Scan Shannon Johnson’s scorecard from her quarterfinal match at the Massachusetts Women’s State Amateur on Thursday and one number will leap out at you: her 2 on the par-5 18th hole.
The rarest score in golf. A one-in-6 million shot, according to several published estimates.
But this story isn’t really about Johnson — it’s about her opponent, 19-year-old Lillian Guleserian, who is a rising sophomore at Penn State, where she plays on the women’s golf team. Guleserian, who is from Westwood, Mass., has had herself a nice summer. In early June, she finished 5th at the Women’s Southern GA Amateur, which she quickly followed up with a win at the New England Women’s Amateur Championship. Then, late last month, came a 3rd-place finish at the Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament.
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All of which is to say Guleserian was among the favorites when the 123rd Massachusetts Women’s Amateur got under way at Oak Hill CC, just west of Boston, earlier this week. Guleserian blazed through the two rounds of stroke-play qualifying, shooting 72-75 to finish 4th among the 32 players who advanced to match play. In her first-round match, she dusted her opponent, 7 and 6. In the Round of 16, more of the same: a 5-and-4 romp.
That set up Guleserian’s Thursday-morning quarterfinal showdown with Johnson, a five-time Massachusetts Women’s Mid-Amateur champion and also a five-time winner of the state stroke-play title. Early on, Guleserian cruised, building a 3-up lead through 12 holes. “Felt pretty good the whole match,” Guleserian told GOLF in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. “Then made a few mistakes.”
Those hiccups led to bogies on 15 and 16. When Guleserian and Johnson arrived on the 18th tee, Johnson had cut Guleserian’s lead to one. Johnson stepped in and laced a drive. Guleserian followed with a good one of her own but was 10 yards behind Johnson’s tee shot, meaning Guleserian would play from the fairway first.
Yardage: about 210 but playing more like 220.
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Club choice: 4-hybrid.
“I’d been going for that green pretty much all week, so I knew I felt pretty good there,” Guleserian said.
She hadn’t hit the green, though, with her nearest attempt creeping onto the fringe.
The shot came off low and hot and on a good line but, Guleserian thought, seemingly with not enough oomph. “I thought it was going to be short because it landed pretty short of the green,” she said.
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But the ball refused to quit. It bounced once, twice, three times on the slope in front of the green and, when it arrived on the putting surface, kept enough pace to keep rolling toward the pin. Ten feet . . . 20 feet . . . 30 feet . . .and here, on Mass Golf’s video of the shot that has been making the rounds on social media, you can hear two greenside voices exclaiming, “Oh my god!”
The witnesses sensed what was about to happen.
After another 10 or so feet of roll, the ball vanished into the hole.
An albatross.
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To win a state amateur match.
Back in the fairway, Johnson’s own second shot had suddenly become moot — but, in a stroke of scorekeeping weirdness, also conceded. A conceded albatross. It’s right there on the card, a pair of matching 2s on the 18th hole.
Two 2s on 18.
Mass Golf
We’d like to tell you that Guleserian rode her high into the finals. She didn’t. In her Thursday-afternoon semifinal match against Molly Smith, Guleserian lost, 5 and 4. “She was making a lot of putts,” Guleserian said of Smith.
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When Guleserian checked her phone afterward, the gravity of what she’d done on the final hole of her morning match hit her in the form of a crush of messages from friends and loved ones who’d seen the video. Those well-wishers knew the unlikeliness of what Guleserian had accomplished. Guleserian, of course, knows that, too.
“It’s crazy,” she said. “An albatross. I never thought I would get one.”
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Walbert Ureña allowed two hits in six innings, Mike Trout and Denzer Guzman led a 15-hit outburst with three singles and an RBI apiece, and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Texas Rangers 7-0 on Thursday night.
Josh Lowe added two hits and two RBIs, and Adam Frazier had two hits and an RBI for the Angels, who extended their win streak to three and amassed 10 or more hits in a game for the first time since July 8.
Ureña (8-8) struck out five and walked two while lowering his ERA to 2.67. The rookie right-hander has a 2.43 ERA in 18 games since May 1 and has allowed no more than one run in 13 of those starts. José Fermin, Tayler Saucedo and Sammy Peralta each threw a scoreless inning to complete the five-hitter.
With the loss, the Rangers (60-62) dropped out of the third wild card spot in the American League, half a game back of the Detroit Tigers (60-61). The Minnesota Twins (60-63), the Cleveland Guardians (59-63), the Toronto Blue Jays (59-64) and the Baltimore Orioles (58-63) all are within two games.
