Author: wisdom

It’s all in the leather.Adidas Teamgeist is one of the most iconic balls in World Cup history. In 2006, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) even adopted the design of this World Cup ball, due to the lack of a model specifically created for the competition.It was only from 2008 onwards that Adidas began to customize balls dedicated to CAF and its AFCON tournament.A wise, albeit belated, decision that gave rise to balls that better reflected the soul of the African continent: predominance of yellow and green, abstract patterns evoking pagnes, boubous, kaftans, and other traditional garments—symbols of “Mama Africa.”With…

It has been an uneven season at the running back position, but if you have TreVeyon Henderson, Travis Etienne, or Kenneth Gainwell, you are probably feeling pretty good about yourself. They are definitely trending the right direction. RJ Harvey was as well before his Week 15 injury. He is one of three injured backs we will be watching closely heading into Week 16.Harvey left Week 15 with a rib injury, and like Zonovan Knight and Devin Neal, he is questionable for Week 16 as of Tuesday morning. Thankfully, if the ribs are okay to play, we probably don’t have as…

The top stories and transfer rumours from Thursday’s newspapers…Premier LeagueChelsea’s recruitment for 2026 will centre heavily around boosting the club’s midfield options and easing the load placed on Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez – Daily Telegraph Manchester United target Karim Adeyemi is believed to be ready to push for a move away from Borussia Dortmund, with his wife the catalyst for any potential transfer – Daily Mail Chelsea have been urged to “put up or shut up” and decide whether they want to move to Earl’s Court after alternative plans for the site were approved by Kensington and Chelsea council…

Welcome back to MoneyCall, The Athletic’s weekly sports business cheat sheet. (Want to get this conveniently delivered via email? Sign up here.)Name-dropped today: Ernie Johnson, Mark Shapiro, Ari Emanuel, Elle Duncan, Travis Kelce, Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, Philip Rivers, James Madison, Ryan Seacrest, Campbell Wright, Chris Marinak, Audi, Jeff Miller and more. Let’s go:Driving the ConversationWho won 2025?Andrew Marchand released his 2025 sports media awards this morning — the “Golden Clickers” — and, beyond the prestige, it’s a TV-tinted window into the year’s biggest winners in sports business. Just a sample of the 13 awards he hands out:• Person of…

The Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce Third Thursday coffee will be held today at Karl Chevrolet on the west side of Webster City. The coffee will be from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Karl Chevrolet is located at 1705 West Second St. The Third Thursday coffees allow business owners to meet and engage with community members in a relaxed, small-town environment. There will be light refreshments, conversations and updates from the city and chamber of commerce. For new businesses or community members, it is a chance to network, build relationships and experience the warmth of our community. A winter…

AP Photo Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen jogs off the field after a game against the New England Patriots on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. ORCHARD PARK — Marriage, fatherhood and an NFL MVP honor were the furthest things on Josh Allen’s mind when he arrived in Buffalo as a raw but promising quarterback prospect in April 2018. “Envisioning it? I was just trying to figure out protections and how to throw the ball correctly,” Allen said Wednesday with a laugh, reflecting on his rookie year as a first-round draft pick out of Wyoming. “We’ve come a long way.” He could…

The noise around Milos Kerkez has quietened in recent weeks.Liverpool’s summer-signing left-back has been under significant scrutiny since his arrival from Bournemouth for around £40million ($53.6m at the current rate), due to displays that frequently ranged from erratic to just bad, and which prompted calls for title-winning veteran Andrew Robertson’s return to the starting XI.When Robertson was reinstated, Liverpool promptly secured back-to-back victories against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, which did not help Kerkez’s cause. Neither did former Manchester United and England full-back Gary Neville saying on his podcast that the 22-year-old Hungary international looked like a “youth-team player” during…

Ed DoveDec 18, 2025, 02:49 AM ETCloseEd Dove is a writer and scout who has a deep and enduring passion for African sport, politics and literature. Instagram: @EddyDove22, Facebook: @EddyDoveAfricaThe Africa Cup of Nations brings together Africa’s biggest names of today as well as the superstars of tomorrow, with many of the continent’s brightest young talents set to feature at the 2025 showpiece.With the tournament almost upon us, ESPN’s Ed Dove runs the rule over 10 wonderkids who have the potential to take the competition by storm.1. Ibrahim Mbaye: Senegal/Paris Saint-GermainIbrahim Mbaye can follow in the footsteps of Sadio Mane,…

A little more than six weeks into the 2025-26 MLB offseason, no division has been more active than the AL East. The defending American League champion Blue Jays added Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, and Tyler Rogers. The Orioles brought in Pete Alonso, Ryan Helsley, and Taylor Ward. The Rays imported Steven Matz and Cedric Mullins. The Red Sox traded for Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo. Then there’s the Yankees, who, to date, have added one player to the 40-man roster from outside the organization: Cade Winquest, their Rule 5 Draft pick. That’s a very small move that may (likely will)…

Michael Regan/Getty ImagesLiverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai is hoping to be passed fit for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Tottenham Hotspur.The Hungary international was forced off with an ankle injury in the closing stages of last weekend’s 2-0 win over Brighton & Hove Albion.A scan subsequently allayed fears that he could be facing an extended spell on the sidelines and Szoboszlai, who has been Liverpool’s outstanding performer so far this season, has responded well to treatment in recent days.Liverpool will continue to monitor him closely before making a final decision on Friday whether he’s involved in the capital. If he is…