Catégorie : Sport News

Thr rumours suddenly came out of nowhere. His name had not been heard as one on the trading block. And then it was. Not that the Astros don’t have a history of not handing out large contracts or even retaining free agents to be. It’s just that this one is kind of different.

The Astros mini dynasty is unsurpassed. They’ve reached the post season eight times in a row, nine of ten and this year ended a string of seven consecutive visits to the championship series. The run including two world series championships.

Jose Altuve is the anamoly, he’s seen it all, been on all ten of those teams. He has watched his teammates come and go. The 2017 team that started the ALCS run included Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and George Springer.

Springer the first to go

You wouldn’t say that the Astros have been wrong in the people that haven’t been retained but it is a thing.  Outfielder George Springer departed after the 2020 season. After seven seasons in Houston, he was entering his age 31 season.

Springer picked up MVP votes in three of his last four seasons in Houston. He was signed to a six year $150 million deal. The jays will not get their money’s worth. Springer has had problems staying on the field. His OPS+ has dropped each season.

He matched his OPS+ of 141 in his first season in Toronto from his last in Houston but it’s dropped each season since. 132, 102 and last season’s below average 92 with a career low OPS of 674. You would have to say Houston made the right call.

Correa was next

Correa who became a regular in 2015 at age 20, departed after seven seasons in Houston after the 2021 season.

Correa was signed and sealed to the Giants on a  13-year, $350 million contract that he was hours away from signing in December 2022 before San Francisco called it off. Now he too appears to be on the trade block.

After the Giants debacle, Correa then waited on an agreed to contract with the Mets before finally moving on to Minnesota but the Astros kept on rolling as Jeremy Pena seamlessly fit into Correa’s shortstop spot.

They also let Justin Verlander go after a Cy Young season. The Mets grabbing away the almost forty year old righthander who would return after the Mets season went sour.

This off season is different. Now third baseman Alex Bregman has also filed for free agency. That’s another hole to fill. And suddenly word out of Houston is that either Tucker or star righthand pitcher Framber Valdez will be traded.

The difference between Tucker and the other dearly departed Astros is his stature as one of baseball’s best players entering his age twenty eight season. He’s still another season from free agency.

The most repeated deal is with the Cubs, bringing back his right field replacement in Seiya Suzuki and one at third base for Bregman in Isaac Paredes.

Tucker certainly seems like someone you’d like to talk to about a long term extention right now. It’s possible the still wet numbers on the Juan Soto contract is scaring them off and perhaps will do the same to other teams like the Blue Jays with Vladimir Guerrero Jr, also a year away from freedom.

Despite NASCAR’s attempts to allow teams to have more practice time ahead of the 2025 events and please fans by giving them what they have been demanding for a long time now, the new weekend format received criticism online.

The fraternity reacted to the governing body’s increase of 20-minute practice sessions to 25 minutes as a mere eyewash ahead of the upcoming season, with reactions from the community pouring in with one singular sentiment amongst all of them.

“It should be a hour of practice minimum. This does nothing besides let the teams get on the track and make sure nothing is leaking or rubbing that’s it. They didnt listen to the fans, they half assed listened again!” exclaimed one fan, highlighting how the fraternity is in unison on NASCAR’s half-baked efforts.

“If only they could give us something like 2 1-hour practice sessions,” wrote another follower. “They didn’t listen to anyone. Should be an hour practice at every race,” chimed in yet another.

“Big deal. 5 extra minutes. Stupid,” mocked one fan as the community’s reaction was captured by USA TODAY Sports writer Austin Konenski’s X (formerly Twitter) post.

What changes has NASCAR made?

The weekend format changes include a 5-minute increase in practice time for teams and drivers to set up their cars ahead of Sunday’s race, with no practice ahead of superspeedway-style tracks, just as has been the case this year. Only the upcoming 2025 Daytona 500 will see a 50-minute pre-qualifying session.

Along with tweaked practice session duration, the qualifying format has also been changed to a single round for cars to go out on track and set the starting lineup for Sunday’s event. This excludes superspeedway-style venues, which will still see one-lap qualifying with a final session to determine the top 10.

