Deal's of The Month
Discount and Offers
Latest Updated Deals
thumbnail

When Rubens Barrichello Beat Michael Schumacher by 0.011 Seconds to Win the 2002 US Grand Prix


Buy Now

Photo finishes in F1, or any race for that matter, are always cool for the cameras. However, the emotions behind the helmets of drivers often remain undisclosed in these otherwise iconic moments. Take the 2002 US Grand Prix for instance, where Rubens Barrichello got what was arguably one of the most memorable wins in his career.

The Brazilian driver’s teammate Michael Schumacher, who had gotten the pole position, was dominating the majority of the race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that afternoon. He was under no threat whatsoever, and Barrichello was behind; a Ferrari 1-2 looked all but certain.

In the end, it was a Ferrari 1-2, but the other way around. How? Schumacher slowed down on the final lap of the race, to allow Barrichello to get close to him and allow for a photo finish, which baffled many.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1)

For some time, the 125,000 fans in the speedway, Barrichello, Schumacher, the commentators, and even team personnel, had no idea who would stand on the top step of the podium. That was until ‘cutting edge technology’ from 2002 determined that Barrichello had won the 2002 US Grand Prix — by 0.011 seconds.

It was one of the closest finishes in F1 history, and although it created a memorable moment, there was a lot of controversy after the race.

Did Schumacher actually slow down?

Schumacher, after the race, insisted that he hadn’t taken his foot off the pedal. However, that statement didn’t settle the matter. Other teams on the grid, including his former boss Eddie Jordan accused Ferrari of issuing team orders, which for context, was illegal in the sport back then.

Ferrari team principal Jean Todt was adamant that the team had nothing to do with what happened on the track, and what Schumacher did was purely his own choice. F1 CEO Bernie Ecclestone wanted Schumacher to end the controversy by going public and admitting to making a mistake on the final stretch — something Schumacher of course, didn’t do.

But why did Schumacher slow down? While he never really admitted to it, or gave a reason why he lost to Barrichello in Indianapolis that day, fans recalled the 2001 Austrian GP, where Barrichello was forced to give up a win to his teammate to favor his title challenge.

Likely — making for a fairytale payback — this was Schumacher’s way of saying ‘thank you Rubens’.

The post When Rubens Barrichello Beat Michael Schumacher by 0.011 Seconds to Win the 2002 US Grand Prix appeared first on The SportsRush.



from The SportsRush https://ift.tt/RVMhEBF
thumbnail

Liam Lawson’s School Posts Heartfelt Congratulatory Message for Achieving His Dream


Buy Now

After an impressive five-race stint in 2023, Liam Lawson is back on the F1 grid for six more races in 2024. This time, however, he will race as a permanent driver and not a stop-gap replacement for an ailing driver. That fulfills his dream of driving in F1 and his alma mater from New Zealand could not be more thrilled.

Pukekohe High School (PHS), the school based in Auckland, has congratulated Lawson for ‘achieving his dream.’ PHS often posts such uplifting messages for its pupils who go on to achieve success in their specific fields. This time, they took to Instagram to post a message for Lawson.

The post read, “Congratulations Liam Lawson. A PHS alumni who has achieved his childhood dream of becoming a full-time driver of Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula One.”

Lawson’s return to F1 was a question of ‘when’ and not ‘if.’ That is because of his successful stint back in 2023 when he replaced Daniel Ricciardo, who fractured his hand after an accident during the Belgian GP weekend. The accident ruled the Aussie driver out for five races, giving Lawson the opportunity to prove his worth.

In those five races, the Kiwi driver not only managed to score points but also kept himself within touching distance of much more experienced teammate Yuki Tsunoda. The feat was particularly more impressive because the car was among the worst performers on the grid.

The reasoning behind bringing Lawson in the middle of the season is well-known. Sergio Perez’s form has failed to pick up since the announcement of his contract extension. Red Bull, which failed to get Ricciardo up to the level, now wants to try getting Lawson up to speed for a potential place in the senior team.

