The footballing world has reacted furiously to FIFA’s decision to suspend the red card shown to USA striker Folarin Balogun, making him available to face Belgium
Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey are the three Mexican host cities for this mega World Cup, hosted jointly with the United States and Canada. Images from these cities have quickly spread across social media, showing fans of many nations celebrating with Mexican fans.
Along the narrow streets of Monterrey’s nightlife district, older women dance salsa, arm-in-arm with sandal-wearing Dutch fans while loud reggae music blasts from the speakers of bars and restaurants. Other locals jump in circles with World Cup tourists, taking turns waving Moroccan and Mexican flags. Mexican fans are cheering on supporters of other teams, even tossing them into the air before catching them as a group. There is one particularly strong image that depicts fans consoling South Korean supporters after a 1–0 loss before treating them to tequila shots.
“I was a bit afraid I’d fall to the ground and get hurt, but they caught me,” Leonardo Jun from South Korea told DW. “Everyone took photos with me as if I were a pop star. It’s pretty cool to be welcomed like that.”
“You can really feel the World Cup here,” said Sebastian from Colombia, who managed to snag tickets for a match at the legendary Azteca Stadium.
His compatriot Xavier reported: “This is my first World Cup, and the Mexicans have already become like brothers to us.”
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Colombian fans have felt very much at home in MexicoImage: Gerardo Vieyra/NurPhoto/picture alliance
While headlines in the United States initially focused on issues entering the country, high public transport costs, and the unique tipping culture, Mexico offers an authentic openness and warmth that has many international visitors raving. Brenda, a Mexican herself, believes that “all three hosts are doing a great job, but Mexico has that special something.”
A record three-time host
Ahmed from Egypt also traveled to Mexico City.
“I had high expectations, and I haven’t been disappointed. Mexico has a wonderful culture of hospitality and, after all, knows a thing or two about major football events.”
Following the tournaments in 1970 and 1986, Mexico has become the only country to host the World Cup for a third time.
Ahmed from Egypt (left) enjoyed the atmosphere in Mexico CityImage: Josue Perez/ZUMA/picture alliance
In this regard, Mexico has an edge over Canada and the USA, where other sports like ice hockey, baseball, basketball, and American football take center stage. In New York, for instance, there was little World Cup buzz during the opening days; soccer was overshadowed by the New York Knicks‘ first NBA title win in over half a century.
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Deeply rooted football culture
In Mexico, by contrast, football is deeply embedded in the national psyche and is omnipresent these days. National team players smile from numerous roadside billboards, and the typically red Coca-Cola cans are being sold in green – the color of the national jersey.
From taxi drivers and flight attendants to pizza delivery workers, everyone is wearing the green jersey featuring the golden eagle on the chest – the national symbol that also adorns the center of the Mexican flag.
Mexican fans, young and old, live and die with the fortunes of “El Tri”Image: Lisi Niesner/REUTERS
“The only problem with this World Cup is that it isn’t taking place in Mexico the whole time,” said Tom, who traveled from Yorkshire, England.
“I think Mexico performed better than the United States and Canada. For me, they are the winners among the hosts,” said Jenny.
Mexico and Canada were both allocated 13 matches – a small fraction of the total of 104 games. The opening match took place in Mexico City, but the Round of 16 clash between “El Tri” and England will be the last match in the country. From the quarterfinals on, all of the games will be in the United States.
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The protests that took place in Mexico before the start of the tournament, as well as the debates regarding match security, now seem a distant memory. For most fans, none of that matters anymore. Crowd control remains a more pressing concern following the death of three fans who were caught in a crowd crush during celebrations.
Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) against the Phoenix Suns during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Atlanta Hawks acquired guard Aaron Wiggins from the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday in exchange for second-round draft picks in 2030 and 2032.
Wiggins, 27, was a second-round draft pick by the Thunder in 2021 and made 35 starts the following season as a rookie when he averaged 8.3 points with 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 50 total games.
During the Thunder’s championship season of 2024-25, Wiggins made 26 regular-season starts then played in 22 of 23 playoff games as Oklahoma City defeated the Indiana Pacers in a seven-game NBA Finals.
