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Mbappé makes history to put PSG on brink of title

Published in Soccer
Wednesday, 24 April 2024 15:07

Kylian Mbappé scored twice to make more history with Paris Saint-Germain and put the club on the verge of a record-extending 12th Ligue 1 title, with a 4-1 away victory against second-from-bottom Lorient on Wednesday.

Luis Enrique's side will now seal the Ligue 1 crown if they beat Le Havre at home on Saturday after nearest-challengers Monaco delayed their title celebrations by defeating Lille later on Wednesday.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.)

Mbappé's brace took his tally for PSG to 254 goals in all competitions, breaking a tie with Roger Courtois for the most top flight goals with a single club in the history of French football. Courtois scored 253 in all competitions for Sochaux, according to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS).

Ousmane Dembélé also scored twice for PSG to put them on 69 points with four games left, with Monaco trailing by 11 points.

PSG were without the in-form Bradley Barcola, Marquinhos, Achraf Hakimi, Vitinha and Warren Zaire-Emery who were rested a week before the team's Champions League semifinal first leg against Borussia Dortmund.

The capital side went ahead on 19 minutes as Dembele beat two defenders before slotting the ball past Yvon Mvogo from just inside the box.

Three minutes later, Mbappé connected with a Nuno Mendes cross to double the advantage.

Dembélé then put the result beyond doubt on the hour mark when he tapped in from Mbappé's cross.

Mohamed Bamba reduced the arrears in the 73rd minute, but it was too little, too late for a team with 26 points from 30 games.

Mbappé added another one in the last minute with a right-footed effort to take his season tally in the top flight to 26.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.

Source: Xavi to remain Barça coach after U-turn

Published in Soccer
Wednesday, 24 April 2024 15:07

Xavi Hernández has agreed to remain as Barcelona coach until the end of his contract in 2025, a source confirmed to ESPN, reversing his decision to step down in the summer.

Xavi, 44, announced in January that he would walk away from the post at the end of the season following a string of bad results, saying that the job had also taken its toll on him mentally.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.)

However, following a meeting with president Joan Laporta on Wednesday, the former Spain international has decided to fulfil his contractual commitment with the Catalan club.

Xavi was appointed as Barça coach in 2021, leading them to their first league title in four years last season and signing a contract extension until June 30, 2025, with an option for an additional year, in September.

The team ran into difficulties in December and January, though, when they conceded four or more goals in defeats to Girona, Real Madrid, Athletic Club and Villarreal as they were eliminated from the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey.

That 5-3 loss to Villarreal in January led to Xavi's announcement that he would leave in the summer, but it also sparked a revival on the pitch.

Barça went 13 games unbeaten in all competitions, with Laporta, vice president Rafa Yuste and sporting director Deco all expressing their desire for Xavi to continue during that run.

That streak ended last week as Barça lost 4-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League to exit the competition at the quarterfinal stage, missing out on a first semifinal appearance since 2019.

They then lost El Clásico 3-2 to Real Madrid on Sunday, leaving them 11 points behind the leaders in LaLiga and effectively out of the title race with just six games to be played.

However, sources told ESPN that those results had not affected Barça's position on Xavi and that they still hoped he would reverse his decision.

In addition to the league title won and the faith placed in young players, such as Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, Barça's financial situation also played a role in their desire to keep Xavi.

Mexico international Rafa Márquez, currently in charge of the club's B team, and German coaches Hansi Flick and Thomas Tuchel were all on the short list to come in if a new coach was needed.

On Wednesday, though, the board convened to discuss the coaching situation and reaffirmed their preference for Xavi to continue, with a final agreement then reached later in the day when Xavi met with Laporta.

Everton stun Liverpool in Merseyside derby win

Published in Soccer
Wednesday, 24 April 2024 15:05

Everton's Jarrad Branthwaite and Dominic Calvert-Lewin scored in an impressive 2-0 home victory over Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday that could prove to be the death of the visitors' withering Premier League title hopes.

Everton's first derby victory at Goodison Park in more than 13 years prevented Liverpool from climbing level with Arsenal at the top of the league table. Jurgen Klopp's men are three points behind the Gunners (77) with four games to play.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Holders Manchester City remain in the driver's seat on 73 points with two games in hand. Everton's victory has them breathing easier, eight points above the relegation zone in 16th.

