Wales Extends Record Losing Rugby Streak With Loss to Japan
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KITAKYUSHU, Japan (AP) — Wales lost again.
The longest losing streak by a major test rugby team in the professional era was extended to 18 matches when Wales lost to Japan 24-19 on Saturday.
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Travel + Leisure
an hour ago
- Travel + Leisure
Exclusive: Tom Brady on the NFL Player He'd Choose to Sit With on a Long-Haul Flight—and One Destination That Stuck With Him
Tom Brady has always traveled with purpose. For more than two decades, the seven-time Super Bowl champion jetted from city to city locked into game plans, team meetings, and tightly scheduled NFL road trips. These days, he's still traveling, still tied to the football world, but with a bit more flexibility and perhaps a deeper appreciation for the journeys themselves. Now entering his second year of retirement from playing, Brady remains firmly rooted in the game. He's set to call 11 marquee matchups this fall for FOX as part of the network's top NFL broadcast team. His schedule will take him from Philadelphia to San Francisco to Dallas, all familiar destinations. But, between the flights, football, and other endeavors, he's carving out new space for meaningful travel on his own terms. 'These days, I'm really drawn to places that offer something totally different from my day-to-day... whether it's a new culture, a different language, or just a vibe I've never experienced before,' Brady tells Travel + Leisure . 'During my playing days, I was always hopping from one U.S. city to another with barely any time to look around. Now, I try to slow it down a bit. I love being able to actually explore, soak it all in, and share those experiences with my kids.' That shift from tight timelines to thoughtful immersion has given Brady the freedom to pursue the kind of travel he perhaps previously put on hold. Japan was one such recent trip that stuck with him. Posing with the sumo fighters in Japan after watching them in action. 'I went recently with my kids, and it was unforgettable,' he says. 'The culture there is just so rich and thoughtful, everything from the way people treat each other to how traditions are honored. There's this amazing concept I learned about called ikigai , which basically means your 'reason for being.' That really stuck with me... it made me think a lot about purpose and what truly brings meaning to life. Experiencing that with my kids, and seeing it all through their eyes, made the whole trip even more powerful.' Whether he's on a broadcasting assignment or traveling for leisure, Brady keeps things streamlined and intentional. 'I'm pretty simple when it comes to packing: my AirPods, wallet, and lip balm. Gotta have the basics,' he says. 'But something a little unexpected that's always in my bag? Electrolytes. Staying hydrated is a big deal for me, especially when I'm flying or bouncing around a lot. It's not the flashiest item, but it makes a huge difference.' Aisle or window seat? Window. Go-to plane snack? My GOAT Gummies, of course. And a bottle of water. Past or current player you'd choose to sit next to on a long-haul flight? It'd have to be Rob Gronkowski or Julian Edelman… actually hang on—I'd get no sleep. Let's go with Mike Evans. City with an NFL team you'd choose to vacation in for a month?I've gotta go with my Raiders in Las Vegas! Not surprisingly, food remains a priority, too. Known for his strict diet throughout his playing career, Brady still keeps it clean—at home and on the road—when he can. 'I usually stick to clean eating, lots of whole foods,' he says. 'So my typical [Gopuff] order looks like veggies, some lean protein, stuff to throw a quick meal together. But when I'm craving a snack, I'll grab a bag of almonds, and yeah, maybe some fresh fruit for something sweet. It's all about balance.' That search for balance is part of what led to his recent collaboration with Gopuff to launch GOAT Gummies, a vegan, organic fruit snack made without artificial ingredients. 'I wanted a snack that actually tastes good, doesn't have any junk in it, and is something I'd feel good about giving my kids, too,' he says. 'It's fun, flavorful, and just something you can enjoy without feeling guilty or overthinking it.' GOAT gummies in Sour Burst, Sweet Rush and Tropic Fusion. Even with his global adventures and brand partnerships, Brady's not done dreaming of new domestic experiences. His travel list includes a nostalgic, slow-paced trip across America—one that connects the past with the present. 'I've always wanted to do a big cross-country road trip with my kids,' he says. 