
Playing hockey with Russians would be hypocrisy, not diplomacy
Last week, my daughter's school put on the play 'Girls in the Boat' by Alice Austen. Austen ran track at Oregon before studying law at Harvard, where she co-founded the Harvard Human Rights Journal. Correlatedly, this play is about sports and equality — specifically, the American women who persevered against sexism to compete in the first women's Olympic rowing competition at the 1976 Montreal Summer Games. They went on to become the most dominant Olympic sports team in U.S. history.
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Hockey Canada GM Explains Brad Marchand Snub on Initial Olympic Roster
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Aryna Sabalenka in startling new act towards Coco Gauff after 'unprofessional' act
Tennis star Aryna Sabalenka has revealed she apologised to French Open winner Coco Gauff for her 'unprofessional' comments after capitulating during the final in Paris. Gauff one a close three-set final over Sabalenka at Roland Garros, but the World No.1 was left in tears after the defeat having felt she could have played much better. While Sabalenka finished with 30 winners, she also made 70 unforced errors as her game fell apart in the third set. The World No.1 was visibly upset after the defeat with the American winning her maiden French Open title. Speaking after the final, Sabalenka largely dismissed Gauff's comeback and claimed her errors cost her another grand slam. "It was honestly the worst tennis I've played in I don't know how many months," Sabalenka said. "Conditions were terrible, and she simply was better in these conditions than me. I think I was overemotional and I didn't really handle myself well. I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes from, if you look from the outside, easy balls." But after the clay court dust has settled on her defeat, Sabalenka has revealed she took the loss poorly. Speaking ahead of her first grass-court match this year in Berlin, Sabalenka said she reached out to Gauff to apologise for her comments. "That was just completely unprofessional of me," said Sabalenka to Eurosport Germany. "I let my emotions get the better of me. "I absolutely regret what I said back then. We all make mistakes. I'm just a human being who's still learning in life. I think we all have those days when we lose control. The difference with me is the world is watching." RELATED: Tennis world in frenzy over news about Kyrgios and Naomi Osaka De Minaur responds to 'awful' revelation from Boulter amid Wimbledon setback Sabalenka was seen tearing up during the French Open post-tournament ceremony, but her comments in the press conference caused a stir. "I cannot go out there every time against her in the finals of the Grand Slam and play such terrible tennis," Sabalenka said at the time. "It felt like a joke, honestly, like somebody from above was just there laughing saying, 'let's see if you can handle this'. Honestly, sometimes it felt like she was hitting the ball from the frame. Somehow magically the ball lands in the court, and you are kind of on the back foot." Gauff's win marked her first French Open title to go along with her maiden US Open triumph. The 21-year-old will head into Wimbledon in form, but she has not always enjoyed success on grass. The power-hitter has never made it past the round of 16 at Wimbledon, despite having reached it three times in her young career. She will be boosted though having achieved the World No.2 ranking after winning in Paris. Meanwhile, Sabalenka will also feel she can carry some momentum into the grass court campaign as she looked to add her first grand slam title to her collection in 2025.


UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
Former wrestling champion Ben Askren may need lung transplant, wife says
Former Missouri NCAA Division 1 champion wrestler and UFC fighter Ben Askren is being evaluated for a lung transplant, his wife revealed Tuesday, after he was hospitalized with severe pneumonia. File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo June 17 (UPI) -- Former UFC fighter and wrestling champion Ben Askren is in the process of being evaluated for a possible lung transplant, his wife revealed Tuesday, as he is "still fighting" for his life. Askren, 40, was hospitalized in critical condition earlier this month in Wisconsin with a severe case of pneumonia, caused by a staph infection. He is currently sedated on a ventilator and ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). "I haven't shared an update because Ben has been in limbo for a while and I was hoping to have him wake up and be the one to decide what to share," Amy Askren wrote Tuesday on Facebook. "Ben is still on a ventilator and ecmo to support him while he heals. There are good days and bad, but on the good, they have been able to wean his sedation enough for him to open his eyes and squeeze hands," his wife added. "His body can't handle coming off sedation too much yet. I'm still praying for a miracle with his current lungs, but they are currently starting the evaluation process for lung transplant," she said. "I know transplants are such a blessing and I'm overwhelmed at the thought of him receiving a gift like that. No one would take better care of that gift than Ben." Askren retired from MMA in 2019, but returned for a boxing bout vs. Jake Paul in 2021. He was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic team and was a two-time NCAA Division I champion in wrestling. "Ben is the healthiest guy I know and I never could have expected this," his wife added. "Please pray for his continued healing, and if transplant is the solution, that he can get on the list quickly and easily." Athletes, wrestlers and the UFC have offered their thoughts, as Askren remains hospitalized, and prayers as he undergoes evaluation for a lung transplant. "We here at the UFC certainly join in sending all our support to Ben, his wife Amy and their kids as they stay strong through this difficult fight."