The Houston Astros started their second half of the MLB season in positive fashion, claiming a double-header sweep over the New York Yankees on Thursday.
The two best records in the American League (AL) faced off and the Astros bested the Yankees once again, moving to a 5-2 head-to-head record for the season with respective 3-2 and 7-5 wins at Minute Maid Park.
After splitting a four-game series in the Bronx in June, Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman both homered and combined for five RBIs to hand the Astros the third win at home this season over the AL leaders.
In the earlier game, Bregman, Korey Lee and rookie JJ Matijevic combined for RBIs while Cristian Javier struck out three but only gave up two hits over 99 pitches in five innings.
With the sweep coming out of the All-Star Game, the Astros suddenly moved to within three games of the AL-leading Yankees, who have now lost seven of their past 10 games.
Gray gets Rangers rolling
Jon Gray led the way for the Texas Rangers as they commenced an 11-game road trip, shutting the Miami Marlins out for an 8-0 win.
Gray struck out five and conceded only four hits over 94 pitches in six innings, while Adolis Garcia homered and drove in three runs.
The Marlins slipped further away from the National League's wild card race with the defeat, now six games back with a fourth consecutive defeat and extending their scoreless streak to 34 innings.
Betts denies Giants comeback
Mookie Betts saved the day for the Los Angeles Dodgers after they almost squandered a big lead, eventually claiming a 9-6 win over their rivals in the San Francisco Giants.
Things were looking good early for the Dodgers, taking a 5-0 lead after the opening three innings off star Giants pitcher Carlos Rodon, with Freddie Freeman scoring a solo home run in the first inning with two out.
The Giants fought back in the seventh through Evan Longoria and Darin Ruf, though, with the two scoring home runs to set up a five-run inning.
A Trayce Thompson triple drove Gavin Lux home to tie after Thair Estrada was walked in the eighth, before a three-run shot from Betts off Jarlin Garcia gave the Dodgers the eventual win.
Betts confirmed the win with a great defensive play in the following inning, making a spectacular sliding catch deep in right-field to retire Joc Pederson.
After the first round of the 3M Open played at TPC Twin Cities, the two leaders – Im Sung-jae and Scott Piercy – sit two strokes clear of the chasing pack at six under.
There was no secret to the pair's success, as both were outlier performers with the putter, topping the day's rankings for strokes gained on the greens. Im was the best at 4.57 strokes gained, with Piercy in second (4.33) – nobody else finished better than Brice Garnett's 3.69.
The success for Piercy came after a week of sweeping changes to his game, entering the tournament with a new coach, new swing, new caddie, new driver and a new putter, saying afterwards that it was nice to be rewarded for his constant quest for improvement.
"I put in the work to make sure the stuff’s right," he said. "When it’s under the gun, it sometimes can be a little different, but the results with the putter today, I couldn’t be happier.
"It actually made me smile, and I don’t smile much."
Garnett finished part of the five-man group tied for third at four under, along with fellow strong putter Doug Ghim (2.90 strokes gained putting), while Tony Finau, Tom Hoge and Emiliano Grillo reached their score in a different fashion.
Grillo was solid all around without excelling in one area, while both Hoge (minus 0.73 strokes gained putting) and Finau (minus 0.56) struggled on the greens.
However, they were the top two in the tee-to-green category, with Hoge at 6.62 strokes gained and Finau at 6.45, with Hank Lebioda a long way back in third at 4.97.
Lebioda is one of nine players a further stroke back at three under – tied for eighth – along with Canada's Adam Hadwin and Sweden's David Lingmerth.
Taiwan's C.T. Pan and South Korea's Noh Seung-yul are part of the group at two under, while Australian trio Jason Day, Cam Davis and Greg Chalmers shot one-under 70s.
Recent PGA Tour winner J.T. Poston highlights the group at even par, with England's Danny Willett at one over, and Canada's Adam Svensson at two over.
Second seed Yulia Putintseva was eliminated from the Palermo Ladies Open at the quarter-final stage by Diane Parry on Thursday.