Starting positions will now solely depend on where drivers qualify instead of row-by-row designations according to the qualifying groups on venues other than superspeedways. Procedures for road course events will see two 20-minute qualifying sessions for two groups of cars on the track.

“I think it’s going to be welcomed by the industry,” said Cup Series director Brad Moran of the changes that will be implemented come the 2025 season of racing throughout the nationwide series, which reportedly have come after feedback received from the industry over the past few years.

While the same did not resonate with the fans right off the bat, it remains to be seen if it brings a tangible change to the quality of on-track racing.

Ilia Topuria has a message for his doubters: don’t start celebrating just yet. The reigning UFC bantamweight champion announced plans to move up to the lightweight division, but he’s making it clear that he’s not leaving his featherweight title behind.

After he had announced in an interview that the world had seen the last of him at featherweight, there was a clamoring to know whether he would look to become a two-division champ or vacate his belt

He has now clarified all that doubt by claiming that he plans to rule both divisions.

“I will not leave the title vacant, the decision to move up to the next category is entirely mine. I haven’t had any conversations with the UFC yet, so everything is still to be decided.”

Known for his relentless dominance in the featherweight division, Topuria seems unfazed by the challenges awaiting him at lightweight. As a matter of fact, in order to prove himself before challenging for the title, he is already eyeing a massive debut fight. His target? None other than Charles Oliveira, the former lightweight champion and one of the most dangerous fighters in the division.

Topuria’s confidence is palpable as he added,

“Stop celebrating because I’m not going anywhere, I have conquered my division, and I will do the same in the next one.”

The move, while bold, reflects ‘El Matador’s‘ fighter’s ambition to carve his name into UFC history. By holding onto his featherweight belt while chasing glory at lightweight, Topuria is aiming to join the elite ranks of fighters who have held titles in multiple divisions.

However, how he plans on defending both remains to be seen.

This plan of his has already stirred up a lot of conversation, even furthering the comparisons to Conor McGregor.

Is Topuria pulling off a McGregor

Could Topuria be trying to follow the Conor McGregor blueprint?

Initially, Topuria was expected to defend his featherweight title in a rematch against Alexander Volkanovski in Australia. But is that still happening?

Logistically moving up to lightweight makes sense for him. Already 27, the Spaniard wants to be out of the fight game by 30.

So, the best way to do that is by getting some big money fights. Right now, the lightweight division is the only weight class that can potentially give him that, along with a reasonable chance at success. It is stacked to the gills with superstars like Oliveira, Justin Gaethje, and Dustin Poirier among others.

Every single fight in lightweight is bound to generate some serious PPV number. So ideally, he could hold on to his featherweight title and still have a go at the lightweight strap.

After all, it’s sort of what McGregor did as well. He won the title from Jose Aldo at featherweight and then beat Eddie Alvarez for the lightweight title and defended neither.

Former middleweight champion Michael Bisping believes Topuria intends to walk the path laid for him by the man he’s styled himself on.

“Conor never defended the featherweight strap… it seems like he (Topuria) maybe trying to do the same thing. Move up to lightweight, forget about featherweight because ‘been there, done it, got the t-shirt.”

So, the only question now is whether Topuria will indeed leave featherweight in the rearview mirror or if he’ll surprise everyone and defend his title like he is claiming.

The Nuggets’ championship window has seemingly closed in just two short years. Outside of Nikola Jokic, the team has been abysmal. They would have been among the worst in the West had it not been for the reigning MVP’s incredible performances. However, Gilbert Arenas believes the Serbian superstar is stat-padding. He claimed that his numbers flatter him and do not indicate his real impact. Lou Williams found that take preposterous and called Arenas out.

On FanDuel TV’s Run It Back, the former Clippers star completely dismissed the three-time All-Star’s opinion. He suggested that he made those statements to stir up a controversy. Williams said,

“Gil is a genius. He has found a way to get the people going. It’s provocative. He knows this is not real. This some bullsh*t Gil. This impacts winning.”

The three-time Sixth Man of the Year couldn’t help but laugh when reacting to Arenas’ take on Jokic. The former Wizards star made the astonishing claim following the Serbian sensation’s incredible performance against the Wizards.

