Narbonne says City Section perpetual football trophy is missing again
The City Section perpetual football trophy is missing — again.
The last time this happened was after Narbonne received the trophy in 2018 for winning the Open Division title. Birmingham won the trophy in 2019 but never got to display it because it went missing until discovered in 2021. It was sticking out of a dumpster in Torrance, handed over to the Southern Section office, then presented to the City Section and cleaned up.
Narbonne won the trophy again last fall but was asked to return it in May after having to vacate the title because of rule violations. The City Section is still waiting for it to be returned.
'They said it's not where it's supposed to be,' City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos said when asked where the trophy might be.
If the trophy can't be found, Narbonne will be sent a bill to replace it, Lagos said.
'We're putting out a call for all good Samaritans,' Lagos said.
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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
How Detroit Tigers' Casey Mize overcame 'tough thoughts' for first MLB All-Star appearance
Casey Mize is one of the calmest players on the Detroit Tigers. But it's easy to imagine the frantic tone in his voice when he called clubhouse manager Dan Ross. He had an urgent – and unusual – request. "Dan, I need nice clothes," Mize said. "I don't own any." And so Ross sent Mize to State and Liberty in Birmingham — 20 miles north of Comerica Park. There, he picked out a light gray suit and a black T-shirt off the rack. A few days later, the 28-year-old showcased his new outfit: Mize made a decked-out appearane for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Show in Atlanta on July 15, just hours before the All-Star Game. ROTATION AND RELIEF: Tarik Skubal's gifts to Tigers rookie Troy Melton "Normally, that's not my thing," said Mize, a late All-Star replacement. "I don't own nice clothes or enjoy the camera or spotlight. But it was cool for my wife and me to be able to do that." After years of physical setbacks, mental hurdles and frustrating underperformance, Mize – the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2018 – has emerged from those dark days. His journey to his first All-Star Game in his five seasons has given him a newfound perspective about his life – both on and off the field – which he detailed in the American League clubhouse in July. "I'm proud to be where I am now," Mize said. "If you asked me when I was 21 how many of these I would be at, I would say a lot more than one at this stage in my career. If you asked me again when I was 25, I might say zero." Entering the All-Star break this season, Mize had a 3.15 ERA in 16 starts, up from a sub-3.00 ERA through his first 15. "I'm really proud that I was able to work through some things and perform at the level that I always knew I was capable of," said Mize, whose ERA hit 3.50 through 19 starts entering Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. "To put my belief on the field feels good, and to get rewarded for it by being here and experiencing this is pretty special." THE INJURY: Tigers' Casey Mize to undergo Tommy John surgery, might miss entire 2023 season In the Tigers' clubhouse at Comerica Park, Mize is locker buddies with left-hander Tarik Skubal. Both former top prospects pitched for the AL team in the All-Star Game. Skubal, twice sidelined by elbow surgery, has had a front-row seat to Mize's roller-coaster ride — from No. 1 overall pick to Tommy John surgery to All-Star. "I'm proud of him," Skubal said. "Everything he has gone through, ups and downs, a lot of downs, injuries, coming back from injury and not performing the way he's expected to perform, the way he expects of himself, and then going into an offseason and revamping his arsenal, and coming into spring training with not really a spot on the roster. Every start that he's had, he's earned it, and he's earned this moment. I couldn't be happier for him, not only as a teammate, but also as a friend." A sports psychologist Barely two years after he was drafted, Mize was on the fast track to becoming a frontline starter for the Tigers. Rising quickly through the Tigers' system, he made his MLB debut in 2020, then posted a 3.71 ERA across 30 starts in his first full season in 2021 — only to undergo Tommy John surgery in June 2022 to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. He didn't pitch again until 2024. "I fought some thoughts," Mize said. "I feel like did a pretty good job of flushing those, but to say that I never had any doubts or never any fear of, 'My career is not going to be what I thought it was going to be.' That came into my head at times." After elbow surgery, Mize found himself buying into negative thoughts. He felt miserable. His wife, Tali, helped him