"Very disappointed in so many ways and I think everyone has to look in the mirror look at their own performances, did they give everything and do they really want to win the league?" Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk said.

"Obviously there are still games after tonight, but if we play like we did tonight, we have no chance to win the title. It's a tough one and obviously we have to do much better against a side that is playing against relegation."

Everton were sharper from the start and won a penalty when Calvert-Lewin was tripped by Liverpool keeper Alisson only for it to be overturned by the VAR for an offside.

Yet it wasn't long before Branthwaite had the old stadium shaking in the 27th minute when he capitalised on poor defending from Liverpool, slotting home from close range after the Reds missed several attempts to clear the ball.

Alisson could not quite get his hands on the ball which rolled off the post and in.

Branthwaite is the first Everton player to score against Liverpool since Demarai Gray in a 4-1 league home loss in late- 2021.

Calvert-Lewin leapt to head home from a corner kick to double the Toffees' lead in the 58th minute, and while Liverpool have mounted some masterful comebacks this season, Everton held strong to hand Klopp, who is leaving his role at the season's end, his first defeat at Goodison in his final derby.

"It's extra special, isn't it? Local derby -- I've been here long enough to know what it means to the fans, what it means to me," Calvert-Lewin told Sky Sports. "Where we are in the league, we needed a massive three points and everything kind of came together tonight."

Liverpool kept Everton keeper Jordan Pickford busy in the dying minutes as he leapt to bat Harvey Elliott's shot over the crossbar and then dived to save a shot from Reds talisman Mohamed Salah while Everton manager Sean Dyche looked at his watch in frustration, desperately wanting the final whistle to blow.

It was joyful bedlam when it finally did, with Everton's faithful serenading the team off the pitch.

"Great atmosphere, thoroughly deserved it, was a massive win. Hard work pays off," Pickford told Sky.

While Liverpool, who had 77% possession and seven shots on target to Everton's six, won the League Cup earlier this season, the Premier League is the final trophy up for grabs for the Reds after they were eliminated from the FA Cup and Europa League.

Thunder 292 for 5 (Mack 100, Morris 89) beat Sunrisers 150 (Grewcock 38, Cross 3-21, Ecclestone 3-40) by 142 runs

A century from Australian Katie Mack and a record-breaking partnership of 191 runs for the third wicket ensured Lancashire Thunder got off the mark in style with a commanding 142 run victory over Sunrisers at Emirates Old Trafford in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.
Thunder had lost their opening game in the competition by nine wickets to Northern Diamonds but there was no apparent hangover from that error-strewn performance with Mack and third-wicket partner Fi Morris, who hit 89, taking the hosts to a daunting total of 292 for 5 before Sunrisers were bundled out for just 150 in reply.

With Saturday's loss fresh in the memory, Thunder would have been forgiven for having a sense of déjà vu when opener Emma Lamb fell early, mistiming a pull shot to Maddy Villiers at midwicket off Kate Coppack for 5 and things got worse when Seren Smale missed a full, straight one from Jodi Grewcock to be bowled for 21 and leave the hosts 32 for 2.

But where that defeat saw Thunder fail to recover from the loss of early wickets, here they seemed galvanised by the challenge as Mack and Morris set about a stunning rebuilding project. Full of inventiveness, skill and some excellent running between the wickets, the partnership began with the duo never allowing Sunrisers' spinners to settle into any kind of rhythm.

While Mack's knock was full of ramps, sweeps and late cuts, Morris frequently walked down the pitch to meet the spinners' deliveries with the combination of finesse and power between the two working perfectly.

Mack reached her half-century off 67 balls with Morris passing hers off 66 as the pair's partnership went beyond 100 runs and into record-breaking territory.

Eventually Morris was dismissed by the returning Coppack who trapped her lbw for 89, but the damage was done and the stand was the second-highest for any wicket by any side in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

Mack deservedly reached her century soon after with a characteristic late cut to the boundary before she was stumped off Villiers for 100 - her fourth century in List A cricket.

The stage was set for Ellie Threlkeld and Sophie Ecclestone to have a swing and they extended the score to 285 before the England spinner was caught at long on for a breezy 24 which contained two sixes and helped Thunder reach their highest score in the competition as they closed on 292 for 5 with Threlkeld unbeaten on 26.
Faced with a hefty target and the returning Ecclestone and Kate Cross, the task always looked a daunting one for Sunrisers and it was Cross who immediately hit the mark producing five overs for just eight runs and the wicket of Ariana Dowse caught by Lamb at short midwicket for 10.