The center finished with 56 points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists in a narrow loss for the Nuggets. Arenas criticized Jokic for losing to the team with the worst record in the league, saying,

“Everyone on a bad team can put up real good numbers. but before, in the last 30-something years, you didn’t reward individual play. We see it every year, there’s some player that is on a bad team. That’s putting up what’s it called empty stats? They don’t want to call it empty stats when they’re losing? It just makes no sense.”

The retired guard’s take would have held weight if the numbers didn’t say otherwise. The Nuggets are among the best offensive teams in the league when Jokic is on the floor, and the worst when he rests. Arenas probably already knows this. However, he can’t resist making bold claims to draw attention.

Arenas’ history of bizarre takes

This isn’t the first time Arenas has made an outlandish claim. On the contrary, he’s pretty well-known for making questionable comments. An example of this is his take about Klay Thompson.

A year ago, Arenas claimed the then-Warriors guard hadn’t improved as a player since entering the league. He claimed he was a spot-up shooter as a rookie and is still the same player today. Obviously, that’s false.

The guard’s rise as one of the best two-way players in the league is the primary reason why the Warriors won four championships in eight years. He was among the best guards in his prime and had several impactful games and seasons during his Hall of Fame career. However, this is far from Arenas’ most stunning take.

In a guest appearance on Above The Rim with DH 12, he claimed LeBron James is the only reason Michael Jordan is still relevant today. He said analysts only talk about the Bulls icon due to the Lakers superstar’s ascension as a legitimate challenger to be deemed the greatest ever.

The six-time NBA champion’s record-shattering feats, his sneakers, and his impact on the sport have kept him relevant for over three decades. He was the most popular athlete in the world before James played in the NBA and continues to be one of the most talked-about players ever.

Again, Arenas is aware of these facts. However, he understands that airing controversial opinions brings eyeballs and clicks. It’s the sole reason why he says outlandish things.

The ‘Heat Culture’ of the Miami Heat isn’t something that developed in recent years but since the early 2000s. Shaquille O’Neal didn’t experience anything like the rigorous work schedule Pat Riley put his players through. However, Shaq found a loophole to avoid working at the rate the team desired. O’Neal and legendary Gary Payton found a hilarious way to cheat their way through Riley’s intense training.

In 2011, Shaq released an autobiography titled Shaq Uncut. In the book, he highlighted his many experiences during his three and a half seasons with the Heat. The stories of Riley’s workout regime seemed fictitious from an outside perspective. O’Neal realized that was far from the case during his first season with the organization. He wrote,

“They hooked us up to heart monitors and had these television sets with everyone’s name on it so they could measure our heart rates. Each one of us had to keep it at a certain level depending on our age, weight, and height. Pat would pace back and forth checking the numbers, and if they weren’t what he wanted, he’d yell, “Shaq, pick it up. Pose, pick it up.” Each bike had a chip in it, and it recorded everything.”

Unlike Kobe Bryant, Shaq wasn’t the kind of guy who loved working hard. Despite being monitored by Riley, he found a way to manipulate the readings of the heart monitor with the help of Payton.

“It was demeaning, but we figured out to a way to rig it,” Shaq said. “Me and GP realized if you kept tapping and rubbing the monitor on your arm it would speed up the heart monitor even if you weren’t pedaling that hard.”

Once O’Neal and Payton figured out they were able to deceive the monitoring system, they cheated their way through the entire training. Shaq went on to reveal that Dwyane Wade and James Posey were also aware of the tactic but kept it a secret from Riley.

Although drastic, Riley’s tactics worked in the long haul. In 2006, the Heat won the franchise’s first championship with Riley’s discipline being the driving factor. On the long list of restrictions the players had to abide by was a curfew but Shaq found a way to avoid that as well.

Shaq didn’t like the Heat’s curfew

Leading to his tenure with the Heat, Shaq had never received an order to abide by a curfew. At the time, the dominant big man was 32 years old and wasn’t going to let someone dictate when he had to go to sleep.

Riley and the Heat instilled $1000 fines for players who didn’t oblige with the rule. Shaq took it a step further.

