Today marks a new beginning for Audacy’s sports talk brand based in Houston, Texas. For 32 years, SportsRadio 610 has been known as Houston’s sports talk leader. But today, the brand and signal are forever changed as Audacy officially launches 95.7 The Fan with the kickoff of the Houston Texans’ 25th season set to begin. A moment that was in the works for years under the leadership of Brand Manager Parker Hillis.

“The timing ended up being perfect because of our amazing partnership with the Houston Texans,” said Parker Hillis, brand manager of 95.7 The Fan. “For us to start our new era at the start of an incredible era for them, it’s poetic for us. It made all the sense in the world to share in that moment with them. It’s football Christmas for us and the perfect storm in putting this all together.”

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95.7 The Fan is the latest example of Audacy ensuring the company’s top sports talk outlets are being served to an FM audience. The station serves as Audacy’s 23rd sports talk brand on the FM dial, with several joining the ranks beginning this year in Chicago, Buffalo and Los Angeles.

For Hillis, who’s been serving as brand manager of 95.7 The Fan since May 2022, the shift to FM has been a long time in the making.

“It’s ultimately been a really long process. I’ve been lobbying for the move since day one when I began,” said Hillis. “We’ve been putting the pieces in place for eighteen months to two years. It was a slow process because it wasn’t a question if we were ready. It was a question of where do we go regarding the brand and signal.”

A Long Road To FM

While discussions had taken place over several years, the shift to FM did not become a realistic possibility until recently. Hillis said recent changes in Audacy management helped change that. The company’s increased focus on building sports talk brands on FM also played a key role. Those shifts moved the conversation from a possibility to a potential reality.

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Finally, the moment came when approval was granted. For Hillis, it was a special moment to get across the finish line.

“The hardest part for me was keeping it quiet and under wraps for a handful of months,” noted Hillis. “I knew how exciting it was going to be for my team. Six months ago, I noticed the tides beginning to turn. To get the confirmation it was happening about three months ago was exciting.”

The opportunity for a legacy brand to shift to FM is unique. With that goal in mind following his arrival in Houston four years ago, Hillis approached building the brand in preparation for when the opportunity would arrive. While the Houston market does have sports talk on the FM dial, Hillis says the market desired more.

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“For Houston, this is a gamechanger. I felt for a long time this market has been desperately in need for a true full market FM sports brand. We have such a rabid fanbase, that the market has been underserved,” said Hillis. “We’ve been operating as a station that was ready to go on the FM dial. We were just waiting for the opportunity by being FM ready. Had there been one, we probably would already be there.”

While the branding is evolving around the new FM signal, the station will retain its legacy 610 AM position. That preserves more than three decades of familiarity among Houston sports fans. Hillis and Audacy followed a similar path by keeping the AM signal alongside the shift to FM.

Hillis noted that over the past several months, research with focus groups showed that while the shift to FM was desired, a section of the audience still preferred what they’ve always known.

“The AM represents a handful of things with us. First and foremost, a level of consistency. It didn’t make sense to get rid of a legacy brand that’s been around for 32 years,” said Hillis. “We’ve received some feedback where maybe ten percent still prefer listening to their sports talk on the AM dial. There’s something nostalgic about that, and that’s really cool.”

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A Fresh Look

He also noted that having the brand on both AM and FM creates opportunities to eventually split the brands. In addition, that approach could provide additional room for growth. Hillis said there are currently no plans for another rights deal on either dial. However, retaining the AM signal provides Audacy with additional options.

Unlike other Audacy sports talk brands shifting to FM, 95.7 The Fan is not just shifting to the FM band but also rebranding as The Fan. Moreover, the brand is synonymous with Audacy, stemming from WFAN in New York City. To date, 95.7 The Fan will be the 13th Audacy sports talk brand using The Fan branding.