Lawson and Tsunoda to fight for Red Bull seat?

Until recently, many experts believed Lawson to be the only RB driver to be in the running for Perez’s seat. Tsunoda, meanwhile, was being seen as just the benchmark the Kiwi driver needed to beat to make the cut. However, the latest developments suggest the Japanese driver is also in the running to be Max Verstappen’s teammate in 2025.

And it is none other than Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko who has confirmed the same. Citing the same, veteran F1 photojournalist Kym Illman wrote, “Helmut Marko has as good as said that one of these two men [Lawson and Tsunoda] will be driving for Red Bull in 2025.”

“Over the next 6 races, Liam and Yuki will be fighting tooth and nail to impress the Red Bull hierarchy with the better driver likely to replace Sergio Perez if his form doesn’t dramatically improve. It’ll be enthralling for sure,” he added.

The post Liam Lawson’s School Posts Heartfelt Congratulatory Message for Achieving His Dream appeared first on The SportsRush.



from The SportsRush https://ift.tt/RuJrloE
thumbnail

After Apologizing for Yelling at Eagles Fans, Nick Sirianni Admits His “Energy Needs to Be Devoted Towards Coaching”


Buy Now

In the dying moments of the Eagles-Browns matchup, head coach Nick Sirianni was seen chirping aggressively at his fans, even taunting them with hand gestures. Consequently, the tactician faced criticism for what many interpreted as his response to the boos directed at him in the first quarter. Luckily for Eagles fans, the drama is over, as Nick has assured supporters that his energy will now be solely towards his players.

In his latest appearance on the Sports Radio network “94WIP,” Nick doubled down on his apology and implied that his energy got carried away in the heat of the moment. The Eagles head coach then clarified that his energy wasn’t stemming from the boos or any other criticism he had received from fans over the last few months.

Sirianni expressed that he is inherently energetic in all aspects of his life, and the tussle with the fans on the sidelines was one of the rare moments when he let his emotions get the better of him.

That said, Sirianni has promised not to repeat what happened on the sidelines, assuring that he now intends to channel his energy solely to his coaching.

“My energy needs to be devoted towards coaching the players my butt off. I think if you spend any time here or when out at practice or out in the meetings, my energy is high and I’m constantly trying to coach these guys high. (And) That’s where it needs to be focused.”

Notably, Sirianni apologized to the fans following the game as well, stating that was just “excited” after the win, nothing more.

“What I was really doing was trying to bring energy, enthusiasm yesterday. And I’m sorry and disappointed about how my energy was directed at the end of the game,” he further explained, via the team’s official manuscript.

Another controversy stemming from that outing was Sirianni bringing his three kids to the post-match press conference. Many saw this as a ploy by the head coach to evade the tough questions from the press. According to Nick, however, the intention was more emotional than anything.

Sirianni claims no malice in bringing kids to press conference

According to Nick, the majority of his football memories in childhood stemmed from his father’s exploits as a football coach. Sirianni revealed that his father always had him closer to the field, and this is something that he wanted to pass on to his children.

The Eagles head coach also noted the cutthroat nature of the league and expressed gratitude for every win under his belt. He argued that winning is hard in the league, and thus, each victory should be celebrated. So, having his kids at the press conference is just a sign of him sharing that joy with them.

“My only intention is to share a moment you know… l’ve learned in this game that it’s hard to win and you have to appreciate the wins. If you don’t appreciate the wins, it is a miserable, long, and lonely experience. So my only intention is my love for my family and want them to share that moment with me.”

A reason to believe the Eagles HC for his reasoning is that he has previously brought his kids to the press conference after the Eagles’ wins. But never when they lost.

Now that we know Nick’s side of the story, it’s best to cut him some slack and make peace, because Sirianni wants nothing but the best for his family, and that includes his team.

