Team owner predicts van Gisbergen will make a deep run in NASCAR playoffs
'It normally hits me on the plane ride home or at 4 a.m. after a few beers,' van Gisbergen said Sunday after conquering the Watkins Glen International road course in New York for his fourth victory this year. 'I try to reflect on it, but I also try and get to the next week pretty quick. I'll try not to tweet at 4 a.m. this morning.'
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Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
It could be the most open Premier League title race in years as clubs spend big to take advantage
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The Premier League is back after one of the most unpredictable seasons in recent memory saw Liverpool win a record-equaling 20th title, Manchester City go into meltdown and Manchester United hit new lows. The new campaign kicks off on Friday and teams have spent big in an attempt to capitalize on what looks like being a wide open title race after City's dominance was ended. Defending champion Liverpool hasn't stood still, with Florian Wirtz the pick of its signings for a fee that could rise to a British record $156 million. Pep Guardiola's rebuild at City began in January with around $450 million spent since then on revamping a team that saw its four-year title-winning run snapped last term. And perennial runner-up Arsenal has finally secured a top-class striker in Viktor Gyokeres as it looks to win its first title since 2004. Chelsea has continued its heavy-spending policy under American owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital and, fresh from being crowned world club champion, will expect to challenge for the biggest prizes again. Liverpool has a fight on its hands … with history Liverpool knows just how difficult it is to win back-to-back championships. Not since 1984 has the club successfully defended the title and it is not alone in struggling to hold onto the trophy. Only Guardiola's City — champion in six out of seven seasons between 2018 and 2024 — has managed to retain the title since Alex Ferguson's Man United retained its title in 2009. But Liverpool coach Arne Slot already defied the odds by joining an elite group of coaches to win the title in their first year in the Premier League, following Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini and Antonio Conte. He has brought in high-quality additions, with Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike adding more firepower to Liverpool's attack. Man City and Guardiola have a point to prove City endured a sudden and dramatic decline last season when its title defense unraveled before Christmas. Defeat in the FA Cup final against Crystal Palace consigned City to its first trophyless season in eight years. There were mitigating factors — mainly the injury to Ballon d'Or winner Rodri. But Guardiola's extensive rebuild, including the signings of Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki, suggest City's problems were more deeply rooted. The last time Guardiola relinquished a title, he went on to win the next four. City's Premier League rivals have been warned. Arsenal looks like it has secured the missing piece No team has been more consistent than Arsenal over the past three seasons — but that still hasn't delivered a title. The signing of Gyokeres could be the last piece of the puzzle. The Sweden striker outscored Kylian Mbappe, Haaland and Mohamed Salah last term. His overall record for Sporting Lisbon was 97 goals in 102 games. Arsenal will hope he can reproduce that form in England. It's a long road back for Man United United recorded its lowest finish in the Premier League era (15th) last season, the most losses (18) and its lowest points total (42). Add to that the failure to qualify for any European competition and it was a year to forget. Coach Ruben Amorim has vowed to bring the good times back. He's signed Premier League-proven forwards in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, along with highly rated Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko. He's also had a full offseason to work with his squad — something he was denied when hired midway through last season. After winning two Portuguese titles at Sporting Lisbon, United is convinced he is the man to end more than a decade of decline since former manager Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. Chelsea has issued a statement of intent After a chaotic start, Chelsea's U.S. owners are delivering results. The revolving door of coaches has slowed down. The mega spending has not. And on the back of a season when Chelsea won the UEFA Conference League, qualified for the Champions League and won the newly expanded Club World Cup it looks like the two-time European champion is back among soccer's elite. Arsenal and United will be under pressure from the start Arsenal faces a brutally testing start — coming up against United, Liverpool, City and Newcastle in its first six games of the season, with three of those away from home. United takes on Arsenal, City and Chelsea within its first five games. The fight to survive is getting harder In the past two seasons all three clubs promoted from the Championship have been relegated the following year. Leeds, Burnley and Sunderland have their work cut out to avoid the drop. When does the Premier League season start and finish? Defending champion Liverpool kicks off the season on Friday against Bournemouth at Anfield. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The last day of the season is May 24, 2026. ___ James Robson is at ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