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Rangers starter Jacob deGrom, who has been battling a left hip and glute injury since the All-Star break, was pulled after two innings because of right triceps fatigue.
The 38-year-old right-hander escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the first but gave up two runs and five hits during a 32-pitch second — the first time deGrom (8-8) allowed five hits in an inning since Sept. 5, 2017, with the New York Mets.
Guzman sparked the Angels’ second-inning rally with a single. He went to third on Lowe’s double and scored on Frazier’s one-out single. Lowe tried to score from second on Frazier’s hit but was thrown out by left fielder Wyatt Langford. Wade Meckler singled and Trout hit an RBI single for a 2-0 lead.
The Angels broke open the game with four runs and six hits off Texas left-hander Jordan Montgomery in the fifth.
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Singles by Trout, Nolan Schanuel and Vaughn Grissom loaded the bases. Guzman drove in a run with an infield single, Lowe hit a two-run single and Jose Siri’s RBI groundout made it 6-0. Siri added an RBI single in the seventh.
Rangers: RHP Kumar Rocker (4-9, 4.46 ERA) opposes Athletics LHP Gage Jump (5-7, 4.46) on Friday night in West Sacramento.
Angels: RHP Grayson Rodriguez (3-5, 7.20 ERA) faces Royals RHP Seth Lugo (5-7, 4.41) on Friday night in Anaheim.
Amy Hunt is now halfway to an historic four European golds at one championships after completing a brilliant sprint double at Birmingham 2026 with 200m gold.
The 24-year-old claimed her second gold in four days by blitzing the field with a European lead time of 22.19.
Dina Asher-Smith was the last sprinter to double up at this competition eight years ago but could only manage bronze on this occasion.
The home hopefuls were in adjacent lanes and Asher-Smith got the better start around the bend as she sought a seventh European gold.
But Hunt reeled her compatriot in on the home straight as the domestic duel lived up to expectations in front of an improved crowd of more than 20,000 at the Alexander Stadium.
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“The 100 is the hardest mentally and the 200 is the hardest physically,” Hunt told the BBC. “I’ve had a lot of health things going on this year, some really low blood pressure, and the 200s have been really scary. I have been fainting after some of my 200s this year.
“I just had to go into that one, get on the bend and be really brave. It was an amazing race.”
Asher-Smith has now won nine European medals, putting her one shy of the all-time record, but this was the latest sign of a changing of the guard.
Hunt won gold in the 200m with GB teammate Dina Asher-Smith claiming bronze (PA)
Hunt retained her national 100m title by beating Asher-Smith on this track in June before dethroning her over the same distance on the opening night of these Championships.
Asher-Smith still leads the 200m head-to-head between the two but Hunt has come of age in the last 12 months and now set her sights on completing a remarkable quadruple as she looks ahead to the women’s and mixed 4x100m relays over the weekend.
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“This is becoming a magical week and one I will remember for the rest of my life,” she said. “There is no celebrating or champagne until Sunday night. I have a debt to the ladies, we have to come out here and show them who the best sprint nation is in Europe. It’s not over yet – I hope you’re not sick of my face.”
Asher-Smith said: “Obviously, I’m disappointed to have a bronze, but I think 10 years after my first one it is such an achievement to be in a place to come back year after year.
Asher-Smith has won nine European Championship medals – one away from the all-time record (Reuters)
“It doesn’t matter what’s going on in my life, I just want to continue to be one of the fastest women in the world. I’m happy to have done that and it is great to be part of a successful British team.”
The hosts’ pair finished either side of Ireland’s Rhasidat Adeleke, who won silver in a 22.28 national record.
Keely Hodgkinson kept her bid for a European hat-trick on track on a dramatic afternoon which saw her main rival Audrey Werro take a tumble – before being reinstated for the final.
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Hodgkinson won the second semi-final in 1:57.38, holding off Femke Broeders-Bol to safely advance to one of the most eagerly-awaited events of the week.
It was a far more serene race than the opening semi, which was dominated by Werro before she hit the deck on the final bend.
Keely Hodgkinson won her 800m semi-final to book a place in the final against rival Audrey Werro (PA)
Werro picked herself up to stumble over the finish line and a successful appeal means the 22-year-old, who holds this year’s world lead, will also be on the start line.