The post After Apologizing for Yelling at Eagles Fans, Nick Sirianni Admits His “Energy Needs to Be Devoted Towards Coaching” appeared first on The SportsRush.



from The SportsRush https://ift.tt/OYD1tuc
thumbnail

Borna Coric and Nikolay Davydenko Join Novak Djokovic in H2H Record Achievement Against Rafael Nadal


Buy Now

Rafael Nadal is set to retire with one of the most illustrious resumes in ATP history. Apart from winning 22 Grand Slam titles and 36 Masters 1000 titles, Nadal has etched his name in the record books on multiple instances. One such impressive record is the positive overall head-to-head record against all but three players that he has faced in his 23-year career.

Novak Djokovic is often regarded as Nadal’s greatest archnemesis. The two faced off 60 times in their careers, with the majority of these clashes coming toward the tail end of the tournament. Till 2011, Nadal had a massive 16-7 head-to-head advantage.

However, the Serbian tied the tally at 23 apiece during the ATP World Tour Finals 2015. The duo last played during the Paris Olympics 2024, with Nole emerging victorious. The glorious rivalry between the two is set to end 31-29 in Djokovic’s favor.

Only two other players have a positive head-to-head record against Nadal despite facing him at least five times. One would assume Roger Federer, Andy Murray, or Stan Wawrinka would be on that list. However, the remaining two players to achieve this feat are quite surprising – Nikolay Davydenko and Borna Coric.

Coric has a 3-2 record against the Mallorca native. His 6-1, 6-3 victory in the Cincinnati Masters 2016 remains to be the most dominant win of all.

Rafa had a 3-2 lead in his head-to-head battles against Davydenko. However, during the final few years of his career, the Russian was simply unstoppable when playing against Nadal. From 2009-2011, Davydenko won each of the four matches that they played – including the Shanghai Masters 2009 finals and the Doha Open 2010 finals. The former World No.3 ultimately retired with a 6-5 H2H record against Rafa.

Davydenko wasn’t intimidated when facing Nadal

As surprising as it seems, Davydenko also claimed Nadal to be “just another opponent” when looking back at their duels.

Nadal took very little time to become one of the best players on the tour. His aggressive style of play instilled fear in his opponents. However, Davydenko wasn’t intimidated by Nadal.

In an interview from 2022, the former player had an interesting take on his battles with the Spaniard.

“For me, playing against Nadal on hard felt like playing against just another opponent… In tennis, it is about matchups – my game matched up well with Nadal’s on hardcourts, I had no problems with him,” Davydenko said.

Davydenko retired with no Grand Slam titles. However, a 6-5 winning record against Rafa is one of the most impressive feats he’s achieved.

The post Borna Coric and Nikolay Davydenko Join Novak Djokovic in H2H Record Achievement Against Rafael Nadal appeared first on The SportsRush.



from The SportsRush https://ift.tt/mR4F1ZJ
thumbnail

James Vowles Claims “Money” Wasn’t an Issue in Williams Dropping Out of Adrian Newey Race


Buy Now

When aerodynamics genius Adrian Newey announced his departure from Red Bull earlier this year, several teams on the grid scrambled to secure his services. Williams, one of his former teams, was heavily linked to him. However, the move didn’t materialize—not due to financial reasons, as many had speculated.

In an interview with AMuS, Team Principal James Vowles said, “It has nothing to do with the money, even though in the end there was a bidding competition that we no longer wanted to participate in.”

Williams did not pursue Newey due to their lack of preparedness. As one of the biggest names in F1, Newey needed more than just theoretical ideas for success; he required something tangible to pique his interest—something Aston Martin successfully provided.

“I want people who believe in our project,” Vowles continued. “Williams wasn’t ready for someone like Adrian yet. We still have much groundwork to do before we can create the right environment for someone of his caliber.”

