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“Could Have Ended up Losing”: Carlos Alcaraz Gets Philosophical While Talking about Jannik Sinner Rivalry


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Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner leave fans thrilled every time they get on the court. All three of their head-to-head matches in 2024 were action-packed battles, with Alcaraz emerging victorious. But the Spaniard believes that he could’ve ended up losing each of these clashes.

Alcaraz has often claimed that he plays his best tennis when Sinner is on the other side of the net. Facing the “best player in the world” enables him to unleash his true potential. He reiterated these comments during an interview ahead of the Rolex Paris Masters 2024.

“Thanks to him I can raise my level to the top. I always play my best tennis against him. He has shown throughout the year that he is the best player in the world. The way he plays is unbelievable, you know, the best ball striker on the tour for me. Knowing all these things, you have to play at your best, at your 100% and your best tennis if you want to beat him,” Alcaraz said.

Each of their three encounters in 2024 went down to the wire – three sets at the Indian Wells semifinal and Beijing Open finals and a five-set thriller in the French Open semifinal. The El Palmar native emerged victorious in each of these clashes, but the YTD H2H would’ve looked completely different had he not elevated his game against the Italian star.

“Every match that we played it was really, really close – 3 sets, 5 sets, 7-6 in the third. So it has been really close, I could have ended up losing the 3 matches. But I am happy to play against him,” Alcaraz concluded.

 

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Even Sinner agrees with this statement. In a previous interview, he did mention that the rivals would bring out the best in each other. But his other comments related to the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament got more attention.

Sinner got trolled after Alcaraz admitted the importance of money in exhibition tournament participation

Jannik Sinner was asked about his experience playing in the Saudi exhibition tournament, and the $6 million prize money was also a topic of discussion. It was his comments regarding this topic that received a lot of flak from fans.

Sinner insisted that he didn’t partake in the event because of the lucrative prize pot.

“I don’t play for money. It’s very simple. Of course, it’s a nice prize and everything but for me, I went there because there were possibly the six best players in the world,” Sinner said.

Unfortunately for Sinner, Alcaraz was asked the same question and the latter honestly admitted that money was a huge incentive to participate.

The contrasting responses led the fans to further criticize Sinner, accusing him of trying too hard to appear humble.

The post “Could Have Ended up Losing”: Carlos Alcaraz Gets Philosophical While Talking about Jannik Sinner Rivalry appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Martin Brundle Worries About Max Verstappen’s ‘Legacy’ With His Driving Style


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Max Verstappen, known for being one of the toughest competitors in F1, rarely gives an inch to his rivals on the track. However, as the Dutchman continues to race aggressively and attract controversy, many have emphasized that this has always been part of his nature.

Martin Brundle was the latest to weigh in, criticizing Verstappen’s driving style just days after the Red Bull driver got a 20-second time penalty for pushing Norris off the track in Mexico City.

“I know that Max doesn’t care what anybody thinks, but it saddens me when he drives like that. He’s a multiple champion, has more driving talent in his little finger than most of us ever had, but his legacy will be tainted by this sporting attitude and that’s a shame,” the former F1 driver wrote on his column for Sky Sports.

Verstappen developed a reputation for his ‘do or die’ attitude during his 2021 World Championship battle with Lewis Hamilton. The Dutchman was willing to do whatever it took to gain an advantage, showing no hesitation in risking even a potentially race-ending impact.

For the subsequent two seasons, he didn’t face a lot of competition, which made the F1 community believe that Verstappen was done with being aggressive. However, with Norris threatening his chances of winning a fourth title, the Verstappen of the old seems to be back.

Verstappen, showing shades of his 2021 attitude, forced Norris off the track, overtaking him while off it, which marked the turning point in his race at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Red Bull disagree

Red Bull quickly came to Verstappen’s defense following his penalty last weekend. Christian Horner even presented several printouts of telemetry data, aiming to show that it was actually Norris at fault, arguing that Norris wouldn’t have been able to make the corner where Verstappen allegedly ‘pushed him.’

The Red Bull team principal described the penalties as “very harsh” and expressed hope that the rules of engagement would be made fairer, rather than favoring drivers on the outside line, like Norris was. He believes the current rules incentivize drivers to “just try to get their nose ahead at the apex and then claim they deserve room on the exit.”

Because of Verstappen’s penalty, he was in no position to fight for the podium places and finished in sixth place, four behind Norris. Unfortunately for him, this handed Norris a 10-point advantage in the Drivers’ Championship. The deficit to Verstappen for the McLaren driver is now at just 47 points.

With Verstappen employing such tactics to gain an advantage over Norris, Brundle seems to believe that he lacks a proper sporting attitude and fears that Verstappen’s “legacy will be tainted.”

However, as Brundle himself noted, Verstappen is indifferent to others’ opinions, having stated on various occasions that his sole focus is on winning at all costs.

The post Martin Brundle Worries About Max Verstappen’s ‘Legacy’ With His Driving Style appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Guenther Steiner Reveals Why It Will Be Easy for Lewis Hamilton to Adjust to Ferrari Engines


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Lewis Hamilton has driven Mercedes-powered cars throughout his F1 career, which is why a switch to Ferrari in 2025 has raised some concerns. Whether Hamilton will be able to adjust to the Ferrari power unit is the question, and Guenther Steiner is confident, assuring that it won’t be an issue for the seven-time World Champion.

Steiner, on the Red Flags podcast, revealed why the transition would be easier for Hamilton.

For starters, modern electronic tools in F1 make it possible to adjust each car’s power delivery to suit a driver’s style. And so, Hamilton would have all the support to fine-tune to Ferrari engine to his liking. Steiner added,

“What they will do is they will drive this thing in the simulator until the cows come home, so that he understands how to best use the engine, you know. How to recharge [the battery] and all that good stuff, when to use the power, and how long you have it available. I don’t see a problem because Lewis will put some effort in so he’s ready in Australia [first race of the 2025 season] next year.” 

Steiner further stated that Hamilton would be well-prepared for the shift by the start of the 2025 season, especially since he would be putting in the work during pre-season.