'When I was growing up, we used to drive through places like Tennessee, and I still remember how magical the Smoky Mountains felt. There's just something about being on the road and seeing how different and beautiful each part of the country is. I think it'd be an awesome way to bond with my kids and show them how much there is to explore right here in the U.S.' For Brady, travel is about more than just scenery or sightseeing. It's about perspective. 'Travel has taught me so much,' he says. 'It's helped me see the world from different angles, and it's given me a ton of appreciation for people and cultures that are nothing like my own. Stepping out of your comfort zone like that, it changes you.' Travel photos of Tom and his family on a recent trip to Japan. That lesson is one he hopes to pass on to his children, whether they're traveling abroad, crisscrossing the U.S., or watching their dad call games from the broadcast booth. 'As a dad, that's something I really want to pass on to my kids,' he says. 'I hope they see travel as this huge opportunity to learn, to grow, to stay curious. Some of the most important life lessons don't come from a classroom. They happen when you're out in the world, asking questions, trying new things, maybe even getting a little uncomfortable. That's where the magic happens.' Brady may no longer be under center, but he's clearly still on the move. With a headset in the booth, a suitcase by his side, and a broadened sense of purpose, he really is writing the next chapter of his playbook a journey at a time.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Wales must 'bin' Netherlands result before France
Wales' most-capped player Jess Fishlock says she "believes 100%," that her side can spring a surprise against France at Euro 2025 and has urged her teammates to put their 3-0 opening defeat to Netherlands "in the bin". Fishlock, Wales' all-time leading scorer, has won league titles in six different countries but like the rest of her teammates, is competing in a major international tournament for the first time. Advertisement Already huge underdogs in group D, Wales are being written off as no-hopers by many having suffered a chastening defeat in their opening game in Lucerne. Their next match is an equally daunting test in St Gallen as Wales face a France side who won their opening contest 2-1 against reigning champions England. "I know us as a group, we will refocus, we will learn really fast and we're really excited to get back on the field on Wednesday," Fishlock told BBC Sport Wales. "If you're going to ask me if I still believe that, then I will sit here and say wholeheartedly; I still believe. Advertisement "The biggest message is not to dwell too much on the game and the loss. I think we really need to take what we need to take from it and move forward and throw the rest in the bin. "I think that's my favourite saying all the time is take what you need to take and throw the rest in the bin. It's not going to help you and if it's not going to help you it's just going to hurt you." Fishlock, 38, feels Wales have the mindset to bounce back and pull off a shock. "Do I think we can surprise people? Absolutely," she said. "I think this team is still on a journey, it's not like we qualified for the Euros and all of a sudden everything is perfect, that's just not how this sport works. Advertisement "We are in a group with three unbelievably great teams and yes we have to learn perhaps a little bit faster than usual but do I believe that we can do that? 100%, I have full confidence in this group to continue on this path now. "We had our journey to get here, we've done that, now our journey is getting up to another level… and if there's a team that can bounce back and do that, it is Wales." Fishlock believes the key to Wales shocking France will be nullifying their threat and picking their moments to strike, having failed to register a shot on target in their opening match. "France are a great team," she added. Advertisement "They'll cause us different problems to Holland, I think. They're very powerful, very comfortable on the ball, love wide areas. "They're very good but we can be very good too and we just have to work together and nullify them as much as possible and then try and expose them with the players that we have. So we'll be doing a lot of work on that, I'm sure. "We don't have to win it in the first five minutes. We have to stay in it as long as possible and use the players that we have. We have some fantastic players that can cause damage to any team." Wales have received a boost for the game against France with the news that midfielder Ceri Holland is fit to start. Advertisement The Liverpool midfielder was substituted against Netherlands after going down with what appeared to be a muscular injury, but thankfully from a Welsh perspective it was only cramp. "I am ready to go," Holland confirmed.