At the other end, Sunrisers skipper Grace Scrivens was stuck in an almighty rut and had reached just 9 off 46 balls when she skied one to bowler Hannah Jones to make it 36 for 2 which became 36 for 3 after Cordelia Griffith departed for 11 after another caught and bowled for Ecclestone.

The longed-for partnership just would not materialise for the visitors with Mady Villiers and Amara Carr falling to Morris and Ecclestone as the run rate continued to climb.

The one bright spot for Sunrisers was Grewcock who stood firm in reaching 38 as she and Florence Miller compiled 50 runs for the sixth wicket before the former was bowled by Jones and the latter edged Phobe Graham behind for 19.

Ecclestone picked up her third when Nicola Hancock was caught on the boundary by Norris for 15 and her England teammate Cross made quick work of the rest of the tail in dismissing Joanne Gardner for six and Coppack without scoring to end with 3 for 21 off 8.1 overs as Sunrisers failed to score a run off the bat off the last 30 balls of the innings.

Hollie Armitage hundred rescues Diamonds, sees off Storm

Published in Cricket
Wednesday, 24 April 2024 10:18

Northern Diamonds 275 for 9 (Armitage 103, Glen 53*, Wellington 3-30) beat Western Storm 265 (Glen 3-42, P Turner 3-46) by 10 runs

A fabulous 103 from new England star Hollie Armitage led Northern Diamonds to a come-from-behind 10-run victory over Western Storm in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy at Headingley.

Inserted, the Diamonds slipped to 89 for 5 in the 21st over before captain Armitage led the fightback to 275 for 9 during her 114-ball innings with 13 fours.

Allrounder Abi Glen also crashed a late 53 not out off 46 - her maiden regional fifty - during the first half of an engaging contest and later claimed three wickets with her seamers.
Dani Gibson struck twice with the new ball and finished with 3 for 44 for Storm. But it was Armitage who won the battle of the England team-mates, leading her side to a second successive victory after Saturday's win over Thunder.
In reply, Storm were well placed at 127 for 2 in the 23rd over, only to fall to 265 all out in the last over when they needed 12 to win. Armitage will take the headlines, but Phoebe Turner also impressed with three wickets following 32 with the bat.

Storm suffered a heavy opening day defeat, by eight wickets against Sunrisers when they were bowled out for 114. So this performance was much improved.

Storm made an eye-catching start, led by Gibson's dismissals of openers Sterre Kalis and Lauren Winfield-Hill. Both had stumps uprooted as the hosts fell to 50 for 2 after 10 overs.

Spinners Sophia Smale and Amanda-Jade Wellington claimed three wickets like Gibson, but it was Australian overseas legspinner Wellington who was the pick of the Storm attack with 3 for 30 from 10 overs bowled on the reel through the middle of the innings.

She had Bess Heath caught at point, fellow Aussie overseas Burns bowled trying to cut a ball too close to her and Leah Dobson caught brilliantly by a diving Niamh Holland coming in from deep midwicket.

That left the Diamonds five down and still short of 100. But Armitage was outstanding.

Last month, the 26-year-old made her senior England debut as a concussion substitute in a T20I against New Zealand in Nelson. Western Storm's Gibson was in the same team.

Armitage, who has scored two of her three regional centuries against the Storm, pulled with authority and drove with grace, supported well by Phoebe Turner's 32 and Glen's late fifty.

She shared half-century stands with both for the sixth and eighth wickets, whilst reaching her century off 112 balls. She was caught at long-on two balls later off Smale as the innings drew to a close.

Glen hit three fours off Lauren Filer in the innings' last over, which went for 15. But the damage had already been done.

Storm did, however, start their chase of 276 positively. Openers Smale and Alex Griffiths shared 59 inside 13 overs before the latter pulled Phoebe Turner out to deep midwicket to fall for 26.

Turner then bowled Smale for 35, only for Fran Wilson and captain Sophie Luff to steady once more. They shared 47 and were well set at the crease when the off-spin of Aussie Erin Burns was introduced into the attack.

And after eight balls, she had bowled both Wilson for 32 and Gibson for 5, leaving the score at 140 for 4 in the 25th over.

