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Reuters
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Reuters
Bill Belichick won't appear weekly on UNC's coach's radio show
August 15 - First-year North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick will appear on the opening installment of the traditional weekly coach's radio show, but that's it. Formerly known as "Mack Brown Live," the show has been renamed "Carolina Football Live" and will continue to be aired weekly from a restaurant and brewery near the North Carolina campus in Chapel Hill, the university said in a news release. Belichick will take the coach's seat for the first show of the season, set for Aug. 27 ahead of the season opener against TCU. After that, the show will air on Mondays and look at the Tar Heels' game the past weekend and the one the weekend ahead. North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi will be the headliner each week, joined by assistant coaches and players. Belichick will sit alongside Lombardi for the first edition. Jones Angell, the radio play-by-play announcer for the Tar Heels, hosts the one-hour show. While appearing on a weekly radio show is a contract requirement for many college football coaches, it is not in the case of Belichick. His contract stipulates only that he make appearances "as reasonably requested by the University." Belichick, 73, has not been a head coach of a college program before this season. He led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl championships from 2000-23. North Carolina and TCU meet Sept. 1 in Chapel Hill. There is great anticipation for Belichick's first season, with all tickets to home games sold out.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Bill Belichick refuses to take part in college football tradition as 73-year-old nears first game with UNC
has decided he won't take part in a traditional requirement of North Carolina 's football head coach this season. It has been announced that the eight-time Super Bowl winner won't participate in the Tar Heels' traditional coach's radio show throughout the year. Belichick, 73, will appear on the first episode of the season on August 27 but will not be on the show again. Instead, he will be replaced by the Tar Heels' general manager Michael Lombardi. He will be joined by various assistant coaches and players throughout the season. The show was previously known as 'Mack Brown Live' after the former head coach but now it has been rebranded to 'Carolina Football Live', owing to Belichick's decision to not be a regular guest. The plan is for the show to still be aired on a weekly basis from Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery near the school's Chapel Hill campus. A coach's weekly radio show is common across college football and gives fans an opportunity to ask the team's leader some questions. The premise of the shows has changed in recent years, going from live phone calls with coaches to fans sending their questions in via text or email. Some coaches have appearing on a weekly radio show written into their contract but there was no such demand added to Belichick's deal. It emerged earlier this week that the influence of Belichick's 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson is now spilling over into the recovery methods of the team. Belichick stunned football fans with his strength and flexibility earlier this year when he was pictured hoisting Hudson into the air during a beach date with his girlfriend. And now it's emerged that the legendary coach is using yoga to help his UNC players prepare for the new season. The 73-year-old is in his first ever college football role after joining the Tar Heels back in January. His tenure has so far been dominated by his relationship with Hudson and the 24-year-old's perceived influence on Belichick and UNC football. The couple went viral in March after Hudson shared pictures of them performing acrobatics on the beach. In one image, the 24-year-old could be seen lying horizontally on her boyfriend's outstretched legs. Belichick later joked that he is simply 'trying to stay young'. And this week, the six-time Super Bowl winner opened up on how yoga is now helping his players get in shape ahead of the new season. 'Yoga is a recovery technique. It's not really a training technique,' Belichick said. 'We use it more for recovery, and there are a lot of benefits to it. 'It's a good way after a couple, three, four days of practices to give the body a chance to recover, stretch, get the blood flowing, and so forth.'
New York Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Bill Belichick won't headline North Carolina's weekly coach's radio show
Bill Belichick coaches in college football, but it appears he won't be a regular in one college football tradition: The coach's weekly radio show. North Carolina announced Thursday that Belichick will be on the first episode of the Tar Heels' weekly radio show on Aug. 27 at Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery, but general manager Michael Lombardi will be the show's headliner each week. Previously called 'Mack Brown Live,' it will now be called 'Carolina Football Live.' Assistant coaches and players will join Lombardi weekly on the show, according to UNC's press release, which does not specify when Belichick will return to the show. Lombardi has previous media experience, hosting podcasts and appearing regularly on Pat McAfee's show. While the coach's weekly radio show is still common across college football, the opportunity for fans to call in and ask live questions has started to disappear over the years. Nick Saban was a rare high-profile coach who continued to take live calls until he retired in 2024. Many schools have removed that opportunity, either because of losses or a coach getting upset with a caller. After a spat with 'Tyler from Spartanburg' in 2023, Clemson ended live calls for coach Dabo Swinney. The show now takes questions via text message. North Carolina says fans who cannot make the show in person can submit questions via email. Some college coaches have the weekly radio show written into their contracts. Belichick's deal at UNC only says the coach shall appear on media opportunities 'as reasonably requested by the University' and that the timing and location shall be mutually agreed upon by the parties. It's under the $9 million 'supplemental income' section of his contract. North Carolina opens with TCU on Sept. 1. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MLB Draft: Pound Ridge's Michael Lombardi selected by the Kansas City Royals in 2nd round
