Kyle Manzardo's solo homer (13)
'Get that swing on and believe in it' – Kepler on his 8th inning solo home run
'Get that swing on and believe in it' - Max Kepler on his 8th inning solo home run vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.'Get that swing on and believe in it' – Kepler on his 8th inning solo home run originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
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25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Maresca questions US hosting Club World Cup
When asked how the one-hour-53-minute stoppage impacted Chelsea's match against Benfica in the Club World Cup, Enzo Maresca's response was: "This is not football." The manager seemed to question whether the US was a suitable host for Fifa competitions, like the Club World Cup, one year before the 2026 World Cup is hosted across North America. Advertisement Chelsea may have defeated Benfica 4-1 to qualify for the quarter-finals, but the match was the sixth to be suspended because of seasonal summer thunderstorms. A near two-hour delay looked like it might cost Chelsea, who had not conceded a shot on target and went ahead through Reece James's inventive free-kick, a match they looked set to win. "For 85 minutes we were in control of the game. We didn't concede anything; we created chances enough to win the game. And then after the break the game changed completely," Maresca said while referring to a shift in momentum in which Angel di Maria equalised from the penalty spot. "For me personally, it's not football. You cannot be inside for two hours. It is something completely new. I can understand that for security reasons, you are to suspend the game. But if you suspend six, seven games that means that probably is not the right place to do this competition." Advertisement Players, staff and supporters were immediately pulled indoors because of extreme weather, in this case because thunderstorms were detected within an eight-mile radius of the venue, in line with US safety regulations. Chelsea regained control in extra time when Benfica youngster Gianluca Prestianni was sent off, allowing Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to ensure victory in a match that lasted four hours 38 minute from the opening to final whistle. When asked to clarify where specifically his anger was aimed, Maresca added: "This is a fantastic competition. The Club World Cup is top; we are happy to be in the last eight. "It's not normal to suspend a game. In a World Cup, how many games are suspended? Probably zero. In Europe, how many games? Zero." How Chelsea coped with the stoppage Chelsea players Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo were furious when pulled off the pitch - as was Maresca - having been on course to win with only five minutes of normal time remaining. Advertisement After re-entering the operations and dressing room area, players took turns to cycle on exercise bikes to keep their muscles warm and did kick-ups to stay fresh at the Bank of America Stadium. Maresca explained the mood and why it impacted performance, adding: "So two hours inside - people speak with the family outside [to check] if they were good with the security. People eating, laughing, talking on their mobiles. It was two hours. That's why I said it's not football." James added: "It was quite disruptive when you're in the flow of the game. Lots of substitutions - trying to get warm and stay warm. It was difficult and the climate was very hot and humid." A senior Chelsea official admitted to confusion and relief around the senior staff after the match. Is US in the summer suitable? This was the second longest stoppage of the tournament, with Benfica having had another two-hour stoppage delaying the start of their match against Auckland City. Advertisement There have been six similar stoppages in five different cities, including Mamelodi Sundowns against Ulsan HD, which also happened in Orlando, because of heavy rain and storms. And there were long pauses in the second half of Palmeiras v Al-Ahly in New Jersey (40 minutes), Salzburg v Pachuca in Cincinnati (90 minutes) and Boca Juniors v Auckland City in Nashville (50 minutes). Chelsea are also one of many teams to fall victim to extreme heat. Maresca said it was "impossible" to conduct a normal training session at their previous base in Philadelphia. Some of the best stadiums in the US and Canada have roofs, like Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but many do not. Advertisement Atlanta is the only ground selected with such a covered roof in the Club World Cup but further stadiums in Vancouver, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Toronto are covered for next summer's World Cup. However, that tournament has been expanded to 48 teams, meaning these events will likely happen next summer. Possible solutions could include moving the World Cup to winter months, as Qatar