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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FAQs about the Spirit's coaching shuffle. Plus: USWNT meeting Hayes' deadline
Full Time Newsletter ⚽| This is 's weekly women's soccer newsletter. Sign up here to receive Full Time directly in your inbox. Meg is off today enjoying a rare sunny day in Vermont, so it's me, Emily Olsen, here with Tamerra Griffin — welcome to Full Time! Spirit's Shuffle Another coaching change in Washington Stop me if you've heard this one before: The Washington Spirit have changed coaches. Advertisement Two-time UEFA Champions League-winning coach Jonatan Giráldez is headed to OL Lyonnes, another club under owner Michele Kang's umbrella. Let's start with the news. After just 377 days in charge of the Spirit, Giráldez will join the eight-time champions of Europe starting this summer. The 33-year-old is leaving the NWSL club halfway through the season. Sources close to Kang told The Athletic this was not a preplanned move and that it came about when Lyonnes' former coach, Joe Montemurro, made it clear he was going to leave the club after just one season. The Australia women's national team announced it hired Montemurro earlier today. Assistant Spirit coach Adrián González, who led the team through a successful 15 matches last season while Giraldéz finished his Champions League run with Barcelona, will step into the managing role on July 18. Advertisement I've covered the Spirit in some capacity since 2015. If I had a nickel for every coaching change I've seen in that decade, I'd have nine. NINE! Sure, it's not enough to afford the new Inciardi art prints the team sells on game day, but that's still a lot of change for one team. Those changes include coaches dismissed for misconduct, interims, a single-game stint by Angela Salem in the ill-fated 2022 season and now the give-and-go situation happening with Giráldez and González. Spirit forward Trinity Rodman, one of the faces of NWSL, has yet to have a single coach for more than one season at her club. When I asked her at the end of last year how the team was able to get to two NWSL championships (winning one), she took an approach à la Bane's 'I was born in it' comment in 'The Dark Knight Rises': 'It's almost scarier when it's smooth sailing,' she said. What to expect from González González is no stranger to Washington. In fact, he might be one of the most consistent head coaches in the last few years, even if some of that time was spent as both an interim and assistant coach. Advertisement González led Washington through preseason last year and to a 10-1-4 record through the first fifteen games. He helped the team to some of its best expected goal stats since 2021. (He did so with a healthy roster, something the Spirit haven't had recently.) During the Olympic break last year, Giráldez took over. He built on González's strong start to lead the Spirit to the 2024 NWSL Championship, which they lost 1-0 to the Orlando Pride. Now, a year later, the reverse will happen. The Spirit have dealt with a spate of injuries this season, headlined by Rodman, but are currently fourth in the NWSL table with a record of 6-1-3, five points behind No. 1 Kansas City Current. González will have the international break, starting June 23, to reset with the team. However, the organization saw his familiarity with the players as a positive. Kang said González 'knows the team and has earned this organization's trust.' Advertisement Is this a bad thing? Multi-club models have long been seen as corporate cash grabs at best and sportswashing at worst (on the men's side). Kang has been well aware of that perception since she first looked to create Kynisca Sports International, a multi-team global women's soccer organization, by purchasing OL Lyonnes in 2023. She later purchased the only independently owned team in England's second tier of women's soccer, and her investment helped the team get promoted to the WSL. The businesswoman told Forbes last year that the multi-club model is a 'necessity' in the women's game, especially when it comes to resource sharing. However, Kang has made it clear that players don't fall into that category. Advertisement Despite the awkward optics here, González has a strong track record as Washington's coach, so Kang seems to be keeping up her promise not to sacrifice the good of one team for the other. And she isn't the only one expanding, as Kansas City Current owners Angie and Chris Long showed last week with their investment in Danish club HB Koge. Whether women's soccer is paving a new way forward or adopting the bad habits from the men's side will take time to become clear. MORE: Watch Matt Slater answer whether multi-club ownership is here to stay on 'The Athletic FC Podcast' in March: 'It's an unproven thesis. It feels like we are living through an experiment.' USWNT's Core Values Hayes' team 'on track' for June deadline Head coach Emma Hayes said last week that the USWNT is still 'on track' to meet her June deadline for establishing a core group of players that will lead the U.S. in World Cup qualifying next year. She's even found the space to start developing the under-23 group the way she hoped she could at the start of the year (more on that in a sec). Advertisement Despite not having Triple Espresso (Rodman, Sophia Wilson and Mallory Swanson), this team isn't totally without its caffeine. Sam Coffey scored her second U.S. goal with a wonder strike in the team's 3-0 win over China on Saturday. Coffey — who leads with devotion, as she recently told Tamerra — is part of a