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Zac Taylor admits Bengals broke NFL challenge flag rule for 8 years

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A slight change to an NFL rule has been set before the start of the 2026 season, but it’s nothing new for Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.

He admitted he’s technically been breaking an NFL rule for the past eight years.

The change is that each team’s head coach will be able to delegate the ability to use the red challenge flag to someone else on the staff if they so wish.

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Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals head coach, speaks to media at training camp.

Zac Taylor, head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, talks to the media during training camp at Kettering Health Practice Fields in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 29, 2026. (Getty Images)

It was the responsibility of the head coach to challenge a play, throwing the red flag on the field for review.

Now, the head coach has the ability to name a pregame challenge designee that will be responsible for those moments during the game.

VIKINGS QUARTERBACK BATTLE MEETS EXPECTED END AS KYLER MURRAY BEATS OUT JJ MCCARTHY FOR STARTING JOB

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But in 2019, when Taylor was named the Bengals’ head coach, he wasn’t the one holding the flag. It was Doug Rosfeld, his chief of coaching staff, throwing the flag instead.

That’s the way Taylor has been running that aspect of his many duties as head coach, which he revealed on Tuesday during his press conference.

“We’ve been breaking that rule for eight years because I’ve never thrown a challenge flag,” he said.

Taylor even added that he’d let referees know he wasn’t the one throwing it before the game, and they never took an issue with Rosfeld having that duty.

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“They ask you that in pregame, who’s got the flag,” Taylor mentioned. “It’s never been an issue. I didn’t even know it was frowned upon. I know there’s other coaches in the league, I’m not the only one who’s done that. I saw they implemented a new rule, so maybe we’ll get a retroactive fine or something.”

Zac Taylor on the sideline

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor calls out during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)

Many coaches are creatures of habit so, despite the rule change, those that have the red challenge flag on their person during games will likely keep it that way. Some leave it in their pant pockets, while some even have it tucked into their socks (Bill Belichick’s favorite spot).

For Taylor, he said “it’s easier for me” not to have the flag on him during the game. One of the reasons is due to the ending of an offensive series, which he does the play-calling for, where he’ll immediately go talk to his players.

In that time, if there is a challengeable play, Rosfeld will be the one watching and determining whether it’s worth throwing the flag.

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Every team, every coach works different from each other. But this slight rule change is something Taylor isn’t even batting an eye at.

Zac Taylor stands on the sideline at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Zac Taylor stands on the sideline at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Jan. 4, 2026. (Getty Images)

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He’s been handling it that way the entire time.

“They always made it clear to me that I have to be next to Doug,” Taylor added. “I guess if we ever need to sneak one by them when I was back there [talking to Joe Burrow] and they couldn’t get me in the headset, Doug could have done it, but that’s never come up. It’s just part of our routine now. I feel better with Doug having it.”

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Rashee Rice calls 30-day jail sentence a reality check at Chiefs camp

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Before Rashee Rice was back with his Kansas City Chiefs teammates for the upcoming season, he had to serve 30 days in jail following a probation violation stemming from a multi-vehicle crash back in 2024.

Rice called the discipline a “reality check.”

“It was a learning experience and a reality check,” Rice said, via ESPN. “Don’t focus on the past. Focus on what’s going on now. I’m doing [well] mentally.”

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Rashee Rice walks to the field before practice at Kansas City Chiefs training camp.

Rashee Rice walks to the field before practice during Kansas City Chiefs training camp on July 29, 2026, at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Mo. (Icon Sportswire)

Rice was on probation for his involvement in the 2024 multi-vehicle crash, where he eventually pleaded guilty to two felony charges.

The NFL also docked Rice six games for violating their personal conduct policy, which he served this past season.

CHIEFS RECEIVER RASHEE RICE JAILED FOR 30 DAYS AFTER PROBATION VIOLATION AND IT COULD GET WORSE

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Rice violated his probation after testing positive for THC, which mandated a 30-day jail sentence in Texas. He began serving that sentence on May 19, and he was released from jail in mid-June.

He also received surgery to take care of loose bodies in his right knee, which caused him inflammation during his eight games for the Chiefs in 2025.

He declined to speak with reporters who were waiting for him outside the detention center, but now at training camp, Rice faced the music.

“It was mentally tough. They gave me ways to communicate with my teammates still as well as my athletic trainer,” Rice explained. “Besides the hard times in there, I kept my mind right watching shows and as much Kevin Hart as I could to laugh.”

