Every so often, I get the opportunity to leave Canada for a few days to go to the States. Doing so makes in-person coverage of the Vikings possible.

Perhaps the top news of the week is that the Vikings host the Ravens. To begin, there will be a pair of joint practices. These days are tremendous fun for anybody who gets out since there are roughly 180 NFL players and a pair of coaching staffs all working on the same collection of football fields. And then there’s the game inside of U.S. Bank Stadium, further allowing for more insight to be gleaned. Being able to offer some firsthand observations is what’s to come for our readers.

VT w/ Press Access
The Vikings Host the Ravens in Preseason Week No. 2

Since the summer of 2020, I’ve been writing about the Minnesota Vikings. What has followed since has been a wild ride.

— READ MORE: Vikings 1st-Round Pick Had a Day to Forget —
— READ MORE: Vikings Film Analysis: Aaron Jones Scampers for Nice Gain —
— READ MORE: Stock Up, Stock Down: 5 Players Impacted by Preseason Game —

I went full time with Vikings writing and editing in the summer of 2021. The overwhelming majority of my work since then has been tossed onto Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. No shortage of digital ink has been spilled since then covering the Vikings. Normally, the work has been done from afar (Canada).

Over the past couple years, I’ve been fortunate to get some credentialed access to the Vikings. Doing so allows for some firsthand insight that can remove the middle man.

The hope, then, is to send along some Vikings writing that’s worth your time. Online publishers are sorting through the turmoil of industry changes but many of you out there have continued supporting VT. That means a ton to us as a small business that is local to the Twin Cities (the business is local; I’m international).

Of top importance will be the passer battle that has been decided. Kyler Murray is the QB1. Can he shine against what is a formidable group over in Baltimore? Whatever takes place against the Ravens is sure to be handled with aplomb as nothing gets pushed out of proportion.

But then there are a pile of other stories to monitor for the Vikings. How does young defensive tackle Caleb Banks do? The receiver competition is heating up beyond the top trio of options; can Myles Price keep up his sizzling effort? All of the sudden, the safety position offers some reason for concern due to the Jamal Adams news. Who steps up?

Oh, and the Vikings still employ that J.J. McCarthy guy. He could use some excellent days.

As has been mentioned in the past, making a habit of visiting Vikings Territory means a lot to us. Genuinely. Doing so helps to keep the lights on since we’re in the click business.

Set us as your home page and check out what we’ve got on offer. Our work includes a (sort of) credentialed Vikings writer who does this as a full-time job. There’s then contributions ranging from a former GM (Jeff Diamond) to a podcast with a veteran Minnesota sports reporter (Craig Peters) to the musings of various great contributors.

Be sure to follow along on social media. The site is on there — VikingTerritory — and so am I — VikingsGazette. We’ll be sending along some fresh insight from what’s learned from getting press access for the Vikings.

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

Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong is set to host a football tournament for secondary schools in Akwa Ibom State as part of his efforts to support youth development through sport.

The grand finale of the Troost-Ekong Foundation Football Tournament is scheduled for September 1, with Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, expected to attend the event.

An exclusive invitation was presented to the Commissioner at his office on Monday, August 17, by a member of the tournament’s Board of Trustees, Mr Bernard Ekong.

The tournament is being organised in partnership with the Akwa Ibom State Football Association (AKSFA) and is aimed at giving back to society by creating opportunities for young football talents across the state.

The initiative, founded by Troost-Ekong, is focused on identifying and developing talented young players. Secondary schools from different parts of Akwa Ibom have been selected to take part in both male and female categories.

Meanwhile, AKSFA Chairman, Mr Samuel Umoh, has praised the Troost-Ekong Foundation for the initiative. He also confirmed that the necessary kits have been delivered as preparations for the grand finale gather pace.

Troost-Ekong, who was born in the Netherlands on September 1, 1993, is a centre-back who currently plays for Al-Ahli in the Qatar Stars League. He represented Nigeria more than 80 times and served as captain of the Super Eagles.

The defender founded the Troost-Ekong Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on empowering young people in Nigeria and Africa through football and education.

The school tournament is expected to provide a platform for young players to showcase their talent while promoting grassroots football development in Akwa Ibom.