Putintseva was the strong favourite to overcome world number 86 Parry, but it was the latter who prevailed 6-3 6-4 to reach her first tour-level quarter-final.
Caroline Garcia also advanced through after recovering from a heavy first-set loss to overcome Elisabetta Cocciaretto 0-6 6-3 6-4.
Home hope Lucia Bronzetti awaits in the final eight following a 6-1 6-3 win over Elina Avanesyan, while Nuria Parrizas-Diaz beat Julia Grabher 6-2 6-4 in the day's other match.
At the Hamburg European Open, in-form Bernarda Pera beat Katerina Siniakova 6-3 6-1 to make it 10 wins in a row without dropping a set.
Pera is through to her second semi-final in a row, where she will take on Maryna Zanevska, who saw off Aliaksandra Sasnovich in straight sets for a second career top-50 victory.
Top seed Anett Kontaveit advanced after Andrea Petkovic withdrew injured when 6-0 2-0 down, but Barbora Krejcikova was on the end of a 6-1 6-3 upset against Anastasia Potapova.
LIV Golf is actively courting Charles Barkley, and the NBA Hall of Famer admits there will be some backlash if he joins the tour.
Barkley met with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman on Wednesday about possibly being an announcer for their events. He has not yet signed any deal, but confirmed to the New York Post he will play in the pro-am at their next event, which will take place next week at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.
He also told the Post for him to join LIV, and not only leave his job as an NBA analyst for TNT but also step away from his endorsement deals with various sponsors, the offer would have to be highly lucrative.
"In a perfect scenario, I would love to do both (TNT and LIV)," Barkley told the Post on Thursday. "I don't know how Turner's sponsors are going to feel about it. I know there is going to be some blowback."
Barkley reportedly is signed to a three-year, $30million contract with TNT. LIV, however, could foreseeably offer significantly more, considering it is backed by $2billion in Saudi Arabian government funding, and has already offered sizeable paychecks to pry away Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.
The new league has faced sharp criticism for Saudi Arabia’s stances on human rights as well as being tied to the murder of a Washington Post journalist, but Barkley scoffed at the notion that LIV golfers were taking “blood money.”
"I told (Norman), 'Listen, they are making up words, like blood money and sportswashing.'," he said. "We have all taken blood money, and we all have sportswashed something, so I don't like those words, to be honest with you.
"If you are in pro sports, you are taking some type of money from not a great cause."
Barkley is currently receiving money from several sponsors for being a spokesperson in their commercials and it’s uncertain if he would continue with those companies if he were to join LIV.
"They checked in with me," Barkley said. "What I told Subway, Capital One and Dick's Sporting Goods, I said, 'Wait a minute. I haven't signed anything. I haven't met with the guy. Let's let this thing play out before you all call me all upset'."
Andrey Rublev crashed out of the Hamburg European Open in straight sets against Francisco Cerundolo, as top seed Carlos Alcaraz cruised past Filip Krajinovic to reach the quarter-finals.
Second seed Rublev was the latest scalp of Cerundolo's fine run of form, the Argentine making it seven consecutive wins by wrapping up a 6-4 6-2 success in just an hour and a half in Germany.
Having furthered his momentum with a second top-10 win in as many weeks, Cerundolo said: "It is the first time it has happened for me. I am playing against the top guys and I am playing well, it is unbelievable."
Cerundolo will face Aslan Karatsev in the last eight after he recovered from a set down to beat Daniel Elahi Galan 3-6 6-3 6-4.
World number six Alcaraz fared better than Rublev, registering a 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 win over Krajinovic to tee up a final-four meeting with Karen Khachanov, who beat Fabio Fognini in straight sets.
Meanwhile, a host of big names including Casper Rudd and Matteo Berrettini reached the last eight of the Swiss Open in Gstaad, as Dominic Thiem continued his revival with a win over Federico Delbonis.
Thiem reached his second quarter-final in as many weeks with an impressive 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 triumph despite letting a 5-2 lead slip in the opener, registering his first tour-level straight-sets victory since May 2021.
Having set up a meeting with Juan Pablo Varillas, the 2020 US Open champion beamed: "I have won two matches which means a lot to me right now, I really need those ranking points. Every match win is something very special."