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Rashee Rice runs after a catch against the Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice runs after a catch against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. (TNS)

Rice added that he was allowed to get treatment done on his knee while serving his time as well.

“I would stretch it, do some activation on it and then hit the weight room and jog, just condition and get the muscle fatigue going as well as my stamina.”

Rice is only entering Year 4 in the NFL, but off-the-field issues have taken away from the solid chemistry he has with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has trusted him with top wide receiver duties. His production has warranted that as well.

“I’m 100% locked in on what’s going on now with the team,” Rice explained. “I’m ready to go out there and dominate. I’ve got a good group of brothers behind me.”

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Rashee Rice at Super Bowl Opening Night

Wide receiver Rashee Rice #4 of the Kansas City Chiefs is interviewed during the Super Bowl LVIII Opening Night presented by Gatorade featuring the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs and the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers on February 5, 2024 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Rice tallied 571 yards on 53 receptions with five touchdowns in his eight games with the Chiefs in 2025. He had a breakout rookie campaign with 938 yards on 79 catches with seven scores in 2023, but he was unable to play a full year in 2024 after suffering a season-ending knee injury.

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Stephanie White fires back at critics, gets support from Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham

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Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White did not take questions during her media session ahead of her team’s 106-92 win over the New York Liberty on Tuesday. Instead, White delivered an impassioned statement in which she defended her relationship with her players, revised her opinion on DiJonai Carrington’s “egregious” flagrant foul on Sophie Cunningham and said that “the hate, the fear-mongering, the divisiveness, the stuff that’s trying to hijack our league will not win.”

Carrington’s Flagrant 2 foul on Cunningham during Indiana’s win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday was the latest high-profile incident in what has been a tumultuous summer for the Fever and the entire WNBA. White was caught in the fallout when she received significant criticism online for her postgame comments about the incident. 

After Saturday’s game, White said that Carrington is going to “play her butt off” and “nobody is gonna go walking in for a layup.” She added that she did not oppose the hard foul, and that she didn’t think Carrington “intentionally went for” Cunningham’s neck. 

On Tuesday, White said that after watching replays of Carrington’s foul, she thought it was “egregious.” 

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Here are White’s full pregame comments:

“This isn’t necessarily for people that are in this room. This is more for an online community that is trying to create narratives that simply don’t exist. Trying to create a fabrication or distortion of who I am and what I’m about. Our player’s success, our player’s health and wellness, our player’s safety, is always a top priority for me. One of the things I pride myself on is my relationships with players. 

For those who have anything to say about the play in the last game. I didn’t see the play in real time. I went straight to a press conference. I thought the play got called right. Thankfully Sophie’s OK. Was it egregious? Absolutely. When you have a chance to watch that over and over on replay, you can see that. I didn’t have that in real time. I take personally any suggestions that I don’t 100% always have my players back. I ride with them 10 toes down all the time. All the time. They know that. 

“It’s a shame that we can’t have an opportunity to talk about what great basketball they’re playing. Beacuse they are f—ing playing. The reality is with me, I will always lead with love. I will always lead with grace. I will always lead with humilty. And I will always lead with integrity. It doesn’t mean I will always get it right. I’m also human. 

“The hate, the fear-mongering, the divisiveness, the stuff that’s trying to hijack our league will not win. It won’t win. We are united. We are connected. We will not be divided. Every day these women put their ass on the line. Every day. When they go low, we go high. Love will win. Grace will win. Humilty will win. And kindness will win. I stand by them. I will always stand by them. Everybody else can go to hell.”

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White, who was booed by Fever fans before tipoff, said after the win that she “sat with” the outside noise over the past few days and felt compelled to speak. Specifically, she wanted to respond to attacks on her character. 

“People presume to know who I am and have no idea,” White said. “These women are playing incredible basketball, and they deserve to be celebrated for that… It’s everybody else that wants to divide us, our team and our league. As somebody who’s been around for a long, long time in this league, I’m tired of it.”

Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham voice support for White

White received a technical foul for arguing with the officials during Saturday’s game after a controversial technical foul was given to Caitlin Clark for making contact with an official. It was the eighth technical foul of the season for Clark, but it was quickly rescinded upon league review. Had the foul stood, Clark would have served a one-game suspension and missed Tuesday night’s game. Instead, Clark suited up and finished with 22 points and 10 assists for her 19th career 20-point, 10-assist game (more than any other franchise), while Kelsey Mitchell poured in 28 points to extend her record 20-point streak to 17 games. 

