Here today, gone tomorrow – or is it tomato?
It's the end of an era in Pittsburgh, as the Steelers announced on Monday their longtime stadium will no longer be called Heinz Field.
The Steelers will now play in Acrisure Stadium after reaching a 15-year sponsorship deal with the financial tech company. Financial terms were not released.
"We are excited to partner with Acrisure for the naming rights to our stadium," Steelers President Art Rooney II said. "Acrisure provided us with an opportunity to ensure our stadium continues to be a valuable asset for our fans as well as keeping up with the market value of NFL stadiums."
The name change will take place immediately at the 68,400-seat venue, which had been known as Heinz Field since it opened in 2001.
In their 21 seasons since its opening, the Steelers have won two Super Bowls, 10 division titles and made the playoffs 14 times. In this span, only the New England Patriots (80.5) and Green Bay Packers (73.8) have achieved a higher home winning percentage than Pittsburgh's 72.8 (122-45-2).
Jack Wilshere has returned to former club Arsenal after being appointed their new under-18s head coach.
Ex-England international Wilshere announced his retirement at the age of 30 last week, having most recently played for Danish Superliga club AGF.
Wilshere graduated from Arsenal's academy and was regarded as one of the most promising players in world football at the time of his breakthrough.
He made his Premier League debut at the age of 16 years and 256 days in September 2008, which made him Arsenal's youngest league debutant.
Following an encouraging loan spell at Bolton Wanderers, Wilshere cemented his place in the Arsenal team during the 2010-11 campaign, making 35 top-flight appearances.
But the talented central midfielder went on to be plagued by injuries. After the 2010-11 season, he never managed to make more than 25 Premier League appearances in a single campaign again for the Gunners.
Stints with Bournemouth and West Ham followed, but again Wilshere struggled to stay fit, and he ultimately called it quits last week.
But having spent some time helping coach in the Arsenal academy while looking for a club last season, Wilshere has quickly set out on a new adventure by securing his first role in management back where it all began.
"It's a huge honour to have this role," he said. "It's no secret that I love this club. I love what we stand for and a big part of my life was spent in this academy, some of the best days of my life.
"This is a big opportunity for me, and I'm ready. I'm hungry and can't wait to help these young players thrive and be the best they can be on and off the pitch.
"It's a special feeling to be part of the Arsenal family. It never left me, and even though I moved on for a few years, my heart was always still at Arsenal.
"I can't wait to get started and help these young players thrive with a great team around me."
Elena-Gabriela Ruse was the only seeded player to fall in the opening round of the Hungarian Grand Prix on Monday, going down in three sets to Kamilla Rakhimova.
The seventh seed made numerous errors and was undone against Russia's world number 107 Rakhimova, who hit 23 winners en route to a 6-4 5-7 6-3 victory in Budapest.
Rakhimova will now face Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko, who beat Carolina Alves 6-4 6-1 to reach the last 16.
At the Ladies Open Lausanne, meanwhile, another seventh seed in Tamara Zidansek was eliminated at the first hurdle by Anna Kalinskaya with a 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 6-3 defeat.
Sara Sorribes Tormo, the only other seeded player in action on day one in Switzerland, had far less trouble in seeing off Lauren Davis 6-2 7-6 (7-1).
Chantel Malone, the best long jumper from the British Virgin Islands, will miss the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon because of a long-running knee injury.
Joe Sakic has been promoted to president of hockey operations by the Colorado Avalanche just over two weeks after he helped build the team that captured its first Stanley Cup since 2001.
The move was officially announced on Monday, along with assistant general manager Chris MacFarland moving into Sakic's former position as Avalanche GM.
Sakic had recently been awarded the 2021-22 Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award and became the first person in NHL history to win a Stanley Cup as a GM and a captain for the same organisation after leading the Avs to titles in 1996 and 2001.
The 53-year-old Sakic retired from playing in 2009, and had served as Colorado's executive vice president and GM for the past nine seasons.
Under his direction, Colorado vaulted from a last-place finish in the 2016-17 season to Stanley Cup champions in just five years, becoming the fifth team in the expansion era (1967-68) to accomplish such a turnaround.
With 56 victories in the regular season – 34 more than five seasons ago – the Avs established a franchise record for wins.
After recording 16 more playoff victories en route to raising the Cup, Colorado's 72 combined wins matched the NHL record set by the 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens and equalled by the 1983-84 Edmonton Oilers and 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings.
The 52-year-old MacFarland spent the last seven seasons as assistant GM for the Avs, and his name had been recently linked to other GM jobs with other franchises.
Sakic and MacFarland will turn their attention to constructing a roster this offseason in a bid to repeat as champions.
