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Dele Alli wants to be ‘happy’ again after Everton move — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

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Dele Alli wants to be ‘happy’ again after Everton move — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Dele Alli said he wanted to rediscover the joy of playing football after securing a move to Frank Lampard’s Everton in an effort to revive his faltering career.

The England midfielder signed a two-and-a-half-year contract at Goodison Park, bringing his seven-year stay at Tottenham to an end late in the transfer window, which closed on Monday.

Alli, 25, was a member of Gareth Southgate’s 2018 World Cup squad but has struggled under a succession of managers at Spurs in recent seasons and fallen out of the England reckoning.

“I’ve had a few good conversations with him (Lampard) already and he’s a player I’ve admired watching his whole career,” Alli told Sky Sports.

“To have the opportunity to work with him now is very exciting and hopefully I’m sure we’re going to do great things together.”

When asked his main motivations for the move, he said he wanted to enjoy playing.

“I just want to be happy playing football and I think working with Lampard and the great players they’ve got there I think it’s a great opportunity to do that.

“I’m excited to go there and show the fans what I can do and help the club as much as I can.”

Alli’s move came just hours after Everton had confirmed former Chelsea boss Lampard as Rafael Benitez’s successor.

Lampard also secured the services of Donny van de Beek on deadline day, with the Netherlands midfielder joining on loan from Manchester United for the remainder of the season.

The 24-year-old joined United in a £35 million ($47 million) move from Ajax in 2020 but has made just four Premier League starts for the Red Devils.

“I think it is a great club,” Van De Beek told the Everton website. “There are really good players here and I came because I want to help them go up the table.”

Everton are just four points above the relegation zone having won just once in the Premier League since the end of September.

Both Alli and Van de Beek are cup-tied for Lampard’s bow at Goodison Park against Brentford in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.

But they will be free to make their debuts in a vital clash at the bottom of the Premier League table against Newcastle on February 8.

2022 NBA trade deadline – Latest buzz, news and reports

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2022 NBA trade deadline – Latest buzz, news and reports

The 2022 NBA trade deadline (Feb. 10, 3 p.m. ET) has already started buzzing with some moves, including a voided trade, to put players with new teams for the 2021-22 regular season.

The Atlanta Hawks traded Cam Reddish to the New York Knicks for Kevin Knox II in a swap of former first-round draft selections. The deal between the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons involving Bol Bol was voided after the Pistons didn’t pass Bol on his physical with the team, which led to Bol eventually being traded to the Boston Celtics after undergoing surgery.

And to kick off the start of 2022, the Cleveland Cavaliers turned to the trade market to help replace point guard Ricky Rubio by acquiring veteran point guard Rajon Rondo from the Los Angeles Lakers.

Get all of the news, intel and analysis from our experts here, including trade grades and potential destinations for the top players on the market.

TRADE DEADLINE RESOURCES: Trade Tracker | Potential deals for all 30 teams

Jan. 28 update

2:28 p.m. ET: The Sacramento Kings — one of the most aggressive teams in the trade market and once an eager suitor for Ben Simmons — have ended their pursuit of a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers and turned elsewhere in trade talks, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Kings, who have lost five straight and sit 13th in the Western Conference, are determined to reshape their roster and remain engaged on several other fronts, sources said.

Three realistic Simmons trade options

Jan. 26 update

7:17 p.m. ET: The Brooklyn Nets are not engaging with any teams inquiring about potential James Harden trades, a resolve rooted in Harden’s repeated insistences to ownership and management that he’s committed to staying and winning a championship with the franchise, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Jan. 25 update

6:57 p.m. ET: Jerami Grant‘s representation has offered the Detroit Pistons a list of trade destinations should the franchise choose to move the 27-year-old forward before the Feb. 10 deadline, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported on The Hoop Collective podcast.

Jan. 21 update

3:30 p.m. ET: How does Joel Embiid‘s play affect how Philadelphia team president Daryl Morey and the Sixers are thinking about the possibility of trading Ben Simmons? “We are looking for a deal that makes us a championship contender,” Morey said during a radio interview on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia on Jan. 20. “I think it’s less likely than likely,” Morey said. “It won’t be from lack of trying.” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne said during Friday’s NBA Today: “I think that was the purpose of that interview was to manage expectations and say, hey, listen [Embiid’s] having a historically great year. We have to get this trade right.”