Clark said she spoke with White before the game and told her the team would win for her. She also criticized the fans for booing White. 

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“I can assure you there was no way we were losing this game tonight, and I told her that before the game. There was no way we were losing this game for her,” Clark said. “It’s tough. That’s my head coach. I hated that our fans booed her before the game. That made me a little sick, to be honest… At the end of the day, that’s our head coach, and we’re gonna ride for her and we’re always gonna have her back, and that’s never gonna tear our locker room apart. I just love her and I feel for her.”

Cunningham, who has been embroiled in her own controversy in recent weeks due to her comments about transgender athletes, did not speak pre-game on Tuesday, but did talk after chipping in 12 points off the bench in the victory. 

“We have each other’s backs. Coach loves us,” Cunningham said. “She didn’t see the clip [of the Carrington flagrant foul]. At the end of the day, she didn’t see the clip. DiJonai, she’s a hell of a player, she’s a great defender. [White] coached her for however many years up in Connecticut, so give her her flowers and she didn’t see it, and that’s OK. Me and Steph are great, Steph is great with all of us. It’s really the outside noise that’s trying to distract us, but we’re good.” 

Fever president Kelly Krauskopf said in a statement that White has the “full support” of team leadership.

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“Coach White has done a tremendous job leading the Fever and for the second consecutive season, has us in great position for a playoff push,” Krauskopf said before Tuesday’s game. “She has kept our team focused and united, all while under the brightest spotlight our team and our league have ever experienced. She has the full support of leadership.”

Carrington, for her part, spoke at length about the incident on Monday prior to the Sky’s loss to the Seattle Storm. She said that the foul was “never intentional,” but declined to explain her since-deleted social media post in which she wrote “WHITE PRIVILEGE” while tagging the Fever’s team account from the locker room following the ejection. 

Fever moving up WNBA standings

Amid all of the drama, the Fever have been playing their best basketball of the season. They’ve won nine of their last 12 games to take sole possession of fourth place at 21-12. They would host a first-round playoff series if the season ended today, are on track to record the best offensive rating in league history (115) and are four wins from a single-season franchise record. 

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WNBA Power Rankings: Rebuilding Mystics soar into top three and look like contenders, Wings hit turbulence

Jack Maloney

WNBA Power Rankings: Rebuilding Mystics soar into top three and look like contenders, Wings hit turbulence
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With her team playing at such a high level, White wants the focus to shift to basketball. 

“We need to focus on this group and how they’re playing basketball right now, because they’ve been playing incredible basketball,” White said. “I’d like to stop talking about the other shit.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo, Georgina tie the knot after nearly 10 years together | Football News

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Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez have officially married, bringing nearly a decade of their relationship to a new chapter. The Portuguese football superstar and Rodríguez tied the knot in a private civil ceremony in Cascais, Portugal, on August 11, 2026.

 


The couple confirmed the wedding through a joint Instagram post, sharing a photograph of themselves dressed in white and proudly displaying their wedding rings. The ceremony was reportedly attended by their five children, keeping the occasion firmly centred on family rather than a large celebrity celebration.

 

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Wedding comes exactly a year after engagement

 


The timing of the wedding was particularly significant. Rodríguez announced the couple’s engagement on August 11, 2025, exactly one year before they exchanged vows.

 
 

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Ronaldo, 41, and Rodríguez, 32, had kept details of their wedding plans private, although the footballer had previously referred to Rodríguez as his “wife”, prompting speculation that they may have already married.

 

The couple’s latest announcement, however, provided their first direct confirmation that they are now officially husband and wife. 

 

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Five children at the centre of celebrations

 


Family played a central role in the intimate ceremony, with all five of the couple’s children reportedly present.

 

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Ronaldo’s eldest son, Cristiano Jr., and twins Eva and Mateo joined Alana Martina and Bella Esmeralda at the wedding. Ronaldo and Rodríguez welcomed Alana in 2017, while their twins were born in 2022. Their son Ángel sadly died shortly after birth, while his twin sister Bella survived.

 


Rodríguez has also played an important role in the lives of Ronaldo’s older children, with their family life frequently featuring on social media and in her Netflix series, I Am Georgina.

 

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From Madrid meeting to married life

 


Ronaldo and Rodríguez first met in Madrid when she was working as a sales assistant at Gucci. Their relationship became public in 2017, and they subsequently built a family life together as Ronaldo’s career took him from Spain to Italy and eventually Saudi Arabia.

