amateur athletes.

“It’s no more amateur sports, bro,” Cam added. “When they agree to say NIL is free… able to do that shit, bro, they’re professionals, so hold them accountable like professionals. If they don’t want to play the bowl game, cool, that’s fine, but that money that we gave you for the regular season and bowl games, give some of that money back.”

Newton further cited Christian McCaffrey, arguing that if team doctors clear him to play, he has no choice but to play, even if it means playing through an injury. That’s how it works in the big league.

Deion Sanders clearly shares this perspective. He has stated that, despite the Buffs having a successful season, his top players — including Travis Hunter and his sons Shedeur and Shilo, who he believes will be drafted in the upcoming NFL draft — will all play in their bowl game against BYU.

Star players featuring in bowl games certainly make the CFB tradition special for fans. While an injury is always a possibility, most players don’t even play in their rookie season. They will have enough time to recover. Still, from a business standpoint, sitting out makes sense, especially with the packed schedule ahead for draft prospects — as does forfeiting the money Cam is referring to.

The penultimate race of the 2024 season at the Lusail International Circuit was turning out to be a run-of-the-mill affair before Alex Albon’s FW46 decided to take things into its own hands. The Qatar GP was turned on its head when the British-Thai driver’s wing mirror broke off and became stranded on the main straight — probably giving the likes of Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton a puncture.

Speaking about the incident after the race, Albon described the moment he realized that he had lost his mirror. “I noticed it when I looked into turn 1,” said the #23 driver on Williams’ Team Torque podcast.

“My visibility was amazing! Like I could see the whole corner. And I thought, ‘Something’s not right’. Normally, you can’t see the exit because your mirror is in the way. Because I could see everything. I could see turn 2,” he added.

In the end, his broken wing mirror did not do much good for Albon. He finished the race a lap down in 15th (effectively last as the others had DNFed in the race). Moreover, given how the last few Grands Prix had gone for the Williams team, the loss of a wing mirror was yet another entry in the expenses list.

Williams have to sacrifice 2025 owing to 2024 damages

Williams ended up having the biggest repair bill out of any team on the grid this year. This has hampered their chances going into 2025 seriously. In the cost-cap era along with the fact that the Grove-based team has a limited budget anyway, the team will have to sacrifice a lot next season to ensure they hit the ground running in 2026.

Moreover, after finishing P7 in the Constructors’ standings last year, Williams took a tumble for the worse this season. After the Abu Dhabi GP, the team finished the year ninth in the standings — just above an ailing Sauber team.

Going into 2025, the team have Carlos Sainz coming into the fold. While he would have seen the progress the team made in 2023 as a benchmark, he will have to recalibrate to the current realities of the iconic British team.

Premier League managers have become a lot more tactical and technical in their approach in the last 30 years, with more foreigners implementing a certain style of play on the best teams in the top flight.

Along with Mikel Arteta, Unai Emery and Julen Lopetegui, Andoni Iraola is one of four managers to have started this Premier League season who hail from the same small corner of the Basque Country.

Youth football team-mates included Arsenal supremos Arteta and Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to the 2023/24 Bundesliga unbeaten and also won the DFB-Pokal. There’s something in the water in Gipuzkoa.

Premier League manager Andoni Iraola explains why Basque managers are excelling

“It’s a coincidence but a real pleasure,” Iraola tells FourFourTwo. “The only reason that it makes sense is that Mikel, Xabi, even Unai… none of us were physical players. We needed the understanding of the game to play well. It’s probably helped with our transitions into managers.”

A technical right-back during his playing career, Iraola made over 500 appearances for Athletic Bilabo before retiring at New York City in MLS, alongside Frank Lampard, David Villa and Andrea Pirlo.

The Spaniard didn’t realise that coaching would become the natural next step in his career, though. Long before Bournemouth, coaching began on a different coast for Iraola. Not yet 36 and only recently retired, Iraola took a left-field opportunity on the eastern tip of the Mediterranean at AEK Larnaca in Cyprus in 2018.

“I wasn’t even certain that I wanted to be a manager, I just wanted to give it a go!” Iraola reveals. “I wasn’t worried where in the world, in what division, I just wanted to challenge myself and see if I could picture myself in this environment with these demands – I wanted to know if I could implement things I had in my head.”