“Over time we just got generically lumped in with the casual listener as ‘Sports 610.’ There hasn’t been a ton of separation. To us, there’s a power to having a unique and strong brand name like ‘The Fan’ or ‘The Ticket’ or ‘The Game.’ We had to determine what’s the value of SportsRadio 610 versus the value of a strong, well-regarded, more widespread sports brand name like ‘The Fan,’” explained Hillis.

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Of anything regarding the shift to FM, Hillis noted that in the final stages of planning, the conversation about shifting to ‘The Fan’ was the item that took the most time and effort.

“The Fan speaks to the foundation and philosophies of what our radio brand is. We are a voice for fans and a place they can come to connect. This station is a collection of Houston sports fans walking these halls,” said Hillis. “I’m sure there will be questions regarding why go with a brand name that exists around the country. For me, that brand speaks to who we are and it’s a bonus that we get to share that moniker with so many strong stations around the country.”

With the rebrand comes a new look and a new logo as well. Hillis admits he’s not the most savvy graphic artist and admitted to using AI for early mockups of what he envisioned. In the end, Hillis said the logo was the element of this process he was most proud of. He noted every element of the logo has some tie to the Houston area, building on the connection the station has with the sports fans that encompass it.

“The light blue represents the city of Houston. The tile pattern is also an homage to the city as well,” said Hillis. “For a Houstonian that sees our logo, our hope and expectation is they see that light blue and tiles and know instantly this is Houston’s sports station. It’s a tip of the cap to the city.”

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Serving Space City

Hillis says he doesn’t feel any added pressure with the switch to FM but instead approaches it as a unique opportunity. 95.7 The Fan is taking over an FM signal that was the cluster’s best-performing FM music brand in 95.7 The Spot.

Typically, when a sports talk station shifts to an FM signal, it replaces an underperforming music brand. Hillis credited The Spot’s successful run in attracting audiences and hopes to continue building upon that foundation.

“The Spot has been incredible. It’s been a powerhouse. Yes, it’s certainly a risk, but a risk that ultimately corporate and the building felt was taking for us. We believe in the power of the Houston sports audience,” said Hillis. “This is a statement that I believe that there is power in the sports talk brand unlike any other time in the past. That’s the opportunity in front of us… We’re stepping into big shoes, but it’s not pressure.”

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For Hillis, the launch of 95.7 The Fan represents more than a frequency change or a new logo. It is the culmination of a vision that began when he arrived in Houston and an opportunity to take a brand with more than three decades of history into its next chapter.

SportsRadio 610 will continue to live on the AM dial, preserving the identity and connection that generations of Houston sports fans have come to know. But on FM, 95.7 The Fan has the chance to introduce that connection to an even larger audience.

“I’m the most aggressive and optimistic person you’ll find about our product and our team. I fully expect us to win and be not just competing against the other sports stations in market, but the top stations across the demographic,” said Hillis. “I truly believe we have what it takes to be a number one station in men and adults… There’s a lot of buzz and we couldn’t be doing this at a better time.”

The timing only adds to the significance. As the Houston Texans begin their 25th season, 95.7 The Fan is beginning its first. For Hillis, that makes the launch feel less like an ending and more like the start of something much bigger.

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After 32 years as SportsRadio 610, Houston’s sports station now has a new frequency, a new identity and a new opportunity. The signal has changed. The mission hasn’t. The next era of Houston sports talk begins today.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

John Mamola

John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.

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The post Why Parker Hillis Feels the Time Was Right for To Rebrand SportsRadio 610 To 95.7 The Fan appeared first on Barrett Media.

Malawi’s success at an expanded 16-team tournament in Morocco is proving that women’s football in Africa has the potential to grow beyond the traditional big names.

Excluding the inaugural edition in 1998, they are the first debutant to reach the final.

But having already booked their place at next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil, courtesy of their run to the last four, the Scorchers are now on the verge of something very special – and anything looks possible with the Chawinga sisters firing on all cylinders in attack.

With Tabitha helping OL Lyonnes to another French title last season, and with Temwa winning a second golden boot and MVP award with NWSL side Kansas City Current, there was plenty of hype ahead of this campaign.