 

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Rodríguez has meanwhile established herself as a model, entrepreneur and television personality. After years together, the couple have now officially formalised their relationship with a private family wedding in Portugal.

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One of the U.S. Amateur’s hottest golfers has its wackiest swing

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‘I would be very worried’: Former Sri Lankan cricketer names India’s biggest weapon | Cricket News

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'I would be very worried': Former Sri Lankan cricketer names India's biggest weapon
India’s Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill (PTI Photo)

Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof believes India could opt for three spinners in the opening Test against Sri Lanka, with young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar potentially getting the nod ahead of uncapped off-spinner Saransh Jain.India will be without the retired Ravichandran Ashwin and injured Washington Sundar for the first Test, leaving Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav as the likely first-choice spinners. The bigger selection question is who joins them in the XI.Maharoof feels Suthar could have an advantage because of his ability to extract bounce from the surface. Sri Lankan pitches can offer assistance to spinners through bounce rather than simply producing substantial turn, making that quality particularly useful.Suthar made an impressive start to his international career, claiming seven wickets on his debut against Afghanistan. Jain, meanwhile, is yet to make his India debut but has also put himself in contention after touring Sri Lanka with India A.The 31-year-old off-spinner picked up seven wickets on that tour and also contributed an unbeaten 70 while batting at No. 7.However, Maharoof believes Suthar’s ability to generate bounce could outweigh the benefit of having an off-spinner for variation, even if that would leave India with three left-arm spinners.“If you ask me, I would be tempted to go with the two left-arm spinners as well as Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep is a frontrunner to start in Galle, especially considering his record and the number of wickets he took in the last Test against Afghanistan.“I see three spinners for India. Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and either Suthar or Jain. Ideally, you would like an off-spinner for variation, but I would not be surprised if Manav Suthar plays because his ability to get bounce off the surface could be very handy in Galle.”Maharoof expects India to go into the Test with a balanced attack comprising three spinners and two seamers.“Overall, looking at India’s bowling line-up, it is quite competitive, with two seamers and three spinners.”

Maharoof warns Sri Lanka about Rishabh Pant threat

Maharoof also singled out Rishabh Pant as a major threat for Sri Lanka, despite the wicketkeeper-batter’s modest returns in India’s three-day warm-up game in Colombo.Pant scored just two and 28 in the match, which India won by six wickets. However, Maharoof believes those scores should not give Sri Lanka any confidence ahead of the Test, given Pant’s ability to transform a match within a short period.“If I were in the Sri Lankan dressing room, I would be very worried about Rishabh Pant. He is a player who, within half an hour or 45 minutes, can completely change the game.“We have seen him do it in the past. He has that X-factor and has been given the licence to play his natural game. He is going to face a lot of left-arm spin and off-spin.Maharoof expects Sri Lanka to rely heavily on spin against Pant, predicting that the hosts will field two frontline spinners along with two part-time options. But he believes Pant’s unconventional approach could still make him difficult to contain.“Sri Lanka will surely go with two frontline spinners as well as two part-timers, but the way Pant scores runs, with his unorthodox style, he is going to be dangerous.”

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CBS delivers update on Tony Romo after his OWI arrest

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Tony Romo is still sidelined by CBS weeks after the former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was arrested on suspicion of operating while intoxicated after being stopped while driving.

CBS Sports president David Berson confirmed Tuesday at “NFL on CBS” Media Day that the 46-year-old analyst remains on indefinite leave from the network following his July 23 arrest in Milwaukee.

“It’s an evolving situation and we are still assessing. There is no timetable or final decision at this time,” Berson said, the New York Post reports. “I hope you can respect and appreciate this is a personal matter and a legal one for Tony.”

Romo was arrested after allegedly performing poorly on field sobriety tests and was later cited for refusing an intoxication test. In body camera footage, he told deputies he had been at a golf course and was on his way “to visit grandma and grandpa.” Deputies also found an “open bottle of an alcoholic beverage” in the passenger side of Romo’s Jeep before it was towed.

CBS put Romo on leave “until further notice” on July 31 as more details about his arrest surfaced. J.J. Watt has since stepped in as CBS’ lead analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz.

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Tony Romo, 46, remains on indefinite leave from CBS Sports following his July OWI arrest, network president David Berson confirmed Tuesday
Tony Romo, 46, remains on indefinite leave from CBS Sports following his July OWI arrest, network president David Berson confirmed Tuesday (Getty)

Berson also used Tuesday’s event to explain why the network decided to bench Romo before his legal case is resolved.