Wiggins has averaged 8.7 points with 3.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 339 regular-season games (100 starts) over the past five seasons. He has averaged 4.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 45 playoff games over nine separate series.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters on Monday that Scherzer’s rehab assignment will continue on Wednesday, when the three-time Cy Young winner starts for the triple-A Bisons.
Buffalo is at home this week for a six-game set with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders — an affiliate of the New York Yankees.
Scherzer last pitched on Friday with the high-A Vancouver Canadians, throwing 49 pitches (33 strikes) across three innings. He allowed three hits and two earned runs, striking out three batters and walking a pair.
The 41-year-old last pitched for Toronto on June 10 against the Philadelphia Phillies before hitting the injured list later that week with back spasms.
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Various ailments have limited Scherzer to just six starts and 22 innings with the Blue Jays this season, in which he owns a 10.23 ERA, 14 strikeouts and 11 walks.
He was also sidelined from April 24 to June 10 due to right forearm tendinitis and left ankle inflammation.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) battles Chicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright during a contested catch at U.S. Bank Stadium on Nov 16, 2025. The Week 11 highlight clip captured Addison elevating near the sideline as Wright challenged the throw, creating a dramatic moment from Minnesota’s divisional matchup against Chicago. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
The world isn’t necessarily high on the Minnesota Vikings in 2026, mainly because new quarterback Kyler Murray’s reputation is at a career low point. But one website really took the cake last week, bashing the Vikings and calling them a non-threat this season.
DaWindyCity.com took it upon itself to declare the Vikings a laughable squad, which is strange because Minnesota beat Chicago once last year and was one tackle away from a sweep.
Bears-Themed Media Thinks the Vikings Are a Joke
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy dropped back to pass during first-half action against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field as Minnesota opened a road divisional matchup. On September 8, 2025, in Chicago, McCarthy worked from the pocket while the Vikings’ offense tried to establish rhythm against a familiar NFC North opponent. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images.
Nick Halden: Just Go Ahead and Write Off the Vikings
Halden did the honors, assessing an article about a J.J. McCarthy taunting penalty — of all things — last year. He wrote, “The Bears can already write Vikings off list of 2026 NFC North threats. No question, the Bears have zero reason to fear the Vikings and should be able to pencil in two wins in each of the team’s divisional matchups.”
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“Having such a poor decision-maker at quarterback simply cannot be overcome. No question, the Bears have zero reason to fear the Vikings and should be able to pencil in two wins in each of the team’s divisional matchups. Having such a poor decision-maker at quarterback simply cannot be overcome.”
For good measure, he added, “The Bears still need to approach the Vikings with their best attack due to the familiarity, but barring injuries or a complete coaching failure, Minnesota simply isn’t a threat. This is evidenced by a series of quarterback decisions that doomed a once-productive rival offense.”
The Very QB He’s Making Fun Of … Helped Beat the Bears Last Season
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Last year, before the Bears morphed into a playoff-bound squad, they hosted the Vikings in Week 1, McCarthy’s first career start. The youngster looked shaky throughout the contest — that happens to first-time starters — but McCarthy turned on the jets when it mattered the most.
McCarthy personally abused the Bears, leading his team to a come-from-behind triumph, and at the time, sending his personal momentum through the roof. Vikings fans thought, “We got our man” for the long haul at quarterback — before various struggles and injuries for the 22-year-old.
So for Halden to chide McCarthy as a terrible quarterback, well, it just doesn’t make much sense after he saw firsthand how McCarthy could cook and beat Chicago — in his inaugural game.
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Bears Got One Whiff of Success
This must be the price of success. Chicago won a playoff game in 2025 — its first since 2010 — and now that fan base or blogging community can punch down. A similar phenomenon emerged in 2023 (and remains) for the Detroit Lions. For years, the Lions were the laughingstock of the NFC North, the kid brother to the Green Bay Packers, Vikings, and sometimes even the Bears.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams met Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson after a divisional matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium, creating a notable postgame moment between two NFC North headliners. On November 16, 2025, in Minneapolis, Williams greeted Jefferson following the game as cameras captured the exchange near midfield after Minnesota’s home contest. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Then, Dan Campbell arrived, and Detroit became a serious team, nearly reaching the Super Bowl in 2023. They fell short and orchestrated the largest collapse in NFC Championship history, but that didn’t stop fans from changing their personality — “same ‘ol Lions” shifted to the big bad wolves of the NFC North.