When legspinner Katie Levick had Luff caught at mid-off for 25 shortly afterwards, Storm were 160 for 5 in the 30th having lost three wickets for 33.

Natasha Wraith kept hopes alive with 27, only to be bowled by Phoebe Turner - one of two Turners in the Diamonds team along with Sophia. At 192 for 6 in the 38th, it felt like the decisive moment. So it proved.

Wellington hit an aggressive 28 and Niamh Holland a laboured 29, and both were bowled by Glen and Sophia Turner before the former bowled Mollie Robbins. The Storm then needed 12 off the last with one wicket remaining. But Glen had Filer stumped to seal the win.

How can RCB make the top four?
For a moment, however unlikely it might seem, let's assume that RCB win each of their remaining six matches, starting with the one against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday. They will then finish on 14 points. Then, if other results go their way, they could finish in the top four without going into an NRR scenario.

The best-case scenario for RCB will be if the top two or three teams run away with plenty of wins, leaving the rest of the teams fighting for the crumbs. Given the current IPL 2024 standings, it's most likely that those teams will be Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers.

If we assume that Royals will win four of their remaining six, and KKR and Sunrisers five of their remaining seven, then they will finish on 22, 20 and 20 points respectively. In that case, it is possible that RCB, with 14 points, will finish fourth with the other teams on 12 or fewer points.

Can RCB even make it to No. 3?
Since you - RCB fan - are being rather greedy, let's see.

Let's assume Sunrisers and KKR both suffer a sudden, and acute, slump in form and finish on 12 points - so just one win in the remaining seven matches. Let's also assume that one of the other teams, say Lucknow Super Giants, strike a purple patch and win five of their last six. Then LSG will get to 20, and finish in the top two along with Royals. RCB will then finish third on 14 points, with six teams tied on 12. That scenario is also possible if one of KKR and Sunrisers finish in the top two.

So RCB can make it - mathematically - even if they lose to Sunrisers
Yes. With 12 points - the maximum they can get then - they will still be in contention. In a bizarre points-distribution scenario, it's possible for eight teams to finish on 12 points, fighting for two spots.

However, for any of these scenarios to work for RCB, they will have to start winning, and keep winning, ideally by sizeable margins.

England's selectors face a difficult call over the potential inclusion of Jamie Overton in their T20 World Cup squad after an inconclusive scan left the Surrey allrounder unclear as to the extent of a recent back injury.
ESPNcricinfo revealed this month that Overton was in line for a maiden T20I call-up after making significant strides as a short-format allrounder. Rob Key, England's managing director, has been monitoring his progress since his return from injury last summer and Overton said he felt "close" to selection even before Ben Stokes' withdrawal.

But he was ruled out of Surrey's County Championship fixture against Kent last week with a back issue, and will not feature against Hampshire this week after initial scans returned unclear results. He is due for another scan in two weeks' time after a short period of rest, by which time England will have named their provisional squad to meet the ICC's May 1 deadline.

England's selection panel - which Key chairs - will meet in the next few days to finalise their 15-man squad, which is likely to double-up as the group that faces Pakistan in four T20Is from May 22-30. There are a few details to iron out, with Ben Duckett in contention to be the spare batter and Tom Hartley likely to get the nod as second spinner ahead of Rehan Ahmed.
Jofra Archer is set to be named in the provisional squad and given the chance to prove his fitness against Pakistan, over a year after his most recent international appearance. The uncertainty over Overton's injury may also open the door for Chris Jordan to be recalled. Jordan was left out of the squad that lost 3-2 to West Indies in December but has been a consistent six-hitter in the last 12 months.

The identity of England's wicketkeeper will also be up for discussion, with the ICC's new stop-clock and fielding penalties for slow over-rates making it more challenging for Buttler to captain the side while also keeping wicket. Phil Salt took the gloves in the final two T20Is of England's Caribbean tour in December, while Jonny Bairstow is the other alternative.

The ECB has not yet indicated publicly whether it will allow England players to stay at the IPL for the knockout stages if their franchises qualify, which would rule them out of the first two Pakistan T20Is. Buttler, who has recently scored two unbeaten hundreds for table-topping Rajasthan Royals, is likely to miss the start of the Pakistan series regardless while on paternity leave.

England are expected to name their squad on Tuesday morning. They will have until May 25 - the day of the second T20I against Pakistan - to make changes but will be keen to avoid a repeat of the debacle last year that ensued when Harry Brook was drafted into their 50-over World Cup squad at late notice after his initial omission.