All of it now appears justified as the sisters have scored eight of their team’s 12 goals – with five for Temwa and three for Tabitha – and appear to have a level of pace, power and positional awareness which opposition defences struggle to cope with.

Tabitha’s opener in this match will be remembered for a long time.

When Asimenye Simwaka, who just two weeks ago was running in the 200m and 400m semi-finals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, headed a corner back into the middle of the penalty area, the elder Chawinga looked to pose little danger given she had her back to goal.

But the 30-year-old twisted to apply a clever left-footed overhead kick which beat Algeria goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi but not the crossbar.

As N’Gazi also twisted to avoid being struck by the ricochet, she probably thought she would be able to collect the ball on the bounce, but the backspin meant it could only end up in the back of the net.

Belkhiter’s red card, which had come midway through the first half, had looked harsh, even if replays clearly showed the defender catching Tabitha on the back of the heel.

The challenge came a long way from goal and Belkhiter’s team-mate Roselene Khezami, who was challenging from Chawinga’s other side, did get something on the ball as she lunged in at the same time.

Temwa Chawinga took advantage of the numerical advantage to round N’Gazi and stroke home to make it 2-0, but Kadzere’s deserved red card shortly after opened the door to the North Africans.

The Malawi midfielder just about made contact with the top of the ball before going over the top and catching Marine Dafeur above the ankle.

The challenge, however, came inside the Algeria penalty area and was totally unnecessary.

Algeria’s Melissa Bethi and Temwa Chawinga both missed glorious opportunities inside the opening minutes of the second period before Adjabi’s strike on the hour.

Two Malawi defenders made a mess of dealing with Dafeur’s deep free-kick, allowing the forward to fire back across goal on the volley to half the deficit.

Both sides looked to be running out of steam before Tabitha Chawinga settled the contest with her second goal, driving into the penalty area almost unchallenged to side-foot home from just outside the six yard box.

Ranked 153rd in the world, Malawi have taken Wafcon by storm.

One final hurdle remains in the form of Cameroon, after they saw off the hosts on penalties, but on this form the Chawinga sisters will feel anyone is beatable.

For most elite athletes, retirement marks the end of one chapter. For Peter O’Mahony, it’s been the beginning of several.

After calling time on an outstanding rugby career in 2025, the former Munster captain and Ireland international has wasted little time building a portfolio that stretches far beyond the game. From launching businesses to stepping into television, O’Mahony’s post-rugby career highlights a mindset that’s just as disciplined away from the pitch.

Alongside his wife Jessica, O’Mahony recently launched søw-sé, a home and garden brand that has reportedly been five years in development. He’s also co-founded Active Brewing Company, a non-alcoholic beer brand, while making his television debut this year as a rugby pundit for Virgin Media Ireland.

It’s a varied schedule that requires organisation, planning and attention to detail. Traits that helped define his rugby career continue to shape his life after sport.

That same philosophy is reflected in his partnership with Irish storage specialist RackZone.

Based in Ballinasloe, County Galway, RackZone has become one of Ireland’s leading suppliers of garage storage, shelving, workbenches and workspace solutions. O’Mahony has spoken about the importance of keeping everything in its place, with his own garage featuring heavy-duty shelving, organised storage and a dedicated workstation that mirrors the disciplined approach he became known for throughout his playing career.

While many people associate storage solutions with warehouses or commercial premises, they’re increasingly becoming an essential part of home businesses, workshops, garages and home gyms. RackZone’s range includes garage shelving, workbenches, storage boxes, plastic lockers, steel lockers and adjustable standing desks, helping homeowners and professionals create organised workspaces that improve productivity.

O’Mahony isn’t the only elite Irish sportsman relying on organisation behind the scenes.

RackZone’s other sporting ambassador, James Deane, has enjoyed one of the biggest months of his remarkable motorsport career.

