Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is confident CeeDee Lamb will be back for the opening game of the NFL season.

Lamb is currently in the middle of a contract dispute and, as such, a three-week holdout as he waits to negotiate an extension to his current deal.

The wide receiver missed their opening pre-season game against the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday, and after skipping the Cowboys' mandatory minicamp in June along with training camp, he has totalled more than $1million in fines.

And despite negotiations over a new deal still going on, Parsons is confident Lamb will be back on the field for their opener against the Cleveland Browns on September 8.

"We have our talks, but at the end of the day, me and CeeDee and all of us, we kind of know what it is," Parsons said.

"CeeDee is a part of the brotherhood whether he likes it or not. He knows he's not going nowhere.

"The business side, they going to take care of him. But obviously, we miss him. I mean, he's one of the best people you can have in a locker room, and I'm pretty sure he'll be here soon, because no doubt about it, Week 1, he will be suited up for the Dallas Cowboys."

Last week, owner and general manager Jerry Jones said there was no urgency to get Lamb's deal done, though he backtracked slightly on Sunday, saying "CeeDee is missed".

The 25-year-old was unlikely to play in the pre-season games anyway, but he has missed valuable practice time as the team gears up for the start of the new season.

However, coach Mike McCarthy says he will be smart about reintegrating Lamb into the side whenever he returns.

"You just make time to get done what you need to get done, that's how I look at CeeDee when he gets here," McCarthy said.

"We know CeeDee is always going to be in great shape and so forth. Yeah, we'll make the time, and we'll be smart about it, too, because we got to make sure we have a sound plan and once he does get back here."

The 2024 Paris Olympics marked a historic moment for the English-speaking Caribbean, with athletes from the region delivering extraordinary performances that etched their names into Olympic history. This edition of the Games was particularly significant for several Caribbean nations, as they celebrated groundbreaking victories and shattered longstanding records, further solidifying the region's presence on the global stage.

St Lucia experienced a moment of immense national pride, as the island nation secured its first-ever Olympic medals in spectacular fashion. Julien Alfred became a household name after she clinched gold in the women’s 100m, blazing across the finish line in a remarkable 10.72 seconds, breaking her own national record and earning St Lucia its first Olympic gold. Alfred’s incredible speed nearly led her to a double triumph, but she settled for silver in the women’s 200m, clocking a commendable 22.08 seconds. These achievements not only catapulted Alfred into the spotlight but also marked a historic milestone for St Lucia, a small island nation now basking in the glory of its Olympic success.

Dominica also had its first taste of Olympic victory, thanks to the outstanding performance of Thea LaFond. Competing in the women’s triple jump, LaFond delivered a stunning leap of 15.02m, breaking the national record and securing Dominica’s first-ever Olympic gold medal. LaFond’s triumph in Paris resonated deeply within the nation, bringing joy and pride to Dominicans worldwide.

Grenada, a nation with a rich Olympic history, added to its growing medal tally with two more bronze medals. Anderson Peters, a seasoned javelin thrower, once again demonstrated his prowess by securing bronze in the men’s javelin throw with an impressive distance of 88.54m. Lindon Victor further bolstered Grenada’s standing with a hard-fought bronze in the men’s decathlon, excelling across 10 grueling events to earn his place on the podium.

It was the first time that the Spice Island had won multiple medals at the same Olympic Games. These achievements continued Grenada’s tradition of Olympic success, adding new chapters to the island’s storied athletic history.

Jamaica, a nation synonymous with sprinting dominance, experienced a shift in its Olympic narrative at the 2024 Games, with the majority of its six medals coming from field events. Roje Stona led the charge, breaking the Olympic record in the men’s discus throw with a colossal throw of 70.00m, securing Jamaica’s first and only gold medal of the Games. Wayne Pinnock contributed to the island’s medal haul with a silver in the men’s long jump, leaping an impressive 8.36m. Rajindra Campbell added to the field event success with a bronze in the men’s shot put, delivering a powerful throw of 22.15m.

Shanieka Ricketts also created history when she won the silver medal in the triple jump, securing Jamaica’s first ever medal in the field at an Olympic Games.