Hamilton became one of F1’s all-time greats with Mercedes, whom he joined in 2013. But even before that, he had ties with the Brackley-based outfit. They supported him during his junior days and also supplied engines to McLaren — with whom he won the first of his seven World titles.

On paper, joining Ferrari would be a big change for Hamilton. But Steiner doesn’t think so.

Ferrari won’t be too different

In the same podcast, Steiner noted that engine performance across teams is not as varied as many might believe. “I think that will be no problem for him. The engines are very similar in terms of performance and power,” he stated, referring to the slight differences in power output resulting from the FIA’s engine freeze implemented at the end of 2023.

The former Haas Team Principal admitted that there would be a learning curve. However, Hamilton, who has more than 350 race starts in F1, would be more than capable of adjusting to the challenge of driving for Ferrari.

Hamilton is known to go above and beyond in his preparation, which means he’ll likely spend countless hours in the simulator to make sure he’s ready to deliver from the very start of next season.

Another factor is that Hamilton will be highly motivated to make what seems like his final stint in F1 work out exactly as he has planned, and he’ll be able to deliver that elusive championship for Ferrari and also his eighth title.

The post Guenther Steiner Reveals Why It Will Be Easy for Lewis Hamilton to Adjust to Ferrari Engines appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Is Stephen Curry Playing Tonight vs Pelicans? Warriors Star Receives Concerning Ankle Injury Update


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The Warriors’ perfect start to the season came to an end on Sunday night, as they suffered a 112-104 loss to the Clippers. However, the more pressing issue for the team was Stephen Curry limping off the court and heading to the locker room midway through the fourth quarter after suffering an ankle injury. 

The guard rolled his left foot while trying to set a screen for teammate Moses Moody and immediately hobbled off the floor before being helped to the back by the team’s medical personnel. On Monday, NBA insider Shams Charania revealed that Curry suffered a left peroneal strain and will miss the Warriors’ next two home games against the Pelicans.

He added there are no guarantees that the veteran will recover in time for their road trip to Houston to take on the Rockets. He’ll undergo a medical evaluation on Friday to determine whether he can suit up for the game at the Toyota Center.

When asked about the two-time MVP’s injury, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr described it as “mild” and “moderate” but added that it was a concern nonetheless. Curry’s absence will be a massive blow to the Warriors. With the team failing to add any superstar-caliber player in the offseason, the onus was on the guard to carry the team.  

The franchise is reportedly looking to trade for a marquee player, with Heat superstar Jimmy Butler rumored to be a target. If Curry is sidelined for an extended period, it could force the front office to expedite the process to help negate the guard’s absence.

The four-time NBA champion’s latest ankle ailment could be a blessing in disguise if Mike Dunleavy pulls the trigger on a trade for Butler or a player that could help the Warriors in their quest to become a contender. However, if they don’t, the Warriors could potentially find themselves near the tail end of the Western Conference standings before Curry returns.

The post Is Stephen Curry Playing Tonight vs Pelicans? Warriors Star Receives Concerning Ankle Injury Update appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Can Lando Norris Win the 2024 Championship?


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Lando Norris, in his quest for his maiden world championship, is chasing down three-time reigning champion Max Verstappen. The task is daunting and gets more difficult by the day, but all things considered, Norris can stand tall come the end of the season, at least on paper.

Currently, Norris is 47 points behind thanks to his P2 finish in Mexico City. Starting from third on the grid, Verstappen made Norris’ life difficult, pushing him off the track and also trying to gain an advantage on him by overtaking him outside the track limits.

However, there was no major controversy as the stewards penalized the Dutchman, handing him a 20-second time penalty. This effectively ended Verstappen’s chances of getting on the podium, as he finished P6, scoring 10 points less than Norris.

It was a positive weekend for the Briton, but looking at the larger picture, it might be a little too late for the McLaren driver. While he theoretically can finish ahead of Verstappen, he needs to gain around 12 points per race to win his first world championship.

McLaren does have the faster car, and with two sprint races still remaining, Norris will have the opportunity to grab some extra points in the coming weeks. But it won’t be easy because all the race wins the #4 driver has dropped in the past few months won’t come easy now with increased competition at the front.

Norris has others to worry about

While outperforming Verstappen — by around 12 points — in the last four Grand Prix weekends should be Norris’ primary objective, he cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that Ferrari could spoil his and McLaren’s title ambitions.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz have won the last two races, and will surely be one of the favorites heading into the Brazilian GP next weekend. In case, Norris gets outshined by the Maranello-based outfit’s drivers, his best hope to secure the title would be to count on Verstappen to finish even further down — barely score points, if any at all.

But performances like Mexico City would have been a huge boost for Norris. If McLaren and the Bristol-born driver can make that one extra push and start winning races again, the championship could be Norris’ by the end of the season.

The post Can Lando Norris Win the 2024 Championship? appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Kings Announcers Poke Fun At Lakers Raining Down Streamers Following Their Win, Take ‘Shots’ At Anthony Davis


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The Los Angeles Lakers continued to dazzle their fans with a third straight victory after pulling off a 131-127 win against the Sacramento Kings on Saturday. As the final buzzer sounded, it was a sight to behold as streamers started to rain in the Crypto.com Arena. But the Lakers’ joy was the Kings’ misery.

As NBC Sports California’s official broadcast flashed the final score, Kings play-by-play announcer Mark Jones didn’t mince his words while mocking the wave of streamers falling around him. He found celebrations absurd.

Jones quipped that the Lakers are celebrating as if the LA Dodgers won the ongoing MLB World Series against the Yankees. He said, “They got the streamers coming down like the Dodgers just won the pennant”

Then Kings’ color announcer Kayte Christensen also took shots at the Lakers for acting like they won Game 7 of a playoff series. Christensen said, “What is this, Game 7?”

However, Jones didn’t stop there. He pointed out how Anthony Davis finally won a game against Domantas Sabonis for the first time in his career. Before Saturday’s win, AD had a 0-10 record against Sabonis. Jones, egged on by the streamers, went on to take a dig at the Lakers forward,

“You gotta understand this is Anthony Davis’ first win against Domantas Sabonis.”