midfield that's finally jelling, alongside Lindsey Heaps and Lily Yohannes. The team also has its 'security blanket' back with the return of Naomi Girma. A fun aside: Coffey's game-worn jersey from the match, along with several other U.S. players' jerseys, were up for auction during the game (and there's still time to bid). Coffey's jersey is currently a great value pick for a goal scorer. Advertisement Keep an eye out for the youths Hayes has been as adamant about developing this younger national team as she has been about narrowing down her group for 2027 World Cup qualifying. She sees the two projects as interdependent. That's why players like Jaedyn Shaw (20 years old), Korbin Albert (21) and Mia Fishel (24), who have senior caps (and in Shaw and Albert's case, Olympic gold medals), were named to this camp. This is your reminder to start paying attention to the U-23s, made up almost entirely of professional players, during this camp. They played in two very fun (and refreshingly well-attended!) matches against Germany near Stuttgart on Friday and again today. The teams split results, each side claiming a dramatic 2-1 victory sealed in the final minutes. Ironically, in the May 30 match, it was Evelyn Shores — the only collegiate player on the roster — who netted the go-ahead in the dying seconds of stoppage time to give the U.S. the win. Advertisement Today, in the second fixture, Albert converted a penalty drawn by the Portland Thorns' Caiya Hanks to get the U.S. on the board. But this time, German midfielder Tuana Mahmoud was the national hero with a soaring strike that U.S. and Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz managed to only get a few fingers on. Props to the German Football Federation for streaming both matches on YouTube. What to Watch 📺 USWNT vs. Jamaica The U.S. closes this window with a friendly against Jamaica at Energizer Park in St. Louis, Mo. The game was originally scheduled to be a second against China but had to be changed due to a scheduling conflict for the Chinese. Advertisement 📺 Spain vs. England UEFA Nations League continues tomorrow with the final round of matches before this summer's European Championship in Switzerland. And after an emphatic 6-0 win over Portugal to silence the Mary Earps chatter from the public, England take on Spain for a final test before Sarina Wiegman unveils the squad she's taking to the Euros. Full Time First Looks Never too late: USWNT midfielder Lo'eau LaBonta became the oldest player to debut for the U.S. women when the 32-year-old took the field in place of the 17-year-old Yohannes on Saturday. Meg Linehan caught up with the KC captain last week to discuss her first call-up. Teaming up: The Mexican Football Federation will join the U.S. as co-host for the 2031 Women's World Cup, a federation spokesperson confirmed to on Friday. The two nations originally went in on a 2027 bid before backing out. Brazil will host that year's tournament. Advertisement Tears, anger, end of hope: Blackburn Rovers' senior Women's team have been demoted from the Women's Super League 2 after the club decided against meeting the required licensing criteria to retain their tier-two status, plunging the women's set-up into an uncertain future. Megan Feringa reported on the anger, sadness and loss of trust from those impacted by the decision. 📫 Love Full Time? These stories can also be found on Yahoo's women's sports hub, in partnership with Also, check out our other newsletters. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. US Women's national team, NWSL, Full Time Newsletter 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Pink Villa
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
The Dark Knight Trilogy Writer Had Bigger Plans for Joker in Third Outing of Christopher Nolan
Christian Bale is still considered one of the best Batmans ever on screen. All thanks to Christopher Nolan, who brought the character to life, and Heath Ledger's character, who gave a tough time to the Caped Crusader onscreen. Meanwhile, the writer of the trilogy recently reflected on the initial plans of the film and how Joker had a major role in The Dark Knight Rises. As per a recent report, David Goyer, who penned the trilogy, working alongside the director of The Prestige, stated that he wanted much more of Joker in The Dark Knight Rises, which was even implemented in the original draft of the film. According to the writer, the original plan for the trilogy would have had Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face, be one of the villains in the third film. Meanwhile, Joker would have an even more crucial role in The Dark Knight, as he alone would have fought Batman, getting on his nerves and making the superhero even more frustrated. As per Fortress, this was the plan even before the principal photography for The Dark Knight. Coming to The Dark Knight Rises, that gave an even deadlier villain, Bane, it would have been another outing for Joker to play his games again. The movie was at first set to focus on Joker slowly corrupting Dent after he would be sent on trial for his crimes in the previous outing. However, the third outing, The Dark Knight Rises, still won many hearts and gave the trilogy a brought forth by Christopher Nolan a perfect ending. Besides Bale and Ledger, the trilogy even brought forth the talents of Cillian Murphy as Scarecrow, Liam Neeson as Ra's al Ghul, and Marion Cotillard as his daughter Talia al Ghul. Two-Face was played by Aaron Eckhart, with Gary Oldman playing James Gordon and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox.