The Austrian will be joined in the next round by first and second seeds Ruud and Berrettini, who eased past Jiri Lehecka and Richard Gasquet respectively.
Spanish duo Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Pedro Martinez also both progressed to the last eight despite dropping a set, with the latter setting up an enticing clash with Berrettini on Friday.
Japanese rising star Ayaka Furue was the pace-setter at the Evian Championship as the 22-year-old shot a 63 to edge one clear of the field.
The eight-under-par first round from Furue saw her finish the day narrowly clear of American star Nelly Korda and Canada's Brooke Henderson, who both went round in 64 to share second place.
Henderson had an eagle three at her final hole, the ninth, to stake her early claim as the 24-year-old world number 10 bids to win a second major, six years on from landing the Women's PGA Championship as a teenager.
Korda had a clean round of seven birdies and no dropped shots, with the Olympic champion saying on Fox Sports: "I was just making putts. That's typically what I struggle with the most on this golf course. I've always figured out where to miss and where to not, in a sense, but the birdie putts are key out here and they were just rolling in today."
The 23-year-old Korda had a blood clot removed from her left arm in April and has gained a different view on her golf career, saying: "I think I'm a little bit more chill about it. I'm trying to remind myself I'm lucky to be out there and enjoying every moment."
Furue will be looking over her shoulder, but she has plenty of experience of winning on the Japanese tour so may not be intimidated by the prospect of leading going into Friday, even if she sits only 48th on the money list in her first full year on the LPGA Tour.
She also finished fourth at this tournament in 2021, having qualified due to her success in Japan. Ai Miyazato was Japan's last winner of the Evian Championship, carrying off the 2009 and 2011 titles.
Defending champion Minjee Lee had a one-under 70 to be tied for 39th place, while American Cheyenne Knight was fourth on her own after a six-under 65, one shot better off than a group including 2015 winner Lydia Ko and Charley Hull.
The Arizona Cardinals have agreed to terms with quarterback Kyler Murray on a multi-year extension that will reportedly make him among the NFL's highest-paid players.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed but ESPN reports the deal to be a five-year, $230.5million pact with $160m guaranteed, that will run through the 2028 season.
Murray, the No.1 overall pick of the 2019 draft and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year that season, has two years remaining on his original contract.
The deal is slightly higher than the five-year, $230m extension the Cleveland Browns gave Deshaun Watson in March, though Watson's contract is fully guaranteed.
Murray's $46.1m annual average salary over the duration of the extension is the second highest in the NFL, behind only two-time reigning league MVP Aaron Rodgers' $50.3m.
Arizona also avoid a potential distraction involving their quarterback's future entering training camp.
ESPN reported in February that Murray was frustrated over a lack of progress in extension talks and the criticism he received following the team's playoff loss to the eventual champions Los Angeles Rams.
Murray did not attend voluntary offseason workouts but did take part in the Cardinals' mandatory minicamp last month.
The 2018 Heisman Trophy winner has started all but two of Arizona's games since entering the NFL and has helped the Cardinals increase their win total in each of his three seasons, capped by an 11-6 finish in 2021 and the franchise's first playoff appearance in six years.
Murray began last season as an early MVP candidate after leading the Cardinals to a 7-0 start, though his and the team's play dropped off in the second half with a nagging ankle injury a factor in his struggles.
The 24-year-old produced a 116.8 passer rating with a 73.5 per cent completion percentage and 17 touchdown passes during the seven-game winning streak.
Murray's rating dipped to 86.5 as Arizona went 2-5 in his next seven starts, and he threw just seven touchdown passes over that span with a significantly lower completion rate of 65.5 per cent.
Murray's rough stretch continued into the postseason as he completed just 19 of 34 passes for 137 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in the Cardinals' 34-11 opening-round loss to the Rams.
The former University of Oklahoma star still earned a second consecutive Pro Bowl nod after finishing second in the NFL in completion percentage (69.2 per cent) and posting a career-high 100.6 passer rating
Lewis Hamilton is confident he will be in the mix for a first win of the season at Sunday's French Grand Prix, claiming Mercedes' struggles will make their next victory all the more satisfying.