New York Times
8 hours ago
- New York Times
By the numbers: Anatomy of the Guardians' 10-game losing streak
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians have lost 10 consecutive games. If you're the type of person who can't look away when driving past a car crash, this article might be for you. Let's dive into the numbers stemming from this rancid funk. That's the team's OPS, which ranks 28th in the majors, ahead of only the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox. As a team, the Guardians own a .224/.295/.361 slash line. Advertisement (In case you were wondering and, no, you're probably not and, yes, the run environments were completely different and, yes, this is the furthest thing from a fair comparison, but: The 1995 Cleveland Indians had a team slash line of .291/.361/.479. That team, of course, had Jim Thome and Manny Ramirez hitting sixth and seventh. This team has Johnathan Rodriguez and Will Wilson doing so.) Anyway, Cleveland's .656 OPS is the worst the team has mustered since 1972. If we use wRC+, which takes into account the league's run environment, the 2025 Guardians check in at 86 (or 14 percent below league average). In the last 50 years, the only season in which Cleveland has had a worse team wRC+ is 1991, when it was 85. That year, the team moved the fences back at Municipal Stadium, scored the fewest runs in baseball and racked up a league-high and franchise-record 105 losses. Sandy Alomar Jr. referred to the cavernous venue that year as 'a graveyard.' The club hit a grand total of 22 home runs in 82 home dates. Again, this is the company the 2025 team is keeping. Hey, at least two members of this team's starting lineup are All-Stars. What about the rest of the lineup? If we remove Steven Kwan and José Ramírez from the equation, here's the team's slash line: .202/.276/.334. That's a .610 OPS. The qualified hitter with the OPS closest to .610 this season is Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (.606). That ranks 150th out of 157 qualified hitters. In other words, the average hitter the Guardians are trotting out there — aside from Kwan and Ramírez, so seven out of nine spots in their order — is equal to the eighth-worst hitter in the league. 'Anytime we're in a big spot, Kwan and José, those are our guys,' said manager Stephen Vogt. 'There's no secret there. It's a lot of pressure on them a lot of times, but they step up and they rise to the occasion and they pick the boys up.' Advertisement That's the total number of runs the Guardians have scored during their skid. Six of those runs — 40 percent — came in one inning, nine days ago against the St. Louis Cardinals, when it seemed like the Guardians were releasing a whole bunch of pent-up frustration at the plate en route to salvaging their season. Not quite. They have been shut out in half of those 10 defeats. On Thursday, they allowed one run on three hits in 10 innings against the Chicago Cubs. They lost. On Friday, they allowed two runs on seven hits against the Detroit Tigers. They lost. On Saturday, they allowed one run on two hits against the Tigers. They lost. On Sunday, they allowed one run on one hit through nine innings against the Tigers. They lost. (This is like the opposite of the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar.) This streak has stretched 92 innings. The Guardians have scored in only eight of those 92. That number was 7-of-91 before they scored in the bottom of the 10th on Sunday, on a groundout and sacrifice fly, while trailing by six, thanks to the free baserunner rule. That's the number of regular-season home runs Cade Smith had allowed in 112 big-league appearances … until Sunday, when he surrendered a pair of opposite-field home runs that left-handed hitters socked over the 19-foot-high fence at Progressive Field. The only other player to take him deep during the regular season? Seattle Mariners utility player Dylan Moore, in June 2024. Smith looked untouchable on Saturday night when he averaged 98.6 mph on 13 fastballs and induced four whiffs on six swings. The velocity was up again Sunday (97.7 mph), but he didn't miss bats with his heater. Before that outing Sunday, Smith's numbers looked pretty similar to his ones from last season. 2024: 1.91 ERA, 1.40 FIP, 6.1 H/9, 2.0 BB/9, 12.3 K/9 2025: 2.23 ERA, 1.19 FIP, 6.7 H/9, 3.2 BB/9, 14.1 K/9 Advertisement Despite that rough outing, the pitching has not been a problem for Cleveland in recent weeks. Even with Luis Ortiz's, uh, vacation, the rotation has trended upward. Every Cleveland pitcher must feel the weight of 1,000 woolly mammoths when attempting to keep the score close. That's the number of consecutive games in which Chase DeLauter has reached base at Triple-A Columbus. It's become a meme at this point. This is a front office that has salivated over DeLauter's bat since spring 2024 when he wowed them so much that they kept him around until the very end of big-league camp. This is an offense that desperately needs a jolt. This seems like a perfect marriage. And yet, the Guardians have refused to deviate from their original plan for DeLauter once he suffered an injury four months ago. So, he continues to log at-bats in the minors and increase his endurance (which he could do in the majors, too) as the Guardians continue to try the same players in the same, futile spots. Surely, one prized prospect can't transform a wholly ineffective lineup, but refusing to promote him is like declining a snack because it would only partially quell your rumbling stomach. That's the number of years since Cleveland has suffered a losing streak of this length. It's the 12th double-digit losing streak in team history, the fifth in the last half-century. The franchise record is 12 consecutive losses, set in May 1931. That team finished with a winning record (78-76). In 2012, Cleveland dropped 11 straight, starting in late July, which launched the Month From Hell, in which the club amassed an August record of 5-24. That 2012 losing streak reached nine on a 10-inning Sunday matinee against the Tigers (sound familiar?) when Chris Perez failed to protect a three-run lead and Miguel Cabrera slugged a walk-off homer. That season was rock bottom for the club. It cost manager Manny Acta his job. It resulted in the hiring of Terry Francona and the overhauling of how the organization operates. Will this precipitous fall bring any change?