13 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Alozie juggles the Houston Dash, the Nigerian national team and even cancer research
It's not only that Michelle Alozie plays for the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League, or that she recently won an African championship with the Nigerian national team. The Yale grad also helps conduct pediatric cancer research at Texas Children's Hospital. Alozie's dual careers sprang from necessity because — in the days before the NWSL adopted its first collective-bargaining agreement in 2022 — she was uncertain whether she could earn a livable wage in soccer. 'I remember telling my boss that football was my main priority, and I just needed kind of like something on the side to make sure that, if needed, my resume was still there, I'm still in the medical field and I'm ready if my football life doesn't pan out,' she said. The child of Nigerian immigrants, Alozie originally played at Yale, where she graduated with a degree in molecular biology, but finished her career with Tennessee. After going undrafted, she played in Kazakhstan for a year before trying out for the Dash in 2021. Around that time she also got a call from Randy Waldrum, Nigeria's American coach, who was scrambling to find eligible players after the Super Falcons arrived in the United States for a game without a full squad because of visa issues. 'I think it was since I was in college that I wanted to play for the Super Falcons, but I didn't really know how to get on their radar,' Alozie said. 'So for it to happen this way, and for me to play my first professional football game on a national team as opposed to the club side, it was just kind of crazy.' She went on to play under Waldrum in the 2023 Women's World Cup. Nigeria advanced to the Round of 16 before falling on penalties to England after a hard-fought scoreless draw. Alozie grabbed attention during the match when England's Lauren James stepped on her, drawing a red card. Alozie also played for Nigeria at last summer's Olympics in France, adding Olympian to a growing collection of honors. Then this summer she helped Nigeria win the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Falcons had dubbed their bid for a 10th African championship 'Mission X' A versatile defender, Alozie had one of the most memorable goals of the tournament. She sent a long ball forward from distance and it bounced into the goal in stoppage time to give Nigeria a 2-1 victory over South Africa, putting the Super Falcons in the championship match. Nigeria went on to defeat host Morocco 3-2 for the title. The victory came despite the persistent allegations of mismanagement of the women's program that have dated back years, and the lack of opportunities for the players to train together as a group. Alozie understands how important global visibility is for the growth of the game in Africa. She pointed to fellow Nigerian players Asisat Oshoala and Rasheedat Ajibade, as well as Zambian Barbra Banda and Temwa Chawinga of Malawi, all of whom play on high-profile club teams. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. 'All these people coming out of Africa that people were probably sleeping on before, and then they come to the big stage and they're scoring hat tricks at the Olympics, they're breaking records in the NWSL or the WSL,' she said. 'I think the world is definitely waking up to women's football in Africa.' Back home in the United States, Alozie works several days a week at Texas Children's Hospital in addition to playing for the Dash. Her supervisor, Dr. Alexandra Stevens, said she didn't know when Alozie applied that she was also a pro athlete. Alozie asked if she could contribute as a researcher while continuing her soccer career, and the hospital agreed. Alozie's immediate focus is on the second half of the season with the Dash, who are in a rebuilding phase after finishing at the bottom of the NWSL last year. Under new coach Fabrice Gautrat, the team has made modest gains. 'The playoff push is still there, we're still very much focused on that. We see the changes being implemented in our culture and how we want to play in the overall identity of the Houston Dash being built,' Alozie said. 'So that is something super positive, not only for right now, but for the future.'
Toronto Star
14 hours ago
- Toronto Star
The Little League World Series has had its share of drama before even getting to Williamsport
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — The road to Williamsport was filled with more drama than usual for a couple Little League World Series participants this year, including a Venezuelan team that needed visa exemptions to make the trip and an American club that narrowly knocked off a defending champ. Baseball's preeminent youth baseball tournament resumes Wednesday in central Pennsylvania. The festivities begin with a look at what makes the 20-team event special.