That appears to be happening with some Bears fans and writers.
Showtime Soon
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Halder’s assertion: “No question, the Bears have zero reason to fear the Vikings,” will be put to the test in less than 10 weeks. The NFL season kicks off September 9th, and any summer prognostication will meet its maker.
The Bears will have a chance to personify Halder’s bold take by claiming the Vikings are a joke no one needs to worry about. Chicago also won oodles of close games in 2025, and when that happens, teams usually regress to the mean.
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland was brought down after a reception as Minnesota Vikings defenders Fabian Moreau and Eric Wilson closed quickly at U.S. Bank Stadium. On November 16, 2025, in Minneapolis, Moreau and Wilson converged during first-quarter action, stopping Loveland in a physical NFC North matchup near the sideline. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Fox Sports‘ Greg Auman wrote about the Vikings last month, “If the Minnesota Vikings had found ways to put up more points last season, they would’ve made the postseason for a second straight year.”
“They had a top-10 defense with coordinator Brian Flores, going 7-2 in games where they scored 20 points or more. That suggests if the offense can get back to 2024 levels, they could be a surprise team in the NFC North.”
Finally, Chicago and Minnesota will do battle at least twice in 2026. If there is nothing to fear about the Vikings, the Bears should seamlessly sweep the purple team, a feat it has not accomplished in seven years.
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Oddsmakers list the Bears’ win-over-under at 9.5, with the Vikings a whisker behind at 8.5. The two clubs first meet on September 20th — Week 2.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Argentina star Leandro Paredes has admitted that they were not surprised by Norway knocking out Brazil in the FIFA World Cup. He said that no side is easy to face at the tournament and they are aware of the threat from Egypt.
Speaking to the media, Paredes said that all sides playing a tthe FIFA World Cup have been competitive this summer. He believes anyone can win in the knockout stages and that there are no favourites in any game.
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“We weren’t surprised that Brazil got eliminated yesterday, because we know that every national team is competetive and in this World Cup anyone can beat anyone. The lesson is that there will not be any easy game, as will happen with Egypt. After our late goal against Cape Verde, what did the coach tell us? Scaloni did not say ‘they don’t play any more’, but to give their best and keep trying, pressing. That we leave everything until the end.”
Paredes was quizzed about his role in the Argentina
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“If I see myself as a starter? I always see myself on the pitch. The coach makes the decisions and decides by eleven. We must give everything and be willing. We want to give our best version, always. You can’t always do it, you suffered and you could win.” (via beIN Sports)
“The fatigue we have is normal, the grass had an influence. We are in good shape footballing and mentally. There is no easy game, like against Cape Verde. Winning was the most important thing and we were able to do it.”
Argentina needed extra time to beat debutants Cape Verde in the Round of 32 last week. They had eased into the knockout stage, beating Algeria, Austria and Jordan in the group matches.
Brazil eliminated from the FIFA World Cup by Norway
Brazil had a tough start with a 1-1 draw against Morocco, but finished top of their group. They defeated Scotland and Haiti in their final group games, and set up a clash with Japan in the Round of 32.
The Asian side took the lead in the first half, the Selecao looked set for an early exit. However, Casemiro got them level before the hour mark, and Gabriel Martinelli scored the winner in injury time to seal a 2-1 win.
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However, things did not go their way in the Round of 16 ans Erling Haaland scored two late goals, before Neymar pulled one back deep into injury time.
Jordan Spieth would say that’s part of the bargain.