It is likely the Kings announcers were motivated to go after the Lakers over their team’s 0-2 start, while their Californian rivals, Lakers, got off to a hot 3-0 start. The streamers were likely seen as an insult to injury.

But contrary to the Kings’ announcers’ perception, the Hollywood-based franchise has been known to do this after every win. As per Lakers writer Nicole Ganglani, it is a tradition for the Lakers to release the streamers after every win. In fact, they did the same after besting the Suns on Friday. 

Unlike Jones and Christensen, AD and Sabonis seemed to harbor no such feelings after the game. The duo held each other in a long embrace as the buzzer sounded, which indicates mutual respect between the two.

At any rate, Davis has been in MVP form with three straight 30+ points performances. Rookie Head Coach JJ Redick has brought tremendous electricity to the squad which was missing in the previous seasons. After four painful seasons and horrid season starts, Lakers fans are getting to enjoy early season victories.

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“They Don’t Deserve Him”: Subdued Celebrations for Carlos Sainz’s Pole Position Land Ferrari on Fans’ Wrong Side


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In the buildup to the Mexican GP, Carlos Sainz secured pole position with two flawless laps in Q3. This was meant to be a huge moment for Sainz and Ferrari, especially with his time in Maranello coming to an end. However, the celebrations were rather subdued.

As reported by @f1gossipofficial, when Sainz returned to the pits after securing P1 for the Grand Prix, the only person there to greet him was Gigi, his personal trainer. The rest of the Ferrari crew? Nowhere to be seen.

This lack of enthusiasm not only reinforced the narrative of a Charles Leclerc bias at Ferrari but also fueled arguments that the team doesn’t value Sainz as much as it should.

“They don’t deserve him,” one fan wrote on Instagram, reflecting a sentiment that Sainz’s efforts weren’t fully appreciated by his team.

“I mean, Sainz is part of the team, and they’re not there to celebrate pole with him. If it had been Leclerc, they’d be right there in the front row—unacceptable, as Carlos said,” another fan commented.

Sainz joined Ferrari in 2021 and has largely been viewed as Ferrari’s second driver since—not due to his ability, as he actually outperformed Leclerc in the Championship in his debut season, but because Leclerc has long been the Scuderia’s golden boy.

Sainz has won three races during his time with Ferrari, including one earlier this season. However, the celebrations have generally been low-key compared to the emotions shown when Leclerc wins. One person who was always by his side, though, was his cousin Onoro. Unfortunately, even he wasn’t trackside in Mexico City on Saturday.

Sainz would have loved a bit more celebration following his first pole of 2024. With only four races left after Mexico before his time at Ferrari comes to an end, he would be for a memorable exit.

Sainz has limited time to shine

Sainz learned Ferrari wouldn’t be renewing his contract just before the 2024 season began when the Italian team announced Lewis Hamilton’s signing. He embarked on a quest to secure a spot on the grid but, unfortunately, couldn’t land one with a top team. In the end, he settled for a seat at Williams.

While Sainz insisted that he trusted the vision laid out by Team Principal James Vowles, Williams will likely remain toward the back of the grid in 2025—where they’ve been for some time—unless they achieve a miraculous turnaround. This means Sainz won’t have many opportunities to compete for poles, wins, or podiums.

The 30-year-old knows that which is why he’s determined to give his best in his final races with Ferrari, who are competing towards the front of the grid. And although he won’t say it openly, he would appreciate it if Ferrari made his departure a memorable one.

The post “They Don’t Deserve Him”: Subdued Celebrations for Carlos Sainz’s Pole Position Land Ferrari on Fans’ Wrong Side appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Who Is Alessandro Fusaro, Charles Leclerc’s Star Mechanic Known for His Guido From ‘Cars’ Tattoo?


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The F1 paddock is filled with glamour and glitz. But more often than not, all the fandom is channeled towards the drivers and team bosses. The unsung heroes of the sport — the mechanics — seldom get any spotlight. But from the world of F1 mechanics, only one has captured the attention of F1 fans like Ferrari’s Alessandro Fusaro.

Fusaro became an internet sensation, almost overnight, after a video of him went viral on TikTok, as explained by veteran F1 photojournalist, Kym Illman. But what made the Italian engineer so endearing to the fans? Well, it was his dashing Italian good looks and his Guido tattoo.

A little bit of back story about the Guido tattoo is that it was an obvious choice for Fusaro. In the movie ‘Cars’, Guido was the ‘tire changer’ who was a massive Ferrari fan. Just like Guido, Fusaro has a pretty strong affinity with the team from Maranello — and Italian motorsport for that matter.

 

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In his YouTube video, Illman revealed that the father of two lives very close to Ferrari’s factory. Moreover, his resume is an extensive testimony to his career in motorsport. He worked with AlphaTauri, which is now RB (based in Faenza), and before that plied his trade with Maserati for five years. Today, he works as the #1 mechanic for the Scuderia.

His duties revolve around the #16 driver, Charles Leclerc. He took the internet by storm once again though but in painful circumstances. Earlier today, during FP3 for the Mexico City GP, the Italian took a tumble as Leclerc was exiting the pits. However, later he signaled he was unhurt by holding his thumbs up for the fans watching all over the world on the live TV feed.

Illman has dubbed the Italian as F1’s favorite engineer, and it’s no surprise. After going viral in the paddock, Fusaro had to turn his Instagram account private owing to the fans who swarmed his profile with messages and follow requests.

Going into qualifying for the 2024 Mexico City GP, Fusaro will be pumped up to help his driver repeat his winning streak from Austin, last weekend.

The post Who Is Alessandro Fusaro, Charles Leclerc’s Star Mechanic Known for His Guido From ‘Cars’ Tattoo? appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Is LeBron James Playing Tonight vs Kings? Lakers Superstar’s Statement Reflects Availability in Back-to-Back Game


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Yes, LeBron James will play tonight.

LeBron James has begun the season as the league’s oldest player for the second consecutive year. It is anticipated that the King will play fewer minutes in his 22nd NBA season, but what will he do while playing back-to-backs?

Joel Embiid’s announcement that he won’t play any back-to-backs this season has caused a lot of conversation in the media lately. Although James, 39, has not displayed any symptoms of slowing down, will he participate in the season’s first back-to-back?

