Author: Tim Runn

Rafael Nadal did not shine in 2021, also due to a series of injuries that limited his performance. A back problem prevented him from making it 100% to the Australian Open, where he was unable to make it past the quarter-finals.The Spanish champion has returned to his beloved clay, where he has collected a couple of trophies, but has not given the feeling of being as unbeatable as in the past. Sore foot and not in top condition, the 35-year-old from Manacor was unable to win his 14th Roland Garros.His race ended in the semifinals against Novak Djokovic, who would…

Smoke Monday expects to play his final game in an Auburn uniform next Tuesday when the Tigers take on the No.20 Houston Cougars in the Birmingham Bowl. Monday accidentally let the news slip out when he reminisced about his time playing at Auburn. “I’m playing because I love ball,” Monday said after practice at Hoover High. “As long as I get to play an extra game, I’m gonna do it. I want to go out with a win with these guys. I probably won’t play with a lot of these guys ever again.”Monday is a senior but had an extra…

While the COVID-19 outbreak in the NBA is a serious and concerning matter, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers admits there is one silver lining to the whole situation. The NBA has found itself in a troubling predicament over the last few weeks because of COVID-19. Health and safety protocols have left a majority of the league’s rosters decimated. Games are once again getting postponed at a drastic rate, and those that do play consist of thin rosters. Another stoppage is the last thing the league office wants, and they are doing all they can to avoid that scenario. Recently,…

No. 8: Johnson, Grosjean complete Indy 500 Rookie Orientation Program December 24, 2021 | By Zach Horrall Note: The editorial staff at IMS.com is taking a look back at the 10 biggest moments of 2021 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in this year-end series, with one installment appearing on the site per day in countdown fashion from Dec. 22-31. Just days after the 2021 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season ended, two series rookies had their sights set on the 106th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge in a show of the global appeal of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Seven-time…

As Chris Gittens transitions to playing professional baseball in Japan, he’ll have a familiar face to help him adjust.The first baseman, who briefly debuted with the Yankees this past season, posted on social media late Thursday night that he will play for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2022.It just so happens that former Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka also plays for Rakuten, entering his second season in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball after seven years in the Bronx. Sharing Gittens’ post, Tanaka tweeted that he “can’t wait” for Gittens to arrive, mixing in some fire emojis as well.Gittens and Tanaka never shared…

DES MOINES, Iowa — When Chris Tillinghast came to work Monday, he had no plans to open Blank Golf Course on Christmas Eve. Then he saw the weather forecast. “We’re open in the winter. As of Monday morning we had no plans to open on Christmas Eve,” said Tillinghast. “With how nice the weather forecast was, we decided to a shotgun this morning at 10:30.” Golfers came from around central Iowa, the Quad Cities and even Minnesota. One hundred in all held a shotgun start at 10:30. “This is definitely a much warmer December, you can tell,” said Raj Kumar.…

Newsfrom Japan Sports Dec 25, 2021 Jubilo Iwata have appointed Akira Ito as their new manager ahead of their return to the J-League top flight next season, the J2 champions said Saturday. The 49-year-old Ito guided fellow J2 side Ventforet Kofu to third this term but missed out on promotion. He replaces 66-year-old Masakazu Suzuki, who took charge of Jubilo in October but had health issues since later that month. Jubilo will be back in the J1 following two seasons in the second tier after winning 27 games, drawing 10 and losing five in 42 games this term. The club…

England will show a ‘backs against the wall’ attitude in Melbourne, says Jos Buttler; England looking to keep Ashes series alive and avoid record-equalling ninth Test defeat in 2021; captain Joe Root needs 159 runs to set new record for most Test runs by a batter in a calendar year Last Updated: 25/12/21 9:04am Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler says they are ‘excited’ to play in the ‘hostile’ atmosphere of the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the Boxing Day Test against Australia England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler says they are ‘excited’ to play…

What would your wish for boxing be? Joe GallagherTop trainerGet rid of all fighters that have been caught taking illegal substances and banned. Ban them for life straightaway. Paul ReadyBoxing managerErrol Spence versus Terrence Crawford and Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua. Don’t care about what street you are on, get them made! Andy ClarkeCommentatorThat it become less tribal. That promotional and broadcast divisions become easier to bridge and fights therefore easier to make. Is that realistic? Well, if there’s a will there’s always a way, but the will needs to be there first of all. Paul SmithFormer contenderIt’s usually to…

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios is still having a hard time over getting the tragic death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Bryant, a former five–time NBA champion, tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Ahead of the second anniversary of Bryant’s death, Kyrgios took to Instagram to pay his tribute to the late NBA legend. “I fu***** miss Kobe man. Don’t take any day for granted… it all can be taken away instantly, this life is beautiful, enjoy it with the ones you love, the ones that make you laugh and smile,” Kyrgios said in an…