Everton have been charged by the Football Association (FA) for pitch invasions during their Premier League victory over Crystal Palace in May.
Frank Lampard's side recovered from two goals down to win 3-2 at Goodison Park and secure their top-flight status.
Home supporters encroached the pitch after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had completed the comeback and again when their survival was confirmed following the full-time whistle.
Palace boss Patrick Vieira was involved in an altercation with an Everton supporter during the second pitch invasion, but the FA and Merseyside Police took no further action.
The FA announced on Monday that Everton have been charged with two breaches of rule E20, which relates to fan behaviour and safety.
The statement added: "It is alleged that in the 84th minute and then following completion of the fixture, Everton FC failed to ensure that its spectators, and all persons purporting to be its supporters or followers, conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and refrained from using threatening and/or violent behaviour while encroaching onto the pitch area."
Everton have until July 18 to provide a response.
Injury has forced defending 400m champion out of the 2022 World Championships set to begin in Eugene, Oregon this coming weekend.
England will draft in the big-hitters from their in-form Test team as they look to bounce back from a T20I series defeat to India in their three-match ODI series.
Jos Buttler's first series as permanent white-ball captain following Eoin Morgan's retirement did not go to plan as India claimed a 2-1 win.
The hosts avoided a whitewash with victory in the third match at Trent Bridge, with Buttler having called on his side to be "braver" in the wake of defeats at the Ageas Bowl and Edgbaston.
Having more confidence over the course of a 50-over series should be easier for the reigning world champions with Test captain Ben Stokes and Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow – the latter pair each in remarkable form in the red-ball game – set to link up with the squad. Fast bowler Craig Overton is also due to come into the group.
"They're obviously world-class players," head coach Matthew Mott said ahead of the series opener at The Oval on Tuesday. "As a coach, it's a great opportunity to learn from probably some of the best players in this format of all time.
"They'll bring some energy into the group, and they're really excited to be there. I don't think they'll have to change a hell of a lot from the way they've been playing, but it's a slightly different format.
"They come in pretty hot, and we're straight into it: that's the modern game. We'll see how everyone pulls up."
India's main selection issue surrounds whether to pick Suryakumar Yadav, whose electric 117 in the third T20I proved in vain.
Suryakumar's century came in just 48 balls and, with an impressive average of 53.40 from seven ODIs, India may back him to carry that form into the 50-over game and pick him over Shreyas Iyer.
The tourists won the most recent ODI series between the teams back in March 2021; however, history is against them carrying on where they left off in a seven-run series-clinching victory in Pune and prevailing at The Oval.
Indeed, India have not won successive men's ODIs against England since January 2017, while Buttler's men head into the game trying to preserve an unbeaten run at The Oval that stretches back to 2015. New Zealand were the last team to beat England in ODI cricket at the south London venue.
Rohit and Kohli's contrasting form
India's captain Rohit Sharma clearly feels at home playing in England. He has seven centuries in 24 ODI innings in England, the most by any visiting player. The 1,335 runs he has scored in England have come at a gaudy average of 66.75.
By contrast, Virat Kohli remains in a substantial slump. He has gone 77 innings in international cricket without a century. Him breaking that streak would go a long way to helping India claim another white-ball series win.
Will Buttler get back to his best?
Buttler, the top scorer in this year's Indian Premier League, endured uncharacteristic struggles with the bat in the T20I series, scoring only 22 runs across three matches. However, he was in rude form in the recent ODI series with the Netherlands, the highlight of which was his incredible 162 in 70 deliveries.
England will look for him to return to that level against much tougher opposition, but even if he cannot do so at The Oval, England have insurance in the form of Root, the world's top Test batter who has 548 runs in 10 ODI innings at an average of 68.50 at the venue, and his fellow Yorkshireman Bairstow.
Bairstow posted scores of 94 and 124 in last year's series in India and should have no difficulty translating his scorching red-ball form to the white-ball game having scored four centuries in his past five Test innings through an extremely attacking approach.
Wales wing Alex Cuthbert has been ruled out of this weekend's series decider against South Africa with a shoulder injury.
The 32-year-old was forced off the field 17 minutes into the visitors' 13-12 victory in Bloemfontein on Saturday, which levelled the three-match series at 1-1.
Wales confirmed on Monday that Cuthbert will play no part in the third and final Test, with no replacement being called up.
Josh Adams, who replaced Cuthbert and scored Wales' late try, is now expected to start the crunch clash in Cape Town.
Captain Dan Biggar and prop Dillon Lewis suffered shoulder and arm injuries respectively in the second Test, but they have not yet been ruled out.