It will make sense if the four-time champion sits out after playing 35 minutes in each of the Lakers’ games this season. But contrary to what seems logical, he boldly declared something in the locker room, saying, “I plan on playing every game.”

Though the Lakers are yet to release an injury report for tomorrow’s game, James is more than likely to suit up vs the Kings. If James says he’ll play, with JJ Redick now coaching the Lakers, it will be highly unlikely LeBron won’t show up.

If he does play, fans can expect to see this new version of James that JJ Redick has managed to coax out of him. The Lakers’ offense has become less reliable on his ability to run the floor and has exhibited solid signs of running through Anthony Davis instead.

He’s had a reduced involvement in both games, at least from the view of the offense. With 16 points in the first and 21 in the second, James seems to be content with letting the team go through Davis whenever they attack. He’s also tallied just 12 assists in the 2 games, meaning he’s leaning into the role of a team veteran this season.

No team has managed to get the full vet role out of James yet, as they’ve all heavily depended on his skills to win games. With AD leading the charge for the Lakers, we may be seeing a new version of LeBron this season.

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Nick Saban Shares What Has Been the Key Difference Maker for Deion Sanders’ Colorado This Season


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College football fans are witnessing a whole new side of the Colorado Buffaloes compared to the 2023 season. From being a 4-8 team last year, the Buffaloes have already secured 5 wins out of their total 7 games. With stars like Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, the Buffaloes have been leading a spectacular offense along with a standout defense, which has naturally caught the attention of Nick Saban.

As the Buffs gear up for their next game against the Cincinnati Bears on October 26th, the former Alabama head coach asserted that Deion Sanders’ team would be one to watch out for. Saban and Prime apparently had a conversation earlier, during which Sanders told the former coach that he has the weapons he needs to win games: his two coordinators for both sides of the ball.

“One of the things that Deion told me this summer was that he finally had two coordinators, offensive and defensive coordinators, Pat Shurmur and Robert Livingston, that believed like he believed. And they were going to go do the things that he wanted to do on both offensive and defensive,” Saban expressed on College Gameday.

Both Robert Livingston and Pat Shurmur joined the team in 2024 after the team’s previous DC and OC, Charles Kelly and Sean Lewis, were released due to mutually conflicting opinions. While Kelly left the position to become co-defensive coordinator at his alma mater, Auburn University, Lewis ended up taking the head coaching job at San Diego State University.

That said, Saban certainly appreciates the changes that were made, especially considering that just a few weeks ago he had a different opinion about the Buffaloes altogether. In an episode of College GameDay, he picked the UCF Knights over Deion’s team—something that even surprised his wife, Terry.

“Against our good friend, Deion [Sanders]? Really?” she was heard saying in disbelief.

On September 29th, the Knights in shining armor faced the mighty Buffaloes in Week 5. Although UCF was expected to be a tough contender, Colorado emerged victorious, winning the game by a score of 48-21.

This win was likely the turning point for Saban, which led him to change his stance about his good friend Deion’s team.

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Why Williams’ $130 Million Capital Injection Is Not as Massive as It Seems


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Williams has been a cash-strapped team in recent years. But since Dorilton Capital’s takeover, they have been receiving good financial support to keep their racing operations going. Recently, there have been reports of Dorilton making a huge capital infusion into Williams of around £100 million ($130 million). However, this investment isn’t as big as it may seem due to the breakdown of costs and losses of the team.

Williams have consistently struggled to manage its finances and have posted losses on its balance sheet. F1 expert Jeppe H. Olesen revealed the same while giving insight into the $130 million capital injection. He stated how this capital is being raised by issuing 100 million shares of £1 each.

However, Olesen mentioned how the Grove-based outfit posted a £84 million ($109 million) loss in 2023. So, Williams may mostly allocate this $130 million to cover this loss, and will have around $21 to 22 million to spend on development.

He stated, “So while £100 million might be coming in, the team isn’t in a position to spend it all on development – and there’s also a cost cap to consider.” Nevertheless, this amount of $21 million could be a boon for Williams for its 2026 car development.

With the new regulations resetting the pecking order in 2026, the Grove outfit is aiming to take a big step forward in performance during this regulation reset. Thus, this financial boost will only help their cause in improving their car’s performance in the long term.

Still, as Olesen said, they also need to be wary of the cost cap. Team principal James Vowles would ideally look to allocate money from this capital infusion toward the infrastructural upgrade of the team.

While there is a cost cap limit for that capital expenditure too, Vowles would want to boost the team’s infrastructure with this additional cash — as it could benefit the team in the long term.

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Geno Smith Admittedly Uses Deion Sanders’ Mantra To Commit To Excellence


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Deion Sanders used to be an icon during his NFL days. He currently sports the avatar ‘Coach Prime’ for the Colorado Buffaloes. But back in his days as a Falcons’ cornerback, he was a household name in every NFL fan’s heart. What set Deion apart from others was his brazen outspokenness and the personality he would lead by. Among the current generation of players, Geno Smith spoke about the inspiration he draws from Deion, which has helped him become the “best-dressed player” in the NFL.

The Seattle Seahawks QB has been the lifeline of the team ever since he left the Chargers to join them in 2019. Three years later, Smith was selected for his first Pro Bowl and received the award for the Comeback Player of the Year. And he did all of that while showing up in style, wearing some of the most extravagant outfits that the sport has seen.

Geno Smith is one of the most well-dressed athletes in the NFL, besides names like Travis Kelce, Odell Beckham Jr., Christian McAffrey, and many more. He has Prime Time Sanders to thank for that.

On the latest episode of the ‘Up and Adams’ show, Geno Smith joined Kaya Adams to talk about his dressing sense and what motivates him to always be on point with his outfits. He quoted Deion’s famous saying and highlighted how a player must feel confident about himself in order to produce good results on the gridiron.

“It’s like you said, I grew up in the 90s, watching Dion Sanders Prime Time. “You look good, you feel good, you play good.” I mean that’s the way it is. I put my clothes on with that excellence, I walk with that. I just have that mindset.“

Moreover, Smith corrected Adams when she referred to him as the “best-dressed quarterback,” which didn’t sit right with the QB, who interrupted her with the word “player.”