Several top teams on the grid, including Ferrari and Mercedes, reportedly expressed interest in Newey and were prepared to go all out. However, no one was as determined as Aston Martin boss Lawrence Stroll, who not only offered him a $200 million contract but also shares in the team.

It wasn’t just the money that attracted Newey; it was the ambition, belief, and years of investment Stroll had made in Aston Martin that ultimately led the 65-year-old to choose the Silverstone-based outfit.

Williams is not quite where Aston Martin is, and Vowles knows that. But that doesn’t mean he is a man without a plan.

Williams significantly strengthened its technical staff

Williams has made significant moves to strengthen its technical department by hiring several senior engineers from rival F1 teams. Leading this group of new recruits is former Alpine technical director Matt Harman, who has assumed the role of design director at Williams.

Plus, Williams brought in four other top engineers. These include Fabrice Moncade, formerly Ferrari’s head of performance analytics, Juan Molina, the former principal aerodynamicist at Haas, Steve Winstanley, who served as Red Bull’s chief designer for composites and structures; and Richard Frith, previously the head of performance at Alpine.

And of course, one of the biggest hires for Williams is the departing Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, who has signed a multi-year deal with the team strengthening their driver lineup alongside Alex Albon.

All these hires have positioned Williams well for the big regulation change that will arrive in 2026.

The post James Vowles Claims “Money” Wasn’t an Issue in Williams Dropping Out of Adrian Newey Race appeared first on The SportsRush.



from The SportsRush https://ift.tt/uO25pS6
thumbnail

Despite Spending $10 Million on Knicks Tickets, Superfan Spike Lee Almost Gave Up on the Team


Buy Now

In addition to being an Academy-award-winning writer and a renowned director, Spike Lee is famous for being a massive basketball fan and one of the most ardent Knicks supporters. He has been sitting courtside at the iconic Madison Square Garden since 1985 and has stuck with the team through the highs and lows. However, there was a moment when he nearly gave up on the team, but it had nothing to do with their on-court performance.

In March 2020, security abruptly denied Lee’s entry through the employee gate on 33rd Street, which he had been using for decades. The sudden change in protocol caught the director by surprise and an argument ensued near the entrance. A fan or an employee standing nearby filmed the whole altercation on their phone and posted it on social media and it instantly went viral.

Fellow New York native and Knicks fan Stephen A. Smith invited Lee on ESPN’s First Take to explain what transpired. The famed director explained that security stopped him from using the employee entrance on 33rd Street and blamed maligned Knicks owner James Dolan for it. He said,

“I’m being harassed by James Dolan, and I don’t know why. How is it the wrong entrance if I’ve been using the same entrance for 28 years! It’s Garden spin!”

Lee added that he wasn’t informed over call, text, or email that he was no longer allowed to use the employee entrance. He called out the franchise for their oversight and said they call him repeatedly if he forgets to wire the franchise nearly $300,000 for his season tickets.

The filmmaker claimed that he expected better treatment from the team after shelling out nearly $10 million for tickets in the last three decades.  He also revealed that the owner came over to his seat to talk about the incident but he refused to engage. Following Lee’s appearance on First Take, the Knicks released a statement lambasting the director and pinning the blame on him. It read:

“The idea that Spike Lee is a victim because we have repeatedly asked him to not use our employee entrance and instead use a dedicated VIP entrance — which is used by every other celebrity who enters The Garden — is laughable”

In an interview with The New York Times, Lee claimed that the team lied in their statement and he had never been told to stop using the employee entrance. The ordeal made him want to quit visiting Madison Square Garden to support the Knicks. However, he walked back on it and remains a fixture at the franchise’s home games.

Spike Lee is a part of NBA lore

Lee never suited up to play basketball in college or as a pro, but his influence on the sport is unique. He shot an iconic commercial with Michael Jordan, where he reprised his role as Mars Blackmon from the movie She’s Gotta Have It, to promote the release of the Air Jordan III

He then spearheaded Nike’s It’s Gotta Be The Shoes campaign ahead of the release of the Air Jordan 5. In 1998, he produced and directed the cultural phenomenon He Got Game starring Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttleworth, a convict, and Hall of Famer Ray Allen as Jesus Shuttleworth, the #1 high school prospect in the country.