Fortune failed to favour the brave. Just like his start at Bournemouth, Iraola struggled and went nearly two months without a win. Unlike at Bournemouth, he was sacked.

“If you don’t try these things, if you don’t make mistakes, you’ll never know,” he reflects. “Now, with the perspective of time, I still think it was the right decision to go there.”

Things have gone drastically better in the Premier League, with a 12th-placed finish in his first season at the Vitality Stadium yielding the Cherries their best-ever points tally in the top flight.

Football is more than just a sport, it’s a cultural multiplier that influences people around the world, shaping trends and inspiring communities beyond the field. Central to this phenomenon is the powerful partnership between athletes and brands, where collaborations go beyond the game itself.

From David Beckham, who was included in FourFourTwo’s greatest team of our lifetime and his iconic work with Predator to Lionel Messi’s cross-category campaigns with Adidas, these collaborations are not just endorsements. They are defining moments that connect cultures and forge strong emotional ties with fans.

Athletes have evolved into cultural icons whose impact reaches into fashion, music, and social causes. Collaborations enable them to amplify their voices, providing a platform to express their individuality while partnering with brands that resonate with their values.

Collaborations can be win-win

For fans, these alliances make their heroes more relatable, showcasing them as aspirational figures who excel on the field and navigate their journeys off it. For the athletes, these partnerships present opportunities to diversify their income, build their profile, and explore new creative paths.

Brands benefit as well, gaining access to engaged audiences and enhancing their credibility and cultural relevance by aligning with some of the most followed players in this global sport that we love. The landscape of athlete collaborations is as varied as the athletes themselves.

On one side, high-profile partnerships with global stars like Lionel Messi, David Beckham, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Kylian Mbappe capture the spotlight. These collaborations lead to iconic moments, from signature products to memorable brand campaigns.

However, niche collaborations with next-generation talents or community-focused initiatives offer a refreshing sense of authenticity. By highlighting younger players these partnerships build trust and loyalty within specific communities, creating a personal connection that larger collaborations often miss – connecting with fans and the audience on a deeper and real level.

At DEFY, we take a look at creating partnerships that showcase a distinct perspective. By connecting niche brands with some of our most talented individuals, we illustrate that meaningful collaborations don’t always need large budgets.

The work of Ruby Doe and Jessie Gale with Sergio Tacchini, or Cole Deeming’s partnership with LUKE – a Midlands-based brand rich in football tradition – serve as excellent examples. Especially with Cole signing his first professional contract for West Brom, LUKE’s rich football heritage was a no-brainer.

These collaborations highlight how focused partnerships, can produce substantial returns for niche brands while enhancing the visibility of emerging talent. Traditionally, athlete collaborations in football focused on performance.

Signature boots and technical gear were the foundation of these partnerships, highlighting on-field achievements. However, the narrative has shifted.

Today’s collaborations blend sport, lifestyle, and culture. Capsule collections like Beckham’s 70s-inspired Predator line or multi-category campaigns that include apparel reflect the modern athlete’s muse both on and off the pitch.

Footballer collaborations now shape global fashion trends, transforming players into influencers who redefine the essence of being a professional athlete. The power of these collaborations lies in their ability to convey engaging stories.

Athletes’ personal experiences often resonate with their fans’ aspirations, fostering a connection that feels genuine and intimate. Through the vast number of social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube and Tiktok these narratives reach audiences instantly, enhancing the impact of partnerships and bringing fans closer to their heroes.

Collaborations also merge inspiration with accessibility, allowing fans to envision themselves like their idols while interacting with products that seem attainable. Navigating the world of athlete collaborations comes with its own set of challenges.

Striking a balance between authenticity and commercial goals is crucial, as overly commercial partnerships can alienate fans and drive them running to the hills. Excessive exposure may lessen the uniqueness that makes these collaborations appealing, and brands increasingly need to ensure their partnerships reflect the diversity and inclusivity of football’s global audience.

One often overlooked benefit of these collaborations is their impact on an athlete’s self-identity. Footballers lead highly structured lives, often lacking control over their daily routines, from diet to public appearances.

The pressure to perform consistently, both on and off the pitch, is significant. Engaging in meaningful collaborations provides players with an avenue for self-expression, allowing them to explore their creativity and pursue passions beyond the sport.