Geno Smith claims himself to be the best-dressed player, instead of the quarterback

Geno Smith is a man who’s always dripped out, as the kids today say. With each season witnessing a drastic rise in his dressing sense, Smith has also been performing spectacularly for the team by maintaining a 90 rating throughout his time with the Seahawks.

He is confident enough to realize his talent, along with acknowledging he’s one of the best-styled players on the 200-yard field, instead of being the best-dressed quarterback.

Moreover, this screeching tone of confidence and being able to stare at the challenges head-on, are the base attributes of Deion Sanders, who seems to be Smith’s inspiration. And just like Deion, Smith doesn’t take too well to being second-best and he sure didn’t accept it when Kaya Adams mistakenly downplayed his dressing game against other NFL players.

This sort of mentality has Deion Sanders written all over it. Such an approach will most likely take Smith to similar heights of glory as it did for the former cornerback turned coach.

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“100 Races These Days Aren’t That Special”: Alex Albon on Not Being Sentimental About Reaching a Career Milestone


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Alex Albon reached a huge personal milestone last weekend in Austin when he started his 100th F1 race. This was huge, as most young aspirants would be over the moon by just reaching the pinnacle of motorsports. Albon, however, did not consider his moment to be all that special.

In a video uploaded by Williams on YouTube ahead of the United States GP, Albon was asked how he felt about hitting the century mark. With a shake of the head, the Thai-British driver said,

“Maybe if I look back on it, I would be more sentimental about it. I feel like 100 races these days are not that special“.

Although it may seem surprising at first, there’s a reason Albon didn’t feel too different about reaching the 100-race milestone. Today’s F1 calendar features 24 races a year—almost half a dozen more than what it was a decade ago. With so much racing, it doesn’t take long to hit that mark, which also explains why many on the grid reached it before Albon.

Another reason drivers may not fully savor such achievements is that, with so many races in a year, they are constantly focused on the next challenge of the season.

This is something Fernando Alonso alluded to in a recent interview when he shared his feelings about reaching the 400 mark (yes, he’s been racing for that long). Alonso said,

“It doesn’t mean too much for me right now because you are racing and you are focused on the next weekend,”

With Alonso not feeling particularly proud of his achievements despite having competed in four times as many races, it’s no surprise that Albon doesn’t view reaching 100 races as “special” in today’s era.

Albon claimed he is “one of the least experienced“

There are many in F1 today, who have crossed the 100 GP mark — some younger than Albon. That is a reason why he did not want to count the number of races has taken part in to date.

In another interview, the Williams driver said,

“Feel I have been in F1 for a while but I am still one of the least experienced drivers on the grid“.

The 28-year-old is right to consider himself less experienced than some of his peers. For example, George Russell (26) and Lando Norris (24) have both competed in more races (123) than Albon, despite being younger.

From a ‘super shy kid’ to taking Williams into the new era of Formula 1.

There are two key reasons why Albon has competed in fewer races than both Russell and Norris. Firstly, he had to sit out an entire season after Red Bull relegated him to a reserve driver role in 2021. It wasn’t until Williams signed him the next year that his career saw a resurgence.

The post “100 Races These Days Aren’t That Special”: Alex Albon on Not Being Sentimental About Reaching a Career Milestone appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Aaron Rodgers Injury: Jets Provide Massive Development on the Veteran QB’s Health Ahead of Patriots Matchup


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After the Robert Saleh ousting, the Jets were supposed to beat the Bills on a Monday Night matchup at home and claim the AFC East throne. That didn’t happen, and the team lost again against the Steelers the following week, despite adding Davante Adams to their ranks. Now, QB Aaron Rodgers and his Jets are at 2-5 with one more thing to worry about before the Week 8 matchup against the Patriots.

According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, the star quarterback of the Jets has been listed with knee, ankle, and hamstring injuries. By the book, Rodgers is limited in practice today, but in reality, he’s just participating in a walk-through and won’t be partaking in any physical activities.

The interim head coach of the team, Jeff Ulbrich, revealed that the hamstring “flared up” during last week’s game against the Steelers. He also speculated that the injury limited the QB’s mobility, which might have prevented Rodgers from scrambling when needed or escaping the pocket under pressure.

So, how concerning are these injuries? Given that a low-grade hamstring injury and minor issues with the knee and ankle can heal within a few days, we’d argue there’s no cause for alarm. Rodgers will most definitely take the reins behind the scrimmage line against the weak, underwhelming Patriots defense.

However, how well he will perform and whether he can secure a few wins with all the support he needs around him is something we can’t really predict. Fans, on the other hand, have their own theories.

Is age catching up to the four-time MVP?

Rodgers isn’t getting any younger; he’ll be 41 in just 40 days. The signs of age are showing too — and not in a Tom Brady-in-Tampa-Bay kind of way. He’s throwing interceptions left and right, his inaccuracy is increasingly noticeable, and weak play-calling along with dropped passes are even bigger concerns.

Not so surprisingly, fans have noticed this too. Flocking to the comment section of Rich Cimini’s injury update post, the majority shared one common sentiment: Rodgers is old and can no longer hold his own.

Rodgers now stands on nothing but empty promises. The Jets’ secondary has been exceptional this year; it’s the offense that can’t produce the numbers to win games.

After all the hype and a year of waiting due to his Achilles injury, it no longer feels like the team will even make the post-season. For most of the Green Gang faithful, the common sentiment is: what’s all of this been for if we can’t even break the playoff drought?

The post Aaron Rodgers Injury: Jets Provide Massive Development on the Veteran QB’s Health Ahead of Patriots Matchup appeared first on The SportsRush.



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2016 US GP’s Taylor Swift Model Set in Motion F1’s Business Strategy: “It Was a Big Financial Success”


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Last month, BBC’s Andrew Benson released a book on F1, Remarkable Motor Races, where he uncovered some of the most interesting moments the sport has ever seen. One standout story he shared was how American pop star Taylor Swift played a pivotal role in saving the US GP from being dropped from the calendar due to financial struggles.