Jan. 18 update

11:23 p.m. ET: The Denver Nuggets are acquiring San Antonio Spurs guard Bryn Forbes in a three-way deal with the Boston Celtics, sources told ESPN. The Nuggets will send Bol Bol and P.J. Dozier to the Celtics and the Spurs will acquire Celtics forward Juancho Hernangomez and Denver’s 2028 second-round pick, sources said.

2:02 p.m. ET: Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner is expected to be sidelined beyond the Feb. 10 trade deadline with a stress reaction in his left foot, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The injury could complicate the franchise’s hopes to deal him prior to the offseason.

Jan. 13 updates

11:59 a.m. ET: The deal between the Nuggets and Pistons involving Bol Bol has been voided after the Pistons didn’t pass Bol on his physical with the team, sources confirmed to ESPN.

11:26 a.m. ET: The Hawks are trading forward Cam Reddish to the Knicks for a deal that includes a protected 2022 first-round pick via the Charlotte Hornets, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Knicks also acquire Solomon Hill and a 2025 second-round pick via the Brooklyn Nets in the trade.

Trade grades: What Cam Reddish brings to New York

Jan. 9 update

2:27 p.m. ET: The Pistons are finalizing a deal to acquire Nuggets forward Bol Bol for Rodney McGruder and a 2022 second-round pick via the Nets. Bol, 22, has shown flashes of promise with Denver, but he has never found traction in a deep and talented Nuggets frontcourt.

Jan. 4 update

4:08 p.m. ET: The Oklahoma City Thunder are acquiring Miye Oni from the Utah Jazz and a 2028 second-round pick. The Thunder will waive Oni and open up a roster spot ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline. Utah saves money and opens a roster spot, too.

Jan. 3 update

11:22 a.m. ET: The Knicks are acquiring Denzel Valentine in a three-way deal with the Lakers and Cavs, also getting $1.1M and two draft-rights players but ceding the draft rights to Louis Labeyrie. New York will make a decision on keeping Valentine or providing him an opportunity to sign elsewhere.

Dec. 31, 2021, update

11:06 a.m. ET: The Cavaliers have agreed to trade Denzel Valentine to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Rajon Rondo, who is eager for the chance to play a bigger role with an ascending Cavaliers team. He has been positive on the deal since it was presented to him as an option.

Trade grades: How Rondo fits in Cleveland

Hamilton: Hi everyone, I wish you a Happy Chinese New Year

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Hamilton: Hi everyone, I wish you a Happy Chinese New Year

Lewis+Hamilton+F1+Grand+Prix+China+Previews+o4GUAAPvi4Rx

Lewis Hamilton appears to have emerged from the self-indulgent silence since his defeat to Max Verstappen at the season finale Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December, 50 days ago.

The ominous silence has invariably prompted a barrage of speculation that the seven-time Formula 1 World Champion might quit in disgust, in the wake of a most controversial end to a Grand Prix season. After all the best seat in motorsport is up for grabs should he decide to walk.

In the video message pictured below, posted by Mercedes on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, Hamilton is seen wearing the team’s 2022 kit and saying: “Hi everyone, I wish you a Happy Chinese New Year. May the New Year bring you good luck and everything you wish for.”

lewis hamilton back- Weibo mercedes russell hamilton

With teammate George Russell, also in the video, chiming in: “Hi guys. I’d like to wish you a Happy Chinese New Year. I’m excited to join the AMG family and become part of the world’s fastest family. See you soon and stay safe.”

Also today, Hamilton’s silence was (sort of) broken when Sky announced a two-year partnership with his charitable foundation Mission 44 to address the disproportionately high rate of school exclusions amongst Black students in the UK.

Sky confirmed a donation of £1-million to Hamilton’s foundation as part of a £30-million commitment to tackle systemic racism by the broadcaster.

The reality is Lewis has still not confirmed he will be on the 2022 F1 grid

Hamilton is quoted in the press release: “Understanding and addressing issues that lead to young people being excluded from school is really important to me. Having experienced unfair exclusions during my time at school, I understand how upsetting and stressful it can be.

“When we launched Mission 44 last year, implementing initiatives such as these was a personal priority and I am grateful to have the support of Sky to help Mission 44 take action.

“Through this partnership, I hope we can deliver meaningful change by arming schools with the proper strategies to support and empower young Black students, instead of giving up on them.”

While Hamilton’s social media accounts remain muted, this is the first sign that his year is actually evolving and the fact he is in a Mercedes video with George Russell can be construed as a sign that Lewis will be in action for the first test in Barcelona next month.