Delhi Capitals 224 for 4 (Pant 88*, Axar 66, Warrier 3-15) beat Gujarat Titans 220 for 8 (Sai Sudharsan 65, Miller 55, Saha 39, Salam 3-44, Kuldeep 2-29) by four runs

In a thrilling IPL 2024 finish, Rashid Khan nearly took Gujarat Titans home in pursuit of 225 against Delhi Capitals. But Mukesh Kumar held his nerve to defend 19 off the last over as DC completed a thrilling four-run victory.
For Rashid to have a shot at chasing down the tall target, GT had B Sai Sudharsan (65 in 39 balls) and David Miller (55 in 23) to thank. They kept GT within touching distance of the climbing required run-rate, and for a brief moment in the end, it felt like they had timed their chase perfectly. However, it wasn't to be, and GT went down to DC for the second time in seven days.
DC themselves had to climb out of a hole to post 224 for 4 after being asked to bat first. Sandeep Warrier's 3 for 15 in the powerplay had left them struggling at 44 for 3, but Rishabh Pant's masterful 43-ball 88 and Axar Patel's 66 in 43 from No. 3 resurrected their innings. Axar then took three catches and a wicket, and also ably supported Kuldeep Yadav (2 for 29) with the ball to ensure DC did just about enough on the night.

Sudharsan and Miller make it a contest

Shubman Gill fell early to Anrich Nortje, for the fourth time in seven innings, but that did not slow GT down. Wriddhiman Saha struck 30 in his first 12 balls by expertly clearing the infield, while Sudharsan made full use of an early reprieve off Rasikh Salam's bowling to race off the blocks. They did not let Nortje or Khaleel Ahmed settle in and collected 67 in the powerplay.

But the spinners then bogged Saha down, and Kuldeep dismissed him for 35 in 29 balls. Sudharsan, though dominated through the middle overs, hitting both seamers and spinners through the off side with cuts both in front and behind square. He also came down the pitch on occasion before falling to Salam in an attempt to clear long-off.

With Azmatullah Omarzai, Shahrukh Khan and Rahul Tewatia all falling for single-digit scores around Sudharsan's dismissal, GT appeared to have lost steam, needing 73 in 24 balls. However, Miller mauled Nortje for three sixes and a four in a 24-run 17th over to give them hope, completing his own half-century off 21 balls along the way.

But Mukesh Kumar dismissed Miller in the 18th over and, at the time, it seemed like DC had done enough. But Salam leaked 18 runs in the 19th over to make it a shootout between Rashid and Mukesh in the last over.

Mukesh conceded two fours off the first two balls and then another six off the penultimate delivery but held his nerve to get the last ball to land so full that Rashid could not find the elevation he needed.

Titans' spinners neutralised

After Warrier's three-wicket burst had given GT the early advantage, the expectation was that Rashid, Noor Ahmad and R Sai Kishore would strangle DC through the middle overs. But Axar and Pant kept all three at bay with different strategies.

Against Rashid, they only attacked the loose balls, half-trackers or wide deliveries, and eked out 37 runs off him in four wicketless overs. Against Noor, they attacked to leave him with an economy of 12 in three overs.

Such was Pant and Axar's domination in their 113-run stand that Gill did not go to Sai Kishore - their Player of the Match from the last outing - till the 19th over, fearing the match-up of two left-hand batters against a left-arm spinner. When Sai Kishore did come to bowl in the penultimate over of the innings, against right-hand batter Tristan Stubbs following the dismissal of Axar, he was hammered for six, four, six and four in a 22-run over.

Gill then went with the experienced Mohit Sharma instead of Warrier for the 20th, and Pant owned that match-up. When Mohit went full and wide, Pant slapped him over the off side. When Mohit went short or slow, Pant hung back and deposited him over the leg side. And when Mohit missed his yorker, Pant sent him over midwicket. Pant got to 88 after helping DC score 31 in the final over, and his assault left Mohit with the worst bowling figures in IPL history - 0 for 73 - and GT needing 225 to win.

Axar's many contributions

With David Warner sitting out, and DC not keen Pant to bat too early, they pushed Axar as the left-hand batter to bat in the top three. He struck Rashid for slog sweeps over the leg side initially before hitting both him and Noor through the covers off short balls.