By now, you’ve likely come across what went down with Kohles at the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic, though it’s quite possible you quickly covered your eyes. Kohles is a 36-year-old pro. He’s won five times on the Korn Ferry Tour, including once early last month, and he’s never won on the PGA Tour, though two years ago, he came as close as you can get. On the 72nd hole at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson event, he led by a stroke, only to fall short by that margin after he bogeyed and Taylor Pendrith birdied. Then came late Sunday afternoon. This time, Kohles co-led at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
And he tied for third, the result of a swing from the center of the fairway that hooked left, took a couple of bounces and cannonballed into the water left of the green. Kohles said he’d been between clubs. A 9-iron would have been too little; an 8 too much. He said he hit a three-quarter punch shot with his 8, tugged it and double-bogeyed, and Chris Gotterup won and Kohles didn’t.
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For Gotterup, there was elation and emotion. He’d won again — Sunday was his third victory of the year and fifth on the PGA Tour overall. But he also seemingly recalled where he’d been just four years ago, when he’d been handed a sponsor exemption to the John Deere after writing a letter, and in a post-tournament interview during CBS’ broadcast, he cried. Meanwhile, Kohles admirably answered some questions, then was off to do it all over again, this week at the ISCO Championship in Kentucky.
It was if they were enacting what Spieth had talked about just five days earlier.
Ahead of the John Deere, he’d been asked for a peek into the idea of having results in professional golf tied directly to the player, and Spieth laid out what that’s like in pretty raw terms.
“Well, golf — I mean, if you choose to do what I do for a living, you’re choosing to have the ball in your hands for the last shot from the get-go,” he said. “That obviously can bring you — that risk can defeat you, and it can also bring you to the highest of highs in sport.
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“We chose to be there. We choose to do this. If you want to do it at the highest level, you choose to have failure, heartbreak, and on the other side, you get so much more reward from the good, and that risk is worth it to me.”
To Kohles, too.
Still.
Should you be wondering where his thoughts were, on Monday morning, he logged onto Instagram. He posted a few photos, including one of the fateful moment where his 8-iron’s clubface closed ever so slightly. He also wrote a few words.
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Give him the damn ball, he said.
“It was a disappointing finish, there’s no sugarcoating that,” he wrote. “But if this game has taught me anything, it’s that you don’t get to choose how the story unfolds, you only get to choose how you respond.
“I’m extremely proud of how we played all week. And, while this one stings, it’s not going to define who we are. We’re going to learn from it, get better because of it, and keep putting ourselves in positions to succeed.
“I want to thank everyone who has reached out. The support from my family, friends and those who have been along for this crazy journey means the world.
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“Although it wasn’t quite my time, I know that day is going to come, and everything we’ve been through is going to make it that much sweeter.
“Looking forward to getting after it again this week in Kentucky!”
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell watches from the sideline during the first half against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Nov 23, 2025. O’Connell monitored Minnesota’s offense and game management in Green Bay as the Vikings battled their NFC North rival during a pivotal late-season divisional road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings will host a quarterback competition at training camp in three weeks, and for the most part, fans are excited. But don’t tell that to CBS Sports‘ Carter Bahns, who claimed last week that the Vikings’ locker room could get “ugly” as a result.
To date, Minnesota has shown no signs of quarterback strife, but it’s on the way, per Bahns.
Kevin O’Connell Evidently Has a Problem to Solve?
Minnesota Vikings offensive linemen Ryan Van Demark and Walter Rouse stood alongside quarterback J.J. McCarthy during minicamp practice at TCO Performance Center. On June 11, 2026, in Eagan, Minnesota, the group worked through Day 3 drills as the Vikings continued installing offensive concepts before training camp. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
Bahns: Things Could Get Ugly in MIN
Sizing up possible “fireworks” around the league in the spirit of Independence Day, Bahns landed on the Vikings as one nominee. He explained, “Work in progress: Quarterback competition could get ugly. Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy offered two different accounts of the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback competition when asked this spring about their working relationship.”
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“Murray, who arrived on a minimum contract as the presumptive favorite to win the job, said that he embraced a mentor role and that McCarthy had been ‘overly acceptive’ of that leadership. The incumbent starter, however, made it sound as though they are not on such friendly terms.”
Minnesota signed Murray in March for $1.3 million to compete with McCarthy, a shockingly small contract.
Bahns added, “Neither is owed the No. 1 quarterback role, but whoever loses it will have reason to be discontented. Murray is a seven-year starter who, at his best, produces among the league’s top half of signal-callers. McCarthy is a recent first-round pick who has arguably not received a fair shake due to injuries.”