In addition to their field event successes, Jamaica’s sprinters also made their mark. Kishane Thompson, a rising star in the sprinting world, claimed silver in the men’s 100m with a blistering time of 9.79 seconds, a result determined by a photo finish that showcased the razor-thin margins of victory at the highest level.

 Rasheed Broadbell added to Jamaica’s sprinting legacy by earning a bronze in the 110m hurdles, clocking a season-best 13.09 seconds in another photo finish that highlighted the intense competition in Paris.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will be remembered as a landmark event for the Caribbean, where athletes from St Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, and Jamaica not only created history but also underscored the region’s growing influence in global athletics. These remarkable performances brought immense pride to their nations and showcased the Caribbean’s burgeoning talent and determination on the world stage. As the athletes returned home, they carried with them not just medals, but also the hopes and dreams of their countries, inspiring future generations to strive for greatness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jose Mourinho recited his famous "if I speak" one-liner following Fenerbahce's late exit from the Champions League to Lille on Tuesday. 

Mourinho's side looked on course to take the tie to penalties after Bafode Diakite's late own-goal levelled the aggregate scores in Istanbul. 

But there was to be more drama as Jonathan David's long-range shot struck Jayden Oosterwolde's outstretched arm, with a penalty given after a VAR review. 

David would step up to score from 12 yards in the 118th-minute, meaning the Turkish side will play in the Europa League next season as Mourinho faces a possible reunion with Manchester United or Tottenham. 

In his post-match assessment, Mourinho repeated his iconic remark that was first said during his time in charge of Chelsea. 

The comments came after Chelsea's 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in the 2013-14 season, an encounter that saw Ramires, Willian and Mourinho himself sent off by Chris Foy.

He then re-used the line as he seemed to disagree with the penalty that was awarded to Lille in the closing stages of the encounter at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium. 

"We can do very well in the Europa League, but if... I prefer not to continue with this sentence," Mourinho said.

"Because if I say it, I will get into trouble. It's better not to talk about the penalty. When I look at other incidents that have happened to me recently.

"Only the referee knows why it was a penalty, only the VAR knows. I'm proud of my team."

Naomi Osaka said she still does not feel like herself eight months into her comeback season following her latest defeat at the Cincinnati Open. 

Osaka was beaten in three sets by Ashlyn Krueger in the second round of qualifying for the event ahead of the final grand slam of the year at the US Open. 

The former world number one also lost in her first match of the Paris Olympics to Angelique Kerber and was beaten in the last 32 of the Canadian Open last week. 

Osaka was left puzzled by her lack of accuracy and power in her most recent loss, explaining her current form is having an affect on her mentally. 

"My biggest issue currently isn't losses though, my biggest issue is that I don't feel like I'm in my body," Osaka wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.

"It's a strange feeling, missing balls I shouldn't miss, hitting balls softer than I remember I used to.

"I try to tell myself, 'It's fine you're doing great. Just get through this one and keep pushing', mentally it's really draining through.

"Internally, I hear myself screaming, 'What the hell is happening?!?!'"

Osaka returned to action in January after a 15-month break during which she gave birth to her daughter. 

The Japanese is now ranked 90th in the WTA rankings, with her best finishes coming in Doha and 's-Hertogenbosch where she reached the quarter-finals in both. 

"I've played a handful of matches this year that I felt like I was myself and I know this moment is probably just a small phase from all the new transitions (clay, grass, clay, hard), however the only feeling I could liken how I feel right now to is being post-partum," Osaka said.

"That scares me because I've been playing tennis since I was three, the racket should feel like an extension of my hand."

Osaka's next event will be at Flushing Meadows, a stadium where she triumphed in 2018 and 2020, but added she did not understand why everything about her game felt brand new again. 

"This should be as simple as breathing to me, but it's not," she added. "I genuinely did not give myself grace for that fact until just now."

Carlos Alcaraz said he will remember this summer "for the rest of his life" despite his defeat to Novak Djokovic at the Paris Olympics. 

Alcaraz, who has already won two grand slams at the French Open and Wimbledon this year, finished with a silver medal at the Games earlier this month. 