Part-timer Shahrukh also faced the same fate before Axar reached his fifty with a boundary off Rashid in the 15th over. He was the majority contributor in the 68-ball 113-run stand with Pant, and it was only in his pursuit of a third six in a row against Noor in the 17th over that he fell on the boundary line, but by then his 66 was already his highest IPL score.

Axar was then a livewire in the field, first back-pedalling at mid-off in the second over to hold on to a catch to dismiss Gill. He was in action again when Saha tried to cut Kuldeep over cover, jumping high and sticking his hands out to pluck the catch. Then, after dropping Sudharsan early in the powerplay, Axar got a chance at redemption by being at long-off late in the chase to take a tricky one.

With the ball, Axar conceded only two fours and a six in his three overs. Neither Saha nor Miller, both in great touch otherwise, failed to put him away in his spell, and it was only Sudharsan's three boundary shots that made him concede 28 in three overs. Axar also dismissed Omarzai in the 11th over, but it was not enough to claim the Player-of-the-Match award, with that one going to his captain instead.

Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx

Bears unveil $5B proposal for new dome stadium

Published in Breaking News
Wednesday, 24 April 2024 15:47

CHICAGO -- The Bears unveiled a nearly $5 billion proposal Wednesday for an enclosed stadium next door to their current home at Soldier Field as part of a major project that would transform the city's lakefront, and they are asking for public funding to help make it happen.

The plan calls for $3.2 billion for the new stadium plus an additional $1.5 billion in infrastructure. The team and the city said the project would add green and open space while improving access to the city's Museum Campus and could also include a publicly owned hotel.

"This is not an easy project, but Chicago doesn't like it easy," Bears president Kevin Warren said.

The announcement at Soldier Field comes during a busy week for the Bears. They are expected to take 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the draft Thursday night and bank on the USC quarterback to solidify a position that has long been a sore spot for the founding NFL franchise.

The team said last month that it was prepared to provide more than $2 billion in funding toward a publicly owned stadium in the city.

The proposal calls for $2.025 billion from the Bears, $300 million from an NFL loan and $900 million in bonds from the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. The funding from the ISFA would involve extending bonds of the existing 2% hotel tax.

The Bears said the project would generate $8 billion in economic impact for the region. It would be built in three phases, and construction would take up to five years. The new stadium would be constructed on a parking lot just south of Soldier Field, the Bears' home since 1971. The team's lease at the 100-year-old stadium runs through 2033.

Mayor Brandon Johnson gave a full-throated endorsement, saying the project is in line with Daniel Burnham's "Plan of Chicago." He said there would be no tax hikes or new taxes for Chicago residents.

Renderings show the Bears' stadium would have a translucent roof and massive glass panels that would bring in sunlight and allow for views of Chicago's famed skyline. The plan is to host major concerts throughout the year as well as Super Bowls, Final Fours and Big Ten championship games.

Although Soldier Field's famed colonnades would be preserved, the spaceship-like stadium that was installed in the renovation two decades ago would be torn out and replaced by playing fields and park space. The plan calls for a pedestrian mall, food and beverage options, a promenade, and a plaza.

"My administration insisted that any new project -- especially one on public land -- must deliver strong public benefit and public use for the City of Chicago, and I am pleased today that this plan does exactly that," Johnson said.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, however, said he wasn't on board.

"I remain skeptical about this proposal, and I wonder whether it's a good deal for the taxpayers," Pritzker told reporters Wednesday at an unrelated news conference. "I'm not sure this is among the highest priorities for taxpayers."

Johnson, however, said that the financing for the project will not implement "any new taxes on the residents of the city of Chicago."

Illinois' top legislative leaders were also doubtful.

"If we were to put this issue on the board for a vote right now, it would fail and it would fail miserably," Illinois House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch said at an unrelated news conference. "There is no environment for something like this today."

However, he added that the environment in Springfield does change.

The proposal comes as two other Chicago sports teams, the White Sox and Red Stars, have expressed interest in public funding for new stadiums.

Warren, who replaced the retired Ted Phillips a year ago, played a big role in the construction of U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis through a public-private partnership when he worked in the Minnesota Vikings' front office from 2005 to 2019.