Furthermore, Mercedes will hardly have Hamilton saluting the untapped Chinese market with New Year wishes, if he will not be racing for the World Champs this year.

But you never know as the reality is he has still not confirmed he will be on the 2022 F1 grid.

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NBA Power Rankings, Week 16

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NBA Power Rankings, Week 16

The Phoenix Suns won their 10th straight game Sunday, cementing Monty Williams’ spot as head coach of the NBA All-Star Game’s Team LeBron as he leads the top squad in the Western Conference. The 40-9 Suns sit atop the NBA, ahead of the West rival Golden State Warriors, who own the league’s second-best record at 37-13.

The Warriors boast two All-Stars who will make the trip to Cleveland, as Stephen Curry and Andrew Wiggins were named starters on Thursday.

The head coach of Team Durant is still up in the air, as the Eastern Conference race remains tight. The Miami Heat are No. 1 in the standings, half a game ahead of the Chicago Bulls. The Philadelphia 76ers are 1.5 games back of the top spot, while the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks are each two games back, just half a game in front of the Brooklyn Nets.

While the Warriors and Suns have a hold on the West, the East race will continue to play out ahead of the Feb. 10 trade deadline.

Note: Throughout the regular season, our panel (Tim Bontemps, Jamal Collier, Nick Friedell, Andrew Lopez, Tim MacMahon, Dave McMenamin and Ohm Youngmisuk) is ranking all 30 teams from top to bottom, taking stock of which teams are playing the best basketball now and which teams are looking most like title contenders.

1. Phoenix Suns
2021-22 record: 40-9
Previous ranking: 1

With their win at Utah on Wednesday, the Suns completed their second 8-0 run in road games in a calendar month this season. (They also went 8-0 on the road in November.) According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Phoenix became the first team in NBA history to go 8-0 or better on the road in multiple calendar months in a single season. Also, at 16-0 in November and 13-1 in January, Phoenix becomes the only team this season with a winning percentage of over .900 in two different months. In fact, no other team has done that once. — Lopez

2. Golden State Warriors
2021-22 record: 37-13
Previous ranking: 2

The Warriors completed a 6-1 homestand with a win over the Nets on Saturday. The fact that Golden State did it without Draymond Green, who is still dealing with a disk issue in his back, and with Stephen Curry still in the midst of a shooting slump (just 36.9% from the field and 31.3% from beyond the arc in January) makes it that much more impressive. — Friedell

3. Memphis Grizzlies
2021-22 record: 35-17
Previous ranking: 3

Ja Morant, voted in as a starter for his first All-Star selection, is in the midst of the best scoring binge in Memphis franchise history. He has scored at least 30 points in six straight games, the longest such streak by a Grizzlies player, and he had the highest-scoring triple-double in franchise history with 30 points in Friday’s win over the Jazz. Morant has scored 400 points in January — the most in any month by a Grizzly — and still has a game to go.— MacMahon

4. Miami Heat
2021-22 record: 32-18
Previous ranking: 4

Miami dropped a triple-overtime thriller to the Raptors on Saturday, but the Heat should be able to keep their strong momentum rolling into February, given how well Jimmy Butler is playing. The 32-year-old swingman is averaging 26.3 points, 9.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists over his past four games. — Friedell

5. Philadelphia 76ers
2021-22 record: 30-19
Previous ranking: 7

As Joel Embiid continues to dominate — and now has become the favorite to win this year’s NBA Most Valuable Player Award — the wait is on to see if the 76ers will do anything with Ben Simmons between now and the trade deadline. When Embiid plays this season, Philadelphia is 27-11 — and that’s with Simmons sidelined. — Bontemps

6. Milwaukee Bucks
2021-22 record: 31-21
Previous ranking: 5

Bucks guard Jrue Holiday has made a strong case to be named an All-Star reserve later this week. Holiday’s numbers have been consistent in his second year in Milwaukee, with averages of 17.9 points, 6.5 assists and 4.7 rebounds. But the Bucks are playing at a much higher level when he is on the floor, outscoring teams by 13.9 points per 100 possessions as compared to when he sits. — Collier

7. Chicago Bulls
2021-22 record: 31-18
Previous ranking: 6

DeMar DeRozan will become the first Bulls player to start the All-Star game since 2017, but he almost certainly will not be heading to Cleveland alone. Teammate Zach LaVine could be named an All-Star reserve this week, giving the Bulls a pair of All-Stars for the first time since Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol in 2015-16. — Collier