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How Ugly?
If Bahns is right about locker room disharmony, one must wonder about the magnitude. Will McCarthy just remain disgruntled under the surface, with certain players thinking he should start? Would it be one of those situations? No quarterback likes to be benched, especially not one who is 23 and held the QB1 job a year prior.
Or — would McCarthy rage and demand a ticket out of town? The guy who drafted McCarthy, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, no longer works for the Vikings, so one could argue that the franchise already has a paved off-ramp if it wanted to cut ties and roll with Murray, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer in 2026.
Total locker room chaos would result in a McCarthy trade — if Murray wins the QB1 battle — and there could be a market. The Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets may need a quarterback solution for the long term and, in fact, based on their respective roster constructions, appear to be eyeing the deep 2027 draft for a new passer.
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Roster Competitions Happen All the Time
On the other hand, Bahns’s assessment may be dramatic. Roster competitions happen every summer for every team, at almost every position. The loser of the Vikings’ QB1 battle could accept his fate like a gentleman and assume the QB2 role like a classy athlete. That’s how sports work.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy met with head coach Kevin O’Connell during first-half action against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. On September 14, 2025, in Minneapolis, the quarterback and coach talked between plays as Minnesota continued its home matchup against Atlanta. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Also remember — Murray and McCarthy have suspect injury resumes. No matter who reigns triumphant at training camp, they will fight to avoid injuries that have already plagued their careers.
Generally speaking, keeping the locker room together will be up to Kevin O’Connell. He’s actually known for building consensus within a locker room. Minnesota has the right man for the job.
Murray as the Favorite
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Murray is the likely Week 1 starter against the Green Bay Packers. Let’s get that out in the open. That’s the most straightforward assessment of the Vikings’ quarterback situation, despite the summer competition providing a talking point for the coming weeks. While Minnesota may frame it as a battle, and perhaps they should — McCarthy deserves an opportunity to prove himself, and O’Connell benefits nothing from making premature promises — the reality is more nuanced.
Murray’s arrival in Minnesota was not coincidental. He had other options, as players with his pedigree typically do. When the Vikings acquired him, there was likely an implicit understanding regarding the immediate plan: Murray would be the presumptive starter, given the first legitimate shot at QB1, with the potential to extend beyond a one-year deal into 2026.
Minnesota needed a definitive answer at quarterback after a tumultuous offseason, and Murray provided it. He boasts experience in high-stakes games and all the tools required of a QB1, including elite speed not usually found at the quarterback position. For a team focused on immediate contention, that package was an ideal fit, especially for a million or so bucks.
Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray worked through minicamp practice as Minnesota continued shaping its revamped quarterback room. On June 11, 2026, at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, the pair took Day 3 practice reps while building timing before training camp under Kevin O’Connell’s staff. Mandatory Credit: YouTube.
However, McCarthy could still make the competition compelling. He should not be underestimated. If he excels in training camp and displays improved mechanics, the Vikings will face a genuine dilemma.
The more probable scenario is clear. McCarthy will push hard, Murray will start, and Minnesota will avoid overcomplicating the decision.
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Then everyone will be on “locker room watch,” according to Bahns.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
Mark Walker is adopting a cautious stance with the talented mare Bellatrix Star as she approaches her return to racing, a decision influenced by his past experiences with the horse over the last two seasons.
Her comeback is scheduled for this Saturday in the $200,000 Group 3 Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield.
This 1100-metre weight-for-age race will mark Bellatrix Star’s first start since finishing at the tail of the field in the Listed Doveton Stakes back in November. Before that, she competed in the Group 1 Champions Sprint over 12 months prior, finishing unplaced.
Having previously secured second place behind Switzerland in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, Bellatrix Star has not yet achieved the heights Walker believed she was destined for as a mare. However, he remains optimistic that the rising five-year-old still has more to accomplish.
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“We’ve had a lot of problems with her and she’s been off the scene for a long time,” Walker commented.
“She had an accident coming home from the swimming pool, she fractured her neck when a loose horse ran past and she reared up and fell over.