When these partnerships resonate with an athlete’s personal identity, they can be genuinely transformative. Partnerships hold particular importance for lesser-known footballers.

For young players or those in lower leagues, collaborations are crucial for enhancing their personal brand and social standing. These deals not only offer an additional income stream for players earning lower wages but also introduce them to the business landscape beyond football.

As the commercial aspect of the sport expands, young players are becoming aware of the significance of brand collaborations earlier, enhancing their value both on and off the field. Looking to the future, athlete collaborations are set to become even more innovative and purposeful.

With social responsibility taking centre stage, we can anticipate more partnerships that support meaningful causes, showcasing the commitment of both athletes and brands to effect positive change.

Technology will be a key player, with digital advancements transforming how athletes engage with their fans. Sustainability will also be a priority, as consumers increasingly demand more eco-friendly practices.

Athlete collaborations have transformed football into more than just a sport. They’ve created a global culture that blends performance, storytelling, and aspiration.

As brands like Adidas, New Balance, Nike and challenger brands such as Skechers continue to push boundaries, these partnerships will remain a powerful force, inspiring the next generation to see football not just as a game but as a lifestyle, a movement, and a story that continues to unfold.

Italian tennis sensation, Jannik Sinner was recently in the spotlight at the Abu Dhabi GP weekend, waving the chequered flag of the season-ending race of 2024. Sinner has been a ‘Friend of F1’ since last year, having an association with Formula 1 to pave the way for tennis fans as well to start enjoying the pinnacle of motorsport.

However, his admiration for F1 dates back to the Michael Schumacher era, a time when the German driver was the definition of sheer domination. Currently, Sinner is witnessing another such era with Max Verstappen claiming his fourth consecutive title in 2024.

Recently, Sinner was asked if he could be considered the ‘Max Verstappen of tennis’, following his incredible 2024 season. While the 23-year-old humbly admitted that he hasn’t reached Verstappen‘s level yet, he highlighted a personality trait he shares with the four-time F1 world champion — prioritizing family and friends above all else.

“I spoke with Max a little while ago,” Sinner told Corriere della Sera. “We were commenting on some of his words. He said that he doesn’t chase other drivers’ records, because he also loves being with his family.”

“We are athletes, but we are also people: friends and family are the most important things,” he said.

Sinner’s comments reflect Verstappen’s own philosophy. The Dutch driver has consistently emphasized that while he loves racing, he doesn’t plan to stay in F1 forever. Verstappen has time and again spoken about how important it is for him to spend time with his family, even if that means stepping away from the sport earlier than most.

As for Sinner, it is just the start of his good form in tennis. And given the high benchmark of his talent and performances, the Italian ain’t retiring at a young age at all, as things stand.

2024 — the year of Jannik Sinner

For Sinner, 2024 has been nothing short of spectacular. The 23-year-old won two Grand Slam titles — the Australian Open and the US Open — and capped off the year by claiming victory at the prestigious ATP Finals. These achievements have started to make a case for him to join the elite tennis legends, but Sinner insists he is just getting started.

“I’m only 23, not 27 (like Verstappen), and I’ve only done this season at the top,” he said. “The goal is not to win for just three years, but to still be in the game when I’m 30.”

Sinner’s ambition contrasts with Verstappen’s contentment. While the world #1 is focused on a long and successful tennis career, Verstappen wouldn’t regret retiring even right now after 63 Grand Prix wins and four F1 world championships to his name. Still, the Dutchman is going to race in F1 till the end of 2028, when his current contract ends.

England’s new boss Thomas Tuchel was in Zurich yesterday as the Three Lions discovered their World Cup qualifying opponents – and he couldn’t have been disappointed.

After reaching the final of the Euros this summer, England will be heavy favourites to qualify for the World Cup with ease, after being drawn into a group with Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra.

Serbia were their first opponents at the Euros, when Jude Bellingham netted the only goal to give the Three Lions victory.

A talented squad

England never totally clicked into gear in Germany this summer, but Shaun Wright-Phillips believes they have more than enough talent in their squad to be serious contenders to win the 2026 World Cup.

With the likes of Bellingham, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka and Phil Foden at their disposal, plus the ever improving Cole Palmer, the former Three Lions winger thinks they should be confident.

“I think we have the players to do it,” he said, speaking on behalf of casino.org. “The big thing will be getting that front four to play as they do at club level.

