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RTÉ News
01-07-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Former captain Michael Bree appointed head coach of Irish team
Former captain Michael Bree has been appointed the new head coach of the Ireland senior men's basketball team. Bree will take charge of the team from 1 September and has signed a four-year contract. Capped over 40 caps for Ireland between 2000 and 2006 – the Sligo man is currently assistant with Denmark's senior men's team and will start his new role at the conclusion of their FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifying campaign. Bree has been with the Danish national team since 2023. The 45-year-old spent five years as Sweden's Under-16 and U18 men's head coach and worked with Gothenburg's Högsbo Basket, following an eight-year professional playing career in France, Germany, Spain, Poland and Sweden between 2002 and 2010. After leaving Sligo in 1998, Bree played college basketball at NCAA Division 1 programme Davidson College in North Carolina. Bree said: "I am delighted and honoured to be taking on this new role within Basketball Ireland. I'm ecstatic to have the good fortune to represent our basketball nation once again on the international stage. "We are an emerging nation within the international basketball community and to have the opportunity to add value to the programme is immensely motivating and makes me very proud. Throughout my career, Irish basketball has presented me with so many wonderful experiences and opened numerous doors to new and exciting possibilities. "My wish is to offer at least as much in return, as we navigate the potential challenges that high-level competitive international basketball can present." Basketball Ireland CEO,John Feehan, added: "There's been a huge interest in this position from coaches at home, in Europe and beyond, which is a testament to the growing respect for the ability of Irish players to compete at the highest level. "Michael's commitment to the ongoing development of Irish basketball mirrors Basketball Ireland's ambition for the growth of the sport. I'm looking forward to seeing what he brings to the role in the over the next four years."
Irish Examiner
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Sligo native Michael Bree named new head coach of Irish men's basketball team
Sligo native Michael Bree has been appointed head coach of the Ireland senior men's team. Bree, a former Irish captain, succeeds Mark Keenan who stepped down in April. The appointment comes ahead of the FIBA EuroBasket 2029 Pre-Qualifiers, which begin in November. Bree will take charge of the team from September 1st and has signed a four-year contract. Bree - who won over 40 caps for Ireland between 2000 and 2006 – is currently assistant with Denmark's senior men's team and will start his new role at the conclusion of their FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifying campaign. Bree has been with the Danish national team since 2023. Previously, the 45-year-old spent five years as Sweden's U16 and U18 men's head coach and worked with Gothenburg's Högsbo Basket, following an eight-year professional playing career in France, Germany, Spain, Poland and Sweden between 2002 and 2010. After leaving Sligo in 1998, Bree played college basketball at NCAA Division 1 programme Davidson College in North Carolina. He captained the team in his junior and senior season, earning MVP honours in each. Only one other person has managed to achieve this in school history - four-time NBA champion Steph Curry - who was recruited to the school at the end of Bree's time there. 'I am delighted and honoured to be taking on this new role within Basketball Ireland," said Bree. "I'm ecstatic to have the good fortune to represent our basketball nation once again on the international stage. We are an emerging nation within the international basketball community and to have the opportunity to add value to the programme is immensely motivating and makes me very proud. "Throughout my career, Irish basketball has presented me with so many wonderful experiences and opened numerous doors to new and exciting possibilities. My wish is to offer at least as much in return, as we navigate the potential challenges that high-level competitive international basketball can present.'
UPI
18-06-2025
- Health
- 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."