He also produced a documentary titled Kobe Doin’ Work in 2009, which gave the world a glimpse of Kobe Bryant’s work ethic and the famed Mamba Mentality. In addition to his contribution off the court, Lee has also been courtside for every massive game at Madison Square Garden since the 1990s, cheering for the Knicks.

His dedication to the franchise and his stellar work as a filmmaker to help the sport grow earned him a place in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s James F. Goldstein SuperFan Gallery last week. It’s a well-deserved honor for one of the most passionate and recognizable fans in the NBA.

The post Despite Spending $10 Million on Knicks Tickets, Superfan Spike Lee Almost Gave Up on the Team appeared first on The SportsRush.



from The SportsRush https://ift.tt/tfFvg5R
thumbnail

F1 Expert Breaks Down Why Many Teams Are Still Struggling With 2022 Regulation Changes


Buy Now

The 2022 ground-effect regulations brought a fresh set of challenges for F1 teams. With the re-introduction of venturi tunnels that put a larger emphasis on generating downforce via the floor, teams faced newer hurdles in the development of these ground-effect cars. Apparently, these troubles are still plaguing the development of many teams, as explained by F1 expert Edd Straw.

In a YouTube video for ‘The Race’, Straw highlighted these challenges. He said, “In recent years, tales of new packages that either don’t correlate with simulations or cause problematic characteristics and make the cars difficult to drive have become the norm.”

Straw added how teams often drop their upgrade packages partially or completely, if they don’t correlate with their car’s previous progress. Moreover, the relationship between the car’s mechanical aspects such as the suspension and the aerodynamic flow around has also become a complicated puzzle to decode.

The Race expert recalled what Mercedes’ technical director James Allison said about teams having to tread the fine balance between their front wing, the suspension, and the floor geometry. A misstep in either of these areas and the car can throw up several issues about the drivability and aerodynamic efficiency.

Mercedes particularly, have struggled with this balance. Meanwhile, other teams like Aston Martin are struggling with the lack of correlation in their upgrade packages this season, causing them to take a major step back.

There have been other factors too, which have confused teams in their car development trajectory. The ground effect cars have been very sensitive to provide consistent performance across a wide variety of tracks if teams don’t have the right concept.

McLaren acing it, Red Bull and Ferrari have had setbacks

In 2024, barring McLaren, all other teams have had to deal with the track-specific trait of the ground-effect cars with the pecking order changing at most race weekends. While Red Bull and Ferrari have competed with the Woking outfit on low downforce tracks, high downforce circuits like Hungary and Zandvoort have been McLaren’s dominant territory.

It is safe to say that McLaren has the most consistent car in the field this season, operating at the top at a wide range of circuits. As for their upgrades, the British team has tried to bring major packages in one go to take a big step up in performance.

They may have avoided the back-and-forth loop of making a misstep with incremental upgrades like Ferrari did in Spain. The Italian outfit had a great car initially and their Imola upgrade was also working well. However, the Barcelona package re-introduced the porpoising phenomenon to the SF-24 — where the airflow was getting stalled under the floor.

This compromised their development trajectory for several races until their Italian GP upgrades ironed out these issues to put them back into podium contention. Ferrari had to drop a major chunk of their Spain upgrades during this time before the Monza package.

Red Bull, on the other hand, is experiencing issues of its own making with the aggressive RB20 concept. Their issues mainly center around the stiffness of their suspension and the inability to smoothly ride kerbs and bumpy track surfaces. This has more to do with the mechanical aspects of the car rather than the aerodynamics, as Red Bull is generating good downforce.