The Spaniard will take part in this week's Cincinnati Open where he will face either Gael Monfils or recent Canadian Open winner Alexei Popyrin in the second round. 

Alcaraz has the opportunity to claim a second US Open title in two weeks time, but had the chance to reflect on an incredible few months ahead of his first match in Ohio. 

“It has been some incredible months in my life and career after winning Roland-Garros, a tournament that I was very excited to win, and of course Wimbledon, which is wonderful to be able to win it,” Alcaraz told the ATP Tour.

“Also, one of my dreams was to win an Olympic medal. I have enjoyed a lot these last few months. They were incredible and I enjoyed it a lot.

“I am also very happy with my tennis and the way I handled different situations. I think I have improved a lot as a player, so I am very happy.

“Of course, in tennis the season is not over, and we have to carry on pushing our best in each tournament but, of course, I will remember these months [for] the rest of my life.”

Alcaraz also partnered up with fellow compatriot Rafael Nadal in the men's doubles at Roland-Garros during the Olympics in the French capital. 

The Spanish pair, dubbed 'Nadalcaraz' at the Games, lost in the quarter-finals to America's fourth-seeded duo Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in straight sets. 

And while his journey with the 22-time grand slam champion fell short of a medal, Alcaraz said it was a dream come true to play alongside one of his sporting heroes. 

“It was a great experience, talking with Rafa off the court, knowing each other much better off the court. It was a great experience, obviously, playing doubles together," Alcaraz said.

“It was something that I will never forget, for sure. I learned a lot talking to him on court, off the court as well.

“I think we played great tennis in doubles, even if we are not used to playing doubles very often.

“A little bit disappointing at the end, because we thought that we could do it better, but in general, we were happy.

“Obviously talking about myself, I reached my dream, my dream came true, playing doubles alongside Rafa.”

Juan Soto hit three home runs in a game for the first time in his career, Nestor Cortes spun seven shutout innings and the New York Yankees bounced back from an embarrassing loss to beat the Chicago White Sox 4-1 on Tuesday.

A night after the White Sox beat the Yankees 12-2, Soto’s two-run shot in the third gave New York the lead. He followed with solo homers in the fifth and seventh innings to extend the lead to 4-0.

Soto had 22 multi-homer games in his career entering Tuesday but had never before gone deep three times in a game. He finished 3 for 4 with a walk.

Cortes had one of the best outings of his season, allowing just three hits in seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts and no walks. The left-hander is 2-1 in his last three starts after going 0-4 over his previous six outings.

Aaron Judge reached base four times but did not leave the yard as his career home run total stayed at 299.

The Yankees (71-50) pulled into the AL East lead with the win after the Baltimore Orioles (70-50) lost to the Washington Nationals.

Luis Robert Jr. provided Chicago’s only run with an RBI single in the eighth.

 

Ohtani hits NL-leading 37th HR in win over Brewers

Shohei Ohtani extended his National League home run lead with his 37th blast of the season, and the Los Angeles Dodgers won a matchup of division leaders, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2.

Ohtani’s solo shot with two outs in the third inning expanded his lead for the NL home run crown over the Atlanta Braves’ Marcell Ozuna (35).

Gavin Lux and Andy Pages each hit two-run homers, and Will Smith added a solo shot as the Dodgers tied the Cleveland Guardians for the best record in baseball at 71-49.

Los Angeles rookie Gavin Stone got his 10th win of the season, allowing three hits and one run over five innings. Landon Knack pitched the final four innings for the Dodgers and was credited with a save.

The Brewers dropped their third straight game but still lead the NL Central by 7 ½ games over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Down 2-0, Milwaukee’s William Contreras went deep off Stone in the third inning to cut the Dodgers’ lead in half, but Los Angeles responded with a five-run fourth to blow the game open.

 

Skubal first to 14 wins as Tigers roll

Tarik Skubal became the first pitcher in the majors to 14 wins this season, Kerry Carpenter hit two of his team’s five home runs and the Detroit Tigers routed the Seattle Mariners 15-1.

Skubal allowed a run and three hits in six innings with nine strikeouts as he added to his breakout season and built on his case for the AL Cy Young.

