“We’ve upgraded the track to all town and county specs,” said Sprague, clicking off a list of improvements that ranged from improved water runoff and handicapped parking to updated electrical and more lighting. A $1,000 to win Fast Shafts All-Star Invitational ballot qualifying event is on the June 29 card at Thunderbird, the newest track in IMCA’s Dirt Works Eastern Region. Opening night at the 3/8-mile clay oval in Muskegon, on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, is April 27. Saturday shows during the IMCA Speedway Motors Weekly Racing point season continue through Aug. 31. Sprague won track championships in both late model and sportsman classes and then became a tech inspector at Thunderbird. He had owned and promoted Winston Speedway before buying and reopening Thunderbird, now the fifth track in Michigan sanctioning Modifieds weekly with IMCA. The sanctioned class will run at his Thunderbird Raceway beginning this season. “We have added clay every year since I bought the track. We’ve installed new fencing and guardrails and built up the driveways,” he noted. “There are a lot of drivers in the area who think what we’ve done is great. We’re giving them the opportunity to race.” “Thunderbird is going to be a great addition to the Michigan IMCA family,” said Jim Stannard, vice president of operations for the sanctioning body. “Tom is a well respected promoter and works well with other tracks. Thunderbird is going to make IMCA racing in Michigan even stronger.” “I’ve always liked the IMCA rules. They’re for the budget-minded racer,” commented Sprague, who fit that description during his own career in the class. “When I bought Thunderbird I said from the get-go that we were going toward IMCA. They keep the rules consistent and the costs down.” MUSKEGON, Mich. – Tom Sprague has been a fan of the IMCA Modified division for 30-plus years. read more
Trapattoni said: “We must consider the positives from our games against Sweden and Austria when preparing for these fixtures. “We produced two strong performances and the players have proven that they are working very well together. “I am very happy to have the squad together for these games, firstly to prepare for the Faroe Islands World Cup qualifier, and then for the challenges we have ahead of us in September. “This trip creates the chance to work with the players for a longer period than usual in order to bond and plan for the remainder of our FIFA World Cup qualifier games. “These matches will provide me with the opportunity to experiment with different players and tactics. I am looking forward to assembling the squad in London on May 26.” Skipper Robbie Keane, who has missed LA Galaxy’s last three games with an ankle injury, is included, as are Aiden McGeady and Anthony Pilkington. However, there are no places for Ciaran Clark and Kevin Doyle, who both have fitness problems, or defender Richard Dunne, who could yet train with the squad after spending the entire season on the sidelines, providing the Football Association of Ireland can gain permission from his club, Aston Villa. The 74-year-old Italian has named a provisional 28-man squad for the eagerly anticipated friendly against England at Wembley on May 29 and the game against Georgia in Dublin on June 2, in preparation for the qualifier against the Faroe Islands at the Aviva Stadium five days later. Trapattoni and his players will then head for New York for a friendly against Spain at Yankee Stadium on June 11. However, during their time together at the end of this season, the manager will have one eye on the Group C clashes with Sweden, Austria, Germany and Kazakhstan which will determine their destiny later in the year. Giovanni Trapattoni will attempt to plot a route to the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil when his Ireland squad meets up later this month. Press Association read more
The South African forward crashed over with seconds to go and Ian Keatley’s conversion meant the Irish Province have now won their first two league games of the new season. It was heartbreak for Ospreys after it looked like six Sam Davies penalties would be enough as they led 18-15 going into the last 10 minutes but they had to settle for a losing bonus point. Although Munster uncharacteristically fluffed a couple of line-outs they found themselves in the lead through a second Blyendaal penalty. On 36 minutes Ospreys were level again with a second Davies penalty after Dave Kilcoyne had killed the ball in front of the posts after breaks from Joe Bearman and Sam Parry. And in the final action of the first half Davies made it three penalties from three with a kick from 50 metres after Munster had erred offside. Davies’s fourth penalty seven minutes into the second half opened up a six point cushion but that was wiped out with Fitzgerald’s try, which came from a Bleyendaal cross-kick. But in the final quarter Ospreys regained the lead with two Davies penalties in the space of eight minutes. However, the home side failed to soak up some late pressure as