South Africa confirmed earlier on Monday that centre Andre Esterhuizen, who started for the much-changed hosts last time out, will play no part after breaking his hand.
Fulham have completed the signing of Andreas Pereira from Manchester United on a four-year contract.
The newly promoted team have reportedly paid £10million to sign the midfielder, who spent last season on loan at Flamengo.
Pereira played 75 times for United across all competitions, having started with club's youth system back in 2012.
The 26-year-old also had loan spells with Granada, Valencia and Lazio prior to his move to Brazil last season.
He will now look to help Fulham retain their Premier League status over the coming years.
After signing his deal, which contains the option for a further year, on Monday, Pereira said: "I'm very happy to be here and I can't wait to start the season with Fulham.
"I want to help Fulham as much as I can to be where they belong. Marco Silva was very important for this. I spoke a lot with him, and he was a key factor in me being here."
Pereira made 40 Premier League appearances across two seasons for United from 2018 to 2020, but then fell out of favour.
"Everyone at United would like to thank Andreas for his years of service and wish him all the best for the rest of his career," said the Old Trafford club in a statement confirming his exit.
The Belgian-born player has one international cap for Brazil, which he earned in 2018.
Pereira's arrival at Fulham follows their high-profile move to sign midfielder Joao Palhinha from Sporting CP, in a deal worth up to £20m.
Jamaica’s Women’s basketball team received a welcome cash boost on Saturday as they continue preparations for the Caribbean Basketball Championship set to tip off in Cuba on July 13.
Three St Lucia boxers preparing for the Commonwealth Games left the island recently for England for a training camp that is expected to get them in top shape for the Games.
Light middleweight Kyghan Mortley, middleweight Arthur Langellier and super heavyweight Leran Regis were accompanied by National Head Boxing Coach, Conrad Fredericks.
The trio, from the Vigie Boxing Gym, are the most senior and experienced boxers and are set to compete at the Games to be held in Birmingham, England, from July 28 – August 8.
Prior to their departure, the boxers and coach received a courtesy call at the gym by Minister for Youth Development and Sport, the Honourable Kenson Casimir, Resident British Commissioner Lesley M. Saunderson, Joyce Huxley, Chef de Mission for the 2022 Birmingham Games and Irwin Jean, Vice-President of the St. Lucia Boxing Association (SLBA).
Minister Casimir commended the boxers for their determination as they were able to continue their training through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also congratulated them for making the team to the Commonwealth Games, imploring them to make the most of the opportunity.
“I’m very proud of their level of preparation and where they are right now and, of course, Saint Lucia will be proud that they will give a good account of themselves,” the minister said.
“It really speaks volumes of their character and their love for country, so I just want to encourage them to do their best.”
The minister also praised the efforts of the St. Lucia Boxing Association in preparing the boxers for the Games, noting that not enough credit is given to administrators.
“We must really remedy it as a nation, not just as a Ministry. I think we need to continue to commend and encourage those who volunteer their time and energies. So hats off to the St. Lucia Boxing Association for getting them prepared,” he said.
Meanwhile, President of the St Lucia Boxing Association David Christopher said the boxers have been making good progress with their training in England.
“I think this is the best preparation any boxing team in the history of Saint Lucia has ever gotten,” Christopher said.
“They’re presently training at two gyms in England, including the Repton Gym, where they’re getting their required amount of sparring and strength and conditioning with a special coach. They’re getting pad work, working on their shape and balance, and nutrition.”
The boxers will leave their training camp on July 23 for Birmingham prior to the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.
Christopher thanked the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, National Lotteries Authority, and St. Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) Inc. for supporting the boxers’ training camp.
Suriname kept their slim hopes of claiming the gold medal in the 2021 Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association Junior Men (Under-21) Championship alive with a 3-0 (25-21, 25-23, 25-15) victory against host Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday at the Southern Regional Indoor Sports Arena.
With the straight-sets win, Suriname, seeking a first title at this level, improved their win-loss record to 2-1 and 11 points, the same as Jamaica (2-1) and two points behind unbeaten leaders Haiti (3-0) as the trio will enter the final day of the five-team round-robin series all in contention for their first title.
Hosts Trinidad and Tobago, who needed a win to keep alive their medal hopes dropped to a 1-2 record and three points, just ahead of winless US Virgin Islands, who completed their four-match campaign with two points.
Despite the loss, Trinidad and Tobago still has a slim chance at a medal but will need to pull off a shock win over title-favourites Haiti.
On, Monday, July 11, in the final round of matches, Jamaica meets Suriname at 10 am, and Haiti meets Trinidad and Tobago at 4 pm, at the end of which, the top team will be declared champions.
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