SportsRation will share further details about this competition when it has been revealed by the organizers.

The Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable has a plethora of options with the exciting filly Natural Fling, who achieved a comprehensive first-up win at Caulfield.

The father-and-son training partnership is considering a Group 1 sprint in the coming weeks for the daughter of Home Affairs, following her victory in the Group Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Sent off as the $2.40 favourite under Damian Lane, Natural Fling raced to a four-length win from Scintillation ($16), with Oh Yes She Did ($14) a further three-quarters-of-a-length behind in third. Punters looking for the best Australian betting sites saw the well-backed favourite deliver an emphatic performance.

Natural Fling clocked a time of 1:03.91, which was just shy of 0.5 seconds quicker than Hard Kick’s winning time in the colts’ race, the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m), run earlier on the card.

Lining up for only her third start, Natural Fling was successful on debut at Caulfield in May before running second in the Magic Millions 2YO National at the Gold Coast later that month.

Calvin McEvoy expressed his delight, highlighting Natural Fling as a quality filly.

“We had to pay good money for her at the sales, but we have really good owners in her and they stumped up the cash to buy into a Home Affairs filly,” McEvoy said.

“These colours are famous within our stables and we’ve always had her at the front of the bus in our team of two-year-olds and now three-year-olds, and her trial was fantastic and for her to come here and back it up in a great race, it’s so pleasing.”

McEvoy mentioned that the team had focused on refining the filly’s speed, indicating that while she was travelling fast, the effort was controlled.

“She’s grown up this preparation, and she was impressive and put a gap on a quality field,” McEvoy commented.

“We won this race with a filly that carried the same colours, who was very good, and this filly may be like her.”

That filly was Sunlight, who claimed the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington in 2018.

It is a race the McEvoy’s will consider for Natural Fling, but a more immediate target might be the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown on September 5.

“There is the Cap D’antibes Stakes (a week later) which comes up, there is the Coolmore which would be a great race to win, and we may even consider the Moir with no weight,” McEvoy added.

“They are all good options. She is a Group winner which is so important for the pedigree, and I don’t think that is the end for her.”

Check out the top racing betting markets available for upcoming feature events.

Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja continued his habit of dismissing well-set batters by removing Sri Lanka’s top-scorer, Sonal Dinusha, on Day 3 of the opening Test at Galle on August 17. With Sri Lanka in dire straits at 90/5 in response to India’s 462 in the first innings, Dinusha scored a brilliant maiden Test century to help the side gain a semblance of respectability.

However, a ball after completing his century, the southpaw missed a flighted delivery from Jadeja, which turned sharply to trap him in front. Dinusha looked towards DRS to save him from a seemingly plumb LBW, but to no avail.

Here is a video of Jadeja’s three wickets, including the final one to send Sri Lanka’s lone centurion packing:

https://www.sonyliv.com/sports-clips/cricket-jadeja-strikes-with-a-crucial-three-wicket-haul-1090539547?watch=true

Jadeja finished the innings with excellent figures of 3/57 in 21 overs as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 284. Despite stumps being called earlier than the scheduled time on Day 3 due to bad light and rain, India head into the penultimate day with a healthy 178-run first-innings lead.

Ravindra Jadeja joins elite club for career double on Day 3 of the 1st Test

Ravindra Jadeja completed an incredible 350 Test wickets on Day 3 of the first Test against Sri Lanka. The 37-year-old entered the game on 348 wickets and removed Sri Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Keshara Nuwantha to complete the career milestone.

Jadeja also became one of only two Indian cricketers to boast over 4,000 runs and 350 wickets in Tests, alongside the legendary Kapil Dev. He also became only the second spin-bowling all-rounder after Daniel Vettori to achieve the phenomenal 4,000-350 double.

Overall, Ravindra Jadeja is only the fourth cricketer to complete this double, joining Kapil Dev, Daniel Vettori and Ian Botham.

The veteran spin-bowling all-rounder’s Test numbers read an extraordinary 4,108 runs at an average of 38.03 and 351 wickets at an average of 25.06. Jadeja also boasts six centuries and 15 five-wicket hauls in his outstanding 90-match Test career.