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Wales' 'Bat Cave' is named one of the best in the UK and this is why even Christopher Nolan's Batman chose it
Wales' 'Bat Cave' is named one of the best in the UK and this is why even Christopher Nolan's Batman chose it The Dark Knight Rises waterfall location in Wales is the filming location for the 'Batcave' and is a stunning location to visit for a hike and to witness the 27m tall waterfall Henrhyd Falls (Image: Joe) With its stunning mountains, serene lakes and extensive coastline, Wales has served as a picturesque setting for numerous Hollywood films over the years, boasting several iconic filming locations. Fans of Batman may recall that scenes from the acclaimed 2012 film, The Dark Knight Rises, were filmed at a breath taking waterfall in the Brecon Beacons, which has been named by experts as one of the best caves in the UK. For the exterior shots in The Dark Knight Rises, director Christopher Nolan chose Henrhyd Falls as the location for the notorious 'Batcave'. The outdoor experts at Blacks looked at factors such as the number of Google searches, Tripadvisor reviews, TikTok hashtags and Instagram posts to determine the best caves and caverns in the UK, with Henrhyd Falls being ranked as 4th. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here The impressive 90ft cascade featured in the final instalment of the Batman trilogy as the spot where Robin uncovers the Batcave following Batman's presumed death. Fans of Batman - some in fancy dress - have been making a pilgrimage to the falls (Image: WALES NEWS SERVICE ) Where is Henrhyd Falls located? Situated in the Graig Llech Gorge in the Brecon Beacons, the waterfall is under the stewardship of National Trust Wales and is also recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Article continues below Access to the falls is complimentary, and the most convenient place to park for Henrhyd Falls is the National Trust car park near Coelbren, Brecon Beacons, SA10 9PH, grid ref: SN853121. Be mindful that the car park typically fills up by 11am, so early arrival is recommended. Batman waterfall At 27m, this is the tallest waterfall in south Wales, and visitors can even vanish behind a tumbling veil of water, much like Gotham's hero. Due to its popularity efforts were made a to improve accessibility for visitors. Previously, walkers had to navigate a steep, tree-lined hill and cross a river to reach the falls. Now, a brief stroll through a woodland path and across a footbridge leads visitors directly to the base of the falls. They can even walk behind the water and into the 'entrance' of the Batcave. How to trek to Henrhyd Falls There are two routes to reach Henrhyd Falls. You can either walk directly to the falls from the National Trust Car park or opt for the Henrhyd Falls and Nant Llech walk, a 3.5-mile trek. If your sole aim is to visit the falls, then there's a brief but slippery route from the National Trust car park. To reach the waterfall, pass through two gates and follow the often muddy footpath down the slope until you reach a path junction at the bottom. Veering left across the timbered bridge, ascend the sharp steps leading to the footpath continue following the trail as it winds towards the falls. (Image: Portia Jones ) To get behind the waterfall, carefully head towards the boardwalk edging closer to the currents. A space ample for several onlookers lurks behind the tumultuous veil of water, presenting a prime opportunity for a 'Batcave selfie'. The spectacle of the falls is most striking following substantial rainfall when the water is seen dramatically tumbling down the rocks. However, be warned, excessive rain can render the path treacherous and slippery. Do bear in mind that this beloved locale can attract crowds, hence avid ramblers are advised to set out early and gear up for any weather conditions they may encounter. Can you take a dip in Henrhyd Falls? Adventurous individuals may find the prospect of an icy swim in the small plunge pool beneath the falls enticing. Henrhyd Falls has gained a reputation among wild swimming enthusiasts eager for a chilly immersion in a picturesque waterfall setting. While not officially promoted, swimming is permitted provided that participants act responsibly and adhere to the leave no trace principles. Immersing oneself in the frigid waters amidst serene natural surroundings can be a profound way to connect with nature and get rid of stress. However, caution is paramount at all wild swimming spots, including Henrhyd Falls. The mist from the waterfall can create slippery conditions, so it's crucial for swimmers to carefully navigate their entry and exit from the plunge pool, prioritising safety. For those braving an outdoor swim in Wales, having the proper equipment is crucial. A must-have for waterfall swims is warm clothing and a weather-resistant changing robe like Dryrobe, which allows for both changing and staying warm. A thermos filled with hot coffee is also recommended to help swimmers warm up post-dip. The Brecon Beacons have served as a backdrop for numerous films and TV shows, such as Doctor Who, the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Merlin. Article continues below With its serene atmosphere and almost otherworldly charm, it's no wonder the Brecon Beacons are a sought-after location for productions, particularly those of the fantasy genre.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Tom Hardy lists out injuries he's accumulated from action films, martial arts: ‘Knee surgeries, herniated disc'