The Cork driver, already a five-time Formula Drift champion and seven-time European Drift champion, recently made his FIA European Rallycross Championship debut at Mondello Park. Competing against vastly more experienced rallycross drivers with just four practice laps under his belt, Deane secured an impressive second-place finish in his class.

Speaking after the event, he admitted the podium exceeded expectations.

“To be on the podium is better than I could have hoped.”

The achievement came shortly after another landmark moment.

Earlier this summer, Deane won Round 4 of the Formula Drift PRO Championship at Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut, leading an historic all-Irish podium alongside Jack Shanahan and Conor Shanahan. The victory moved him to the top of the championship standings as he continues his pursuit of a sixth Formula Drift title.

Like O’Mahony, preparation happens long before the spotlight arrives.

Behind the scenes, Deane’s workshop is built around organisation, with RackZone shelving and workstation systems helping keep tools, components and equipment exactly where they’re needed.

Whether it’s preparing a Formula Drift car or building a successful business after professional sport, the same principle applies.

Everything has its place.

As more Irish homeowners, businesses and workshop owners look to maximise their available space, organised storage has become less about tidiness and more about efficiency, productivity and getting the most from every square metre.

RackZone delivers across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland with next working day delivery available on eligible orders placed before 3pm, Monday to Thursday. The company is also rated Excellent on Trustpilot, serving thousands of customers looking to create more organised homes, workshops and workplaces.

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

As we count down to the first college football game of the 2026 season, we continue our new series: The records of each top CFB program in the West against all the others in the region.

Some schools have met many times over the years, while others are beginning new rivalries in the wake of recent realignment.

For each opponent in the table below, we provide the total games played, wins, losses, ties, winning percentage, first year played, and most recent contest.

We continue with Utah, which has played 924 games against regional foes, winning 532, losing 371, and recording 21 ties, for a winning percentage of .587.

The Utes have recorded the most wins (80) and played the most games (114) against Utah State, and lost the most games (34) against BYU.

Here is a breakdown of Utah’s records vs. the region’s teams.

Marcus Rashford has returned to Manchester United this week for pre-season training

Manchester United icon John O’Shea believes it’ll be a straightforward conversation between Michael Carrick and Marcus Rashford about reintegrating into the first-team squad. The England international has spent the last 18 months playing his football away from United, but looks set to return to the fold this season.

Barcelona turned down the opportunity to sign Rashford on a permanent basis following his loan spell at the Nou Camp, and returned to pre-season training with the Reds earlier this week. There are still question marks over his long-term future at the club, but O’Shea believes his former teammate is the right man to get the best out of Rashford.

Speaking to ITV ahead of Man United’s pre-season friendly with Leeds United, O’Shea said: “Yeah, listen, it’s straightforward. I think it’ll be an honest conversation, straight up.

“Do you want to stay? If you do, great, let’s see what you’ve got again, and then start afresh. And listen, you know the fans, there’ll be question marks thinking, what are we doing, type of thing.

“But if he goes and struts his stuff at Old Trafford straight away, a lot will be forgiven, I think. [There’s] Still some questions to answer as well.”

Fellow pundit Michael Brown agreed, and said: “See, all those players we mentioned, we always have to come back down to Marcus Rashford.

“The reason it does, John, is because, as you know, he’s got everything, hasn’t he? He can change games. He’s electric, he’s got the pace. If you can get the best out of him, then it’d be a great sign.

“I think Michael Carrick is a great person to go and do that. He’s going to have to work, he’s going to have to earn it to get into the team, but imagine if he was firing this season.”

Xavi Hernandez has been named the new head coach of the Netherlands.

The 46-year-old Spanish manager has signed a deal to lead the national side until the 2030 World Cup.

He takes over from Ronald Koeman, who resigned after the Dutch were defeated by Morocco in the last 32 of this summer’s tournament.

As a player, former Barcelona midfielder Xavi won the 2010 World Cup with Spain alongside the European Championship in 2008 and 2012.

He guided Barca to the LaLiga title in 2023, having previously started his coaching career with Qatari side Al Sadd.