“We got her over that, then she had her first start back and she chipped a fetlock and had to go for fetlock surgery.
“That’s just racing, you take the good with the bad. She’s still very lightly-raced, so if she ran well on Saturday, hopefully we get things back on track.”
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Bellatrix Star’s record shows five wins from her 12 starts, including significant Group 2 victories in the Eclipse Stakes (1200m) in New Zealand and the Schillaci Stakes (1100m) against older horses, which occurred before her run in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
The daughter of Star Witness has received a deliberate preparation, featuring two trials and two jumpouts. Her most recent jumpout at Cranbourne last Monday saw her win convincingly by two lengths over Midnight Devil and Pinstriped.
Craig Williams, who was aboard for Bellatrix Star’s Schillaci Stakes win, also partnered her in the recent workout. Walker sees it as a positive sign that the premiership-chasing jockey is sticking with her for the race.
“It was encouraging that Craig rode her in the jumpout and he’s riding her raceday, so that gives us a bit of a push,” Walker said.
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Bellatrix Star was one of nineteen entries for the Monash Stakes, with Matt Smith’s classy gelding Headwall among the notable potential rivals.
The upcoming Sir John Monash Stakes at Caulfield presents an intriguing betting proposition. Consider checking out Australian betting sites for the most up-to-date racing odds.
ARLINGTON, Texas — Cristiano Ronaldo heard the cheers while walking off the pitch after his final World Cup match for Portugal. The stoic look on his face and his brief wave acknowledging the fans showed this wasn’t the desired outcome.
The sixth and final World Cup for the 41-year-old superstar ended with a 1-0 loss to border rival Spain in a Round of 16 game on Monday. Ronaldo was denied a goal in the first half when goalkeeper Unai Simón made an impressive leaping stop.
Ronaldo, the only player to score in six World Cups in a row and the career leader in international goals with 146, took three shots against Spain.
Two of those were on target, including the one on which Simón was still in midair when he reached back to grab the ball with both hands. Ronaldo got off a backward kick with his right foot after a header by teammate Joao Felix bounced off Simón’s shoulder.
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On the day before the Round of 16 game, Ronaldo spoke to reporters for about 25 minutes and said he hoped it wouldn’t be his last match and wanted “to enjoy what will be my last World Cup to the fullest.”
The deepest Ronaldo ever made it in the World Cup was a semifinal run in 2006, his debut in the tournament.
Ronaldo’s finale on soccer’s biggest stage came eight years after he recorded a World Cup hat trick at age 33. That was in a 3-3 draw with Spain in a group-stage opener considered one of the tournament’s best matches, although neither power reached the knockout stage.
He scored 11 goals in World Cup play, tied for ninth on the career list.
Golf instruction is ever-evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In GOLF.com’s series, “Timeless Tips,“ we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice teachers and players have dispensed in the pages of GOLF Magazine. Today we look back to our March 1995 issue for some advice from Jack Nicklaus on great golf as you age.
Father time may be undefeated, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to preserve your golf game as you age.
Ask Jack Nicklaus. The Golden Bear won a majority of his major titles during his prime, but in 1986, he was able to turn back the clock at Augusta one last time for green jacket No. 6.
Nine years later, Nicklaus joined GOLF Magazine to share some of his secrets. Read below for his best tips for playing great golf as you age.
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Jack’s secrets to great golf
Some senior tour candidates possibly excluded, I imagine not a whole lot of golfers look forward to becoming 50-plus players. But, as they say about every aspect of growing older, it’s better than the alternative.
The editors at GOLF Magazine asked me to talk about what has changed in my life and golf game between my peak playing years and early 50s, with particular reference to how other new or soon-to-be seniors might benefit from my experiences. I hope something in the following inspires and helps you to be a healthy person and a fine golfer for many years to come.
Power
As with most people as they age, the greatest change in my game as I advanced into seniorhood was a loss of power with the longer clubs. Although I’ve had spells where my distance has been acceptable, it’s been quite a few years since I’ve consistently driven the ball as far as I feel I need to, or hit my long-irons — the 1-, 2-, and 3- — as long as or, equally important, as high as in my prime.
