Jakirovic in at Tigers - let us know your thoughts
The 48-year-old Bosnian joins the Tigers after a short spell in charge of Turkish Super Lig outfit Kayserispor.
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The former Dinamo Zagreb coach is the third appointment since Liam Rosenior was sacked in May 2024 after guiding the East Yorkshire side to a seventh-placed finish in the Championship.
Do you think Jakirovic will last longer than Tim Walter or Ruben Selles? Can he haul the Tigers back into contention for promotion? What needs to be his first priority in his new role, in your opinion?
Let us know your thoughts here.
Check back later and we'll publish a selection of your views right here.
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Business Wire
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- Business Wire
Red Bull and KW25 to Run Tender Process for New FIA World Rally Championship Commercial Rights Holder
PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has today announced that a tender process will be run for a new commercial rights holder of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). This follows an extensive period of discussions with Red Bull and KW25, the current commercial rights holders of the FIA World Rally Championship, who have taken the decision to commence the process. The FIA World Rally Championship has surged in popularity in recent years, with a 1.3bn cumulative television audience and over 4m on-site visitors in 2024. With almost half of those in-person fans between the ages of 18-34, the Championship has huge further growth potential in the years to come. The next round of the Championship is on 28 th August at the Rally del Paraguay, which is making its debut as a host country this year. The FIA's priority is to ensure that the WRC is best placed to maximise on this potential and deliver value to all its stakeholders, including drivers, teams, manufacturers, organisers and fans, while also preserving its strong heritage. The FIA will work with Red Bull and KW25 to seek a new commercial rights holder which is committed to long-term investment in the Championship and to securing the best possible future for WRC. This is an exciting opportunity for a new enterprise to take the Championship to the next level and to build out engagement with a new generation of fans. J.P. Morgan, the global financial services company, will be acting as financial advisor to Red Bull and KW25, supporting them through the tender process. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President said: "The FIA World Rally Championship is at an exciting moment in its history. Millions of fans around the world are following the action, and new, younger audiences are driving its global growth. This Championship has enormous potential, and it is our responsibility as governing body to ensure it continues to grow and reaches new heights. This process is an important step and will shape the long-term vision for the WRC, and I am confident that, together with the right partner, we can take the championship to the next level, preserve its proud heritage, and grow its global reach for generations of fans to come.' Malcolm Wilson OBE, FIA Deputy President for Sport, said: 'The FIA World Rally Championship, is the longest-running motorsport series of its kind, one of the most thrilling competitions in the world, with a unique heritage and an exciting growth trajectory ahead. The tender process for the commercial rights holder is a big opportunity for a new enterprise to take the Championship into its next chapter with renewed energy and investment. We will work with Red Bull and KW25 to find the best fit for this important role.'


USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
The top 10 SEC safeties for 2025: Georgia 5-star leads the way, two LSU players make it
We're less than two weeks away from all 16 SEC football teams kicking off 2025 on Labor Day weekend. It's time to cram these last season preview pieces in before we get underway. Today, we're talking about safeties. Specifically, SEC safeties. A good safety can elevate the floor of a defense. What would be big plays are limited to eight-yard gains. A good safety can take away the middle of the field or shut down an opposing tight end. The best are also used as dynamic blitzers and make an impact in the box defending the run. LSU made upgrading the safety room a priority this offseason. The Tigers signed transfers TaMarcus Cooley and AJ Haulcy -- both will be impact players as LSU expects to have its best secondary of the Brian Kelly era. Here are the SEC's 12 best safeties for the 2025 season. Note: I tried to focus on players who played true safety. For that reason, hybrid players like Kendall Daniels, Jelani McDonald, and Daylan Carnell weren't included. 10. TaMarcus Cooley, LSU LSU was aggressive in the transfer portal this offseason, which included the signing of former NC State defensive back TaMarcus Cooley. This is Cooley's third stop after he began his career at Maryland in 2023. Cooley led all ACC safeties in pass breakups in 2024. He picked off three passes and owned a 62.4 passer rating when targeted. Cooley recently took control of a starting safety spot at LSU and the Tigers are counting on Cooley to create the same havoc for LSU's defense. Cooley impresses as a run defender too, making 11 stops and forcing two fumbles in 2024. 