build a foundation for positivity by discovering their community at church. He also began meeting with a sports psychologist employed by the Tigers. "I wanted to deal with those tough thoughts I was having about my career," Mize said. "I wanted to be able to combat those thoughts. I'm also a guy that's going to leave no stone unturned. I was like, 'I'm doing everything I can physically right now, so that when I'm back, I'm the best play I can be.' I wanted to do the same thing mentally." He started the sessions in 2023. The conversations became more frequent before spring training in 2024, as he prepared for his return to competition. They still talk to this day. "I've learned, the longer you sit on those thoughts, and the longer you let it build up, the more negatively it's going to impact you," Mize said. "I've worked through a lot of those thoughts. Now, I don't think that way anymore. I just take my career as it comes at me." The Zack Wheeler model For Mize, Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler is a symbol of hope. Wheeler, now 35, was drafted No. 6 overall in 2009 and made his MLB debut in 2013. He had a 3.54 ERA across 32 starts in 2014, his first full season — only to undergo Tommy John surgery in March 2015. After the procedure, he didn't pitch again in the majors until 2017. There are parallels to Mize's journey. "In his first year back, he see-sawed a little bit," Mize said, "and then in his second year, he took off, and it's been domination ever since, and he's still going. That's always a guy I've kept an eye on, like this is still possible for me." THE COMEBACK: After 2 years, Tigers' Casey Mize — the No. 1 pick in 2018 draft — makes MLB return In 2017, Wheeler returned from Tommy John surgery with a 5.21 ERA in 17 starts. In 2024, Mize made his return from Tommy John surgery with a 4.49 ERA in 22 games. For Mize, the offseason between 2024 and 2025 became a chance to revamp the way he pitches. He was determined to make a big jump in his second year removed from elbow surgery, so he traveled to Driveline Baseball in Tampa, Florida, and Maven Baseball in Atlanta, to work on his pitch mix. He added breaking balls, boosted the velocity of his splitter and chased more whiffs. "How can we get to be the best player I can be?" Mize said. "That was the mentality switch a little bit this offseason. How can I get better? Because I was tired of not being a contributor.' The overhaul worked. Mize became an All-Star for the first time at age 28 in his fifth MLB season. Wheeler didn't make his first All-Star Game until 2021, his age-31 season and his seventh in MLB. From 2021-25 – over nearly nearly 900 innings and 144 starts (entering Sunday) – the Phillies ace owns a 2.90 ERA. He has established himself as one of MLB's best pitchers — if not the best — over a five-year span. In 2025, Wheeler is earning $42 million. Meanwhile, Mize is making $2.34 million in his second of three arbitration years. He is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2026 season. "Maybe I won't make $45 (million) a year or whatever he's doing and logging 200-some innings every year," Mize said. "But if I look at his career, I'm like, 'There are some similarities here.' That guy gives me some hope." 'My good luck charm' The combination of hope and diligence carried Mize all the way to the All-Star Game. Before taking the mound, he spent time on the red carpet. Tali joined him. Mize found his suit and shirt off the rack. But his wife faced a more complicated challenge. Pregnant with their first child, she spent an entire day at the mall searching for something to wear. Eventually, she gave up and ordered a dress that arrived just in time, thanks to overnight shipping. "She looked amazing," Mize said. Although Mize battled negative thoughts, the past few years have been full of positives: finding a church community, learning from a sports psychologist, returning from elbow surgery, developing as a pitcher, contributing to one of the best teams in baseball and earning his first All-Star appearance. His perspective on the game has shifted. "I was away from the game for so long, and I would've done anything to play and compete," Mize said. "I keep trying to remind myself that, 'You just gave up six runs to the Mariners. You would have loved to done that in 2023, just to literally be out there playing.' When I think of my career and the things I want to do, it's much more short-term than it used to be." Above all, Mize is preparing for something entirely differnet: Becoming a girl dad. "She's my good luck charm, I think — my little girl on the way," Mize said. "It's been a great year with great things happens and great things to look forward to. It's been wonderful." Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Casey Mize overcame 'tough thoughts' for 2025 MLB All-Star Game
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
I visited Birmingham's Soho Road to hear the real story beyond the drugs, drunks and sex work
Three men slump in a bus shelter, rambling and swigging from beer cans. Across the street, a stumbling group shout in disagreement, drinks in one hand, cigarettes in another. It's a sight more fitting of a Saturday night on Broad Street. Sadly, this is the reality at 9am on a Tuesday morning in one of Birmingham's busiest high streets. Here on Soho Road, Handsworth, the spiralling problem of alcohol and drug abuse is only getting worse. In a concerning video, up to six people were seen passed out in the street amid a 'bad batch of black mamba'. Read more: Police warning over specific family car targeted by criminals as 'flavour of the month' Though an arterial route through the city, it's one that's now synonymous with prostitution, anti-social behaviour and lately, the "huge boom" of exempt housing. Locals have become scared to shop there, and some now even want to move from the area they've called home for decades. But behind the scenes are those who are here to stay, a community that's fighting to survive in an increasingly challenging climate. We took a walk along the busy mile-long strip with resident and community activist, Shuranjeet Singh, to hear the real story of Soho Road as locals battle for a brighter future. With every new betting shop, or new exempt housing that's approved for the area, there's another that was rejected thanks to those residents who fought back, he points out. READ MORE: In pictures: The real story of Soho Road as community fight to survive amid challenges As we walk along, the main issue of drink and drugs is impossible to miss. Most bus shelters we pass are occupied with intoxicated men huddled under cover. Those awake enough to move make their presence known by shouting aggressively at one another. "This is the kind of mild peril we're seeing intensify," Mr Singh explains as we begin the walking tour. "Bus stops that should be shelters are now used by people who are incredibly intoxicated. "That in itself, particularly for elderly women, is enough to not feel as safe stood in close proximity. "I speak to people who want to come spend time on their high street, but don't feel safe making their way here or while they're there. But so many communities are still fighting which gives me a lot of hope and energy. So much work goes on behind the scenes to improve the area, he says, but unfortunately a recent project adding artwork to each bus shelters has only helped to hide the anti-social behaviour going on inside them. "I helped out and designed all of them, then you find out what it means in reality, police then can't see what's going on behind them," he says. An area steeped in history, Handsworth is full of beautiful, five or six bed Victorian homes. However, as more residents move out, more of these are fast becoming HMOs and exempt accommodations. "With a dwindling perception of the area, people want to move out but don't want to sell their properties, and families don't want to move in, so it's a bit of a spiral," he adds. Despite the problems, Mr Singh stresses that new businesses are choosing to open up here in an area boasting one of the city's most diverse food scenes. Via Delhi, Bocadias and Arya are just a handful of the new places to pop up in the street. In any other area, he argues empty shops would stay derelict, bringing down the appearance. Here however, each time a shop closes up to 20 enquiries will flood in to occupy the space. Shops that have been open since the late 70s are still going too. As we talk about up and coming businesses, a man with a beer can behind us shouts in the street about prison fights - such is the bizzare complexity of Soho Road. "When people talk about opening up opportunities, this has been that space for the last 70 years and it still is. People are so innovative, industrious," he continues. "The fascinating paradox of Soho Road is that there are challenges, but it's still seen as a place of opportunity. "Handsworth is just a historically very unique place, it's somewhere many have come to make their home when they've just moved to the country - with that came a lot of community work and organising. "In the 70s it wasn't a particularly transient place, that's changed a lot in 15 years. It was somewhere people saw their future, but sadly now I don't think a lot see their future here." Mr Singh, born and bred in Handsworth, chose to return to the area after University while his friends moved out to work in London. "I wanted to build where my roots are. My family are all within a ten minute walk of this point," he explains. "It's one of the most thriving places in the city, you only have to look down and see. We have eight places of worship, but then there's also six or seven bookies and that doesn't look towards an optimistic future, that doesn't make us feel excited, it's a bit of a negative stamp on the local map. "You have people who really like their area, but they're almost going through boxing rounds, one they've just been battered, another they've won." The building housing Monga's, a bridal shop, was due to become yet another betting shop. But thanks to the community, it was rejected and it instead now houses the bespoke store. "It's a really good example of what could have been vs. what is," he comments. Residents are also fighting to reclaim the derelict Bill House as new social housing for the elderly and families. However, the large building, which marks the "gateway to Soho Road", was purchased by an American company who are claimed to be "land-banking" and said to want £3.5million for it. "No developer wants to take it on because they know they won't get the money back," he says as we walk by. "That's been ongoing for two years. We're still pushing for something to happen with the building." Locals, alongside police, are also battling another application for an aparthotel near to primary schools and a nursery. There are already problems with drunks being abusive towards parents picking up their kids, he says. "There are businesses and community organisations offering opportunities, but then in the middle of that, we have issues with waste, housing related issues, and crime and anti-social behaviour," he added. "Everywhere has their challenges, but there are so many amazing things that are being done. There's this sense of warmth here. "There are things that happen behind the scenes, but really communities are doing so much to bring the place up. There's so much civic pride here, but there's a limit, and I worry we'll reach that. To rebuild civic pride is very difficult."
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Associated Press
Nigeria says it has arrested 2 militant leaders on its most wanted list
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — The leaders of two militant groups on Nigeria 's most wanted list have been arrested in an operation involving multiple agencies, the West African country's national security adviser said Saturday. The two leaders were allegedly the heads of Ansaru, an al-Qaida -linked group, and Mahmuda, a relatively new and lesser-known militant group. Mahmuda gained national prominence after a string of attacks earlier this year in the country's north-central region. Nigeria's northern region is home to numerous armed groups. Officials said the arrests came in an operation conducted between May and July and that they recovered valuable materials including digital evidence that is undergoing forensic analysis and could lead to more arrests. The arrested leaders are Mahmud Muhammad Usman of Ansaru and Mahmud al-Nigeri of the Mahmuda group. Both men are also wanted internationally, according to Nuhu Ribadu, the security adviser. 'These two men have been on Nigeria's most-wanted list for years. They jointly spearheaded multiple attacks on civilians, security forces and critical infrastructure,' Ribadu said at a news conference. He said the arrested leaders are responsible for the Kuje prison attack in 2022 that led to the escape of dozens of jailed Boko Haram members and an attack on the Niger uranium facility in 2013, among others. Ribadu said they maintain 'active links with terrorist groups across the Maghreb, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso.' Nigeria faces a complex, multidimensional security challenge with various armed groups operating across the country. On one side are religiously motivated groups, including 16-year-old Boko Haram and its splinter factions like Ansaru and the Islamic State West Africa Province. On the other are amorphous groups specializing in kidnapping for ransom and looting and commonly referred to as bandits. Sometimes, their activities overlap. Despite military assaults on the groups, they have continued to expand their operations and carry out routine attacks. This year, Boko Haram has mounted a major resurgence. The U.S. government on Wednesday approved the sale of $346 million in arms to bolster Nigeria's fight against insurgency and criminal groups. 'The successful decapitation of the leadership of this dangerous franchise marks the most decisive blow against ANSARU since its inception. This strike has effectively dismantled its central command while paving the path for the complete annihilation of the group,' Ribadu said. Oluwole Ojewale, a Dakar-based security analyst at the Institute of Security Studies, says the significant arrest will test the resilience of Ansaru and its capacity to spring surprises or mount major attacks in the immediate term. 'The impacts of this arrest on the terrorist groups depend on what the Nigerian state security does with the intelligence at their disposal,' he said.