Stander wriggled over in the 80th minute for Keatley to kick the winning conversion. Munster claimed the only other try in the match which was scored by wing Stephen Fitzgerald, with outside-half Tyler Bleyendaal claiming eight points with the boot. Before the start Ospreys honoured the memory of former player Jerry Collins, who died in a car crash in New Zealand in June, with a minute’s silence. The Ospreys also retired the number six jersey. Munster gave four players their first competitive starts including former New Zealand Under-20s captain Bleyendaal along with Australia lock Mark Chisholm, Francis Sali and Fitzgerald. Ospreys just about shaded a tryless first half which was reflected in a 9-6 interval lead. A good period of pressure in Munster’s22 brought a penalty which Davies slotted over after 10 minutes. But all the early good work was undone almost immediately as Munster levelled with a 13th minute penalty by Bleyendaal. Davies then had a five minutes to forget. He put the restart into touch, missed touch with a penalty and then fluffed an attempted cross-kick from a penalty when the place kick was the obvious option. At the other end another cross-kick, this time from scrum-half Cathal Sheridan almost produced a try but wing Fitzgerald was unable to touch down. Replacement CJ Stander was the hero as Munster stole a 20-18 Guinness PRO12 victory in the final minute to leave Ospreys winless from their opening two matches. Press Association read more
For all the Latest Sports News News, Cricket News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Kolkata Police on Thursday filed a chargesheet against Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami. The cricketer has been charged under IPC section 498A (Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty) and 354A (outraging the modesty of a woman).The non-bailable charges have been levelled by Shami’s estranged wife Hasin Jahan. Shami’s brother – Hasib Ahmed – too has been named in the FIR.Last Friday, the Kolkata Police had lodged an FIR against Shami and four others under various non-bailable and bailable sections after the former’s wife lodged a complaint of domestic violence and infidelity against him.Shami, in posts on his Facebook page and Twitter handle, has claimed that the allegations were false and a conspiracy to defame him.Jahan has accused Shami of domestic violence and adultery in social media posts but the bowler has rebutted the claims, calling them “lies”, Jahan has, however, still not sought a divorce from the former.Shami has played 30 Tests for India, claiming 110 wickets so far. The injury-prone bowler has also appeared in 50 ODIs and seven T20 Internationals, picking up 91 and eight wickets respectively.Shami got married to Jahan in 2014 and has a daughter named Aaira Shami. read more
highlights For all the Latest Sports News News, Tennis News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Sumit Nagal won the first set against Roger Federer.Roger Federer has won 20 Grand Slam titles.Nagal had made the main draw after three draining qualifying round matches. New York: Sumit Nagal is going to have a “very solid career”, said Swiss icon Roger Federer after the Indian managed to take a set off him in a US Open first-round clash, relying on a game that is “really consistent”. Nagal lost 6-4 1-6 2-6 4-6 in a match that lasted two hours and 50 minutes here on Monday night to bow out after making his maiden Grand Slam main draw. The debut, at least in the opening set, was impressive as he stretched a “rusty” Federer, a five-time champion here with a career tally of 20 Slams. “I think he knows what he can bring. That’s why I think he’s going to have a very solid career. But, of course it’s not the game that comes out with the biggest surprises. It’s really consistent. I think he did it very well tonight,” Federer said after the match. The 24-year-old Nagal troubled Federer quite a bit during the match and the Swiss legend’s problems were also compounded by his own unforced errors. Asked what he thought was the standout feature of Nagal, Federer said, “I guess maybe how he handled the moment. Never easy to come out and play your best. Even though it’s kind of what you live for, you dream about, playing on the big stage. So I think he did that very well,” he added. Dissecting the game of his newest opponent, the 38-year-old Federer said the India’s game seems like the one of a clay-court specialist. “I think his game is based on being really consistent, moving well, moving the ball around well. Sort of very much a clay-courter. That’s also the surface he’s basically played the entire year almost,” he observed. Nagal had made the main draw after three draining qualifying round matches. read more