“It’s something we’ve talked about with England for many years, and it will be interesting to see Tuchel’s first team selection.

“Will he pick Jude Bellingham at number 10, or will he play him alongside Declan Rice and give the 10 to Jack Grealish, Phil Foden or Cole Palmer? That’s arguably the biggest call Tuchel will need to make.”

The England job has previously been called the impossible job, but Wright-Phillips thinks it’s not far off impossible to do a bad job with the Three Lions these days, given the players available.

“I always say to my friends, it’s such a hard role,” he said. “It’s equally tough though to do a bad job there, because of the amount of talent available and the pool of players, with so many team and individual achievements for their clubs.”

Former Spire Motorsports driver Corey LaJoie was born on September 25, 1991, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Five years later, he was already competing and winning in kart racing events. As he navigated childhood with a growing passion for motorsports, there had to be some motivation for him to balance his academic act in school. His father had the perfect solution.

LaJoie revealed in a 2019 interview that his father did not allow him to enter racing competitions if he got a grade of B or less in any of his tests. He said, “I did the bare minimum to get an A. I wish I’d applied myself, but I was decent enough at following directions where I could kind of skate by and get an A. So, my dad knew that I was doing that and he would take away races.”

“Like I couldn’t go race Bandoleros or go-karts if I got a B on any report card. So, that happened twice. Then I had to plant myself more in high school to keep being able to race late models or whatever,” he added.

This pressure motivated LaJoie to win 19 events on dirt and asphalt tracks on karts. He moved to INEX Bandoleros in 2003 and won the Summer Shootout Championship, while also keeping a tab on his academics.

At age 14, he began racing in Legend cars and gained promotion to the Aaron’s Pro Challenge Series the next year. He competed in the UARA-Stars Late Model Series between 2007 and 2009. By this time, he’d shown enough promise for his father to take away race time based on his performance in school. LaJoie made his NASCAR debut in 2009 through the ARCA Menards East Series.

LaJoie reveals what he finds most annoying about people

The driver was asked what his biggest pet peeve was in the same interview for 3WideLifeTV. He responded, “People riding slow in the fast lane. Oh, man. 90% of the time the person is on the phone not paying attention.” He joked that he just piercingly stares at such people as he passes them.

LaJoie competed in the 2024 Cup Series season driving the #7 Chevrolet Camaro for Spire Motorsports. For the last seven races of the season, however, he was traded for Rick Ware Racing’s Justin Haley. He finished the year driving for Rick Ware Racing’s #51 Ford Mustang.

He was an instrumental figure in the development of Spire Motorsports from 2021. The team decided to let him go following disappointing performances over recent years. LaJoie is currently without a ride for the 2025 season.

It’s little over a month since Ruben Amorim faced Manchester City as manager of Portuguese side Sporting, and consigned them to a 4-1 defeat.

That result came near the start of a terrible run for Pep Guardiola’s side – they arrived in Lisbon having lost at Spurs in the Carabao Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League.

They followed those defeats with another in the league at Brighton, then a 4-0 home reverse to Tottenham, and have only won one of their five games since then.

A finely-balanced game

Amorim’s victory over Manchester City in the Champions League came as he served his notice as Sporting manager, having already agreed to replace Erik ten Hag as Manchester United boss.

He faces Guardiola’s men again on Sunday, as the manager of their cross-town rivals, aiming for another win against them.

Manchester United have lost their last three league games at the Etihad, conceding 13 goals in the process, but former Red Devils striker Michael Owen believes that this game could be much more even.

“I think it’s probably the first time in a long time that Manchester United fans aren’t absolutely petrified going into the game, believing that they might get battered 5-0,” Owen said, speaking in association with AceOdds.

“Manchester City are unrecognisable at the moment and I can’t imagine how they can beat anyone by five at the moment, the way they’re playing.

“It certainly is a great time to play Manchester City. They’ve got injuries, their lack of form, their confidence is down. It’s probably one of the most finely balanced derbies.

“I know it’s at the Etihad and I know Manchester City will be favourites, but I wouldn’t like to put my house on any result. I could easily see Manchester United getting a result.

“It’s probably the hardest derby in years to call, you would say Man City to come out on top, but I’m not so sure this time. Anything could happen.