The left-hander’s ERA dropped to 2.53 and separated himself from four other pitchers who have 13 wins. The Kansas City Royals’ Seth Lugo is among MLB’s 13-game winners but allowed eight runs and took a loss Tuesday.

Carpenter had the fourth multi-homer game of his career after taking George Kirby deep in back-to-back innings.

Gio Urshela, Javier Baez and Jake Rogers also went deep for Detroit. Rogers hit a grand slam in the fourth inning and had a career-high seven RBIs.

The Mariners’ loss ended their four-game winning streak and dropped them to two games back of an AL wild card spot.

Chris Wilder says he was pleased with Sheffield United's "attitude to adversity" after they came from behind to beat Wrexham 4-2 in the EFL Cup first round on Tuesday.

William Boyle gave the Red Dragons the lead just before the half-hour mark, but the Blades were back on level terms six minutes later thanks to Auston Trusty's equaliser.

Lewis Brunt's own goal, coupled with strikes from Louis Marsh and Anis Ben Slimane put United in a commanding position with five minutes remaining, meaning Sebastian Revan’s late goal was nothing more than a consolation.

Despite going behind, United were the dominant side, having 20 shots, eight of which were on target, as they inflicted a third-straight EFL Cup defeat on Wrexham.

And Wilder, who made 11 changes from their Championship opener against Preston North End last Friday, was particularly pleased with how his youthful side responded to the early setbacks.

"I liked the attitude to adversity in terms of losing a player early on [Femi Seriki went off injured] and missing a few chances early on and going a goal behind," Wilder said after the game.

"I thought we kept our shape and controlled the game. We had to be patient, and we kept that discipline, didn't force it, and I'm delighted we took our chances in the second half.

"[Resilience is] what we need. It's not going to be a straight-forward season. Regardless of the amount of changes we made, it was pretty much how I wanted it to look tonight. Play with a smile on your face, look out for each other, which they did, and if things happen that don't go your way, keep believing in what you're doing and that's what they did.

"It was a competitive game, and we had to match that and come out the other side. Nobody's going to bully us. Compete and play and win, and we did all three."

Elsewhere, the big upset of the round came courtesy of League Two Fleetwood Town, who came from behind to beat Championship side West Brom 2-1.

Blackburn Rovers claimed an emphatic 6-1 victory over Stockport County to book their place in the next round, with Sammie Szmodics scoring a first-half brace to set them on their way, while Watford also coasted through with a big win as Tom Ince's hat-trick helped them to a 5-0 victory over MK Dons.

Meanwhile, six of the ties ended with penalties. Grimsby Town triumphed in a thrilling shoot-out at Blundell Park against Bradford City after a 1-1 draw in normal time, winning 9-8 as 20 spot-kicks were taken. 

Manchester United have confirmed that Luke Shaw will miss the start of the Premier League season with a calf injury.

The left-back sustained the injury in pre-season training and is set to be out until at least the September international break.

He is expected to miss the Red Devils' matches against Fulham, Brighton and Liverpool.

Shaw struggled with injuries last season and was limited to just 15 appearances in all competitions and missed the last three months of the campaign with a hamstring problem.

However, he recovered from that injury in time to represent England in the latter stages of Euro 2024.

United are also still without long-term absentee Tyrell Malacia, leaving Erik ten Hag without a natural left-back, though new signing Noussair Mazraoui, who joined from Bayern Munich on Tuesday, can also operate on that side. 

Oleksandr Pikhalyonok and Nazar Voloshyn's late goals secured Dynamo Kyiv a 2-0 second-leg win over 10-man Rangers, sending them into the Champions League play-offs 3-1 on aggregate.

Jefte was sent off for the hosts early in the second half, and they will have to settle for Europa League football after conceding twice in the last 10 minutes.

There was little to separate the teams in the first half, though Ross McCausland wasted his chance to break the deadlock, failing to catch his shot properly.

The turning points came either side of half-time – Jefte caught Andriy Yarmolenko late to receive his first booking and was harshly given his marching orders five minutes into the second half after an aerial challenge with Oleksandr Karavaev.