did in 2022, but severe cold is also an issue in parts of the US and Canada. Head of Fifa's technical study group Arsene Wenger addressed stoppages from its base in Miami. He said: "It's not ideal, I agree, because you want the flow of the game from the first to the last minute but, as well, when you organise a competition you have [to put] security first." Advertisement Fifa also issued a statement at the time of the incident which read: "Due to adverse weather conditions in Charlotte, including the risk of lightning in the vicinity of Bank of America Stadium, the Fifa Club World Cup match between SL Benfica and Chelsea FC has been suspended. Fifa will follow the established safety protocols, and the match will resume as soon as it's safe to do so." Fifa was asked for a response to Maresca's comments.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
"Nobody's talking about The Mamba when comparing who's the best," Iverson says The exclusion of Kobe in the GOAT debate is ridiculous45
"Nobody's talking about The Mamba when comparing who's the best," Iverson says The exclusion of Kobe in the GOAT debate is ridiculous45 originally appeared on Basketball Network. The NBA's greatest of all-time debate isn't one that will die out as the rhythm of the conversation has long been set with Michael Jordan at the forefront, his shadow stretching over generations of basketball greatness. Yet, it's not always the mention of a name that ignites controversy. Advertisement Sometimes, the names that are left out send shockwaves through the discourse. Allen Iverson, one of the most influential guards to ever lace up in the NBA, knows the weight of legacy and the repeated exclusion of Kobe Bryant from the GOAT conversation isn't just an oversight. It's a blatant erasure of basketball history. Bryant's case Iverson battled through Bryant's era. Their careers, linked by an era of grit, intensity and uncompromising competitiveness, overlapped in a way that only peers can truly speak on. In his eyes, no debate about greatness is whole without Kobe's name firmly in the mix. Advertisement "Right when you think Mike is the greatest, which he is, but then, Kobe Bryant come along," Iverson said. "Then you got LeBron James. I get kind of upset at times when people talk about the comparison of LeBron and Mike. And I'm like, 'damn.' "People kind of forget [about Bryant]. I would say out of mind is real. Nobody's talking about The Mamba when comparing who's the best that ever played?" Bryant won five NBA championships, claimed two Finals MVP awards, had an 81-point masterpiece against the Toronto Raptors — a performance that remains the second-highest scoring performance in league history — and is an 18-time NBA All-Star. He also claimed two Olympic gold medals and is the only player with two jersey numbers retired, each representing a different phase of greatness. Advertisement Iverson doesn't pretend to crown Bryant above Jordan. His admiration for Jordan remains intact, but he gives Bryant his flowers. That proximity is earned, not gifted. It's forged from 20 seasons of relentless competitiveness, 33,643 career points and an unyielding desire to outwork everyone in the gym. Kobe didn't ask to be compared to Jordan but trained to force the comparison. Related: "We only needed one more guy" - Patrick Beverley says the Clippers lost SGA because Kawhi thought he needed more help Creating the legacy When Bryant entered the league in 1996, he was just a wiry teenager obsessed with greatness. Over the years, that obsession morphed into transformation. He became the closest thing the league had ever seen to the man who ruled Chicago for 13 years. Advertisement "As far as GOAT, it's Michael Jordan all day long, and Kobe Bryant is right on his heels," Iverson said. Iverson and Bryant famously clashed in the 2001 NBA Finals, where the Philadelphia 76ers stole Game 1 in Los Angeles behind Iverson's unforgettable 48-point performance. But it was Bryant who Iverson said scared him most during that series. The Lakers superstar averaged 24.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.8 assists during the Finals as his team won the title. Iverson knew Bryant as a competitor, a rival and, ultimately, a brother in the fraternity of greatness. He is always surprised when Bryant is being overlooked in the all-time great debate. The conversation around greatness will never be neat. There are no neat boxes for the messy, generational weight of legends. But Iverson has seen enough to know what should never be left out. Advertisement The GOAT debate isn't only about who finished with the most rings or the best stats. It's also about the impact — the fear a player puts in opponents' hearts, the weight of their presence on the floor and the standard they set for everyone else. And by every one of those measures, Kobe belongs right there. Related: Larry Brown on the biggest difference between Allen Iverson and Kobe Bryant: "He was coming back from the club at six o'clock in the morning" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