However, their upgrades’ effectiveness has been under the radar, with its Hungary package not delivering the expected gains. Earlier this year, they were seemingly heading toward the limit of performance they can achieve via their concept. However, McLaren’s development suggests that these regulations may have a higher ceiling.

Will teams hit the limit under the ground effect regulations?

Straw also discussed this notion of teams heading towards the limit of improving performance under the ground effect regulations. With only one season remaining under the current regulations’ cycle, that is quite possible. However, with several challenges and complications that teams are facing, it is unlikely that all teams can reach this limit in 2025.

Currently, the top four teams — Red Bull, McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes — seem way ahead in the pecking order. And with the 2026 regulation changes also on the horizon, these teams may look to switch focus on nailing that formula, if they reach the threshold limit of performance with the ground effect cars.

Even if any team on the grid falters in figuring out these regulations and resolving their challenges next season, they will look to write it off and focus on the big reset of 2026, given that is more important from a long-term perspective.

The post F1 Expert Breaks Down Why Many Teams Are Still Struggling With 2022 Regulation Changes appeared first on The SportsRush.



from The SportsRush https://ift.tt/mX3fpMR
thumbnail

23 Y/O Jimmy Butler Promised to Never Wear a Miami Heat Jersey: “You Can’t Like Dwyane Wade”


Buy Now

While Jimmy Butler has played for the Chicago Bulls, Philadelphia 76ers, and Minnesota Timberwolves, his tenure with the Miami Heat has become the most memorable. He has led an under-manned squad to two NBA Finals appearances through his superb two-way play. However, there was a time when he despised the very thought of donning a Heat jersey.

In a 2013 fashion interview, when asked about the jersey he’d never wear, a 23-year-old Butler responded with ‘Miami Heat’. At that time, he was with the Chicago Bulls and they were arch-rivals with the Heat, the then-best team in the league, thanks to the trio of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh.

Interestingly, Butler would become teammates with Wade on the Chicago Bulls for the 2016-17 season. But more ironically, he joined the Miami Heat before the 2019-2020 season. Last year, Butler explained to Mallika Andrews why he dissed his present franchise in 2013. 

As an up-and-coming player for the Bulls, he resented the Heat as they were their biggest roadblock in the postseason. Thus, he had to avoid developing any affinity towards Wade despite having gone to the same alma mater, Marquette.

Since Wade and Butler played both the guard positions, there was no way he could entertain friendly thoughts about his rival. Butler told Andrews,

“When I’m coming into the league, the Heat used to beat the Bulls all the time when they had the Big 3, the Heatles, whatever you want to call them. So me getting drafted to the Bulls, we can’t like the Miami Heat. You can’t like D-Wade even though you went to the same school.”

Apart from that, his then-Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau played a vital role in advancing animosity toward the core of LBJ, Wade, and Bosh. But when he became Wade’s teammate, he realized that the guard is an amicable personality. So, there was no point in harboring any ill-will towards him anymore;

“Then you fast forward and I’m playing with D-Wade with the Bulls, I’m like, ‘This guy is not a bad guy.’ It was just [Thibodeau] that kept hitting me upside my head. And now, full circle, it’ll be the last jersey that I wear.”

Butler’s earlier disdain towards the Heat trio was understandable. The Bulls lacked both the experience and depth to keep up with the loaded Heat team. This left the Chicago-based team frustrated on multiple occasions.

The Heat defeated the Bulls in five games during the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals. Then during the 2013 playoffs, they once again made light work of them in five games. 

However, currently, Jimmy Butler is a cornerstone for the Heat. While the relationship between GM Pat Riley and Butler may have deteriorated a bit, he will still be the leader of the team when the 2024-25 season begins. If things go smoothly, there is still a chance that Butler will retire as a Miami Heat player.