Hodgkinson was relieved to avoid the chaos and said: “You can’t worry about what happened to other people, but I hope she’s ok.
“The excitement makes me excited. I love a good challenge and I hope for a clean race with no falling over and no wind.”
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Scot Jemma Reekie took advantage of Werro’s slip to cross the line first and advance in 1:58.61.
Elsewhere, Mark English won Ireland’s first individual men’s gold medal at the European Championships as he finished first in the 800m.
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Cristiano Ronaldo is back at work. Just two days after confirming his marriage to long-time partner Georgina Rodriguez, the Portugal superstar returned to training with Al-Nassr and shared pictures from the session on social media with a simple caption: “Back.”The 41-year-old posted a series of images from his training session with the Saudi Arabian club, signalling his return to football after a brief break following his wedding.Ronaldo and Rodriguez announced their marriage on Tuesday, posting a picture of themselves holding hands and showing off their wedding rings. Ronaldo captioned his post with “C” and “G” separated by a heart emoji.The couple got married in a private civil ceremony in Cascais, a coastal town near Lisbon in Portugal. According to the public relations firm representing Ronaldo, the intimate ceremony was attended by their five children.
Ronaldo quickly back to business
Ronaldo’s return to training comes just days before Al-Nassr begin their domestic campaign on Saturday, with the Portuguese star wasting little time getting back into his football routine.He has been with Rodriguez for around a decade after the pair first met in Madrid. Their wedding came after years together in the public eye, with Rodriguez frequently accompanying Ronaldo at major milestones in his career.Ronaldo’s latest training pictures also mark his return to club football after a demanding FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with Portugal.The forward featured in what he had announced would be his final World Cup, but Portugal’s campaign ended in disappointment in the round of 16 after a late Mikel Merino goal gave Spain a 1-0 victory.The defeat brought an emotional end to Ronaldo’s World Cup career. Since making his tournament debut in 2006, he helped Portugal reach the semi-finals in Germany before they were eliminated in the round of 16 in 2010 and 2018. Portugal exited at the group stage in 2014 and reached the quarter-finals in 2022.Across six World Cups, Ronaldo played 27 matches — the second-most appearances by a player — and scored 11 goals.Despite Portugal’s early exit in 2026, Ronaldo had a productive individual campaign, scoring three goals in five appearances.
Tabitha Chawinga scored twice and sister Temwa Chawinga once as tournament outsiders Malawi beat Algeria 3-1 on Wednesday in Rabat to reach the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final.
Cameroon will face the giant-killers in the deciding game after defeating hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties following a 0-0 draw after extra time.
Malawi are ranked 153rd in the world, 116 places below the pre-WAFCON favourites and record 10-time champions Nigeria, who bowed out in the quarter-finals.
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Debutants Malawi took advantage of Algeria’s Morgane Belkhiter red card for a foul on the last defender midway through the first half to build a 2-0 lead at the break.
Captain Tabitha Chawinga struck with an overhead kick on 33 minutes after a corner, and Temwa Chawinga rounded goalkeeper Chloe N’Gazi to score one minute into added time.
Having scored twice, Malawi were also reduced to 10 players when Rose Kadzere was sent off for a studs-up tackle just before the break.
Algeria pulled one goal back on 60 minutes through Ikram Adjabi only for Tabitha Chawinga to restore the two-goal advantage with a solo goal after 76 minutes.
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Kansas City-based Temwa Chawinga has struck five goals in the marquee African women’s football tournament to be joint leading scorer. Tabitha from French club Lyon has netted four times.
After conceding a third time, there was no way back for Algeria, who must settle for the third-place play-off against Morocco on Saturday.
On Sunday, Malawi and Cameroon will do battle with a record $2 million first prize on the line.
In the later match, goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, who switched from being a forward because a coach believed her height would make her an outstanding shot-stopper, was the Cameroon heroine.
Ghana’s Black Queens have kept their FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 hopes alive after coming from behind to defeat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in Casablanca.
Côte d’Ivoire took the lead just four minutes into the match when Inès Konan converted a penalty, leaving Ghana with an early setback to overcome. The Black Queens remained in the contest and went into half-time trailing by a single goal.
Ghana came out with greater determination after the break and found the equaliser in the 59th minute through Princess Marfo. The goal shifted the momentum in Ghana’s favour as the Black Queens pushed for a second.
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Their persistence was rewarded in the 72nd minute when Ghana were awarded a penalty. Josephine Bonsu stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to complete the comeback and put Ghana 2-1 ahead.