“I consider it a tremendous honour to become head coach of the Dutch national team,” he said in a statement released by the Dutch Football Association (KNVB).

“As someone who received his training at the FC Barcelona academy, with strong influences from Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, among others, I feel a special connection to Dutch football.

“You could say that I am a bit of a son of Dutch football.”

Xavi’s appointment marks his first return to management since leaving Barcelona in 2024.

He took over the Catalan giants in November 2021, also succeeding Koeman, after making 767 appearances for the club.

“The Netherlands has a rich football culture and a clear vision that also appeals to me enormously: attacking football, based on possession, with creativity, passion, and conviction,” he continued.

“Of course, the most important goal is and always will be to win, but I prefer to do so in a way that reflects those characteristics and that people can enjoy.

“The potential for this is there, as well as a solid foundation to build upon.”

Explaining Xavi’s appointment, KNVB director of football Nigel de Jong said: “As a coach, he has been shaped by years of working with top coaches who espouse a football vision that aligns very well with the way we want to play with the Dutch national team: taking initiative, dominant and attractive football, combined with the flexibility that modern elite football demands.

“Xavi believes in those basic principles, has embraced that vision, and made it his own. All of that, combined with his personality and the way he knows how to connect with players and get the best out of a group, makes him the right choice for the coming years.”

The debut Vikings depth chart is now live.

Albeit unofficial, the online roster hierarchy offers a glimpse as to how things are trending at the present moment. Much can (and will) change prior to the Week 1 game when the Green Bay Packers visit the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, September 13th. Even still, check out a trio of details that inspire a certain degree of curiosity.

Oh, and for the record, J.J. McCarthy is slotted in as the QB2.

Vikings Depth Chart — A Trio of Surprises

1: Caleb Banks Listed as a Backup

A towering, hulking presence, Caleb Banks boasts sky-high potential as a potential nightmare within the trenches. Why the backup spot?

The current starters are listed as Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, and Ty Ingram-Dawkins. All of those players are returners but only Redmond — a stud — is assured of a starting spot. Rodriguez is going to earn a hearty workload while Ingram-Dawkins is torn between being an edge rusher and a 5T.

Banks lost development time during the offseason recovering from his foot injury. He’ll need some time to work into the mix but is going to demand playing time. Opting for a DT at No. 18 means believing that he’ll create a ruckus before too long.

2: Jay Ward Overcomes Theo Jackson, at Least for Now

In Jay Ward, the Vikings boast a young safety who is long and rangy. He’s a good blitzer and has the capacity to play center field. Still, it’s somewhat surprising to see him listed over Theo Jackson.

Jackson has been in town since 2022. Since then, he has steadily risen, solidifying himself as a nice backup before earning a payday to become a starter last year. Toward the end of 2025, Jackson got demoted for Ward. Apparently, that trend could continue rolling into the upcoming season. Ward’s background at LSU and early usage in Minnesota inspires some belief that Brian Flores can move him around liberally.

Is Jackson a trade candidate? The Vikings have him under contract for two more years but may not want to pay medium money for a backup.

3 — Pair of O-Line Notes

Walter Rouse is a massive guy who got scooped up in the 6th Round of the 2024 NFL Draft. So far, the Vikings have used him sparingly, but kicking him inside to guard could be a nice development for him. The OG3 job is wide open.

Next up is the Vikings sticking Caleb Tiernan at offensive tackle. A criticism going into the most recent draft was that he had short arms, which can be an issue when trying to hold off the long-and-strong pass rushers seeking to wallop the QB. Tiernan is a huge guy at nearly 6’8″ and he boasts great feet. Can the Vikings use him at offensive tackle? If so, then the Vikings did well landing him in the late 3rd.

A touch obvious, perhaps, but getting a bounce back season out of the o-line will go a long way in making Kyler Murray’s season a success. Rouse and Tiernan could end up being useful depth at a remarkably rugged and physical position.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.