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

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.

Players to have faced Nadal at least five times and have a positive H2H record vs him:

Novak Djokovic 31-29
Nikolay Davydenko 6-5
Borna Coric 3-2

End of the list

— Luigi Gatto (@gigicat7_) October 14, 2024

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.

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

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.”

AUTO MOTOR UND SPORT – Q: Williams was among the teams that courted Adrian Newey but dropped out of the race early. Why?

James Vowles: 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.

1/4

— Junaid #JB17 (@JunaidSamodien_) October 14, 2024

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.

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

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.

Director Spike Lee denied entry to MSG. Rumors are circulating that MSG CEO James Dolan didn’t want the famed director to enter. #SpikeLee #MSG pic.twitter.com/0gZVaHDXBP

— BroTalk LIVE! (@brotalklive) March 3, 2020

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”

New York Knicks Statement on Spike Lee pic.twitter.com/19JcvhFKO7

— NY_KnicksPR (@NY_KnicksPR) March 3, 2020

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.

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

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.

Revised front wing and geometry and suspension on the McLaren. #F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/QgnWIz0uhw

— Thomas Maher (@thomasmaheronf1) June 28, 2024

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.

9⃣ upgrades for Ferrari this weekend

#ItalianGP pic.twitter.com/Nx9X5aGPc5

— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) August 30, 2024

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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).

JJ's first preseason play for the Lakers – stealing Dan Hurley's "Skip" concept out of Horns. pic.twitter.com/uYNiUuM19m

— Coach Gibson Pyper (@HalfCourtHoops) October 5, 2024

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.

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

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.

BWT Alpine F1 Team announces Flavio Briatore as Executive Advisor

BWT Alpine F1 Team can confirm that Flavio Briatore has been appointed by Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo as his Executive Advisor for the Formula One Division. pic.twitter.com/KAdNVkQBPP

— BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) June 21, 2024

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.

Alpine advisor Flavio Briatore says the F1 team is aiming to be back on the podium regularly by 2027

Is that a realistic target for the French squad? pic.twitter.com/pYSHZHCDBn

— Autosport (@autosport) August 25, 2024

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.

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“F**k That, I’m Not Playing for the Second Team:” Pierre Gasly Reveals When Racing Took Priority Over Soccer

Pierre Gasly is a huge soccer fan and supports the French National team and PSG. The Alpine driver used to play soccer and take part in karting professionally when he was a kid. However, when he was 11, he made the decision to quit soccer and fully focus on racing.

Although Gasly managed both soccer and karting simultaneously during his younger days, things got tougher as he got older as he had to manage his school along with both sports. When the Frenchman was six or seven, he was allowed to skip a class by the school since he was doing well in sports.

FC Versailles co-owner Pierre Gasly opens up about why he invested in French football and needing more in his life than “just Formula 1” https://t.co/dLEIgGtIbE

— Motorsport.com (@Motorsport) October 10, 2024

However, as he got older, it was time for Gasly to select one sport and stay committed to it. He always seemed more inclined towards karting as he ended up missing a few soccer practices when he had to choose between the two.

As a result of the same, his soccer coach wasn’t happy. Gasly has now recalled the time when his coach punished him for missing games (as per Motorsport). He said,

“I remember I came for a game on Sunday and the coach was not happy that I was focusing more on karting than on football. And he told me as a punishment he would put me on the second team. And I said: ‘F**k that, I’m not playing for the second team.’ And I just stopped on that day.” 

Gasly then explained how he was good at soccer and even got selected for a small French academy. He went to Auxerre and met with a very famous manager, Guy Roux, who selected him for the academy. Despite the same, he doesn’t regret leaving soccer.

Gasly reflects on the decision to leave soccer

Gasly revealed the thoughts he had when he decided to leave soccer. The Alpine driver explained how he had to choose between two of his biggest passions. Although it was a big decision, it wasn’t that tough.

The Frenchman explained how his love for karting was always more than that for soccer. Also, since he was more competitive in racing than in soccer, he had a better scope of winning trophies while racing.

Speaking of the same, he said, “It got to a point where I could see I couldn’t do both at my best. And I wasn’t fine with that.”

While Gasly left soccer, he continues to love the sport and recently featured a PSG-themed helmet. He also made an investment in the French club FC Versailles.

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Kendrick Perkins Claims Jalen Brunson is a Top 10 Player in the NBA: Is He Right About the Knicks Star?

Reigning champions Celtics were a cut above the rest of the league last season and cruised to the title. They are the favorites to win the championship again and become the first team since 2018 to win back-to-back titles. However, Kendrick Perkins believes the Knicks can dethrone them because they not only have a stellar roster but also a top 10 player in the league in Jalen Brunson.