The result sends Ghana into the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 inter-confederation play-offs, keeping alive their hopes of returning to the tournament in Brazil.
For Ghana, the victory is a major response after their disappointing WAFCON quarter-final defeat to Malawi ended their hopes of automatic qualification. They now have another opportunity to fight for a place at the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Prichard Colon’s death at 33 has reignited conversations about the catastrophic brain injury that ended the former undefeated prospect’s boxing career in 2015.
Colon died on Aug. 13, 2026, nearly 11 years after suffering a severe brain injury during his bout against Terrel Williams in Fairfax, Virginia. The Puerto Rican boxer entered the contest with a 16-0 record but was repeatedly struck by illegal blows to the back of the head.
Colon complained to the referee during the fight, but the contest continued. Jason R. Williams, an interventional oncologist and board-certified radiologist, explained the medical consequences of those blows in an X post following Colon’s death:
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“Prichard Colon was 23 and undefeated when he fought Terrel Williams in 2015. He kept telling the referee about the blows landing on the back of his head. The referee took one point. The fight went on. Those punches land where the spine meets the brainstem, and the skull barely covers that spot. The bleed that started there had nowhere to go. Trapped blood builds pressure. Pressure kills brain tissue. Brain tissue does not come back. Surgeons saved his life that night, but no treatment in medicine could return what the bleed took.”
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He added:
“He spent 221 days in a coma and the next decade unable to walk or speak, while his parents cared for him around the clock. Prichard did what a fighter is supposed to do. He reported the fouls to the one person who could stop them. It didn’t save him. That part has never left me. Boxing learned from him. In 2016 the WBC put a zero tolerance rule on those punches and named it after him. Fighters are safer today because of what he lost. Once brain damage runs this deep, we cannot treat our way out of it. Prevention is the only cure. Rest in peace, Prichard. Praying for his family.”
Check out the X post below:
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Legendary boxing trainer reflects on Prichard Colon’s death and boxing safety concerns
Legendary boxing trainer Robert Garcia recently reflected on Prichard Colon’s death and called it a tragic reminder of the dangers fighters can face in the ring.
Garcia spoke about the uncertainty surrounding whether Colon’s death was directly connected to the injuries he suffered years earlier. However, he mentioned that those complications from the tragic incident could have played a role.
“The fight was five years ago, maybe he had some complications, I don’t know, but it’s tough. It’s tough. He was a promising fighter. But this happened years later, so can it be the same effect on the person? I don’t know, it’s tough. It’s tough.”
The NFL preseason kicked off with the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 as the Carolina Panthers knocked off the Arizona Cardinals in walk-off fashion, 33-30. The first full week of NFL action is here with 16 games slated for Week 1 of the 2026 preseason.
While these games don’t count against season records, they’re a crucial time for both teams and fans to see what their team will look like when it does count. There are active quarterback competitions, rookies getting their first reps and veterans looking to prove they’ve still got it.
With so many changes this offseason, from coaching hires, to trades, this is the time for squads to works toward their identity, shake off the dust and work on the new relationships.
Here is a reason to watch each game on Friday and Saturday:
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Dolphins vs. Commanders
Friday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. ET
The Commanders offensive line has become a major concern after Laremy Tunsil injured his biceps in practice and will miss a significant part of the season. The team says they don’t plan to find a left tackle from outside the team, so the remaining members of the offensive line room will need to fill the role. Brandon Coleman could step up in the absence, so he will be one to watch as the season approaches.
Broncos vs. Falcons
Friday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. ET
First-year Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski is still determining his QB for the 2026 season, with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. competing. Tagovailoa was named the starter for this week and will make his Falcons debut on Friday.
Tagovailoa has been doing the 11-on-11 work while Penix, who is still recovering from an ACL injury, is doing 7-on-7 work. As Penix still waits for full clearance to participate in a game, it’s no surprise that Tagovailoa got the start, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he will keep that job for the regular season.
Buccaneers vs. Jets
Friday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. ET
Geno Smith is in his second stint with the Jets, also playing for them from 2013 to 2016. Second-year head coach Aaron Glenn said the starters will see some action, meaning Smith will be throwing passes as the Jets QB for the first time in a decade. New offensive coordinator Frank Reich, one of many new coaches for this season, will be challenged to produce a more productive offense than the Jets have had over recent years.