Champions Barcelona maintained their season-long unbeaten LaLiga run with a 2-2 Clasico draw against rivals Real Madrid at Camp Nou, despite Sergi Roberto’s first-half red card.Barca played 45 minutes with 10 men but managed to extend their record undefeated streak in the top flight to 42 matches, a record that stretches back to April 2017.In Andres Iniesta’s last Clasico, Luis Suarez gave the Catalan giants an early lead by turning in a terrific right-wing cross from Roberto, but the advantage did not last long as Madrid hit back in the 14th minute. Cristiano Ronaldo – substituted at half-time due to injury – equalled Alfredo Di Stefano’s record of 18 Clasico goals for Madrid by tapping in a clever Karim Benzema header back across goal.Madrid’s chances of winning were boosted by Roberto’s red card for appearing to strike Marcelo in the face late in the first half, although Gareth Bale could have also been dismissed after seeming to stamp on the back of Samuel Umtiti’s leg.Although they were a man light, Barca regained the lead thanks to a sensational Lionel Messi goal – his 26th in this fixture – but Madrid felt Suarez fouled Raphael Varane in the build-up.Bale had the final say by getting his first LaLiga Clasico goal with a 20-yard strike to claim a point for Madrid, who stay 15 points behind their irrepressible rivals.Suarez missed an early chance after being fed by Messi, but the Uruguay forward put Barca in front in the 10th minute.Roberto raced away down the right after being sent clear by Suarez, who timed his run to the back post perfectly to turn the deep cross past Keylor Navas with a low volley.The lead did not even last five minutes, though, Ronaldo inevitably central as he made it 12 goals in his last 12 visits to Camp Nou.Ronaldo started the move by teeing up Toni Kroos on the overlap, the Germany midfielder’s cross nodded into the middle by Benzema and the Portugal superstar tapped in on the line despite the close attention of Gerard Pique.Madrid were stamping their authority on the contest, Ronaldo heading over and drilling wide either side of being denied at close range by Marc-Andre ter Stegen.The first half ended with referee Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez in the thick of the action, Suarez and Sergio Ramos booked before Messi earned a yellow for a late foul on the Madrid captain.Tempers boiled over before the break as Roberto saw red for lashing out at Marcelo, the Barca full-back seeming to push his hand into his opponent’s face.Ronaldo, who appeared to be injured in the process of scoring, was replaced by Marco Asensio at half-time, while Nelson Semedo plugged the gap left by Roberto by coming on for Philippe Coutinho.Madrid were leaving too many gaps, though, and Barca went back in front in the 52nd minute thanks to Messi’s first home league Clasico goal in five matches.Barca thought they had extended their lead through Suarez, only for the goal to be disallowed for a marginal offside in the build-up, and Iniesta, seemingly set for a switch to the Chinese Super League, was then withdrawn to a standing ovation.Navas did well to stop Messi wrapping up the points after the Barca star raced clear and that save proved key as Bale struck in the 72nd minute.Asensio fed the Wales international on the edge of the box and he bent a first-time strike out of Ter Stegen’s reach to level for the Champions League finalists.Madrid felt Jordi Alba brought Marcelo down in the box but the referee waved away the appeals, before Messi missed two late openings as the last Clasico of the season ended with the spoils shared.Share this:FacebookRedditTwitterPrintPinterestEmailWhatsAppSkypeLinkedInTumblrPocketTelegram read more
World 100m champion Christian Coleman has been provisionally suspended after missing a third doping test.The American, 24, has disputed the third whereabouts failure, on 9 December, which has been confirmed by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).He claims he was Christmas shopping “five minutes away” from home and the tester made no effort to contact him. Christian Coleman “I have never and will never use performance enhancing supplements or drugs,” Coleman posted on social media.“I am willing to take a drug test every single day for the rest of my career for all I care to prove my innocence.“I have nothing to hide but it’s not possible to show that if I’m not even given a chance to.”Coleman said he has been contacted by phone “literally every other time” he has been tested, and claimed the AIU tester wrote an incorrect address on his unsuccessful attempt form.The AIU does not regard Coleman’s explanation for the missing test as a defence, as it is not their policy to call an athlete if they’re not at the designated address.According to the AIU’s out-of-competition testing guidelines, athletes are accountable for missed tests if they are not at their specified location for the one-hour period they have stated.If they are not at the location, the tester must wait for the full 60 minutes before leaving.Coleman – who won his first major title at the World Championships in Doha last year – had previously missed a test on 16 January 2019 and experienced a filing failure on 26 April 2019.Three whereabouts failures in a 12-month period can result in a ban of up to two years by the AIU.“The system must change,” he said.