NBA trade grade: Thunder send Dillon Jones to Wizards; open roster spot
Oct 9, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Dillon Jones (3) runs down the court between plays against the Houston Rockets during the second half at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images Less than a week after they won their first NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder have already shaken up the roster. They sent Dillon Jones and a 2029 second-round pick to the Washington Wizards for Colby Jones. The latter was subsequently waived. The Thunder faced a roster crunch after Thomas Sorber's arrival. Jones got the short end of the stick and was shipped out after just one forgettable year. The 23-year-old gets a fresh start after he barely played in his rookie season. Advertisement Let's break down the Thunder-Wizards trade and the meaning for both sides. At the end, Thunder Wire will assign a final grade on the deal: Why the Thunder made the move The Thunder are the rare NBA champions whose entire roster is on the books for next season. That's great news on the surface. Of course, you'd love to run it back with the same group that got you the Larry O'Brien trophy. But some small consequences do exist. If the Thunder added anybody from the draft to their standard roster, that meant somebody needed to get booted. After they drafted Sorber with the No. 15 pick, it was only a matter of time. Most expected either Jones or Ousmane Dieng. It turned out to be the guy most thought the Thunder would keep because of his novelty. Advertisement Dieng survived this roster crunch. Despite only a year left on his contract, the Thunder stayed with the younger player who's shown more flashes on the NBA and G League court. The 22-year-old has had solid stints, but injuries have hampered him from sticking in the rotation. Meanwhile, Jones struggled from the get-go. The 23-year-old couldn't fit an off-ball role. He put up stats in the G League, but wasn't as dominant and seamless as Dieng. He struggled to keep up with NBA-level athletes and made avoidable mistakes. The Thunder also received some financial breathing room. They waived Jones on a contract that's easier to eat. He only had $2.2 million guaranteed next season. Much less than Jones' $2.8 million guaranteed next season. They are now $7 million below the tax. Why the Wizards made the move At this stage of their rebuild, the Wizards are in player development mode. They have several prospects on their roster and added another in Jones. The Rockets' 2029 second-round draft pick isn't half-bad either and could be used as a trade chip down the road. Advertisement Jones' playing time was only going to dwindle. The Thunder are a title contender with several better options ahead of him. They were enamored by his physical and skill traits at Weber State, but the jump to the NBA didn't land as smoothly as they had hoped. Instead, Jones gets a fresh start on the Wizards. Wizards GM Will Dawkins spent 15 years on the Thunder, so it shouldn't be a shocker to see him like some of their prospects. In Washington, perhaps he can get more on-ball reps than he would've in OKC. Either way, this was worth a shot. Jones is only guaranteed one more year in his rookie deal. He has team options of $2.8 million in 2026-27 and $5.2 million in 2027-28. Worst-case scenario, you can move on from him and only have to give up somebody you weren't going to extend. Final thoughts Sam Presti loved Jones. The small-school forward was on his radar for two years. You can kinda see why. A bowling-ball forward who can playmake and run the offense is an intriguing archetype. But physical limitations, nonexistent shooting and age made it difficult to see him break out in the NBA, much less on OKC. Advertisement The five future second-round picks needed to acquire Jones were a pretty penny to spend, yes. But what's a few bucks to a team sitting on a pretty pile of draft picks? Especially second-round picks. The whole point of hoarding draft picks is to be afforded the luxury to overpay and not feel a hole burned in your wallet. The Thunder dealt six future second-round picks in Jones's one season — five when they traded for him and one attached to trade him away — but who cares? It's a bad trade, sure. But it's not worth losing sleep over. It was easy to predict he wouldn't work out in OKC, but you can't stop taking swings when you're afforded to attempt them. Jones had one of the more forgettable Thunder tenures ever. Seldom do you see OKC pull the plug on first-round players after just one season. But you'd rather see them eat the loss than fall for the sunk cost fallacy. Final Grade: C-minus This article originally appeared on OKC Thunder Wire: NBA trade grade: Thunder send Dillon Jones to Wizards