A new quarterback and new offensive coordinator usually mean growing pains, and we could see some of the adjustments made during this first preseason game.
Browns vs. Bears
Saturday, Aug. 15 at 1 p.m. ET
The Browns quarterback job is up for grabs, with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders fighting for the spot. Both have struggled during training camp with penalties and takeaways, leaving little excitement for either at the moment.
Watson hasn’t played in a game for almost two years, due to injury and suspensions, and wasn’t the clear answer to the Browns’ QB woes even when he was playing. Sanders comes in with less experience than Watson and was one of the biggest draft falls, going from a predicted first-rounder to a fifth-round pick. Watson is the early favorite for the job, but the preseason will be crucial in the determination.
Panthers vs. Bills
Saturday, Aug. 15 at 1 p.m. ET
Jonathon Brooks is making his first game appearance since tearing his ACL for the second time in 2024. The running back has been limited to just three games in his NFL career, recording just nine carries and 22 yards in those contests. The second-rounder has a lot of potential in the league and while he’s done well in camp, an actual game is a different story.
Vikings vs. Giants
Saturday, Aug. 15 at 1 p.m. ET
The Vikings concluded their quarterback competition, giving Kyler Murray the QB1 job. J.J. McCarthy, who the team drafted at No. 10 overall in 2024, lost the job after being named the starter ahead of the 2025 season. McCarthy suffered three injuries last season — a high-ankle sprain, a concussion and a hairline fracture in his throwing hand — causing him to miss six games total.
The preseason, and this game, will be the first test for the 23-year-old to see how he handles being the backup.
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Rams vs. Chiefs
Saturday, Aug. 15 at 4 p.m. ET
As Patrick Mahomes continues to rehab ACL and LCL injuries he suffered last year, he will be sitting as the Chiefs face the Rams. Former No. 11 overall pick Justin Fields will see the field, as well as Garrett Nussmeier. Los Angeles is also expected to rest its starters and rookie first-round pick Ty Simpson will get his first chance to gain some NFL experience at the helm.
These two teams are playoff contenders and getting a first look at how both their backups do, along with how their defenses can make adjustments to these backups, will be telling.
Jaguars vs. Saints
Saturday, Aug. 15 at 4 p.m. ET
The Saints and Jaguars are expected to sit their starters, so this will be time for fans to see their much discussed rookie classes, respectively. It will also be a time for Spencer Rattler to see more playing time, as Saints starter Tyler Shough will not take the field. Rattler can improve his stock with a solid performance, as he remains strong on becoming a starter in the league at some point.
Eagles vs. Ravens
Saturday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. ET
The Ravens come into 2026 as one of the teams with a new head coach. Jesse Minter will make his Ravens debut as HC on Saturday, marking the first time since 2007 that the team will be led by someone other than John Harbaugh. How he handles the preseason, from how competitive he gets, to whether he plays the starters, are questions that will be answered this weekend. There are many changes to Baltimore’s coaching staff, with Declan Doyle going into a play-calling role.
Cowboys vs. Seahawks
Saturday, Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. ET
The Seahawks are coming off a Super Bowl win and have high expectations heading into 2026. This will be our first real opportunity to see how the defending champs will do with the changes made during the offseason, including losing Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III.
Another aspect of this game to keep an eye on is the Cowboys backup quarterback role. Sam Howell, a former Seahawk, and Joe Milton III are in a tight race for QB2.
Aaron Bain, the trainer based in Angaston, is confident that Officiate, a gelding with Stakes-placed form, will prove to be a profitable asset in the long run, even though recouping his purchase price is still a goal.
The four-year-old, who initially began his racing journey with Chris Waller, is slated to compete in Saturday’s Hahn Handicap (1569m) at Morphettville Parks, aiming for his first win since transferring to South Australia.
The son of Justify has earned over $16,000 from placings in his first two starts for Bain and Ned Taylor. This weekend, he is chasing a $27,300 winner’s cheque, and Bain expressed his surprise at acquiring him for $60,000 via Inglis Digital in May.
“We probably didn’t think we’d be able to get him for that, to be fair,” he said.
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“I knew a few people from Chris’s and reached out and they said he was sound, happy and healthy and he’s been all of that.”
“The way he’s performed in a lot of those class races was going to be good enough to measure up in Adelaide for a couple of seasons and target some better races.”
“There was a lot of upside from our perspective.”
The $700,000 Yulong paid at Magic Millions’ 2YO Horse In Training Sale for the horse, who previously sold for $300,000 as a yearling, dwarfs Bain’s purchase price.