Seven-time world champion Hamilton sits sixth in the 2022 drivers' standings, having failed to post a race win since losing the 2021 title to Max Verstappen in contentious circumstances.
The Mercedes star has been in improved form of late, however, recording three successive podiums after a run of seven outings without a top-three finish.
Having been badly affected by issues with the Silver Arrows' W13 car earlier this season, the 37-year-old is hopeful of a landmark success at Le Castellet on Sunday, in what will be his 300th Formula One race.
Asked if he had a realistic chance of victory in France, Hamilton said: "I hope so, that's what we're all working towards.
"I'm working towards getting that win so I do believe at some stage we will be able to compete with these guys, whether it's this weekend or in five races' time. The journey is the important part.
"I think we started off not where we wanted to be. We've made progress, and we've started to hit a patch of consistency. I'm really proud of the process. We've sharpened our tools in other areas, so when we do get back to where we deserve to be, I think we'll appreciate it that much more."
Hamilton has named Fernando Alonso as the toughest opponent of his career to date, as he professed his hope the 40-year-old, who has put together a run of six successive top-10 finishes with Alpine, will continue in Formula One for years to come.
"I think it's difficult to say who has necessarily been the strongest competitor because every time you're with someone, you're in a different place in your life," Hamilton said.
"I remember the task of being alongside Fernando when I was 22. I was so young mentally and, of course, OK in terms of skill, but it's a lot of pressure to go up against a great like Fernando.
"I would say on pure pace, Fernando [is the toughest]. We had some good battles.
"I wish we could have more. Hopefully he will continue to race, so hopefully we'll have more in the future."
Jonas Vingegaard raced to victory on stage 18 of the Tour de France to extend his general classification lead as Jumbo-Visma all but clinched the three main jerseys.
Vingegaard started the 143.2-kilometre route between Lourdes and Hautacam, the last mountain stage of Le Tour, with a lead of two minutes and 18 seconds over defending champion Tadej Pogacar.
But Jumbo-Visma star Vingegaard stretched that lead to three minutes and 26 seconds on Thursday, with team-mate Wout van Aert starring before allowing the Dane to take over in the final four kilometres to triumph.
Numerous riders tried and failed to contest with the yellow jersey contenders throughout the climb, with a moment of sportsmanship between Pogacar and Vingegaard coming with 28 kilometres to go.
Vingegaard almost crashed, but it was Pogacar who ended up falling in the descent. The Dane then slowed in front to wait for the UAE Team Emirates rider before the pair shook hands and continued.
"I think he kind of missed the corner and then he went down into the gravel. The bike disappeared. I waited for him," Vingegaard said of the incident after victory before dedicating the win to his team.
"It's incredible. This morning, I said to my girlfriend and my daughter that I wanted to win for them and I did. This one is for my two girls back home.
"I was just happy that it finally ended. I am so really happy that I won the stage, but there are more days to come.
"Luckily, I have to thank all my team-mates. You see Wout van Aert dropped Pogacar in the end. Everyone was incredible. They were all incredible."
VINGEGAARD OUT TO END POGACAR RUN
Vingegaard was quick to quell talk of his potential yellow jersey victory, telling reporters: "I don't want to talk about it. Let's talk about it in two days."
But the 25-year-old is on the verge of securing both the general classification (GC) and king of the mountains titles, which would halt Pogacar's search for history, while Van Aert comfortably leads the points classification.
Pogacar has been aiming to become the first rider since Richard Virenque to win the polka dot best climber's jersey in three consecutive editions, and the second to win his first three Tour de France races after Eddy Merckx, who triumphed in the GC on his first five attempts.
STAGE RESULTS
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 3:59:50
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +1:04
3. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) +2:10
4. Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) +2:54
5. David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) +2:58
CLASSIFICATION STANDINGS
General Classification
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 71:53:34
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) +3:26
3. Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) +8:00
Points Classification
1. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) 451
2. Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) 219
3. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 196
King of the Mountains
1. Jonas Vingegaard (Jumbo-Visma) 72
2. Simon Geschke (Cofidis) 64
3. Giulio Ciccone (Trek–Segafredo) 61
Sebastian Vettel has dismissed speculation linking him with a move to McLaren as "just rumours" as his "clear intention" is to stay with Aston Martin.