Vaclav Cerny tried to provide a spark for the Gers, but the hosts failed to take any chances before Pikhalyonok cut inside from the right to fizz a low shot into the bottom-right corner to put Dynamo in front.

Just two minutes later, Rangers were upfield and Voloshyn did brilliantly to keep the ball in play before finishing off a one-two with Mykola Shaparenko by firing a first-time shot past Jack Butland. 

Data Debrief: Shovkovskyi's impact subs

Rangers played 40 minutes with 10 men but did not really come under any pressure from Dynamo until much later in the game.

Just one week ago, it was Cyriel Dessers scoring a 94th-minute equaliser to keep Rangers' hopes alive, but this time, it was the hosts who fell victim to a late lapse in concentration.

Ten-man Lille are through to the Champions League play-offs after edging to a 3-2 aggregate win over Fenerbahce following a 1-1 draw in the second leg on Tuesday.

Bafode Diakate's own goal in second-half stoppage time levelled the aggregate scoreline, but Jonathan David's 118th-minute penalty ensured Les Douges' progress despite Aissa Mandi's red card.

After a slow first half, Lucas Chevalier made a sharp stop in the 54th minute, getting down quickly to keep Ismail Yuksek's low drive out, while Bright Osayi-Samuel almost broke the deadlock with a swerving volley in the 82nd minute.

Eventually, the hosts' pressure paid off, with Jayden Oosterwolde's long throw-in causing problems in the box, and Diakite's deflection ghosted in at the near post, forcing extra time.

The game came back to life in the final 15 minutes, with Mandi receiving a straight red card after catching Irfan Can Kahveci in the side of the head with a high boot.

Lille did not feel the disadvantage though, as David's long-range shot hit Oosterwolde's outstretched arm, and after a VAR review awarded a penalty, the Canadian buried the spot-kick.

Fenerbahce almost forced penalties in the dying seconds as Cenk Tosun lifted a shot over the stranded Chevalier, but he rattled the crossbar, meaning Fenerbahce will play in the Europa League this season. 

Data Debrief: Living life on the edge

Lille may be through to the next round, but that could easily have been a different story.

As the game went on, they started to play for the draw they knew would take them through, only to be punished for a late lapse in concentration after weathering Fenerbahce's 11 shots.

David got his rewards for an impressive performance though - he had the most shots of any player on the pitch (five), generated the highest expected goals (1.29 xG) and had the second-most touches in the box (four).

Cole Palmer has put pen to paper on a two-year contract extension at Chelsea which will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2033.

Palmer, who scored 27 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions last season, only signed from Manchester City last September in a reported £42.5million deal. 

He netted 22 Premier League goals in his debut campaign for the Blues, helping them claim European football, with Palmer proving particularly deadly from 12 yards out. 

Palmer scored all nine of his penalties last season, overperforming his expected goals (xG) tally of 18.18 by 3.82 at the conclusion of the campaign. 

The 22-year-old was also a part of the England side that reached the final of Euro 2024, with the Blues forward coming off the bench to score the equaliser against Spain. 

"I’m delighted to sign this new deal," Palmer said. "I achieved a lot in my first season here, and hopefully I can continue to experience great things at this club, both on a personal level and in terms of bringing success and trophies to Chelsea."

Despite Maresca welcoming nine new faces at Stamford Bridge, the latest being Pedro Neto, Palmer's place in the team looks secure after last season's heroics. 

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Omari Kellyman and Marc Guiu are just a few to make the move to Stamford Bridge this transfer window, taking their spending well over the £150m mark. 

Chelsea kickstart their Premier League campaign this weekend against Palmer's former club, and defending champions, Manchester City in SW6. 

Ben Stokes has been ruled out of England's upcoming three-Test series against Sri Lanka after tearing his left hamstring while playing in The Hundred on Sunday.

Stokes pulled up after running a single and was carried off the field before later being seen on crutches after appearing for the Northern Superchargers.

Originally thought to be a doubt for the first of England's Tests later this month, scans on Tuesday revealed the injury will keep him out for the remainder of the summer.

Ollie Pope will take over Stokes' role as captain during his absence, with the all-rounder aiming to return to fitness before their Test tour of Pakistan in October.