“When we first got here, we were winning and playing well, but listen, we are going to stay out,” Shaq said. “ So Pat came to us one day, ‘We going to give you guys a curfew; if you break the curfew, $1000.’ I went in his office with a check for $41,000. I said, ‘A $1000 times 41 home games.’ I’m a grown man, and that’s just not going to happen.”

Following their conversation, Riley changed his mind and lifted the rule. The trust between player and coach proved to be beneficial for the team en route to the title run.

Max Verstappen’s recent dominance has led experts to put him on a pedestal alongside past legendary F1 world champions like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher. The way Verstappen has been winning titles since 2021 and went past Senna’s win tally in 2023, many experts feel that the Dutchman’s talent and skills are quite similar to the Brazilian.

Now, such comparisons should be taken with a pinch of salt, as both drivers have raced in completely different eras. The aerodynamic complexity and the car’s mechanical intricacies are vastly different today relative to the 1980s when Senna raced.

So, there is no proper frame of reference to perfectly weigh up Verstappen and Senna’s skill levels. But, the Brazilian great’s close aide and personal photographer Keith Sutton feels that these comparisons are valid. In an exclusive interview with The SportsRush, Sutton mentioned that Verstappen and Senna have several qualities in common.

“Like Ayrton, Max has an incredible raw talent, a fearless approach on the track, and an unrelenting drive to win. His ability to dominate in challenging conditions and deliver consistent performances under pressure is reminiscent of both Senna and Schumacher,” he said.

Verstappen has proven his mettle and showcased his talent and relentless drive several times during his four consecutive championships. In 2024, questions were raised on whether the Dutchman could defend his title with a sub-par car underneath. But, the 27-year-old successfully lived up to the high benchmark he has set over the years.

Like Senna, Verstappen kept pushing for wins and podiums despite his car not being at its best. There wasn’t a single race when the Red Bull driver backed down and accepted defeat. That said, he also played the percentage game to maximize his results like Senna’s arch-rival Alain Prost used to do.

All in all, the Dutchman has a lot of natural similarities to the late three-time world champion from Sao Paulo. At the same time, Verstappen has learned a lot of things from other champions like Prost, Michael Schumacher, Niki Lauda, and Lewis Hamilton among others.

Sutton talks about what sets Senna apart from Verstappen

Verstappen is certainly a unique individual in himself. His straightforward demeanor along with his relentless approach on track makes for a fearsome personality. However, the Dutchman is a very relaxed and approachable individual off the track and likes to keep his personal life separate from his racing career.

For Senna, on the other hand, racing was very “spiritual”. Sutton mentioned how the Brazilian had a lot of “emotional depth”, which also helped the growth of motorsport and F1 in his homeland. He added that Senna “carried the weight of expectations from Brazil with such pride and purpose”.

Even Verstappen has etched his country’s name in motorsport history. He is the only Dutch F1 race winner and world champion. He has become a huge phenomenon in the Netherlands, owing to his dominance in the sport.

That said, Sutton believes that the 27-year-old is still writing his legacy and evolving as a racer. Verstappen has also stated that he wishes to race and succeed in other categories as well besides F1.

He doesn’t want to be known only as an F1 world champion as he is ambitious and has the ability to be successful in endurance racing, rallying, and other racing categories as well. So, Verstappen’s legacy in motorsport as a whole could surpass many, including Senna.

LeBron James’ inevitable decline has seemingly arrived. The 39-year-old has had an uncharacteristically poor start to the season. He’s had a few low-scoring and inefficient games and was close to losing his 1240+ game streak of scoring at least 10 points multiple times. However, his contributions on offense aren’t a major concern. It’s his defense that’s raised questions.

Some fans have hyperbolically claimed that James is the worst defender in the league. But is that really the case? To understand the full extent of his deterioration as a defender, we will have to look at the numbers.

According to NBA.com, of the 493 players in the NBA who average at least 15 minutes per game, James’ defensive rating of 118.2 ranks 449th. Among all wings who play at least 30 minutes, he ranks even lower.

However, the four-time NBA champion’s poor defensive numbers aren’t only a result of his physical deterioration. It’s also a schematic issue.

LeBron’s defense compared to his teammates

James’ teammates also haven’t fared too well defensively this season. Among players averaging at least 15 minutes per game, Anthony Davis has the best rating at 111.7. Jaxson Hayes is second with 116.6, while Cam Reddish ranks third with 117. James is fourth with 117.2.