Four-time world champion Vettel's contract expires at the end of this season.
With McLaren's Daniel Ricciardo enduring a difficult year, posting just three top-10 finishes to sit 12th in the drivers' standings, there has been talk he could leave the sport, with Vettel touted as a potential replacement.
When asked about Vettel's future last month, Aston Martin boss Mike Krack said: "We were always clear that if he wants to continue, we would like him to stay."
Speaking ahead of the French Grand Prix, the German says there is nothing in talk that he could be on his way to McLaren.
He said: "I think Lando [Norris] has a contract… No, I obviously know some people there, but I think it's just rumours."
The 35-year-old hopes to come to an agreement with Aston Martin before long.
He added: "Well, I'm racing this weekend, and the next one. Then yeah, obviously I've said that at some point, we will start to talk.
"I'm talking to the team; I think there is a clear intention to keep going. We'll see soon where we stand."
The men's tennis tour has scrapped plans to stage four tournaments in China later this year as the pandemic continues to take its toll on the sporting calendar.
Mandatory quarantine rules make it unfeasible for international players and tour officials to travel to the events, including the Shanghai Masters, a top-tier ATP 1000 tournament.
The lucrative Shanghai event had been due to run from October 9-16 and would have featured many of the world's top players.
Also cancelled are the Chengdu Open and the Zhuhai Championships, which were scheduled to begin on September 26, and the China Open, billed for the following week.
The ATP said it had cancelled the three-week China swing "due to ongoing restrictions related to COVID-19".
It marks a third successive year in which the run of tournaments has had to be cancelled, with China last hosting ATP events in 2019, before the pandemic hit.
At the same time as it cancelled the tournaments in China on Thursday, the ATP made provision for its players to keep earning by announcing six new events to take place in September and October.
Those events will be played in San Diego, Seoul, Tel Aviv, Florence, Gijon and Naples, the ATP said, with all at ATP 250 level, the lowest rung of the main tour.
The WTA, which runs the women's tour, announced last December it would be suspending all its tournaments in China due to concerns over the wellbeing of Peng Shuai, a professional tennis player who appeared to allege she had been sexually assaulted by a powerful former government official.
Former doubles world number one Peng has since denied making the accusations, yet the WTA has remained concerned for her safety and freedom.
Michael Schumacher still enjoys following Formula One races and watches the sport at home alongside Jean Todt, the former Ferrari boss has revealed.
Seven-time world champion Schumacher suffered a skiing accident in December 2013 that left him with a serious brain injury.
The 53-year-old was placed into a medically induced coma after the incident in Meribel, France, before he was moved to the family home in Geneva the following year to be cared for by medical staff and his wife.
Schumacher has not been seen publicly since, though Todt still meets with his former Ferrari colleague, having teamed up with the German as he won five world titles between 2000 and 2004.
The pair continue to enjoy F1 together, with Schumacher watching on as his son Mick competes in his second season for Haas.
"I don't miss Michael, I see him," Todt told German broadcaster RTL after collecting the State Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia for Schumacher, alongside the former driver's wife Corinna and daughter Gina.
"Yes, it's true, I watch Grands Prix with Michael. But sure, I guess what I miss is what we used to do together.
"If it was emotional for you, you can imagine how emotional it was for me [collecting the award]. Emotional, but at the same time a great pride to be able to talk about Michael.
"You have people around you who are just special. And in a way, Michael is also very special. Corinna, Mick and Gina have also become special to me. They have all become family to me, to my wife and to my son."
Scott Robertson will join Ronan O'Gara in coaching the Barbarians against an All Blacks XV, as the Crusaders boss continues to be linked with the New Zealand top job.
The Barbarians game will be played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on November 13 as the teams battle for the Killik Cup.