9. Jalen Catalon, Missouri Catalon is entering his seventh year of college football. Yes, you read that right -- seventh year. Catalon began his career at Arkansas in 2019, where he spent four years. Then he transferred to Texas for a year before playing the 2024 season at UNLV. Catalon transferred to Missouri for the 2025 season, making it his fourth school. Catalon has played over 2,200 career snaps -- which makes him one of the most experienced defenders in the country. At UNLV, he recorded 75 tackles while picking off five passes. He's smart enough and athletic enough to be a true playmaker on the backend. Catalon's best year in the SEC was 2020 at Arkansas. His next three years of SEC football provided mixed results, but its hard to overlook Catalon's production and experience. 8. Bryce Thornton, Florida Few SEC safeties were better in coverage than Florida's Bryce Thornton. He posted a 38.3 passer rating when targeted, which is No. 2 among returning SEC safeties. Thornton's allowed completion percentage of 59% ranks in the top 10 among the same group. Thornton is entering year three in Gainesville, but already has significant experience thanks to playing as a true freshman in 2023. The three-star safety took a big leap as a sophomore and similar progress can be expected as a junior. 7. Robert Spears-Jennings, Oklahoma Spears-Jennings enjoyed a breakout campaign as a junior in 2024 and enters 2025 as a leader in the Sooners' secondary. He was a four-star recruit in 2022, ranking as the No. 12-ranked safety in the country. Spears-Jennings has been limited with an injury at times during OU's fall camp, but should be ready to go for week one. Per PFF, his 78.7 defensive grade ranks No. 4 among returning SEC safeties. Spears-Jennings stands out as a run defender and his 93.1 PFF grade in that department led the same group. Spears-Jennings made 47 tackles and 19 stops while recording a pick in 2024. 6. Kaleb Harris, Auburn Harris was a true freshman in 2024 and wasted no time finding his way on the field. Harris proved to be ready for SEC physicality, making 16 run stops with a 5.7% stop rate. He only got better as the year went on, making nine stops in Auburn's final three games. Harris was a havoc player, forcing a fumble and breaking up three passes. Harris was targeted 26 times, but only allowed 13 catches. Harris should make another jump as a sophomore. 5. AJ Haulcy, LSU Haulcy was a key piece of LSU's top-ranked transfer class after leaving Houston and entering the portal. Per On3, he was the No. 2-ranked safety in the class and the No. 30 overall player. Haulcy was all-conference at Houston, but now tries his hand in the SEC. If practice reports are any indication of Haulcy's SEC preparedness, he's in for a big year. The adjustment has been smooth for the safety who began his career in the Mountain West before moving to the Power Four. Haulcy's 80.5 PFF grade in 2024 ranked No. 4 among Big 12 safeties. He made 58 tackles while recording 18 stops and owned a 64.9 passer rating when targeted. Haulcy is the prototypical safety and filled a big need on LSU's defense. 4. Bray Hubbard, Alabama Hubbard was one of the SEC's breakout defenders last year. He was a four-star recruit in 2023, but didn't see much action in year one. He cracked the lineup and 2024 and made the most of it. Alabama trusts Hubbard in different roles across the defense. He'll play center field in a traditional free safety role, but he can roll into the box too. He's athletic enough to hold up in man coverage, which gives Alabama flexibility in the secondary. Hubbard's 89.7 PFF coverage grade is the best among returning SEC safeties. When he did allow a catch, it was for an average of 3.1 yards per reception. And while Hubbard isn't an elite tackler, he mitigates it with his ability to track down ball carriers. 3. Isaac Smith, Mississippi State Smith was one of the SEC's best run defenders in 2024. His 56 tackles vs. the run led the SEC and his 18 stops ranked No. 2 in the conference. Only three returning SEC safeties posted a better missed tackle rate than the rising junior. 2024 was Smith's first season in a full-time role, and it didn't take him long to adjust to the physicality of the SEC. Having a run defender of Smith's caliber on the backend adds real value to a defense. Mississippi State allowed its fair share of explosive plays in 2024 -- it would have been even worse without Smith as a stopper. The Bulldogs want to see Smith take a step forward in pass coverage after opposing quarterbacks completed 75% of passes when targeting Smith in 2024, but Smith finished the year on a high note vs. Ole Miss, only allowing two catches and breaking up a pass. 2. Michael Taffe, Texas With an 84.4 PFF grade in 2024, Taffe owns the second-best grade among returning SEC safeties. With over 1,400 snaps, he's one of the most experienced defenders in the conference. Texas is counting on Taffe's experience to come up big after the Longhorns lost key secondary pieces to the NFL. Taffe was elite in coverage last year, breaking up eight passes and coming up with two picks. His passer rating when targeted was 65.2, an elite number. Taffe had occasional struggles when tackling, but expect an All-SEC level performance from this Texas safety this fall. 1. KJ Bolden, Georgia Bolden was a five-star recruit in the class of 2024 and made an immediate impact, playing 552 snaps on defense. According to PFF, he posted an 83.9 coverage grade and a 74.6 grade defending the run. Bolden is an all-around safety who impacts all levels of the defense. When targeted, Bolden allowed a passer rating of just 66.1 and allowed 6.7 yards per catch. Both marks were among the best in the SEC. Bolden made 20 stops, forced a fumble, and recorded a sack. Expect those numbers to be even better in Bolden's sophomore campaign. Honorable Mentions


New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Colt Keith's return to third base helps Tigers solve a puzzle — now and maybe in the future