The post 23 Y/O Jimmy Butler Promised to Never Wear a Miami Heat Jersey: “You Can’t Like Dwyane Wade” appeared first on The SportsRush.



from The SportsRush https://ift.tt/mQWKgDc
thumbnail

“She Was So Lazy In High School”: Sam Cassell Reveals Angel Reese’s Nonchalant Approach To HS Hoops


Buy Now

Angel Reese earned plaudits for her incredible hustle as a rebounder and stellar defense during her rookie season in the WNBA. While it’s a hallmark of her game today, that wasn’t always the case.

During an appearance on Mark Jackson and his son Bluu Jackson’s Come and Talk 2 Me podcast, Sam Cassell revealed the center had a questionable work ethic on the court during her high school days. He said,

“Just watching her grow up through the ranks in Baltimore High School and seeing her now play the game of basketball, I thought she was so lazy high school because she was so much better than anyone. Sometimes she’d miss a layup, get a rebound, miss another layup, another team get the ball and she wouldn’t run back down court.”

Cassell and the Chicago Sky center are from Baltimore and the former Clippers star watched her in action during her time at St. Frances Academy. He is glad she has developed into an energetic player willing to work hard on both ends of the floor and make her hometown proud with her stellar performances on the court. He added,

 So seeing her play in the WNBA right now, it’s been joy to me, seeing her play, it’s like, ‘Wow! We got another from our town that’s doing that’s doing something positive and making it.'” 

It’s hard to envision Reese as a lazy player considering how impactful she was on both ends of the floor during her college career with Maryland and Lousiana and in her rookie season with the Sky.

Angel Reese was a menace under the rim

The center made history in her debut campaign in the WNBA. She became the first player to average over 13 rebounds per game (13.1) and broke Sylvia Fowles’ record for most boards in a season.

She missed the last six games of the season with an injury, which allowed reigning MVP A’ja Wilson to lap her and become the record-holder for most rebounds in a campaign with 451, five more than the rookie. However, she set the single-season record for most offensive boards with 172. 

Reese’s innate to grab offensive rebounds and get second-chance points is one of the main reasons why she broke Candace Parker’s WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles with 15 straight. The center finished a distant second to Caitlin Clark in the race for the Rookie of the Year award. However, there’s palpable excitement about her future.

The post “She Was So Lazy In High School”: Sam Cassell Reveals Angel Reese’s Nonchalant Approach To HS Hoops appeared first on The SportsRush.



from The SportsRush https://ift.tt/A5wBcPi
thumbnail

Stephen A. Smith Predicts Ja Morant “Will Hurt a Lot of People” Yet Picks Lakers Over Grizzlies


Buy Now

After a disappointing year due to injuries, the Grizzlies are gearing up for a major bounce-back ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season. ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith believes in the Grizzlies, or more specifically Ja Morant. However, he doesn’t believe in the team enough to elevate them above the Lakers.

On ‘First Take’, Smith, along with co-hosts Shannon Sharpe and Cam Newton, took questions from Tennessee State students. One student asked the trio whether the Grizzlies would be better than the Lakers, to which they responded emphatically. Smith said,

“Ja Morant is going to wreak havoc… He’s going to hurt a lot of people in the league reminding everybody just who the hell he is. But I don’t think Memphis has enough.”

Although Smith didn’t believe the Grizzlies would be better, he displayed great faith in Morant. The guard only played in nine games last season due to a suspension and then a season-ending shoulder injury.

Both teams haven’t made drastic roster changes but rely on continuity. However, the Lakers’ change in coaching gives them the benefit of the doubt in Smith’s mind.

Smith iterated that he believes JJ Redick will “surprise a lot of people” with his ability to thrive in his rookie season as coach. He has already implemented major improvements to the Lakers’ offense by incorporating plays from the playbook of legendary UConn coach Dan Hurley (who was, funnily enough, in contention for the Lakers job at one point).