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He arrived at Bain’s with only one win, but his placings in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) and his inclusion in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) last spring and the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) earlier this year highlight his ability.
His South Australian career kicked off with a third over 1250m on July 11, followed by a second placing to Centu Cavaddi over 1600m at Morphettville a fortnight later.
Bain kept the gelding race-ready with a 600m jumpout at Murray Bridge on August 6.
“He’s in a great spot, we’re just drawn a little bit tricky for the Parks track, but he probably brings in a class factor and he should be going close,” Bain remarked.
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Officiate drew barrier 10 in the 12-runner field but will start from barrier eight after scratchings, with Jackson Murphy booked to ride. The gelding is currently $7 in the betting, with Michael Hickmott’s Extinguish the $4.80 favourite.
Spain great Xavi Hernandez was hired as Netherlands coach on Wednesday, becoming the first foreign-born leader of the national team in nearly 50 years.
Xavi was a member of the Spain team that beat the Dutch in the World Cup final in 2010, marking their third defeat in the title match.
The 46-year-old Xavi, who has been out of work since leaving his job as Barcelona coach in May 2024, takes over from Ronald Koeman after his departure following the World Cup.
The former midfielder said he felt a “special connection to Dutch football” after coming through a Barcelona academy influenced by Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels.
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“You could say that I am a bit of a son of Dutch football,” said Xavi, who has signed a deal through to the 2030 World Cup. “Other great coaches, especially Louis van Gaal, under whom I made my debut at Barcelona, ??and Frank Rijkaard, also played an important role in shaping me as a player and coach.” The last foreign-born coach of the Netherlands was Ernst Happel from 1977-78.
Xavi said the Dutch soccer culture – “attacking football, based on possession, with creativity, passion, and conviction” – appealed to him.
“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,” he said. “The potential for this is there, as well as a solid foundation to build upon.” Nigel de Jong, director of elite football at the Dutch federation and an opponent of Xavi in the 2010 World Cup final, said Xavi’s vision of “dominant and attractive football, combined with the flexibility that modern elite football demands” would serve the team well.
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“Xavi believes in those basic principles, has embraced that vision, and made it his own,” De Jong said. “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.” After playing for 17 years at Barcelona, Xavi finished his career at Al Sadd before becoming the Qatari team’s coach from 2019-21.
The Netherlands exited the World Cup in the Round of 32 after losing to Morocco in a penalty shootout.
Aug 13, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) collides with Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) in the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Sabrina Ionescu scored 12 of her 20 points in a chaotic fourth quarter as the host New York Liberty held on to defeat the Los Angeles Sparks, 85-81, on Thursday night.
New York built a 28-point lead and withstood a 21-0 Sparks run in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles got as close as one point with 22 seconds remaining.
But Ionescu made two free throws, and Ariel Atkins missed a 3-pointer on the other end. Ionescu then made one more free throw to ice the game.
New York (21-14) is 8-2 over its past 10 games. The Liberty have also won five straight home games.
Besides Ionescu, Jonquel Jones had a big game for the Liberty with 11 points, a game-high 18 rebounds and four assists.
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The Sparks (12-21) have lost 10 of their past 12 games. Rae Burrell led the Sparks with a game-high 28 points, including 10-of-19 shooting overall and 5-of-10 on 3-pointers.
New York got off to a slow start, missing six of its first seven shots as Los Angeles took a 6-2 lead. But Breanna Stewart scored the game’s next six points, and, by the end of the first quarter, the Liberty led 21-16. Stewart finished the game with 11 points.
The Liberty extended their lead to 16 points midway through the second quarter. By halftime, New York led 49-32.
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Jones led New York in the first half with 10 points and 12 rebounds, including five on the offensive end. Eight of her points came on put-backs. As a team, the Liberty had first-half advantages in paint points (32-12); fast-break points (12-2); rebounds (25-14); and points off turnovers (12-5).
In the third quarter, New York stretched its lead to 67-41. Los Angeles scored just nine points in the third, making it New York’s best defensive quarter of the season.
Early in the fourth, Sparks standouts Cameron Brink and Burrell crashed heads. Both of them hit the deck, but they remained in the game. In fact, they both hit 3-pointers after the collision, and that sparked Los Angeles to its 21-0 run.
Brink then left the game with 6:00 remaining as Stewart charged into her for an offensive foul. Brink did not return.
;)
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