Actor Tom Hardy, who has spent a large chunk of his life getting beaten up on movie sets and in real life during martial arts tournaments, recently listed out the injuries he has accumulated through the years. The 47-year-old, in an interview with Esquire UK, even believes that 'it's not going to get better' now. (Also Read: Will Tom Hardy's Venom fight Tom Holland's Spider-Man? Actor opens up at Comic-Con) Tom is well-known for playing Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, Max Rockatansky in the Mad Max films, and Eddie Brock in the Venom films. The publication notes that, like most middle-aged people, their meet-up consists of non-alcoholic beer and a list of bodily ailments. The actor told them, 'I've had two knee surgeries now, my disc's herniated in my back, I've got sciatica as well,' he says. 'And I have that… is it plantar fasciitis? Where did that come from? And why? Why?! And I pulled my tendon in my hip as well. It's like, it's all falling to bits now, and it's not going to get better.' Tom currently stars in the Paramount+ crime series MobLand, which streams on JioHotstar in India. Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren are his co-stars. He also starred and produced Havoc, which was released on Netflix. The 2024 film Venom: The Last Dance, which he also produced and co-wrote, was his last film with the character. Talking about starring in Venom for seven years, Tom said, 'I loved playing Eddie in Venom. Juggling chainsaws… Put me on a unicycle and throw everything at me! I was just really trying to push myself as much as I could. But I had no Spider-Man! No Avengers! It's just us. Until those bridges are crossed… That's way beyond my control. And I'd love to do that, but that's not even a conversation to have at my level, of just being an actor in that world.'
Sky News
06-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News
Hollywood is struggling, but some fear Trump's foreign film tariffs might do more harm than good
At Sony Production studios in Culver City, an area of Los Angeles steeped in the movie business, a steady stream of cars and lorries comes and goes through the security gate. It occupies the MGM lot which dates back to 1924. Gone With the Wind, The Wizard of Oz and Citizen Kane were shot here and, more recently, Interstellar and The Dark Knight Rises. But this is no longer the beating heart of movie making. In Tinsel Town the bright lights of the film industry have been fading for some time. Production in Hollywood has fallen by 40% in the last decade, sometimes moving to other states like New Mexico, New York and Georgia, but more often outside the US entirely. A recent survey of film and TV executives indicates that Britain, Australia and Canada are now favoured locations over California when it comes to making movies. San Andreas, a blockbuster film about a California earthquake, was shot in Australia. In America, a film about an Irish family settling in New York, was shot in Canada. The exodus of the film industry from Hollywood is mostly owing to economic reasons, with other countries boasting lower labour costs and more expansive tax incentives. But as productions have moved overseas, studios across Los Angeles are frequently empty and those who work behind the scenes are often out of work. President Trump has approached this problem with a familiar reaction - sweeping tariffs, a 100% tariff on all foreign made films coming into the USA. 'It's a different kind of situation than producing cars overseas' Justine Bateman is a filmmaker and sister of actor Jason Bateman. She is glad Trump is looking for solutions but does not understand how the tariffs will work. "I will say, I'm very glad to hear that President Trump is interested in helping the film business. But part of the problem is we just don't have very much detail, do we?," she says. "He's made this big announcement, but we don't have the detail to really mull over. He doesn't even say whether it's going to be films that are shown in the cinema or streaming movies, for example. "Tariffs can be a profitable situation for when we're just talking about hard goods, but something like a film and, particularly if you've got an American film that takes place in the south of France, you want to be in a particular location. "So it's a different kind of situation than producing cars overseas and bringing them back here." At the Hand Prop Room in Los Angeles, they supply props for TV and film. The warehouse is brimful of virtually any prop you could imagine, from portraits of former presidents, to replica handguns to African artefacts and 18th century teapots. The walls are decorated with posters from some of the productions they've supplied, including Babylon, Oppenheimer and Ghostbusters. 'It needs to be thought through' In the past five years, the prop shop has been impacted by the COVID pandemic, by both the writers' and actors' strikes and the globalisation of the film industry. Business is at an all time low. "It's not helping when so many productions are not just leaving the state, but also leaving the country," says Reynaldo Castillo, the general manager of the Hand Prop Room. "It's Hollywood, we have the infrastructure that nobody else has and I think maybe to a certain point we took it for granted. "I think we can all agree that we want more filming to stay in the country to help promote jobs. But you also don't want to do something to hurt it. "How does it work? Are there exceptions for X, Y, and Z? What about independent movies that have small budgets that are shot somewhere else that would destroy their ability to make something? It needs to be thought through and make sure it's implemented the right way."