Robertson has been strongly linked with the New Zealand national side as speculation surrounds head coach Ian Foster's future, after a 32-22 defeat to Ireland condemned the All Blacks to a first home series defeat in 28 years.
Former New Zealand Under-20 team coach Robertson is reportedly in the running to take over if Foster does indeed lose his job.
Welcoming his appointment for the All Blacks XV fixture, Robertson told the Barbarians' official website: "Rugby throws you great opportunities and coaching the Baa-baas has to be one of the best there is.
"I am proud to help the incredible club and add to its history."
The series defeat to Ireland could also be the last act of New Zealand captain Sam Cane's tenure, with reports stating he could be replaced by Sam Whitelock ahead of the series in South Africa next month.
Cane took the job in 2020, succeeding Kieran Read, but could be losing the armband after just 13 Tests.
Chris Froome was forced to abandon the Tour de France on Thursday as the four-time champion tested positive for COVID-19.
The British rider sat 26th overall after Wednesday's stage 17, having spent over 69 hours on the road for the Israel Premier-Tech team.
The 37-year-old achieved his best Tour stage result since 2018 when he finished third on stage 12 up the Alpe d'Huez.
After a huge crash at the 2019 Criterium du Dauphine, Froome was left in intensive care with multiple serious injuries. He looked nailed on for his best general classification result in a Grand Tour since then as the riders edged closer to the finish in Paris this Sunday.
However, in a video message posted on his Twitter page, Froome said he had received "pretty disappointing news".
"A test has revealed that I've contracted COVID, so I'm not going to be taking the start today," he said.
"I'm really disappointed not to be able to roll into Paris and finish off this Tour de France. It's been an extremely special race for us as a team and me personally as well. I've been finding my legs again.
"I'm going to head home now, switch off for a few days, and refocus on being ready for the Vuelta a Espana later this season."
The Vuelta begins in the Netherlands on August 19, with a time-trial opener in Utrecht, before taking place in Spain from stage four onwards.
Novak Djokovic must be allowed to play at the US Open because a ban over his COVID-19 vaccination refusal would be "crazy", according to John McEnroe.
The Serbian won his seventh Wimbledon title this month, but the All England Club event was just his second major of the year after missing the Australian Open in January.
Djokovic was not permitted to play in the opening major of 2022, where issues surrounding his visa ended with him being deported from Melbourne on public health grounds due to not taking the vaccine.
The 35-year-old hopes to compete at Flushing Meadows in August but has insisted he will not take the vaccination, while the United States is refusing to allow unvaccinated foreigners to enter the country.
The USTA confirmed it would adhere to US rulings surrounding coronavirus protocols, despite including Djokovic on the entry list for the final slam of the year on Wednesday.
Seven-time major champion McEnroe has previously suggested Djokovic should be allowed to compete and reiterated his calls for the 21-time slam winner to be exempt from vaccination regulations.
"I mean, we have to find a way to get Novak into the US Open," McEnroe told Tennis365.
"How can he not be there? He has just won Wimbledon, he is a great champion and he should be in the US Open.
"I don't agree with his decision not to get vaccinated, but I respect it. He is one of the fittest guys in the world and everything he puts into his body, he is watching carefully.
"Now we are saying that because of his choice, he can't play at the US Open. I mean, come on. He has already been deported from Australia for the same reason and here we are again."
For Djokovic to be allowed into the United States, it would require a change of tack from law-makers, or he would have to be considered suitable for an exemption.
Among those who would be eligible for such an exemption are "persons whose entry would be in the national interest".
"I hope someone finds a way to sort this out," McEnroe said. "It's crazy that Novak misses the US Open at this stage."
Fernando Alonso believes Formula One's growing popularity has led to a dwindling appreciation of drivers from past eras, claiming many new fans "don't know much" about the sport.
Having raced in other categories at the Dakar Rally and the Indianapolis 500, the two-time F1 champion made a stellar return to the series in 2021, after relinquishing his seat with McLaren at the end of the 2018 season.
The 40-year-old has showed no signs of slowing down in literal and figurative terms, currently sitting 10th in the drivers' standings in a middling Alpine and matching team-mate Esteban Ocon for pace.