On Thursday’s episode of NBA on ESPN, host Mallika Andrews asked the analyst how the Knicks should manage the expectations placed on them following the arrival of Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. The former Celtics center said they should feel comfortable and not worry because they have the best player in the Eastern Conference. Perkins said,

“When you look at Jalen Brunson, in my opinion, he was the best player in the east last year averaging 28, now you go out, get Mikal Bridges, get Karl Anthony-Towns, he have the perfect pieces around him to go be successful. He knows it, everybody in the organization knows it, and I believe he’s a top 10 player in the NBA right now.”

He added that the Knicks would dethrone the Celtics, win the Eastern Conference, and end the franchise’s 25-year wait for an NBA Finals appearance. The analyst’s expectations from New York are lofty, but he’s spot on about Brunson.

Brunson is one of the best guards in the league

Last season, the Knicks looked like a title contender with Brunson on the court. His ability to manage the game while finishing at the rim and finding teammates for open shots was brilliant.

The guard’s value cannot be understated. Last year, the Knicks were 1-4 without him and averaged only 100 points. With him in the lineup, they went 49-28 and scored a whopping 113.6 points per game.

Brunson ranked fourth in the NBA in scoring, averaging 28.7 points per game. He also provided 6.7 assists per night. His efforts led the Knicks to 50 wins and a second-place finish in the East. He played 35.4 minutes per game, the most in his career so far.

Come playoff time, he elevated his game. In 13 outings, Brunson averaged 32.4 points on 44% shooting from the field, 7.5 assists, and played nearly 40 minutes per game.

Despite being the Knicks’ primary ball-handler and a high-volume scorer, the guard’s turnover percentage is relatively low, at 2.4 per game. His +/- of 6.6 was higher than what Luka Doncic (4.6) and Stephen Curry (2.6) managed.

Brunson averaged more points than Kevin Durant, shot more efficiently from the field than Jayson Tatum, and better from beyond the arc than Devin Booker. With his speed, skill, and maneuverability, the Knicks star is in the running for the title of the best player in the East, which currently belongs to Joel Embiid.

The 76ers superstar missed out on the MVP award as he failed to meet the NBA’s 65-game threshold. However, he averaged 34.7 points in 39 games, proving he’s the most unstoppable player in the Eastern Conference.

However, Perkins’ claim about Brunson being a top 10 player in the NBA is valid. HoopsHype ranked the guard eighth in their list of the league’s top 100 players ahead of the upcoming season. The 28-year-old being placed about LeBron James and Stephen Curry sparked some outrage on social media. However, the numbers suggest he deserved that placement.

A stellar regular season, followed by a historic postseason, where he matched a 30-year record set by Michael Jordan, has cemented the Knicks superstar’s place as a top 10 player in the league.

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Lando Norris Spotted Cruising in a $672K Ferrari 812 Competizione Days After McLaren’s W1 Launch

McLaren recently launched their premier supercar, the W1, which is a masterpiece inspired by the world of F1. Despite all the buzz surrounding W1’s launch, Lando Norris chose a Ferrari to be his brand-new ride. This came as a surprise to many fans as drivers are typically loyal to the brands they race for.

During the ongoing month-long break in F1, Norris headed home to Monaco and was spotted driving a Ferrari 812 Competizione worth $672,000. Powered by a V12 engine, the 812 Competizione is a limited-edition masterpiece. It delivers up to 819 hp and can reach 0-60 mph in just 2.8 seconds, with a top speed exceeding 211 mph.

LANDO IN HIS NEW FERRARI 812 the license plate being 4444L he’s a genius! pic.twitter.com/0S2uOoqPm1

— ray (@ln4norris) October 10, 2024

Norris has several cars in his collection. The McLaren 765LT and the McLaren Senna are two cars he owns from the British automaker. The 24-year-old also added a Lamborghini Miura to his garage this year besides having cars such as the Porsche Carrera GT and the AC Shelby Cobra. The 812 Competizione seems to be just another new addition to his diverse collection.

However, Norris is not the only driver to own a Competizione. Ferrari drivers Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz also have the same models as the Scuderia traditionally gifts these elite rides to their drivers. Norris, however, cannot get his own W1 just yet as customer deliveries are set to begin in early 2026.

McLaren W1: A Supercar Inspired by F1 and Legendary P1

Unveiled on the 50th anniversary of their first F1 world championship win in 1974, the McLaren W1 is a representation of engineering mastery. It has a hybrid powertrain that includes the brand new MPH-8, along with a lighter E-module, F1-inspired battery technology, and 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.

It can reach 124 mph in just 5.8 seconds and can generate up to 1275 hp. Inspired by F1, the car features a carbon fiber chassis which helps keep the car lightweight and ensures agility. Another inspiration from the world of F1 is W1’s suspension system. With adaptive technology, the suspension system helps manage the car depending on the road conditions and driving styles.

Furthermore, it has active aerodynamics, a deployable rear wing, and advanced airflow management providing stability at high speeds.

The flagship model has also taken inspiration from their legendary hypercar, P1. It is highlighted mainly in the hybrid technology and the use of electric power for torque and efficiency. Similar to P1, the W1 combines extreme power with eco-friendly design.

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