In scoring terms, and particularly on PGA Tour courses (as opposed to the shorter ones used for the Senior Tour), this has produced fewer eagle or two-putt birdie opportunities on par fives, given me a harder time with long par fours, set up fewer birdie chances on shorter ones, and made muscling the ball out of the rough a much tougher proposition.
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Mentally, the biggest downer has been knowing that, over four tournament rounds on the “junior” Tour, I just wasn’t going to get as close to the hole with 4- and 5-irons as the younger guys who were hitting 8s and 9s. That pressured my short game in general and my putting in particular.
Loss of power doesn’t happen to all players as they grow older. Dave Stockton and Bob Charles, both more successful as seniors than in their younger days, claim to be hitting the ball as far as or even farther than when they played the regular Tour. I’m pretty sure Jim Dent hasn’t lost much yardage, nor Lee Trevino when he really needs it. And I know for sure that Raymond Floyd is as long as he ever was.
What’s caused my power leakage? It’s possible that very long-hitting golfers, as I was in my prime, just naturally lose a greater percentage of yardage as they age than players who never hit the ball big distances even in their younger days.
From a technique standpoint, the problem lies mostly in my legs. Power in golf is the product of clubhead speed squarely applied. My swing still delivers the club squarely most of the time, but not as speedily due to slower or inferior leg action. At my peak, I created tremendous leverage with my feet, legs, and hips that got the clubhead moving extremely fast through impact. As my strength diminished with the years, my swing mechanics had to be perfect for me to come close to generating that much leverage and thus that much clubhead speed.
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Injuries also have been a factor. Occasionally, when I’ve been free from pain, my leg speed and lowerbody timing have both come back and I’ve hit the ball plenty long. This happened when I won last year’s seniors’ Mercedes Championship playing La Costa at the same yardage as the young guys in their event. But such spells have not been frequent enough. Most of the time since I became a senior in 1990, some part of me — hips, back, shoulders — has troubled me just sufficiently to force holding back that critical little bit.
At the time, people remarked on how well I hit the long shots in winning the Senior Open at Cherry Hills in 1993, but they were probably overlooking the elevation factor. The course was set up at around 6,900 yards, but, at more than 5,000 feet above sea level, it actually played about 300 yards shorter than that. I can usually still handle a 6,600-yard golf course just fine—in fact, I only used the driver 15 times during that championship. It’s on those sea-level 7,000-yard-plus layouts, where the young guys were routinely tearing apart the course, that my power-leakage hurts the most.
Power clubs
Ever since my power leakage began, I’ve done everything I could think of to stop it, or at least minimize and delay it. You may not care to take your quest as far as I have in terms of lifestyle and exercise (although we’ll get to those later), but you should certainly give the third area your best shot. That’s the equipment you use.
The technology of clubs and balls has improved so dramatically over the last decade that, although you still can’t “buy a good golf game,” playing with the right equipment will definitely help you get the most out of the game you’ve got.
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I began experimenting with drivers about six years ago, not in terms of makes or cosmetics, but with shaft and head materials, shaft flexes, head configurations, and the relationship of shaft weight to head weight. As a result, although I now know for sure that no driver will fully restore my power loss, I also know and play the specifications that allow me to most easily produce my present maximum yardage.
I’m fortunate to be able to obtain and continually update this knowledge with the help of the experts at my own equipment company. Unless you’re ready to undertake the daunting task of tracking, sifting, and comprehending the huge range of options Open to you in club technology, you should find and work with a golf professional who is also an expert clubfitter.
Here to assist him and you both is the bottom line of my discoveries.
If you suffer from skeletal, muscular, or arthritic-type difficulties, graphite shafts will help by reducing the shock of impact. If you want your tee balls and longest fairway shots to “penetrate” and roll, with minimum curvature, deliberate or otherwise, go for metal wood heads. If you want those shots to “carry” and land softly, and to be “‘workable” in terms of drawing and fading, go for wooden wood heads.
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I’ve played much of my tournament golf in recent years with a graphite-shafted metal-headed driver and a steel-shafted wooden-headed 3-wood that I’ve used since I was 18 years old. For accomplished senior amateur players, this could be the ideal combination.