8. Denver Nuggets
2021-22 record: 28-21
Previous ranking: 12

Nikola Jokic was already putting up eye-popping MVP numbers, but now the Nuggets are backing up his campaign to repeat with the wins. Denver has won five straight games, a streak that includes decisions over Brooklyn and Milwaukee. Jokic has five triple-doubles in his past nine outings. Denver’s streak will be put to the test this week with a tough back-to-back at Minnesota and Utah. Michael Malone and the Nuggets deserve a ton of credit for being in the top five in the West without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. — Youngmisuk

9. Dallas Mavericks
2021-22 record: 29-22
Previous ranking: 9

Luka Doncic didn’t receive any media votes to be an All-Star starter, but if his recent performance is a sign of what’s to come the rest of the season, he will get plenty of All-NBA votes again after being a first-team selection the past two years. Doncic, who sources tell ESPN has dropped about 15 pounds during the season, has averaged 30 points, 9.9 rebounds and 9.3 assists over the past seven games. — MacMahon

10. Cleveland Cavaliers
2021-22 record: 30-20
Previous ranking: 11

It was the best of times: The Cavs beat defending champion Milwaukee by 16 on Wednesday for their eighth win in nine games at the time. It was the worst of times: The Cavs, with three days off following the Bucks win, lost by 10 to a Pistons team with the second-worst record in the league on Sunday. — McMenamin

11. Brooklyn Nets
2021-22 record: 29-20
Previous ranking: 10

Brooklyn has had its superstar trio of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden together for a little over a year. Remarkably, they have only played 10 regular-season games together for a grand total of 234 regular-season minutes, including just 32 this season. Those numbers won’t change for another several weeks, either, as Durant remains out with an MCL sprain. — Bontemps

12. Utah Jazz
2021-22 record: 30-21
Previous ranking: 8

January has been a miserable month for the Jazz, who have lost 11 of the past 13 games. COVID-19 has swept through the roster and coaching staff, hitting coach Quin Snyder on Sunday. Their franchise cornerstones, Rudy Gobert (strained calf) and Donovan Mitchell (concussion), have missed the past several contests. And Joe Ingles, a critical part of the Jazz’s success in recent years on and off the court, is feared to have suffered a serious knee injury Sunday night. — MacMahon

13. Charlotte Hornets
2021-22 record: 28-23
Previous ranking: 13

Charlotte had a 2-2 week but got blown out at home by an undermanned Clippers team on Sunday. The recurring issue for the Hornets remains the same: Are they going to have enough defensively to push them into the postseason? They have given up an average of 119.2 points over their past five games. — Friedell

14. Toronto Raptors
2021-22 record: 24-23
Previous ranking: 14

While Toronto won a thrilling game in Miami in triple-overtime Saturday night, it was another reminder of the heavy minutes the team’s leading performers are playing each night. Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby are first, second and third in minutes per game this season, while rookie Scottie Barnes is 12th. At some point, Toronto might have to be concerned about the strain that’s putting on them. For now, though, the Raptors will be content with continuing to move up the East standings. — Bontemps

15. Atlanta Hawks
2021-22 record: 24-25
Previous ranking: 21

Atlanta ran its win streak to seven games on Sunday with a comeback victory over the Lakers. The Hawks also got a boost in the fourth quarter from Onyeka Okongwu, who scored 12 of his 16 points in the final frame. In 17 games this season, Okongwu is averaging 9.7 points and six rebounds on 74.4% shooting; he hasn’t shot below 50% from the field in any game. — Lopez

16. Boston Celtics
2021-22 record: 26-25
Previous ranking: 17

While it’s been a second straight frustrating season in Boston, one thing that Celtics fans should be genuinely excited about is the play of Robert Williams III. The fourth-year center, whom the Celtics signed to a contract extension before the season, has taken a significant step forward this season — in his play and because he has been able to stay on the court. He gives Boston a third critical player to build around, along with stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. — Bontemps

17. Minnesota Timberwolves
2021-22 record: 25-25
Previous ranking: 15

A key component to the Timberwolves’ success this season: forcing turnovers. Minnesota forces opponents into approximately 17 turnovers per game, which leads the NBA. The Wolves have caused at least 10 turnovers in 46 straight games. — Collier