Unlike the four-time MVP, the other three are defensive specialists. Davis is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Reddish was signed for his defensive ability, and Hayes is a backup center, whose athleticism and height allow him to stifle quite a few shots at the rim and defends pick and rolls very well.

If players revered for their defensive ability, like Reddish and Hayes, are only marginally better than James, and the rest of the starters and key rotational players are worse than the 39-year-old on the defensive end, it’s clear that the Lakers’ defensive scheme isn’t up to the mark.

LeBron James’ defense this season

Admittedly, James’ defense hasn’t been up to the mark this season. Opponents shoot around 47.2% with him as the primary defender, which is a scathing indictment of his defense, given he’s never tasked with guarding the opponent’s best players.

Additionally, the Lakers are better defensively when he’s not on the court. They boast a defensive rating of 113 without him as opposed to 120 with him on the floor.

The common consensus among fans is that James is costing his team on defense, and quite frankly, anybody watching games can infer the same. He gets blown by way too easily and puts in almost no effort on defense.

Verdict

James’ decline isn’t surprising considering he’s in his 22nd season in the NBA. His ability to be equally effective on both ends of the floor is diminishing.

The Lakers will either have to find a way to mask his defensive inefficiency or give him fewer responsibilities on offense so he can save some energy to play defense.

His defensive ability has fallen off a cliff and he’s among the most ineffective defenders in the league. But he’s far from being the worst.

Jannik Sinner’s doping allegations have divided the tennis world. While some have questioned the “double standards” after the International Tennis Integrity Agency cleared the Italian star, Nikolay Davydenko is one of many who have defended Sinner. The former World No.3 openly dismissed the negativity surrounding the 23-year-old, refusing to believe that he has doped.

During a recent appearance on MatchTV, Davydenko claimed that a “pill” can never make a player great in mastering a sport. In his statement, the Russian star took a dig at the ATP Tour players who criticized Sinner.

“The tactics have changed significantly, so many don’t have time to keep up with him. Half of the tennis players now say that he’s winning because of doping. You’re not going to become a better player because of a pill. Tennis is tennis.”

In the same interview, Davydenko did not hold back and lashed out at 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, in particular.

“Nick Kyrgios is always shouting, a showman. He says all kinds of nonsense on and off the court and will continue to do so. We will hear about him over and over again.”

Kyrgios has been the loudest voice in tennis, repeatedly demanding a two-year ban for the Italian star from the sport. The Australian is in full support of the WADA’s decision to contest the ITIA’s verdict.

Kyrgios slammed Sinner’s coach Cahill for winning Tennis Australia’s honor

It seems as if Kyrgios has taken his enmity to fellow Aussie Darren Cahill as well. Even though Cahill is largely responsible for Sinner becoming the World No.1, many of his critics have slammed his role in the doping scandal. Still, it did not stop Tennis Australia from honoring him with the 2024 Coaching Excellence award.

In a post shared by Tennis Australia about this award on X, Kyrgios replied, “This is a joke right – have some class and integrity people.”

The reactions to his response were mixed – some supported Kyrgios, while others slammed him. That’s understandable. It’s premature to criticize anyone while the WADA appeal is still pending.

There’s no debating that Shedeur Sanders has had a season worth recognition in 2024. While being the top NFL prospect—Sanders has the shortest odds to be selected No. 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft—doesn’t necessarily guarantee a Heisman Trophy finalist spot, you could understand why that person might be miffed if they were snubbed. However, just because Sanders is miffed, doesn’t mean he’s tearing down the guys that actually were named Heisman finalists.

The NCAA announced the four finalists for its highest honor, the Heisman Trophy, on Monday. Sanders was conspicuously absent from the list. One of the four who did make it was Dillon Gabriel, quarterback of the top-ranked and undefeated Oregon Ducks. Shortly after, it was dubiously reported that Sanders had been talking trash about Gabriel, to which Sanders pleaded that people “stop with the lies”.

“Cmon stop with the lies I never said this. That’s foul for sharing fake news”

The tweet to which Sanders was responding contained both a screenshot of the reported quote Sanders made about Gabriel, as well as a caption from the actual account, which was sadly, predictably combative.