Benson recently appeared on The Fast and The Curious podcast and shed some more light on the same. He said,

“The US Grand Prix when it started in Austin, everyone loved it. But it was looking a bit shaky financially for a while. Bobby Epstein (promotor of the Circuit of the Americas) then kind of serendipitously came up with the idea of Taylor Swift having a concert at the track“.

 

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Although Epstein came up with this idea by chance, he was keen on making it a reality. Hence, he contacted Swift’s manager, who was from Austin. They had a meal together to discuss the idea of having Swift host a concert during the 2016 United States GP, Benson revealed.

Swift held a concert on the Saturday night after qualifying and Benson believed “it was a big financial success” as a lot more fans flocked to the track the next day.

He then pointed out how Liberty Media and COTA have now adopted this model of having concerts during F1’s visit to Austin each year.

Back in 2016, Taylor Swift was already a recognizable star, but today, she is arguably one of the most popular singers in the world. With her immense fame, she has garnered fans from all walks of life, including F1 stars. In fact, one of them has even been romantically linked to her.

Fernando Alonso’s rumored flame with Swift

In 2023, social media was buzzing with rumors that Fernando Alonso was romantically linked to Taylor Swift, a story that sent shockwaves through both the F1 and pop-culture worlds.

Swift never addressed the rumors, but Alonso, in typical fashion, responded with humor. The two-time World Champion posted TikToks featuring Swift’s music, keeping fans intrigued and fueling speculation.

However, in late 2023, Swift announced her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, officially putting the Alonso rumors to rest—or so it seemed. F1 fans continued to draw connections between the two, especially when Swift released her new album, The Tortured Poets Department.

One song featured the lyrics, “I’m an Aston Martin that you steered straight into the ditch. Then ran and hid,” which fans speculated was a reference to Alonso, given his Aston Martin connection.

As with most rumors, these too eventually faded, but not before stirring plenty of excitement.

The post 2016 US GP’s Taylor Swift Model Set in Motion F1’s Business Strategy: “It Was a Big Financial Success” appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Lewis Hamilton Beats Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc to Be Labeled as the Most Marketable Driver


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SportsPro recently published its annual list of Most Marketable Athletes across the world and Lewis Hamilton has ranked 11th on it, the highest-ranking motorsport athlete. Behind Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, and the McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri have made the top 50.

Hamilton has actually dropped in this ranking list relative to last year when he ranked seventh overall. Nevertheless, the seven-time world champion has a marketability score of 83.65. SportsPro has analyzed all athletes based on three parameters: Athlete Brand Strength, Total Addressable Market, and Economics.

Hamilton beat Leclerc and Verstappen by some margin, as the Red Bull driver is 31st on the list while the Ferrari driver is 33rd. Verstappen and Leclerc have marketability scores of 74.8 and 73.8, respectively.

While both of them score better than Hamilton in their brand strength, Leclerc loses immensely on the Economics parameter. On the other hand, Verstappen loses out on both addressable market and economics. Hamilton’s fan base is certainly quite extensive relative to these young stars of the sport.

While Verstappen, Leclerc, Norris, and Piastri have a decent following, they have a long way to go in matching Hamilton’s appeal as F1’s icon. Besides his on-track exploits, Hamilton’s off-track ventures in fashion, entrepreneurship, and music attract several fans all over the world, irrespective of whether they watch him in F1 or not.

This definitely helps Hamilton’s marketability. Moreover, his appearances at fashion events, and music festivals, and his stances for social causes make him an endearing figure for the masses.

Hamilton’s commercial appeal

Hamilton’s associations with several brands in and outside of F1 have increased exponentially over the years. Brands like Tommy Hilfiger, IWC Schaffhausen, and Petronas — who sponsor Mercedes — have utilized his massive commercial appeal immensely.

In fact, Mercedes also considered offering Hamilton an ambassadorial role after his retirement from F1. While that didn’t come to pass, Ferrari is reportedly considering doing so, as he moves to Maranello in 2025.

The Italian brand is keen on capitalizing on Hamilton’s marketability besides boosting their F1 operation on track. That was a major motivation for Ferrari to secure his signing on a multi-year deal, as a Hamilton-Ferrari association could have limitless potential from a sporting and commercial perspective.

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Can NBA Players and Coaches Use Cell Phones During Games?


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Over the years, players and coaches have increased their use of phones on the benches, leading to instances of them being caught using their devices during play. However, the NBA is introducing a new rule to cut off their connections to the outside world during games.

The League will introduce an updated policy to prevent players and coaches from using their mobile phones while on the sidelines. This rule will ensure that each team has a point of contact for calls and messages coming to players in case of an emergency or otherwise. NBA insider Ian Begley reported,

“The NBA will restate the previous rule that prohibited players and coaches from using their phones to post on social media or share video footage (or other information) to a game official, media member or basketball operations personnel seated courtside from 45 minutes before tipoff until after postgame media obligations, sources say.”

NBA officials are expected to communicate the full details regarding this updated policy within this week. It is certainly a big change for players and coaches, who are used to the freedom of using their phones during games. But there is a crucial motive behind this new policy that relates to the integrity of the NBA.

NBA is trying to uphold the integrity of the game 

While this new rule will prevent players from sharing videos or sensitive information on the sidelines, it also ensures that both active and inactive players, as well as coaches, remain fully engaged with the game at all times. More importantly, it will uphold the integrity of the game in relation to gambling. The NBA is trying to avoid another Jontay Porter situation.

In April this year, Porter was banned from the NBA for reportedly sharing information with bettors about games while in the G-League. This brought up serious questions about the integrity of basketball’s biggest league and the growing sports gambling industry.

Now, the NBA is taking strict action to prevent such an incident from happening again. Players and coaches will have to adapt to the new rules over time.

The post Can NBA Players and Coaches Use Cell Phones During Games? appeared first on The SportsRush.



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“I Would Never Wish That on No One”: Deshaun Watson’s Gruesome Achilles Injury Leaves Fans Stunned and Horrified


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Deshaun Watson’s season appears to be over as horrific visuals show what is believed to be his Achilles tendon popping. The Browns QB wasn’t having the best season of his career, and it’s been capped off by an even worse injury.