Alonso believes that despite his own quality as a racer, he and other drivers have faced negative consequences from F1's Netflix-fuelled influx of new fans.
"I think the perception from the outside or the feeling towards me, has changed, from time to time," he told The Race. "And in 2007 [the year after his second F1 title], maybe people had a perception of what I was as a driver or as a person."
He suggested that changed when he had a five-season spell at Ferrari from 2010 to 2014.
"Now I think that the fans that we have now, there are new fans and in a way – and I don't want to lack respect to them – but they don't know much about Formula 1," said Alonso.
"They just are more like a football kind of fan, where they just follow the results, whoever is winning does the best. And whoever is last is not Formula 1 level.
"They don't understand much about car performance and the package that you need. So you are on more of a rollercoaster kind of feeling, of perception, of what the people feel about you."
Alonso has been unfortunate not to pick up a bigger haul of points in recent outings, with a double stop in Austria arguably costing him a second straight top-five finish.
He did, however, concede his front-row position in the wet in Canada was significant in the context of his return and changing minds.
"It meant a lot because when you decide to come back, you need to put away a few things in life – family, friends again – and have full dedication for the job you do, travelling, the physical aspect, the mental aspect, everything and the pressure that you feel in your shoulders," he said.
"Because you are Fernando Alonso, and everyone will look at you if you are doing well."
The NBA has fined Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob $500,000 for recent comments made on a podcast that violate the league’s rules on discussing collective bargaining, ESPN reported Wednesday.
While making an appearance on the Point Forward Podcast, hosted by Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner, Lacob called the NBA’s luxury tax structure "very unfair", lamenting the extra costs of having the league’s highest payroll.
This past season, the Warriors paid Stephen Curry $48million, Klay Thompson $40m, Andrew Wiggins $33m, Draymond Green $25m, and former second overall pick James Wiseman $9m, totalling $155m from just five of their 15 roster spots. The NBA's 'soft cap' – meaning the salary cap that can be exceeded to re-sign a team's current players – was set at $112m for 2021-22, and will rise to $122m for the upcoming season.
"The truth is, we're only $40 million more than the luxury tax. Now, that's not small but it's not a massive number," Lacob said. "We're $200 million over in total because most of that is this incredible penal luxury tax. And what I consider to be unfair and I'm going to say it on this podcast, and I hope it gets back to whoever is listening.
"Obviously, it's self-serving for me to say this, but I think it's a very unfair system because our team is built by... all [of our] top eight players are all drafted by this team."
Lacob said that some have classified the Warriors’ 2022 championship a "checkbook win."
According to ESPN, the Warriors paid $69 million in luxury tax in 2020-21, $170 million in 2021-22 and are projected to pay $181 million in 2022-23.
James Harden has officially finalised his deal to stay with the Philadelphia 76ers, agreeing to a two-year, $68.6million contract on Wednesday.
Harden will make $33m for the 2022-23 season and then has the player option for $35.6m in 2023-24. He can decline the option and become a free agent again ahead of the 2023-24 and sign a new deal.
Harden had previously declined his $47.4m player option for this upcoming season from the 76ers, but was set to return to them all along while taking a pay-cut to help the team sign other players with the hopes of building a championship roster.
Thanks in part to his pay-cut, the 76ers have been able to add P.J. Tucker and Danuel House this offseason, and are expected to contend amongst the best teams in the Eastern Conference with MVP runner-up Joel Embiid and Harden leading the way.
Philadelphia acquired Harden from the Brooklyn Nets in February, and he averaged 21 points, 10.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds in 21 games with the Sixers, but the team suffered the same fate as three of the previous four seasons, again losing in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The 76ers have not been past the conference semis since losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2001 NBA Finals, and the 32-year-old Harden has never won a title, only reaching the NBA Finals once, in 2012 with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
A 10-time All-Star and the 2017-18 NBA MVP, Harden averaged 22 points, 10.3 assists and 7.7 rebounds in 65 total regular-season games for the 76ers and Nets, missing time due to hamstring issues.
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