“I thought the point of the organisation was to keep the sport clean by testing everyone and catching cheaters, not attempt to catch people when they’re not home and make no attempt to actually test them and mess with the livelihoods of people who are clearly not doping.“This isn’t justice for anybody.”The AIU has not yet responded to Coleman’s claims.His chances of competing in Doha last August had looked slim after the US Anti-Doping Agency charged Coleman with missing three drugs tests in 12 months.However, it then withdrew the case after it was proved there had been a filing irregularity regarding the date of the first missed test.Earlier this month, Bahraini world 400m champion Salwa Eid Naser was provisionally suspended after missing four dope tests.Share this:FacebookRedditTwitterPrintPinterestEmailWhatsAppSkypeLinkedInTumblrPocketTelegram read more
Good news for those looking to find the TV channel for Seahawks vs. Rams on “Sunday Night Football”: This game, scheduled to kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET, is being nationally televised by NBC in Week 14. So yes, you get the game on TV.When the Seahawks beat the Rams earlier this season in Seattle, they snapped a three-game losing streak against their NFC West rivals with a 30-29 win. The rematch has a high bar to clear in terms of entertainment value, but with the NFL playoff picture now a factor, it’s a much more important game. MORE: Watch Seahawks vs. Rams live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)Simply put: If the Rams are to beat the Seahawks, they’ll need the Jared Goff they got last week against the Cardinals. The LA quarterback passed for 424 yards and a pair of touchdowns for a season-high passer rating of 120.7 in Arizona, and he typically plays well against Seattle. Goff is aiming for his fourth game in a row against the Seahawks in which he has thrown for 300 or more passing yards.Yet the odds of Goff being the better QB on the field Sunday night are slim. Not only did Russell Wilson torch the Rams in Week 5 with 4 TDs and a passer rating of 151.8, but he has posted 3 or more TDs and a 120-plus passer rating in his last three games against LA.Below is all the info you need to watch Seahawks vs. Rams on Sunday night, including the TV channels and kickoff time.What channel is Seahawks vs. Rams on today?TV channel (national): NBCTV channel (Seattle): KINGTV channel (Los Angeles): KNBCLive stream: fubo TVAs is the case for all “Sunday Night Football” games on NBC this season, Al Michaels will call the Seahawks vs. Rams play-by-play action, and Cris Collinsworth will provide analysis. Michele Tafoya will report from the sidelines, and NFL rules analyst Terry McAulay will explain penalties and other officiating rulings throughout the game.For those who can’t watch Seahawks vs. Rams on TV and wish to find the game on the radio, the Seattle call can be heard on Sirius channel 81 and XM channel 225, and the Los Angeles call can be heard on Sirius channel 83 and XM channel 226.MORE: Watch every NFL game and RedZone on DAZN (Canada only) Seahawks vs. Rams: What time is kickoff?Date: Sunday, Dec. 8Start time: 8:20 p.m. ETThe 8:20 p.m. ET start time for Seahawks vs. Rams marks the fourth and final prime-time game on Seattle’s schedule and its third over the last four games. Of course, there’s a chance the Seahawks’ Week 17 game against the 49ers could get flexed into the “Sunday Night Football” slot if the NFC West title is on the line.The Rams on Sunday night will play their fifth of a league-high six prime-time games this year. Los Angeles gained a national TV game when its Week 16 matchup with San Francisco was flexed into the Saturday night NFL Network slot for Dec. 21.MORE: NFL TV coverage map for Week 14Seahawks scheduleWeekDateOpponentKickoff timeTVWeek 1Sept. 8vs. Bengals4:05 p.m. ETCBSWeek 2Sept. 15at Steelers1 p.m. ETFoxWeek 3Sept. 22vs. Saints4:24 p.m. ETCBSWeek 4Sept. 29at Cardinals4:05 p.m. ETFoxWeek 5Oct. 3 (Thursday)vs. Rams8:20 p.m. ETFoxWeek 6Oct. 13at Browns1 p.m. ETFoxWeek 7Oct. 20vs. Ravens4:25 p.m. ETFoxWeek 8Oct. 27at Falcons1 p.m. ETFoxWeek 9Nov. 3vs. Buccaneers4:05 p.m. ETFoxWeek 10Nov. 11 (Monday)at 49ers8:15 p.m. ETESPNWeek 11BYE—Week 12Nov. 24at Eagles1 p.m. ETFoxWeek 13Dec. 2 (Monday)vs. Vikings8:15 p.m. ETESPNWeek 14Dec. 8at Rams8:20 p.m. ETNBCWeek 15Dec. 15at Panthers1 p.m. ETFoxWeek 16Dec. 22vs. Cardinals4:25 p.m. ETFoxWeek 17Dec. 29vs. 49ers4:25 p.m. ETFoxRams scheduleWeekDateOpponentKickoff timeTVWeek 1Sept. 8at Panthers1 p.m. ETFoxWeek 2Sept. 15vs. Saints4:25 p.m. ETFoxWeek 3Sept. 22at Browns8:20 p.m. ETNBCWeek 4Sept. 29vs. Buccaneers4:05 p.m. ETFoxWeek 5Oct. 3 (Thursday)at Seahawks8:20 p.m. ETFox/NFLNWeek 6Oct. 13vs. 49ers4:05 p.m. ETFoxWeek 7Oct. 20at Falcons1 p.m. ETFoxWeek 8Oct. 27vs. Bengals (London)1 p.m. ETCBSWeek 9BYE—Week 10Nov. 10at Steelers4:25 p.m. ETFoxWeek 11Nov. 17vs. Bears8:20 p.m. ETNBCWeek 12Nov. 25 (Monday)vs. Ravens8:15 p.m. ETESPNWeek 13Dec. 1at Cardinals4:05 p.m. ETFoxWeek 14Dec. 8vs. Seahawks8:20 p.m. ETNBCWeek 15Dec. 15at Cowboys4:25 p.m. ETFoxWeek 16Dec. 21at 49ers8:15 p.m. ETNFLNWeek 17Dec. 29vs. Cardinals4:25 p.m. ETFox read more