England will also be without opener Zak Crawley for the Sri Lanka series due to a finger injury he sustained against the West Indies at Edgbaston.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have appointed Ian Bell as their batting coach for the upcoming tour.

Bell, who played in 118 Tests for England between 2004 and 2015, will work under former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya.

"We appointed Ian to bring in a person with local knowledge to help the players with key insights on the conditions there," Sri Lanka Cricket chief executive Ashley de Silva said.

"We believe his input will help our team in this crucial tour."

The first Test in the series will take place at Old Trafford in Manchester on August 21.

Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy will have surgery on his right knee and is sidelined indefinitely.

The 10th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft is dealing with a torn meniscus, and a timetable for a return will be determined following the surgery.

McCarthy reported soreness in his knee and was held out of practice Monday, two days after he made his preseason debut and completed 11 of 17 passes for 188 yards with two touchdowns and one interception against the Las Vegas Raiders.

After veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins left Minnesota to sign with the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason, the Vikings signed Sam Darnold and drafted McCarthy after he led the University of Michigan to a national championship.

Darnold, the third overall pick by the New York Jets in 2018, is now the clear-cut No. 1 quarterback for Minnesota after appearing in 10 games last season – including one start – for the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers.

The Vikings, who went 7-10 and missed the play-offs last season, open their 2024 campaign on September 8 at the New York Giants.

The SDC National Community T20 Cricket competition Super 8 was officially launched at Chedwin Park in St. Catherine last Saturday, August 10th.

The start of the Super 8 (knockout stage) was delayed by a few weeks due to the devastation suffered to parts of the island following the passage of Hurricane Beryl.

As a result, teams participating in this phase of the competition now face a win-or-go scenario which is different from previous years.

Dr. Dwayne Vernon, Executive Director of the Social Development Commission (SDC) explained the need for the change this year.

“Normally we would have a playoff, which is an intermediary round between the quarterfinals and the semifinals, so historically what would happen is that the best winners from the quarterfinals would automatically go to the semifinals and then the other teams would have played off to ensure which ones would get the right to play in the semifinals,” he said.

“What we have done this year, because we are strapped for time…is that we have eliminated the playoff round. Teams that win at the quarterfinals will automatically go to the semifinals. There will be no playoffs, just for this year. We want to end at least one week before back to school,” he added.

Kerry-Ann Bryan, Brand Manager at Wray & Nephew spoke of the long-standing partnership between her company and the SDC T20 Cricket competition.

“Wray & Nephew is proud to be a part of this long-standing tradition of community development through sport. Over 17 years we have seen much growth in participation, community comradery and development, all elements for which the SDC has been a stalwart champion.”

Bryan also spoke of the power of the sport in uniting communities across the island while assuring of her brand support through the remainder of the competition.

“Cricket for many Jamaicans is more than a game, it has the power to unite us, transcend boundaries and build a sense of camaraderie. It embodies the values of teamwork, discipline and fair play which are essential not only to the field but also in communities which we all call home,” she said.

“This competition is not just about cricket, it’s about empowering communities, encouraging social growth and nurturing the talents that align within our neighborhoods. As a proud sponsor of this competition, I can assure you that our brand will be right there cheering for every player, encouraging every team and celebrating every triumph,” she added.

In the first quarterfinal on Saturday, Whitehouse from Westmoreland beat Richmond Park from Kingston and St. Andrew by six runs. Whitehouse scored 155/6 from their 20 overs before bowling out Richmond Park for 149 in 19.3 overs.

In the second quarterfinal, Junction skittled out Troy for a mere 43 runs before they eased to victory

at 44/1.

The other two quarterfinals were played at the same venue on Sunday. In the first match on Sunday, Fairfield beat Bridgeport by 18 runs. Fairfield made 145 in exactly 20 overs before they restricted Bridgeport to 127/9 from their 20 overs.

The final quarterfinal was reduced to 15 overs due to rain. In their turn at bat, Gayle managed 107/4 and in reply Links made 108/3 from 13.3 overs to win by 7 wickets.

The semifinals will be played at the Ultimate Oval in St. Ann on Sunday, August 18.

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