18. LA Clippers
2021-22 record: 26-26
Previous ranking: 19

No Kawhi Leonard. No Paul George. And yet the Clippers not only remain in the West playoff race with a 26-26 record, they’ve proved beyond any doubt they will continue to fight no matter what the odds are. Ty Lue’s team has won three of its past four, including coming back from 35 down to stun the Wizards in Washington on Tuesday. During this month alone, the Clippers have won three games after coming back from 24 or more down, becoming the first team to win three such games in the past 25 seasons. Luke Kennard is playing like the versatile guard that the Clippers envisioned when they gave him a four-year, $64 million deal in 2020. The team’s chemistry is growing, and the Clippers’ defense has been stingy, holding high-scoring Charlotte to 90 points on Sunday. The Clips will end their eight-game road trip on Monday in Indiana, before returning home to face the Lakers on Thursday.— Youngmisuk

19. Los Angeles Lakers
2021-22 record: 24-27
Previous ranking: 16

Russell Westbrook‘s play picked up considerably after being benched late in the game against Indiana. Since the controversial substitution, Westbrook has averaged 22 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 3.7 turnovers in six games. The highlight of the stretch was his 35 points without LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Charlotte, nearly taking down the Hornets sans his cohorts. — McMenamin

20. Washington Wizards
2021-22 record: 23-26
Previous ranking: 18

Things are unraveling in Washington. All those feel-good wins to start the season have been replaced by serious doubt and frustration. The Wizards have lost five straight games, including suffering one of the worst defeats in franchise history when Washington blew a 35-point lead at home to the Paul George-less Clippers on Tuesday. The frustration was palpable after that debacle. The Wizards have a lot of players fighting for minutes and new contracts, and they aren’t on the same page right now. And it’s only getting harder. Washington’s next five games are at Milwaukee, at Philadelphia and at home against Phoenix, Miami and Brooklyn. — Youngmisuk

21. New York Knicks
2021-22 record: 23-27
Previous ranking: 20

It’s gone from bad to worse in New York, where Cam Reddish remains exiled to the end of the bench and the Knicks have now lost six of their past seven. Home games against Sacramento and Memphis to begin the week will be followed by a five-game West Coast trip through the Feb. 10 trade deadline. What will the Knicks look like when they return home? — Bontemps

22. Portland Trail Blazers
2021-22 record: 21-29
Previous ranking: 22

After a stretch that saw them win six of eight games and get healthier, the Blazers have stumbled again. Portland has lost three of the past four games, including blowout losses at the hands of Dallas and Chicago. Still, Portland hovers at the 10th spot in the West. It will be interesting to see what the Blazers do as the trade deadline approaches. — Youngmisuk

23. New Orleans Pelicans
2021-22 record: 18-31
Previous ranking: 23

Already without Zion Williamson (foot) for the entire season so far, the Pelicans have struggled without Brandon Ingram in the lineup. New Orleans is 16-20 in games Ingram has played but 2-11 in games he sits. The Pelicans’ 3-point shooting has suffered, as they are 28-of-118 (23.7%) from deep in the past four games. Ingram has missed all of them with a sprained right ankle. — Lopez

24. San Antonio Spurs
2021-22 record: 19-32
Previous ranking: 26

While the Spurs sit toward the bottom of the league in 3-pointers made, forward Keldon Johnson‘s shooting this season has been a bright spot. Johnson was 13-of-22 on treys as a rookie in limited action during the 2019-20 season, but his shooting rate dipped to 33.1% a season ago. This season, he is trending in the right direction, shooting 43.7% (86-of-197), which is fourth in the league among qualified players. — Lopez

25. Indiana Pacers
2021-22 record: 18-33
Previous ranking: 24

After missing a week with a sprained ankle, Domantas Sabonis has picked up right where he left off, missing out on a triple-double in consecutive games by two assists during a back-to-back this weekend. He still averaged 22.5 points, 16.5 rebounds, 9 assists, 1.5 blocks and a steal in his first two games back. — Collier

26. Sacramento Kings
2021-22 record: 18-33
Previous ranking: 25

Twenty-five years ago, a disgruntled star was traded from an East Coast team to Sacramento and ushered in the greatest era in Kings history. Ben Simmons will not pull a Chris Webber to celebrate the silver anniversary of the franchise-changing deal, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported this week, as the Kings have pulled out of the Simmons sweepstakes. — McMenamin