The Bears spent $197.2 million over a year ago to purchase the site of the shuttered Arlington International Racecourse from Churchill Downs Inc. They envisioned building a stadium on the 326-acre tract of land some 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field, with restaurants, retail and more on the property -- all for about $5 billion, with some taxpayer help.

The Bears had said they would pay for the stadium in Arlington Heights, with taxpayer dollars covering infrastructure costs such as roads and sewers. Those plans stalled, with the team citing a property assessment it said was too high.

By staying in Chicago, the Bears would remain tenants rather than owning a stadium in Arlington Heights. But Warren said he sees it as more of a partnership with the city rather than a landlord-tenant relationship.

"I believe in Mayor Johnson," Warren said. "I believe in his staff, his vision; I believe in this city. I don't look at it as being a renter. I look at it as being able to develop a relationship, to be able to come together. People asked that same question in Minnesota: Why would you want to be a renter?"

ESPN's Courtney Cronin and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Bateman gets extension, makes Ravens history

Published in Breaking News
Wednesday, 24 April 2024 15:47

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Wide receiver Rashod Bateman is staying in Baltimore, after all.

Bateman reached a two-year extension with the Ravens on Wednesday, which keeps the former first round pick in Baltimore through the 2026 season, the team announced. This surprising move was made eight days before the Ravens had to make a decision on whether to exercise Bateman's fifth-year option.

There had been speculation that Baltimore might trade Bateman during the draft like the Ravens did with wide receiver Marquise Brown two years ago. Instead, Bateman made team history, becoming the Ravens' first first-round wide receiver to sign a second contract with Baltimore.

"Congratulations to 'Bate' and his family," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said in a statement. "This is a good day for the Ravens."

Bateman, 24, has had a challenging start to his career since being the No. 27 overall pick of the 2021 draft. In three seasons, he's totaled 93 catches and four touchdowns.

It was only 13 months ago when Bateman called out DeCosta on social media for the GM's comment about the team's disappointing track record for drafting pass-catchers.

In a deleted post, Bateman wrote: "How bout you play to your player's strength and stop pointing the finger at us and #8 [Lamar Jackson]." Bateman later said he spoke to DeCosta, saying, "now we're best friends."

Bateman's first two seasons were derailed by injuries. Bateman missed the first six games of his rookie season after undergoing hernia surgery and was then sidelined for the final nine games of his second season after having foot surgery.

Last season, in his first full season, Bateman didn't appear to be on the same page as quarterback Lamar Jackson at times and finished with 32 receptions for 367 yards and one touchdown. At the NFL combine last month, Ravens coach John Harbaugh predicted Bateman would take "a big step" in 2024.

"Rashod is going to get opportunities this year," Harbaugh said in March. "He ran routes really well. He worked super hard. He was healthy for the first time -- even as the year went on, he got healthier, and you could see it in his play. The ball got to him, [and] when it did, he made some great plays. The ball is going to get to him a lot more next year. He's going to be ready to go."

Bateman is projected to be the Ravens' No. 2 wide receiver behind Zay Flowers. Baltimore's other wide receivers are Nelson Agholor, Tylan Wallace, Deonte Harty and Sean Ryan.

Soccer

Tebas: LaLiga could play in U.S. as soon as '25

Tebas: LaLiga could play in U.S. as soon as '25

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLaLiga president Javier Tebas said the Spanish league is hopeful of...

Fernandes magic saves Man Utd in comeback win

Fernandes magic saves Man Utd in comeback win

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes came to his side's rescue with two goals in a 4-2 home vic...

Mbappé makes history to put PSG on brink of title

Mbappé makes history to put PSG on brink of title

Kylian Mbappé scored twice to make more history with Paris Saint-Germain and put the club on the ver...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Nets' Fernandez: Retaining Claxton a 'priority'

Nets' Fernandez: Retaining Claxton a 'priority'

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- New Brooklyn Nets coach Jordi Fernandez wasted no time...

The biggest storylines coming into two massive Game 2s

The biggest storylines coming into two massive Game 2s

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder, the two 1-seeds in th...

Baseball

Jays place Kiermaier (hip) on IL, call up Barger

Jays place Kiermaier (hip) on IL, call up Barger

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Toronto Blue Jays placed outfielder Kevin Kiermaier on the 10-d...

Giants' Snell scratched from start, placed on IL

Giants' Snell scratched from start, placed on IL

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe San Francisco Giants scratched left-hander Blake Snell from his...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

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