“We have to consider the impact on our image and our brand,” Berson said. “That’s very important to us. The focus should be and needs to be on our presentation and this great product and not on any others.

“Fortunately, we have a deep bench and everybody is stepping up,” he added.

Romo, 46, was arrested after being accused of driving while under the influence
Romo, 46, was arrested after being accused of driving while under the influence (Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office)

A deputy told Romo he appeared impaired during the July traffic stop, citing his “red, glassy eyes” and the “odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage” as reasons for the suspicion. Romo was taken into custody, booked and later released by the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.

Romo attended high school in Burlington, Wisconsin, about 35 miles from Milwaukee, where he was arrested. He was back in the area to compete in the Wisconsin State Amateur golf tournament at West Bend Country Club, an event he has participated in since 2018.

The former quarterback spent his entire 13-year NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys from 2004 to 2016, earning four Pro Bowl selections. After retiring, he joined CBS Sports as the network’s lead NFL game analyst in April 2017, partnered with Nantz.

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Romo remains Dallas’ all-time leader in touchdown passes with 248, while Dak Prescott surpassed him last season for the franchise record in career passing yards.

Romo has not publicly addressed his arrest or his future with CBS. He is due in court on September 21.

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Just Folk has multiple paths to early 2026 spring targets

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Two jockeys ride racing horses in a fast, close finish at Caulfield Racecourse with a large Caulfield sign in the background.

Trainer Gavin Bedggood is contemplating a couple of race options for Just Folk at Caulfield as the horse is being prepared for an early spring goal.

Just Folk is among the entries for the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m), which will be contested at weight-for-age this Saturday. He is also nominated for a benchmark 100 handicap (1600m), where he has been allocated 62kg.

These races are seen as potential lead-ups to a likely start in the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield on August 29. This event marks the official opening of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

The weather forecast for Saturday appears to be favourable for Just Folk, a galloper who thrives on wet tracks. When nominations closed on Monday, the track was rated a Heavy 9.

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Of Just Folk’s ten career wins from 53 starts, five have been recorded on soft surfaces. He also has an additional nine placings from 21 attempts, with three of his wins coming on heavy ground and three top-three finishes from nine starts.

“The forecast looks promising for him to get his preferred ground,” Bedggood said.

“He ran super in the Winter Championship, and he went up and ran second in Sydney, in a Stakes race.”

“We just got beaten fair and square by a better horse on the day.”

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Just Folk finished third in the Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Flemington on July 4, and subsequently ran second in the Winter Challenge (1500m) on July 18.

With Just Folk recently turning ten, Bedggood expressed his liking for the idea of competing for $200,000 in prize money in the Heatherlie Stakes, as Just Folk would likely possess a fitness edge over his rivals.

“I remember Dean Lester telling me, eight or nine years ago that the Heatherlie is a race that’s always won by the horse that’s come through winter, fit, and puts itself up on speed,” Bedggood stated.

“I would think that that’s his sort of race to be winning.It’s the Caulfield Cup kick-off for a lot of horses, and hopefully, he can be Johnny on the spot.”

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“Looking at the forecast on Saturday, there’s a chance it will be wet and the way Caulfield has been racing as well, it might suit him too.”

Explore the betting sites for the upcoming PB Lawrence Stakes.

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Best logo in golf? Even the U.S. Amateur field can’t resist Merion’s distinctive mark  

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Paula Radcliffe calls empty stands at European Athletics Championships ‘a shame’

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Paula Radcliffe has described the empty stands at the European Athletics Championships as “a shame” after the event in Birmingham came under fire for its expensive prices.

Nearly 10,000 empty seats were available on the first evening of the Championships as 13,623 people watched Great Britain’s Amy Hunt sprint her way to 100m glory at the Alexander Stadium.

Extortionate food and drinks prices have also been called out – supporters are being made to pay as much as £18.50 for a BBQ pork roll and chips, while a bottle of water costs nearly £4 from vendors in and around the stadium.

Fans were being made to pay £150 for a Category A ticket on Monday evening and while prices for those tickets dropped by £40 for Tuesday and Wednesday, they rocket back up to £150 for the final four evenings of the tournament with no discount for concessions. The cheapest ticket in Category E is £26.

Fans can buy a BBQ roll and chips for £18.50 (Sunny Badwal/PA)
Fans can buy a BBQ roll and chips for £18.50 (Sunny Badwal/PA)

Radcliffe – who competed for Great Britain at four consecutive Olympic Games between 1996 and 2008 – exclusively told the Press Association: “It is a shame because I think there is the willingness but I don’t know whether perhaps as a sport we need to look at the pricing and accessibility for those tickets.