Michael Lombardi said that getting drafted would be "a step" toward fulfilling his dream of reaching the big leagues. Well, the Pound Ridge native being selected in the second round of the MLB draft can be considered a long stride. The pitcher was chosen by the Kansas City Royals with the 61st overall pick on July 13, several slots ahead of his projection. "It's the greatest thing in the world," Fox Lane High School baseball coach Matt Hillis said of his former pupil, who graduated in 2022. "Michael is a special kid. He's incredibly nice and polite, so you root for him as a person, and it's a joy to watch him succeed. He went to Tulane, so he's obviously a high academic achiever and on top of that, his athletic ability is starting to speak for itself." The 21-year-old joins Henry Davis and Tyler Renz as former Fox Lane standouts who've been drafted in recent years. Davis, who now is a catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, was taken by them with the No. 1 overall pick in 2021 after a stellar career at Louisville. Renz, a pitcher, was taken by the Brewers in the 18th round last summer after a dominant high school season. Nick Becker, a Thiells resident, was selected by the Seattle Mariners with the 57th pick. The 18-year-old shortstop is a recent graduate of Don Bosco Prep and was named New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year in June. Valley Cottage native Adonys Guzman, a University of Arizona catcher, was drafted by the Pirates in the fifth round. Guzman attended Salesian High School. Anthony Frobose, who starred at shortstop for Lakeland High School this spring, was picked by the Mets in the ninth round. Lombardi features a four-seam fastball that has topped out at 97 mph, complemented by a changeup and a curveball with 12-to-6 movement. He contributed as a two-way player for Tulane University and believes that his velocity and repertoire could improve as a professional, once he focuses only on pitching. The right-hander starred as a relief pitcher and occasional starter, going 4-1 with a 2.14 ERA, 73 strikeouts and a 0.97 WHIP in 42 innings. Lombardi recorded 11 saves and held opponents to a .143 batting average. He also showed his athletic versatility, playing center field and batting .273 with an .845 OPS and four homers in 139 at-bats along with going 5 for 5 on stolen bases. Lombardi said he first began thinking the draft was a possibility last year, when area scouts approached him after games and offered positive feedback. That intensified this spring during a breakout season that vaulted him among the top collegiate prospects. He was ranked 75th overall, according to The next step for Lombardi will be the negotiation and signing of his contract, then being assigned to a minor league team. The approximate signing bonus slot value of the 61st pick is $1.49 million. The Royals chose outfielder Sean Gamble with their first-round pick, then used an additional Prospect Promotion Incentive pick (28th overall) on shortstop Josh Hammond. Lombardi began for them a run on pitchers with his selection followed by Texas A&M left-hander Justin Lamkin and Cameron Millar, an 18-year-old pitcher from California. White Plains native Jimmy Keenan, a Wake Forest catcher, has a chance to be selected later in the draft. Joe La Sorsa of Mount Kisko, Bronxville's Harrison Bader, Josiah Gray of New Rochelle and Rye native George Kirby are some of the former local standouts currently in the major leagues. "He's off the charts as a human being," Hillis said of Lombardi, "so I couldn't be happier for him." Stephen Haynes covers baseball for The Journal News/lohud. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: MLB Draft: Michael Lombardi selected by the Royals in the second round
Fox News
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
North Carolina GM says 'noise' surrounding Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson has 'no relevancy'
Print Close By Ryan Canfield Published June 14, 2025 University of North Carolina football general manager Michael Lombardi is adamant about making sure reports about Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson's relationship don't become a distraction. Hudson shut down a question about how the couple met from Tony Dokoupil during Belichick's interview with "CBS News Sunday Morning" in April, and the interview generated widespread criticism. "I mean, a lot of it is just noise," Lombardi said during an appearance on ESPN Radio's "Marty & McGee." CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON "And for us to be distracted by something that has no bearing, that has no relevance whatsoever, that is a complete falsehood, in terms of what people are saying or what they're writing. It's comical. And, for me, to really even attack anybody who's saying it, gives them credibility. Which I don't, because it's a completely false narrative." Lombardi pointed to the success the program has had this offseason avoiding the "noise." "And the noise out there comes from a direction of people trying to be disruptive within our program. We're not going to allow it. We're not going to acknowledge it. We're gonna move on," Lombardi said. BILL BELICHICK INSISTS GIRLFRIEND HAS NO UNC FOOTBALL ROLE, WON'T BE ON SIDELINES "And, look, let's face it, the proof's in the pudding. We're having a tremendous recruiting class. We had a tremendous portal, and we're going to continue to get better every day." Lombardi said when the interview first aired, there was no reason for concern. He said his concern stems from North Carolina's football schedule, not the Belichick-Hudson drama. "Everybody looked at each other and was like in complete amazement. I mean, so, we didn't have any reason to circle the wagons. The reason we had was to focus on what we're going to do, as Bill said in a lot of the interviews — and I don't want to speak for Coach Belichick — but he said, 'Look, Jordon does stuff in his business outside of North Carolina football, not here.' I mean, it's just completely a story that was generated from — basically, made up," Lombardi said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "I mean, it's a tremendous, you know, you could be a great novelist, some of the people that report this stuff. So, we had no, there's no reason to circle any wagons. Look, when we play Clemson, we're gonna have to circle the wagons. But we play TCU on the opening game, we're going to have to circle the wagons. Those are competition. This is just noise." Belichick's coaching debut with North Carolina will come against TCU Sept. 1 at 8 p.m. ET. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Print Close URL