Sharpe remained firm in his belief that the Lakers would be better than the Grizzlies. He highlighted Anthony Davis’ ability to perform against the best bigs as the deciding factor in his eyes. On the other hand, Newton didn’t make a prediction. He displayed his intrigue in the Grizzlies due to Morant’s preparation for the upcoming season. He said,

“This is really the first time, Ja Morant has had a quiet offseason. What does that look like?”

Morant’s change in perspective alludes to a different approach ahead of the upcoming season. As a result, could be a cause of danger for competing teams.

Morant is ready to win a championship

The down-year from Morant gave the electric guard plenty of time to reflect on himself and the current state of the Grizzles. Now fully healthy, Morant has developed into the leader he wasn’t ready to become in the past.

Before the start of training camp, Morant made a declaration of what the expectations are for Memphis in the 2024-25 season. Without hesitation, he declared that the Grizzlies need to be prepared like they are a “championship team.”

Morans and Co. are the biggest wild card in the NBA. They have the potential to shake up the race for Western Conference champions. The SportsRush even made three bold predictions for Morant’s Grizzles for the upcoming season.

Yes, First Take hosts may not believe in Memphis, but all it does is add more fuel to the fire for the Grizzlies to prove the doubters wrong.

The post Stephen A. Smith Predicts Ja Morant “Will Hurt a Lot of People” Yet Picks Lakers Over Grizzlies appeared first on The SportsRush.



from The SportsRush https://ift.tt/WhtMnZH
thumbnail

“He’s a Very Nice Guy”: Ralf Schumacher on Flavio Briatore Returning to the Paddock


Buy Now

Flavio Briatore has been one of the most controversial figures in F1 history, owing to his involvement in the infamous 2008 Crashgate scandal. After that, the then-Renault boss received a lifetime ban from all on and off-track aspects of F1.

Since the overturning of his ban, Briatore recently returned to the F1 paddock for the first time in an official capacity as Alpine’s Executive Advisor. While many have given mixed reactions to his return, Ralf Schumacher feels that Briatore is a “nice guy” and has served his punishment to earn a second chance in the sport.

In an interview with Formel1.de, Schumacher said, “He has been punished. But I don’t know, I think he’s a very nice guy with a lot of charisma.”

Schumacher believes that Briatore still has the ability to lead a team like he led Benetton and then Renault to multiple world championships in the ’90s and early 2000s. Barring the Crashgate controversy, Briatore worked incredibly hard to lead the French team to glory during his tenure.

However, his involvement in the Crashgate saga when he allegedly orchestrated Nelson Piquet Jr.’s crash in Singapore overshadows all his good contributions for Renault. Perhaps the French manufacturer is trying to change this perspective by trusting Briatore again based on his past success.

Currently, their Alpine F1 operation is in the doldrums with the team nowhere near their expectations of fighting for podiums and wins. At the start of the 2024 season, they had an overweight car that was rock bottom in the pecking order.

Since Briatore’s arrival, they have started to make some tough decisions, with more attrition of personnel and the call to cease their indigenous engine program from 2025 onwards. However, their on-track progress is still quite slow and the Italian boss will have to inspire them to revive the French team’s glory days.

Schumacher backs Briatore despite him aging

Schumacher contrasted Briatore with another F1 veteran — Helmut Marko. The Red Bull advisor has been in F1 for a long time as well, with a diverse motorsport background. Marko is currently 81, seven years older than Briatore.

Despite the same, Schumacher believes that the Austrian seems younger than Briatore. Nevertheless, the former Williams driver has backed Briatore’s abilities to turn Alpine’s situation around. He admired Briatore’s confidence in wanting to achieve the same in two years.

While Briatore’s age may restrict him from traveling with the team throughout the grueling 24-race season, Schumacher feels the Italian’s business acumen and vast amount of F1 management experience will certainly benefit the Enstone outfit.

The post “He’s a Very Nice Guy”: Ralf Schumacher on Flavio Briatore Returning to the Paddock appeared first on The SportsRush.



from The SportsRush https://ift.tt/xELKO4l