“Nothing beats a stadium seeing a home victory, feeling the buzz and the hairs on your arms stand up, it’s really special.

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“It’s fighting with many more different sports now, that’s the truth. We have so many different sports available to choose from, it’s about standing above the rest.

“It’s about giving the opportunity to see and experience it live in person but some people are not able to afford expensive prices.

“Something like athletics, the best experience is in the stadium or on the side of the road rather than TV.”

Attendance on Tuesday evening was seemingly higher but empty seats were still scattered across the stadium to watch the men’s 100m athletes in action.

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Fans turned up to the Alexander Stadium to find there is no on-site parking and are being forced to cough up £22.50 for a park and ride service which serves as an inconvenience.

Many people have spoken out on social media while former Aston Villa striker Stan Collymore also branded the pricing “tone deaf”.

He posted on X: “Weather is amazing and the sport needs as many eyeballs as possible so kids for a quid!! £150/£100/£70 for the 3 categories at the weekend is aimed at who? Not families and kids who may want to be athletes!”

All eyes are on the championships in the UK this week after London formally submitted a bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships in London and the empty seats inside stadiums are not a good look.

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Some prices on the concourse differ from the food vans sitting on the premises and PA understands that organisers have no control over the expensive sausage rolls outside the stadium.

Birmingham 2026 responded to criticism and said they were “delighted” with ticket sales which have “surpassed” targets and say Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening sessions are approaching sell-out.

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy also defended ticket prices and says numbers will pick up as the week goes on.

She said: “Some of the ticket prices are higher but half of all the tickets here at the championships are £30 and under. Organisers have really worked to make it accessible.

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“The numbers have been a bit low being the first few days. I think we will see that rise steadily and hoping for big numbers this weekend.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo Marriage: Fact check: Did Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane really attend the Cristiano Ronaldo wedding? | Football News

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Fact check: Did Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane really attend the Cristiano Ronaldo wedding?
Cristiano Ronaldo poses with his partner, model Georgina Rodriguez(AP Photo)

Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez are officially married, but a series of photographs circulating online claiming to show football stars such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane at the wedding are fake and AI-generated.Ronaldo confirmed his marriage to Rodríguez on Tuesday by sharing a photograph of the couple’s hands showing their wedding bands. The Portugal star captioned the post “C (heart) G”, confirming that the couple had tied the knot after almost a decade together.

Cristiano Ronaldo confirms marriage with long-time girlfriend, posts picture with rings

Cristiano Ronaldo confirms marriage with long-time girlfriend, posts picture with rings

The announcement was quickly followed by a wave of images on social media supposedly showing some of football’s biggest names attending the ceremony. Among those featured in the viral photographs are Messi, Mbappé, Haaland and Kane.

AI-generated or digitally manipulated images<br>

AI-generated or digitally manipulated images

AI-generated or digitally manipulated images<br>

AI-generated or digitally manipulated images

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However, the images are not genuine photographs from Ronaldo and Rodríguez’s wedding. They are AI-generated or digitally manipulated images that have been circulated online as though they were authentic pictures from the ceremony.The confusion has been fuelled by the fact that Ronaldo and Rodríguez kept their wedding extremely private. The couple reportedly married in Cascais, Portugal, in an intimate ceremony attended by their five children. Ronaldo has so far shared only a simple photograph of the couple’s wedding bands to confirm the occasion.There is no evidence to suggest that Messi, Mbappé, Haaland, Kane or the other footballers seen in the viral images attended the wedding. The photographs circulating online should therefore not be treated as proof of their presence at the ceremony.Ronaldo and Rodríguez first met in 2016 when Rodríguez was working at a Gucci store in Madrid. The couple have remained together ever since, building a family and sharing several major milestones during Ronaldo’s career.Rodríguez announced their engagement on August 11, 2025, when she shared a photograph of her engagement ring on Instagram. Exactly one year later, Ronaldo confirmed that the couple had married.The wedding marks another major milestone for the pair, who have largely kept their personal life away from the spotlight despite their enormous global following.As the wedding photographs continue to circulate online, however, social media users should be careful not to mistake AI-generated content for genuine images. While Ronaldo and Rodríguez’s marriage is real, the viral photographs showing Messi, Mbappé, Haaland, Kane and other football stars at the ceremony are not authentic.

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