DETROIT — It is no secret that the Detroit Tigers have asked a lot out of Colt Keith over the past year. After mostly rising through Detroit's system as a third baseman, Keith spent his entire rookie season learning and polishing his play at second base. The early results were ugly. The quality of play ticked up throughout the season. Keith improved his range and his pivots and ended up turning crucial double plays in the postseason. Advertisement Then, this winter, he got a call and learned the Tigers wanted him to move to first base. Another big adjustment. 'Working at first base all spring was weird,' Keith admitted Wednesday. Weirder, perhaps, that Keith was back playing second before he knew it. Spencer Torkelson's bat forced its way into the lineup. And as Torkelson reclaimed his spot at first, Keith was left splitting time between first, second, DH and even time on the bench earlier this season. 'I'm open to play anywhere they need me to,' Keith said. 'That hasn't been a problem.' The puzzle manager A.J. Hinch had to solve daily became difficult as the summer heated up. Keith's bat was loaded with promise, but a slow start to the season didn't help his case for playing time. When Keith finally started hitting, getting him in the lineup was not always an easy fit. Eventually, a different solution presented itself. Keith moved from third to second in the minor leagues largely because of a shoulder injury that hampered his arm. But nearly three years removed from injury, Keith and the team reconsidered. Keith started taking groundballs at third base, working behind the scenes for a return to the hot corner. His first appearance came on June 5. For the next six weeks, he played third but still saw time at DH, first and second. Since July 29, though, all of Keith's playing time has come at either third base or DH. He has spent time before the games working with Tigers coaches Joey Cora and Gary Jones. He is still learning to play the hot corner with more of a one-handed style. The hops, the reads, the angles and the throws all present a learning curve. Difficult as third base is, and hard as a midseason position switch can be, Keith has handled the challenge well. He entered Wednesday grading out at league average in defensive runs saved and worth minus-1 outs above average at third. His arm strength grades out in only the 32nd percentile, but Keith has at times looked plenty capable of making strong throws across the diamond. Advertisement 'It started with a lot of nerves,' Keith said, 'but I've definitely gotten more comfortable as time has gone on.' Keith's bat, too, has been torrid for the better part of the last three months — though it's worth noting he has struggled and played less against left-handed pitching. The overall success at the plate led to a promotion to the leadoff spot in the order against righties. Keith says his approach at the plate has not changed. The only difference is having a feel for certain situations early in the game. Earlier this week, Jack Flaherty worked a laborious top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first, Keith took his time getting to the box, then called time after the first pitch simply to slow the game down. 'When you're leading off, you have to make sure your pitcher has time to recover,' Keith said. 'You don't want to go up there and end the inning on four pitches, and he gets two minutes to recover after he just pitched for 10.' In the leadoff spot, Keith has posted a .286/.352/.490 slash line. The quality of his contact has improved throughout the season. Most notably, he's finally lifting the ball to the pull side, a major key in getting closer to his power potential. Keith has a 1.266 OPS on balls hit to the pull side this season. Keith said he's finally getting to a good contact point and also snapping the barrel to the ball. In the past, he might make contact in front of the plate, but the barrel would lag and result in foul balls or flares to the opposite field. 'He's really adapted well and found his niche of, yes, he's a guy that gets on base, but he's also a guy who can do damage, and he's a hitter first,' Hinch said. 'When he controls the zone, the byproduct is gonna be walks and better pitches to hit. When he gets good pitches to hit against right-handed pitching, he's very dangerous.' Advertisement Keith's transition to third happened gradually and then suddenly. He has started 20 games at the hot corner. And as he further solidifies himself at the position, it could go down as one of the most significant developments in the Tigers' season. 'By putting him there, I'm showing him that I have a ton of confidence in him being able to handle the position,' Hinch said. With Gleyber Torres becoming a free agent after the season, there could be a world where Keith moves back to second in 2026. It's just as likely that Keith establishes himself as the primary third baseman of the future. Bo Bichette is a free agent next offseason. Alex Bregman could opt out of his Red Sox deal and create another free-agency saga. But with Keith at third and a host of infield prospects such as Hao-Yu Lee and the touted Kevin McGonigle knocking on the door, it's also possible the Tigers can solve their infield puzzle without a massive free-agent deal. At the very least, Keith's ability to play third puts more options on the table for the Tigers' front office. All that will sort itself out in the months ahead. What's clear: Even in a dizzying year, Keith is showing why the Tigers have always viewed him as an important piece of their present and future. 'He's adaptable,' Hinch said, 'and I think that type of calmness around him is remarkable.' Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle