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Forbes
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
St. Louis Shock Sweep Home Major League Pickleball Event To Go Top Of The Table
St. Louis' dynamic duo of Gabe Tardio (L) and Hayden Patriquin (R) led their team to an undefeated ... More weekend at home. There's no rest for the weary; just a few days after the exciting Mid-Season tournament in Grand Rapids finished up, a handful of Major League Pickleball (MLP)'s teams headed right to St. Louis for the eighth of ten regular season events. The St. Louis Shock played host to the weekend's festivities, which they held at the Chaifetz Arena on the grounds of St. Louis University. The arena is named for the Chaifetz family, who also happen to be the owners of the hosting St. Louis Shock team, and who personally guaranteed this event to be the 'biggest event of the season." One thing is for sure; the setup of the Arena made this look more like a full-on professional sporting event than the league has ever had before; even at our nicest facilities, most pickleball tournaments are held at Country Clubs or parks where temporary stands are built; in St. Louis the arena look and feel really showed what MLP's founders intended; a home-supported team event where tickets are sold and fans show up just to watch, and not also to play in the event. Key Links for tracking the event this weekend, which featured livestreams from the two primary courts at the facility on MLP's YouTube channel and on Transaction Recap See my separate story from earlier discussing the massive Ben Johns trade and its implications for the title race and the league in general. Premier League Recap Day 1 Observations Day 2 Observations Day 3 Observations Quite the entrance for ST. Louis' captain Anna Bright. Day 4 Observations CJ Klinger (L) teamed up with Columbus partner Andre Daescu (R) to help clinch 4th place, for now. Challenger League Recap Day 1 Observations Day 2 Observations Day 3 Observations Day 4 Observations Team Standings Update post Event Here's the teams who made moves up or down the Standings in this event. In Premier In ChallengerWhat did we learn this weekend? What were our top three Takeaways from the competition this weekend? Media Pick' Em Contest Update MLP Super-Fan Matty Pickles (aka Matt Klitch) runs a season-long Media MLP Pick'em Contest on Twitter, where all the pundits in the sport are participating. Here's how we did this week, and where we stand overall. Summary: I had my worst week predicting matches yet. I missed four matches outright, including both Dallas losses, and took a penalty point as well for missing my 'lock of the week' when Brooklyn shocked Columbus on Sunday afternoon. I maintain a very small lead over Jim Kloss, aka 'the smartest man in pickleball," for the season long competition. Next up on the Pickleball Calendar? According to my Master Pickleball Schedule, we're right back into Week 9 of MLP, this time heading to Dallas. The Dallas field is loaded. All three of the league's top teams are there (NJ, STL, Dallas) along with the dangerous Texas Ranchers. Lastly the LA Mad Drops and their new acquisition Johns will be in action for the first time, which should make for a super-interesting weekend. All match stats quoted in this article are courtesy of PickleWave. Visit for the premier source of Pro Pickleball data, including match replays, highlights, stats, and discussion. PickleWave has more than 22,000 matches in its database across all the pro tours. Also, a great thanks to The Dink's Erik Tice, who maintains a fantastic MLP detailed data breakdown and makes it publicly available at this Google XLS link. Tice's data has proved invaluable this year as MLP does not make match data available at this detailed level at present.
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Former Rangers coach ‘eyes swoop for Ibrox star as two European rivals battle it out for his signature'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CLINTON NSIALA is being targeted by two European clubs that play in the same league, it's being claimed. Rangers boss Russell Martin has already made it clear that the defender will leave the Ibrox club this summer - just one year after sealing his move to Scotland. 2 Clinton Nsiala is expected to leave Rangers in the coming weeks Credit: Willie Vass 2 Issame Charai is keen to sign him at his new club Credit: Alamy Nsiala, 21, moved to Glasgow last summer after agreeing a pre-contract switch from Italian giants AC Milan. The French defender made 13 appearances for the Gers first team in all competitions last season and played regularly under interim boss Barry Ferguson. But he has since fallen down the pecking order at Ibrox with manager Martin admitting he's set for the exit door after the friendly against Club Brugge. Martin has already brought two new centre-backs to the club as Emmanuel Fernandez joined in a permanent deal, while Nasser Djiga arrived on loan from Wolves. It leaves Nsiala out-of-favour and the Light Blues gaffer is keen for him to leave on loan for more game time. And now two clubs have reportedly joined the race to sign him for the upcoming season. The Daily Record claim that Zulte Waregem and Westerlo - both of Belgium - are set to battle it out to sign the defender on loan. Zulte are looking to add to their squad ahead of their campaign in the top flight next season after winning the Challenger League last term. Rivals Westerlo finished the season in tenth place last season and narrowly missed out on a Conference League spot for the upcoming campaign. They are now managed by former Rangers assistant manager Issame Charai who only left Ibrox last month. Rangers boss Russell Martin opens up on transfer plans as he delivers updates on Dessers and Igamane He's well aware of Nsiala's qualities and could have the edge in the transfer race given his Ibrox connections. The 21-year-old won't be the only defender to head out of Govan in the coming weeks. John Souttar could also depart as he's a shock target for Turkish side Trabzonspor. Ben Davies remains at the club as well but he's also expected to leave before the season gets underway. Left-back Ridvan Yilmaz could also be on his way out after losing his shirt number to Bournemouth loanee Max Aarons. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Record
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Nsiala sees Rangers escape route open up as De Jong wants 'adventure abroad' and Yilmaz says 'yes' to exit
Russell Martin has already admitted that the former AC Milan defender could leave and Ridvan Yilmaz may follow him Zulte Waregem and Westerlo are both interested in a loan for Clinton Nsiala. Record Sport understands Belgian outfits have both been alerted to the defender's availability after Nsiala was knocked down the pecking order by Russell Martin's arrival, and he has already admitted that the former AC Milan defender could exit. Zulte have just won the Challenger League and are looking to strengthen for their top-flight return. Rivals Westerlo are also in the equation and are also considering a move. The 21-year-old was brought in as one for the future last season but the arrival of Martin and the new Rangers' ownership has seen a change in the club's recruitment strategy. Meanwhile reported Gers target Luuk de Jong reportedly has his heart set on a departure from PSV Eindhoven - amid swirls that he is a transfer target for Rangers. The 34-year-old is currently a free agent after leaving the Eredivisie champions earlier this month but has been training with his former club in order to keep his fitness up. However, manager Peter Bosz has revealed that talks over a new contract for the former Barcelona and Newcastle frontman have failed to make any progress and the Netherlands international has not travelled with the rest of the squad for a pre season trip in Germany. And now Dutch outlet VI claim that de Jong is now looking for a 'great adventure abroad', with hopes of extending his stay with PSV diminishing. PSV are said to be lining up a replacement should their skipper move on, with Borussia Monchengladbach attacker Alassane Plea in their sights. Russell Martin has bolstered his options at Ibrox with seven new faces but the signing spree is set to continue, with the first leg of the huge Champions League second round qualifier against Panathinaikos just seven days away. And Gers have now been linked with a potential stat of tomorrow. Hayters TV report that the Light Blues have their eye on Cardiff City's 16-year-old striker Jack Sykes. The teen banged in 28 goals for the Bluebirds at U18 level last season and while the English Championship side are reluctant to lose him, the report adds that Rangers could snap him up for a minimum development compensation dee due to FIFA's cross-border rules. Several players on the fringes of the squad have been tipped to make moves away from Ibrox and the latest to get a potential exit route is Ridvan Yilmaz. The Turkey international made just 26 appearances last season due to injury, and reports in his homeland claim that a move back to former club Besiktas is on the cards.
