With big names leaving and a cross-city rival preparing to take the stage, the time could be ripe for MLS’s most successful team to reinvent itselfWhile Major League Soccer doesn’t trade in pure transfer market currency like most other leagues, the Designated Player system burdens a player with the same pressure as a hefty price tag. With only three DP spots handed to each team there is a clearly defined expectation placed on them. They are signed to be better than the rest. Robbie Keane handled that pressure better than the rest.The Irishman may well go down as the greatest DP in MLS history with eulogies of his career Stateside flowing after it was announced he is to leave the...
Many will feel the Russian was robbed of victory by home judges. But fights between two skilled operators can be incredibly tough to callKathy Duva is no stranger to disappointment. The veteran promoter behind Sergey Kovalev has been on the wrong end of more than a few controversial decisions in her nearly three decades in the sport. Call it an occupational hazard.But that experience doesn’t assuage the sting of Kovalev’s disputed unanimous-decision loss to Andre Ward on Saturday night in Las Vegas, a verdict that stripped the Russian champion of his light heavyweight titles and saddled him with the first loss of his professional career. Related: Andre Ward scores controversial points victory over Sergey Kovalev Continue reading...
The No1 overall pick makes his NFL debut for the Rams, but it might not be enough to snap the Dolphins’ four-game winning streakAs Tony Romo reminded us this week, there can be a certain nobility in knowing when to accept defeat. But you know what’s better than being a good loser? Being an excellent winner - just like ambushinthenight, Martin Miller and SaintJames - the only three people who called every game correctly in Week 10 of our Pick Six contest. The latter member of that trio leapt up to within two points of first place in the overall standings, too, but for now Besd1, GlennyTheElder and ITLaw23 continue to lead the way. I’ll have the full list up...
After two defeats, the US are struggling in World Cup qualifying and Jürgen Klinsmann is an isolated figure. At least Christian Pulisic looks goodFor much of his first World Cup cycle, Jürgen Klinsmann’s glass half-full approach seemed like a calming signal. But as his second cycle has stumbled from setback to mini-revival to bigger setback, his unwillingness to take responsibility looks to have made him an increasingly isolated figure. Related: USA slump to 4-0 defeat in Costa Rica as pressure builds on Jürgen Klinsmann Continue reading...
The Knicks president wasn’t being racist with his comments about LeBron James but they showed a man badly out of touch with the modern NBAThe Phil Jackson era of the New York Knicks continues to provide the basketball world with non-stop embarrassments. In an interview with ESPN, the Knicks president described LeBron James’s business associates as his “posse”. That resulted in strong rebukes from not just James but also Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks’ star player. It didn’t take long for James’s camp to respond to Jackson’s comments. James’s business manager Maverick Carter took to Twitter to respond to Jackson’s use of the loaded term “posse.” Related: LeBron James says he's lost respect for Phil Jackson over 'posse' comment Continue reading...