Where does Michael Vick work now?Since retiring from the NFL in 2017, Vick has become an NFL studio analyst with Fox Sports.”FOX has given me a great platform,” Vick told NFL.com that September. “I want it to last, and will work hard to make it last. I feel I can get better at this.”The summer following his retirement, he was a coaching intern with Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs, and it’s possible he may return to coaching in the future. The NFL caught many people by surprise in November by announcing controversial former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick as a Pro Bowl captain.In 2007, Vick’s career was interrupted by a 21-month prison sentence he served after pleading guilty to participating in a dogfighting ring. He missed the following two seasons, eventually returning to play seven more years with three teams before officially retiring in 2017. But for some, his image and reputation is irreparable due to the animal abuse he was complicit in. So, the NFL’s announcement that he would be part of Sunday’s Pro Bowl sparked outrage.Here’s everything you need to know about Michael Vick and the 2020 Pro Bowl.FOSTER: It’s time to forgive Michael Vick and move on Why is Michael Vick a Pro Bowl captain?Vick was selected as the 2020 NFC offense Pro Bowl captain in November, along with Darrell Green (NFC defense), Terrell Davis (AFC offense) and Bruce Smith (AFC defense).The NFL’s announcement recounts some of Vick’s Hall of Fame-worthy stats, including being the “only quarterback to have at least 20,000 career passing yards (22,464) and 5,000 rushing yards (6,109) in NFL history.” It did not mention Vick’s off-field controversy.The Pro Bowl captains “serve as mentors for the Pro Bowl players and [are] present on the sidelines on gameday” in addition to participating in other Pro Bowl events during the week before the game, according to the release.Animal rights groups protest Pro Bowl, Michael VickAfter the announcement, multiple change.org petitions were created demanding the NFL remove Vick from the captaincy, the largest of which gaining more than 700,000 signatures as of the day before the game.MORE: Explaining the Pro Bowl rule changes for 2020How did the NFL and Vick respond?With hundreds of thousands of people calling for Vick’s removal, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stood behind Vick at a press conference.”We, over the last nine years or so, have supported Michael in his recognition of the mistake he made,” Goodell said, according to television station WSFA. “He’s paid a heavy price for that. He has been accountable for it.”Vick hasn’t discussed the Pro Bowl controversy specifically, but he has publicly discussed his past actions and their effect on his image many times since serving his sentence. He paid “nearly $1 million restitution for care of the dogs” that were rescued by authorities when he was arrested, The Washington Post reported in September.Vick “says he regrets it all and didn’t have the strength to stop what he realized was wrong about a year before he was caught. … He has advocated for stronger animal cruelty laws and works to educate children,” according to The Post.”I think people have moved on,” Vick told The Post. “I don’t get any questions about it anymore. People don’t talk about it. They don’t ask me about it. Life is kind of normal. But I still have a responsibility, and that will never change.” read more
MOSCOW –An alligator rumored to be Adolph Hitler’s petm during WWII, died at the Moscow Zoo at the age of 84.In the wild, the normal life span for an alligator is 30 to 50 years so this alligator, named Saturn, was extra special.Saturn was born in the wild somewhere in Mississippi in 1936 and was shipped to the Berlin Zoo from which he disappeared on November 23, 1943, in the aftermath of an Allied air bombing campaign on Berlin. One bomb directly struck the zoo’s aquarium and, according to reports at the time, all of the alligators and crocodiles in captivity there were killed. But not Saturn who was orbiting somewhere around das Führer.In this photo taken on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, the alligator Saturn swims in water at the Moscow Zoo, in Moscow, Russia. An alligator that many believed to have once belonged to Adolf Hitler has died in the Moscow Zoo. The zoo said the alligator, named Saturn, was about 84 years old and died on Friday. (AP Photo/Mikhail Bibichkov)In fact, of the 16.000 animals once kept in the Berlin Zoo, it is estimated that fewer than 100 survived the war. The zoo’s announcement of Saturn’s death states: “Even if, purely theoretically, he belonged to someone, animals are not involved in war and politics, it is absurd to blame them for human sins.”Death may not end Saturn’s public career. It has been reported that his carcass will be preserved and placed on exhibition at Moscow’s Charles Darwin Museum of Biology. read more