San Francisco Chronicle
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Coldplay's Chris Martin responds to Palestinian flag at Stanford Stadium with message of unity
Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin surveyed the flags and handwritten signs among the Stanford Stadium crowd when he spotted a Palestinian flag. He acknowledged and welcomed the flag holder, but promptly issued a warning to anybody at the concert on Saturday, May 31, who would try to twist his intentions. It was an inclusive gesture handled with grace and humanity from one of the most openly optimistic frontmen in rock 'n' roll. "I'm so happy to see a Palestinian flag,' Martin said. 'But just to be clear: We love all people from everywhere, so don't put that out on the internet with some bull—, OK?' Coldplay at Stanford Stadium: Prepare for traffic, fireworks and big crowds That relentless positivity is why cynics love to bash on Coldplay. They hate the band's do-good, feel-good earnestness. They hate how their songs cuddle up and nestle their way into your heart. They hate Martin's upbeat energy and cheerful patter, which is akin to an over-caffeinated fitness instructor trying to get 'just three more' from you at 6 a.m. But the haters are outnumbered. On Saturday, Coldplay packed the first of two sold-out nights at Stanford Stadium, opening the NCAA Division 1 football field to full-scale concerts for the first time. For more than two hours, Coldplay tested the building's structural integrity with a high, renewable energy show that mixed reliable anthems with newer songs and a few swing-and-a-miss moments. The British group — singer Martin, guitarist Jonny Buckland, bassist Guy Berryman and drummer Will Champion — entered the stage a little after 7:45 p.m., deploying reusable LED wristbands given to fans at the door that illuminated the stadium and deflected the ills of the outside world. Coldplay's intoxicating unity matched the heat that beat down on early comers who braved traffic to watch openers Willow, the mononymous offspring of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, and Palestinean-Chilean dance pop artist Elyanna. Much like their Irish counterparts U2, one of Coldplay's greatest strengths is the band's ability to harness and ride momentum. The 'Music of the Spheres' tour, in support of its ninth studio album of the same name, imagines Coldplay as space travelers embarking on a journey through the galaxy — with their fans in tow — before returning home. It's been thoroughly road-tested for the past three years, with a previous stop at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara in 2022, and on Saturday they had a full tank of hits to pull from. More Information Coldplay: With Willow and Elyanna. Sunday, June 1. 5:25 p.m. Resale tickets start at $247. Stanford Stadium, 625 Nelson Rd, Stanford. Setlist Higher Power Adventure of a Lifetime Paradise The Scientist Viva la Vida Hymn for the Weekend Magic God Put a Smile On Your Face Yellow All My Love Human Heart People of the Pride Clocks We Pray Infinity Sign/Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall Something Just Like This (Chainsmokers cover) My Universe A Sky Full of Stars Sparks The Jumbotron Song Fix You Good Feelings feelslikeimfallinginlove The high points demonstrated how Coldplay has earned its spot as one of the world's best live bands. 'Viva La Vida,' performed on a second stage at the 50-yard line, retained its position as a top five stadium banger of any genre. In contrast, 'Fix You' was elegiac and moving. Meanwhile, 'Yellow' and 'A Sky Full of Stars,' combined with the LED wristbands, created a utopian universe of its own. The band and stage design were fully locked in, Martin leading singalongs that rival the mightiest European football chants. That said, the space trip had its bumps. Coldplay's polished sincerity made a few songs sound like they were made for corporate training videos. K-pop greats BTS appeared onscreen during 'My Universe,' a prime example of East-West collaborations that look great on paper but fall short in execution. Ditto 'We Pray,' which, like unseasoned chicken, is good for you but lacks flavor in a live setting. The Coldplay structural integrity test concluded just before the city's 10 p.m. curfew, finishing with an epic take of 'feelslikeimfallinginlove' and a fully loaded fireworks display. The stadium foundation bore the load of 84,000 pounding feet and soaked up gallons of spilled hard seltzer — and stood ready for future concerts to infinity and beyond.
Boston Globe
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Stonehill College receives $15 million gift, kick-starting campaign to build a new home for basketball and hockey teams
Seating capacity for each venue will be approximately 2,500, in addition to premium hospitality and viewing areas. Currently, the hockey teams practice and play home games at Bridgewater Ice Arena as independents. An on-campus rink would go a long way in helping the teams join a league, with Atlantic Hockey America a logical destination. Related : Advertisement The basketball teams The school announced that the building will be named the Tom & Kathleen Bogan Arena. Tom Bogan was an accounting major who graduated from Stonehill in 1972, and has been an executive and investor in the software industry for most of his career. 'We are so thankful to the Bogans for their inspirational leadership,' said Stonehill athletic director Dean O'Keefe. 'The Tom & Kathleen Bogan Arena will help shine a new spotlight on Stonehill for the thousands of visitors who will experience an NCAA Division 1 contest in person.' Follow Andrew Mahoney