“I can’t see where Manchester City are going to get their next win from. I watched them against Crystal Palace and it just feels like they’re not in control of any game at the moment.”

The Lakers can’t seem to catch a break. They have lost seven of their last 10 games, with their latest 87-97 loss coming against the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight at Target Center. At the post-game presser, JJ Redick talked about the turnovers and offensive inconsistencies that his team is facing right now.

Redick explained that the turnovers are coming in a lot of different ways and they’ve been unable to put a stop to it. From making passes in tight windows to not holding the position very well, the reasons are many.

The Lakers head coach said that these consistent failures “killed” their chances of winning the game. Redick was hopeful that the four-day gap would be good for his team, and they would be able to perform better. However, the rust seems to have gotten the better of them. Redick also expressed his disappointment with the team’s shooting.

“It feels like we can’t really get into that rhythm from behind the arc. Another game where we shoot some good threes and just can’t knock them down,” Redick said. When asked what could be done about it immediately, he said, “I think we have to trust the process of running good offense and getting good looks and trust that their shots, in the aggregate, will go in more.”

Redick praised the team for showcasing good defense. He believes that it was their best defensive outing of the season, even though they weren’t able to convert it into a win. If Redick has a solution to these problems, he needs to implement them as soon as possible, because with each loss, the Lakers are slipping down the chart.

The Lakers are struggling in the West

Tonight they stepped on the floor without LeBron James, but still fans had high hopes. They tallied 21 turnovers to the Wolves’ 13. The Lakers also shot poorly, only making 33 of 86 attempts from the field. They could only manage 10 from the long-range on 35 attempts.

They are currently the 10th-ranked team in the Western Conference with a 13-12 record. The only positive thing for them here is that the West is very competitive and most of the teams ranked fifth and below have similar win/loss records.

The Lakers are just 6.5 games off the top spot.  If they manage to pull off a few wins in the next couple of weeks, they will regain their spot in the top six.

Last year, Netflix launched the NASCAR: Full Speed docuseries, offering an intimate glimpse into the lives of nine Cup Series drivers, including the likes of Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Ross Chastain, and several others. The series not only celebrated the sport’s top talents but also succeeded in drawing a wave of new fans to NASCAR.

Building on this momentum, the governing body is rolling out a fresh strategy to amplify its marketing efforts. According to sources, the organization plans to introduce an incentive program to reward drivers with payouts ranging from tens of thousands to nearly $1 million for actively promoting the sport each season.

While the upcoming media rights and charter agreements are expected to bring innovative advertising opportunities, NASCAR COO Steve O’Donnell emphasized the importance of tailoring specific messages for the sport’s growing audience.

He highlighted the need for a strategic approach to engage fans effectively to strengthen NASCAR’s presence in a competitive sports landscape.

Adam Stern shared the update on Twitter, stating, “. @NASCAR plans to have a decidedly driver-centric marketing focus in 2025, as the series starts an incentive program that will pay drivers anywhere from tens of thousands of dollars up to around $1 million for their efforts to promote the sport each season.”

However, since the initiative requires drivers to step out of their comfort zones and put in extra effort to increase engagement, fans took a sly dig at some Cup Series regulars.

One remarked, “This might force some of the top drivers to develop a personality. Good move.” Another enthusiast praised the decision, stating, “This is a great decision. This is how nascar regains its throne.”

One fan dragged Chase Elliott‘s name speculating his reaction, saying, “Chase Elliott probably hated reading this,” alluding to Elliott’s reserved nature and preference for minimal public engagement, the same of which is obvious by Elliott declining an invitation to participate in Netflix series’ second season.

Given Bubba Wallace’s tendency to take time to process major news, NASCAR fans didn’t miss the chance to bring him into the conversation. One fan quipped, “Good, let’s get bubbica all nervous!”

Another fan reflected on the timing of NASCAR’s initiative, suggesting that had this program been introduced earlier, Kyle Larson might have reaped the rewards for his double-duty attempt at IndyCar, which garnered significant attention: “That million would have gone to Larson last year for doing Indy. That was the biggest promotion in years.”

Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin is expected to be a strong contender for the incentive, given his established platform and ongoing efforts to promote NASCAR.

It will be intriguing to see which other drivers step up their marketing game and deliberate a push to engage fans and secure a slice of the incentive pie.