Accuracy clubs
Because my approach-shot capabilities with the medium-irons haven’t changed much, and my short-iron play has actually improved, I’m still using essentially the same iron-club specs that I have for most of my career. However, I’m sure the day will come when I might want to go to slightly softer or longer shafts, or to graphite instead of steel, or to a little lighter swing weight. Those are factors you and your clubfitting expert need to consider, using the specs you’ve settled on for the driver and fairway woods as a guide.
I never would have believed even 20 years ago that there would come a time when I would leave out a long iron in favor of a fairway wood, but I’ve done that with a 5- or a 7-wood a number of times since becoming a senior. Accordingly, when I see almost as many woods as irons in an over-50 amateur’s bag, I don’t assume, as I once might have, that he isn’t too good a player, but simply that he’s got a lot of sense. Take a peek in the bags on the Senior Tour if you still feel shamed by forsaking long-irons for well-lofted woods and extra wedges.
Offsetting power leaks
As the years inevitably cost a recreational golfer distance, it seems to me that he has two options. One is to accept an even higher handicap along with higher and higher levels of frustration. The other is to wholly or partially make up for the loss through improvement in some other area of the game.
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I haven’t been as competitive as I would like these past few seasons, but I would have been even less so without the improvement in my short game that was forced on me by the power leakage.
The truth is that, at my best, I never really needed much of a short game. By hitting the ball very long and pretty straight off the tee, I needed relatively short clubs for most approach shots. That helped me hit a high proportion of greens in regulation or, thanks to my long-iron skills, better than regulation on par fives. I was also strong enough to be able to get the ball somewhere on the green from most of the rough I encountered.
As shorter tee shots led to missing more greens, simply being called upon to play more pitches, chips, and bunker shots produced an improvement in those areas. Then, the longer I lived with the probability that 300- yard drives were the exception rather than the rule, the harder I had to discipline myself to include the full range of recovery techniques in my practice sessions.
Like most golfers, I’d always found banging out big shots more fun than working on the little ones. A couple of years ago it became clear that I either had to sharpen my short game or quit tournament play entirely. The upshot was that I’m better around the greens today than any other time in my career. That’s particularly true of my pitching from about 90 yards in with the wedges, my biggest weakness during my peak years.
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If you’re leaking yards but fighting to stay competitive at your own level of the game, there’s definitely a lesson for you here.
Exercise
The biggest change in my life since my peak years is the amount of exercising I do. Until I began to jog occasionally in my early 40s, I did no exercise at all from my high school days on, other than that involved in playing and practicing golf.
By my late 40s, it was clear that muscular problems in my back, hips, and legs would end my golf career entirely without radical action to alleviate them — on top of which I was looking at back surgery for disc deformities. Over the Thanksgiving holiday of 1988, this led me to an anatomical functionalist by the name of Pete Egoscue, since when hardly a day has passed without me doing the workouts he prescribes. Since the middle of last year, ve supplemented that regimen with regular strengthening and limbering routines under the supervision of Pete Draovitch, a personal trainer recommended to me by Greg Norman.
The Egoscue exercises are mainly of a stretching nature. Sometimes I do them for as little as 10 minutes, and sometimes for an hour or. more. Adding in the Draovitch routines raises my workout time to upwards of two hours. There’s no doubt in my mind that I would have had to quit tournament golf some years ago without Pete Egoscue’s regimens and my dedication to them. I also believe the program I’m now enjoying with Pete Draovitch is critical to me becoming competitive again.
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In addition to these formalized workouts, I always walk the golf course, facilitating that when forced to put the clubs on a cart by asking a playing companion to do the driving.
As with my improved eating habits, exercising heavily has become as much a part of feeling good about myself as a contributor to my golf game. Everyone’s metabolic rate decreases with age, which I’m told by people who should know is why so many older folks don’t feel as good as they’d like. If only because exercise fights off and slows down that process, I don’t see myself cutting back on it very much, even if I quit playing tournament golf.
Will exercise help your game? Well, good golf demands strength and elasticity in many parts of the body, but it’s particularly important in the legs. I don’t know any way a senior can keep his legs in shape without using them a lot.
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