His failure to find wins led to the entire Browns fanbase turning against him. The hate was very apparent when he was entering the field against the Bengals as boos echoed louder in his home stadium.

However, fans were soon left with a feeling of remorse for the quarterback after he suffered a horrific injury on the field in the first half of the game.

“Damn bro say what you want but you gotta feel for him at this point,” one fan commented.

Another fan stated, “dam man he’s already dealt with so much.”

“Ouch! As bad as he is, I would never wish that on no one. That sucks,” wrote another fan.

What makes this injury even more awful for Deshaun was that his career was already going down a spiral, and this injury as many believe could be the final nail in the coffin.

The post “I Would Never Wish That on No One”: Deshaun Watson’s Gruesome Achilles Injury Leaves Fans Stunned and Horrified appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Lewis Hamilton’s Charity Ties Up With F1 to Help Kids in Texas to Pursue a Career in Motorsport


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At the US Grand Prix this weekend in Austin, the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) has launched an initiative aimed at inspiring the next generation of motorsport professionals, especially those from underrepresented communities. In partnership with the local community, COTA is educating young people about career paths in motorsport through hands-on experiences.

One of these programs, the “F1 Frenzy”, has introduced students to advanced manufacturing skills and the role STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) plays in the racing industry. Through activities like designing and 3D printing, students are getting a unique insight into the technical aspects of motorsport, opening up doors to potential careers in the field.

At the same time, Formula 1 has teamed up with Lewis Hamilton‘s charity, Mission 44 to give 50 kids from the “Make It Center” at Austin Community College a behind-the-scenes experience of F1.

These students are learning about the mechanics, engineering, and technology that make the sport possible. From engine maintenance to understanding tire changes, they are gaining exposure to critical areas of expertise needed for a career in motorsport.

As F1TV presenter Laura Winter explained, “As we return to Austin, there are a number of initiatives taking place to ensure F1 leaves a lasting legacy and opens up opportunities for young people hoping to pursue a career in motorsport.”

“COTA has teamed up with the ‘Make It Center’… and through hands-on activities like designing and 3-D printing, students are discovering the vital role STEM plays in the motorsport industry.”

In addition to the educational initiatives, the ‘Grid Kids,’ an initiative started by F1 and the FIA back in 2018, for the US Grand Prix will come from a local charity, which aims to give underprivileged children a brighter future.

Hamilton’s Mission 44 fights for the underprivileged

Mission 44 has been at the forefront of promoting diversity and inclusion in the world of motorsport and beyond. Driven by Hamilton’s personal experience of being the only person of color in his field, Mission 44 aims to create a fairer, more inclusive future by investing in programs that empower young people to succeed.

One of the major milestones for Mission 44 came in June 2022 when they partnered with the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Mercedes F1 Team to launch the M.Sc Motorsport Scholarship Programme.

This initiative aims to address the underrepresentation of black people in motorsport and builds on the recommendations made by The Hamilton Commission. In February 2024, Mission 44 launched the Diversity in Education Fund, which aims to increase the ethnic diversity of people entering the teaching profession.

With an investment of £1 million (roughly $1.3 million), the fund supports organizations that promote diversity in education and leadership. One of their key partnerships is with Aspiring Heads, an organization that helps more black teachers and educators reach leadership roles.

The post Lewis Hamilton’s Charity Ties Up With F1 to Help Kids in Texas to Pursue a Career in Motorsport appeared first on The SportsRush.



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Alex Albon Refuses to Be an ‘Astronaut for a Day’ With Oscar Piastri


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In a recent interview, Williams driver Alex Albon was asked which profession, other than F1, he would choose for a day. Without hesitation, the Thai-born racer chose astronaut. However, despite his confidence in the answer, Albon later changed his mind — because of Oscar Piastri.

As soon as Albon revealed his choice, the presenter who had asked him the question announced that his answer “matches Oscar.” 

For Albon, that was a dealbreaker. As soon as he heard that, he was done with the thought of being an astronaut and replied, “I don’t want to be in a space shuttle with Oscar.”

Although there was no clear explanation behind Albon refusing to fly into space with Piastri, the Williams driver’s mood and tonality clearly said that it was just a joke. Albon carried on with, and changed his answer to being a zookeeper. “Like in a sanctuary. That would be nice,” the 28-year-old said.

This wasn’t the first banter exchange between Piastri and Albon, as not too long ago, they engaged in a battle over the title of ‘worst player’ at the F1 grid’s ‘second sport’.

Piastri confident of beating Albon

The entire F1 grid has unanimously chosen padel as their go-to second sport. During breaks between races, drivers often gather to play several rounds of the game, and it has even become a frequent topic of banter in various interviews.

On one such occasion, Albon called Piastri the worst Padel player in the paddock. It wasn’t long before Piastri posted a video of Albon goofing up a ball after a serve.

While Piastri is humble about his Padel skills, he is not ready to accept that Albon could be better, “Alex Albon has been giving me a lot of slack for being a bad Padel player. I have played against Alex, and I would say, we are at a very similar level.”

For Piastri, the best Padel players on the grid are Carlos Sainz, Fernando Alonso, and Daniel Ricciardo. When asked about Max Verstappen, he said he hasn’t played with the Red Bull star but at the same time hasn’t heard “glowing reviews” about him.

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Christian McCaffrey Catches a Stray From Fans as Ricky Pearsall Prepares for Return After Being Shot


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The 2024 season hasn’t been much kind to the San Francisco 49ers, as the Super Bowl runners-up continue to grapple with injury woes. However, one such injury concern now appears to be resolved, with Ricky Pearsall making his return after recovering from a gunshot wound to the chest.

Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey, who suffered a less severe injury—at least in name—remains on the sidelines, sparking all sorts of reactions from the NFL world.

McCaffrey has been dealing with bilateral Achilles tendonitis, which, of course, sounds less dangerous than a gunshot wound. So, it’s no surprise that several netizens were quick to take a jab or two at the star running back, who has yet to take the field this season.