“I had better numbers than that boy at Oregon,” the fabricated quote read.

Based on Sanders’ response and the lack of sourcing for the quote, we can safely discount this as internet trolling at best and irresponsible journalism at worst. However, the question does remain: does Sanders have a legitimate gripe for being overlooked for the likes of Gabriel?

Shedeur’s stats are better, but Gabriel played in a tougher conference

Shedeur Sanders put up gaudy numbers this season. He led the Big 12 in completions (337), passing yards (3,926), TD passes (35), and passer rating (168.8). He was also extremely efficient, leading the entire FBS in completion percentage, with an otherworldly 74.2 mark. His career 71.8 completion percentage is a new FBS record as well.

What people haven’t talked about much this season is the fact that Sanders got a lot better despite his offensive line only taking a slight step up from their position as the worst unit in the country last year. Sanders had 178 dropbacks where he was pressured this year, 2nd-most in the NCAA, and he was also sacked 36 times, tied for 5th-most. The Buffs QB still took home Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Dillon Gabriel was no slouch in the box score either. He led his conference, the Big 10, in completions (297), completion percentage (73.2), passing yards (3,558), and passing TDs (28). He also had seven rushing TDs compared to Sanders’ four. Gabriel, like Sanders, won his conference’s OPOY award, but he also earned the Big 10’s MVP trophy.

And if we’re being honest, the Big 10 is a decidedly stronger conference than the Big 12. Four schools from the Big 10 made the College Football Playoff, all of whom (No. 1 Oregon, No. 4 Penn State, No. 6 Ohio State, and No. 8 Indiana) were ranked in the top 10 in the nation. The Big 12 got just one, the 12th and final team to sneak in: Arizona State.

And that’s really the crux of the argument here. Gabriel’s stats might be slightly less impressive, but he did it in a much tougher conference playing against much tougher competition. The Ducks beat four ranked teams this year, and the Buffaloes didn’t even play one.

Not to mention that Gabriel’s Ducks are 13-0 and ranked No. 1 in the nation. The Heisman is an individual award, but when there’s a close call like we have here with Gabriel and Sanders, the tiebreaker generally goes to the guy playing on the best team in the country.

Andre Agassi shared his thoughts on the potential challenges that Novak Djokovic might face in the upcoming season. The eight-time Grand Slam champion believes that the retirements of Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray this year may cause Djokovic to “run out of energy” in 2025.

The American legend, who made these comments at a recent TIE Global event, took a trip down memory lane to back his point. He admitted candidly that after his biggest rival, Pete Sampras, retired from the sport in the early 2000s, he found it difficult to play with the same motivation as prior to it.

Agassi, who coached Djokovic from 2017-2018, believes that rivalries play a big role in shaping players. Although the American claims that Djokovic can never be written off, his uncertainty about his former pupil comes as a big surprise.

“He’s already done so much, so long, and it’s hard to imagine longer. I think he’ll run out of the energy for it more than the capability of it, I would imagine.”

Djokovic has often commented that a “part of him left” when Nadal and Federer retired. Being the only remaining member of the ‘Big 3’, and with most of his rivals having retired, it can be challenging for Djokovic to compete against the up-and-coming talents.

However, there is a huge point in Djokovic’s favor, which Agassi seems to have overlooked.

Djokovic had a successful 2023 season without Federer and Nadal playing

After Federer retired in 2022 and Nadal missed out on the entire 2023 season, not many would have predicted that Djokovic would roar again. But he did it in some fashion, winning the Australian Open, French Open and US Open last year.

In fact, the Serb could have created history by becoming the third player after Don Budge and Rod Laver to win all four Grand Slams in a year. But Carlos Alcaraz won the Wimbledon final in five sets against Djokovic.

While Andy Murray did play in the 2023 season, he did not cross paths with Djokovic. Even then, Djokovic’s battles were largely with the younger generation, and he came out on top in nearly all of them.

Smartly, though, Djokovic will have Murray as his coach at the Australian Open 2025. Having someone from his rival group close to him might at least prevent the Serbian from feeling lonely during a long season. However, only time will tell if Djokovic made the right decision.