See for yourself:

Pearsall went through the absolute worst tragedy of his life seven weeks ago when he was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery in San Francisco. The rookie wideout has since made remarkable progress in his recovery. However, not so much can be said about McCaffrey.

CMC’s expected return to the football field

During his appearance on Bay Area radio station KNBR, Lynch provided an encouraging update on McCaffrey’s availability for this season. He revealed that the star running back has made progress and has been showing progress, with no signs of setbacks. Yet, there is still no timeline for when CMC can make a return.

“I could just tell people he’s on a good track with that. No timelines or anything, but he’s doing a little bit more each day. We kind of stagger it. Work hard one day, go in more of a regen the next day. “

Moreover, sportswriter Matt Maiocco revealed on the Rich Eisen Show that McCaffrey was sent to Germany for treatment, and he is “responding well” to it. Interestingly, Maiocco noted that the team is expecting to see him on the field late in the season, and at his best.

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Chad Johnson Brutally Silences Hater By Sharing His Impressively Jacked Physique While Repping With 90lb Weights


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Lately, Chad Johnson has been seen putting in the work at the gym, and based on his social media posts, his gains are dramatically visible. Unfortunately, one fan found some blemish in Ocho’s workout technique which was met with a savage reply as the Nightcap host posted his ripped physique while shrugging two 90lbs dumbbells.

Earlier this month, Chad Johnson and former NFL star James Harrison announced that they will be entering the octagon next year for an MMA exhibition bout. As part of the buildup, Chad has been hitting the gym and posting his training online asking fans for feedback.

In one such video, the former NFL star was seen bench-pressing 110 lbs. This is where the trouble began. A user trolled Ocho for not “hitting the full reps” because he “cannot hit the full reps.” The netizen thus advised the broadcaster to focus more on muscle extension and contraction to build gains faster.

While the second part of the netizen’s response makes sense, but saying that Ocho, an NFL veteran cannot do full reps is simply disrespectful. Ocho took full offense and responded in style by posting a photo of him in a black-and-white filter, where all his muscles and definitions are visible.

The best part however was the caption where the Nightcap host schooled the netizen by challenging him to develop a physique like his with a McDonald’s diet. “Let me know when you look like this off McDonald’s & I’ll listen,” savagely replied Ocho.

While fans were impressed by the physique, they were even more impressed by Chad’s dietary claim.

Netizens ask Chad Johnson for his diet plan

Chad Johnson’s love affair with McDonald’s is nothing new. Hence it’s no surprise that on his “X” bio, Ocho has written that McDonald’s is cheaper than therapy. That said, the popular food chain has rarely been advised as a dietary plan for achieving a ripped physique like Ocho’s.

Thus fans were stunned when the Nightcap host implied that he achieved this physique on a McDonald’s diet. They hence naturally bombarded him on the comments section asking him to share more details on the diet plan. After all, who wouldn’t love to get ripped while munching on burgers and fries all day?

One user meanwhile took it as a joke and retorted by saying that they were a Wendy’s diet plan to achieve a ripped physique.

Others simply complimented him for his physique.

While the dates and more details around the fight are not out yet, Ocho looks in fine physical form. Considering Harrison is no slouch himself, we might have a cracking bout in our hands at New Orleans next year!

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No, Caitlin Clark Is Not Leaving the WNBA; Off Season Golf Plans Starts Weird Rumor About 2024 ROTY


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No, Caitlin Clark is not leaving the WNBA after having a Rookie of the Year campaign. Rumors of Clark leaving the league have been swirling around throughout the offseason as she has been witnessed partaking in non-basketball activities, especially golf. Her golfing adventures have made some wonder if she will leave basketball altogether to pursue a career in the sport.

Such beliefs started to generate after CC and her Indiana Fever were eliminated in the first round of the WNBA playoffs during the last week of September. During a press conference, Clark was asked about her offseason plans.

She joked that she would play so much golf that she would soon be a professional golfer. The Fever guard quipped, “Maybe play some golf and that’s what I’m gonna do until it becomes too cold in Indiana. I’ll become a professional golfer“

To add fuel to the fire, the official X handle of the Ladies Professional Golf Association(LPGA) shared the clip and quote-tweeted, “Count us in, @CaitlinClark22. ”

The light-hearted nature of this exchange was perceived as something serious by many fans, especially some of her diehards who wanted CC to leave the WNBA due to her perceived disrespect by the league’s athletes.

Clark is not just using golf to cool off like Stephen Curry does during the NBA offseason. Clark is also looking to develop her game at a serious level. In fact, she’s gearing up to compete in competitions.

In November, she is set to appear in an LPGA pro-am game hosted by golfing legend Annika Sorenstam at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Florida. Thus, she has been preparing for the tournament alongside her Fever backcourt mate Lexie Hull. 

During the practice, one of her shots went viral as she was just a whisker away from nailing a hole-in-one. Thus, Clark has tremendous golfing skills and all eyes will be on her during the next month’s LPGA Pro-Am.

However, it doesn’t mean she is walking away from basketball, she just needs some time away from it. If we take into account her 2023-24 NCAA season, she has played non-stop basketball since August last year.

If we add her NCAA season and the WNBA season, she played 81 games in around 10 months, without including the preseason games.  Thus, she is on a much-needed break. However, there is a chance we may see her on the basketball court before the WNBA season begins in May 2025.

Will Caitlin Clark participate in Unrivaled?

WNBA superstars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier’s highly advertised 3×3 league Unrivaled league will have its first season in January 2025. Thus far, the official X account of the league has unveiled 26 out of potential 30 players.

From the 2024 WNBA Draft, Angel Reese and Rickea Jackson have already been announced but Clark is yet to be named. Initially, it seemed as if the league’s management would not pursue Clark.

However, after securing a TV deal with TNT, they are going all in to recruit her and a source termed their approach as a “full court press”. It is unclear if Clark will join the league since she has yet to make up her mind.

She won’t join it for financial reasons despite it being advertised as the highest-paying sports league in the world because she already has enough endorsements to earn millions.

Apart from that, she may extend her golfing adventures before the start of another grueling WNBA season. But if she does end up being a part of Unrivaled to compete against the best women hoopers, fans of her basketball skills will be in for a treat.  

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