27. Oklahoma City Thunder
2021-22 record: 14-34
Previous ranking: 28

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be sidelined at least through the All-Star break after spraining his right ankle during Friday’s overtime loss to the Pacers. With the Thunder early in a rebuild — and eyeing the elite frontcourt talent at the top of the next draft class — count on them being extremely patient with their 23-year-old star’s recovery. OKC is 30-48 when Gilgeous-Alexander plays and 6-36 without him over the past two campaigns. — MacMahon

28. Houston Rockets
2021-22 record: 14-35
Previous ranking: 27

Rookie Jalen Green, the 2021 No. 2 overall draft pick, is battling through another really rough stretch. He is shooting 33.3% from the floor and 24.7% from 3-point range in January. That includes going 7-of-38 from the floor during the Rockets’ current three-game losing streak, missing all 11 of his shots in a loss to the Warriors. Coach Stephen Silas wants Green to stay aggressive as he goes through growing pains, praising the rookie for earning nine free throws in Friday’s loss to the Trail Blazers. — MacMahon

29. Detroit Pistons
2021-22 record: 12-37
Previous ranking: 29

Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham scored 34 points with eight rebounds, eight assists and four blocks against the Nuggets this week, becoming the first rookie to record that stat line since Michael Jordan in 1984-85, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Cunningham, however, is two years younger than Jordan was when he put up those numbers. — Collier

30. Orlando Magic
2021-22 record: 11-40
Previous ranking: 30

Orlando has won three of its past four games and appears to have found a little rhythm. Forward Chuma Okeke has had a solid run over his past two games, combining for 36 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in wins over the Pistons and Mavericks. — Friedell

Meet the Nova Scotians set to compete for Canada at Winter Olympics in Beijing

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Meet the Nova Scotians set to compete for Canada at Winter Olympics in Beijing

With just days to go until the Winter Olympics in Beijing begin, athletes are poised and ready to compete in the second Games of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The opening ceremonies will take place this Friday in China.

Read more:

Beijing locks down more residential communities after COVID-19 cases found

Canadian athletes are on the ground, and among them are four Nova Scotians — three of whom will be hitting the ice in hockey.

Halifax’s Jill Saulnier and Stellarton’s Blayre Turnbull are on the Canadian women’s hockey team for the second Olympics in a row.

Read more:

‘History-making’ — 2 Nova Scotians named to Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team

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The pair competed in the 2018 games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Not only were they the first Nova Scotians ever named to that team, but they were also the only athletes from the province to head to the Olympics that year.

Team Canada ended up taking home silver at those Games.

Saulnier, 29, and Turnbull, 28, were both on the national women’s team that won bronze in 2019 and gold in 2021.

Saulnier is currently with the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association team based in Montreal. Turnbull also joined the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association, training with the Calgary-based team and competing in the Dream Gap Tours in 2020 and 2021.

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Behind the bench, the women’s team this year in Beijing also includes two Nova Scotians. Troy Ryan is the team’s head coach, and Kori Cheverie takes on the assistant coach role.

On the men’s side, Antigonish’s Alex Grant will also be playing hockey for Team Canada.

Grant is a former captain of the Saint John Sea Dogs and fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2007. The 33-year-old defenceman currently plays with Helsinki-based Jokerit in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

As well, Liam Moffatt from Truro is competing in snowboard cross. According to his biography on the Canadian team’s website, the 24-year-old fell in love with snowboarding at age seven and was awarded the Neil Daffern Award for Excellence by Canada Snowboard in 2020.

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Jessica Wong, who is originally from Baddeck, is also competing at the Olympic Games. She is part of Team China’s women’s hockey team.




© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

PGA Tour Power Rankings – Everybody is chasing Jon Rahm

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PGA Tour Power Rankings – Everybody is chasing Jon Rahm

The PGA Tour is beginning to hit its stride, with another stop on the California swing at this week’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

It’s still January, so there’s a lot of golf left to be played. Many of the sport’s biggest names are just beginning to find their games.

Jon Rahm, the No. 1 player in the world, seems to have picked up where he left off in 2021, while others, like Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka, are still getting dialed in.

The first edition of the PGA Tour power rankings includes many familiar names — plus some noticeable omissions. These aren’t necessarily the 25 most talented players in the world, or the top horses for the course heading into Pebble Beach. They’re the best 25 players, in one person’s opinion, since the start of the 2021-22 PGA Tour season, which began in September.

That’s why you won’t find stars like Tony Finau (one top-25 finish in six starts with two missed cuts), Patrick Reed (one top-10 in eight stars while making his way back from double pneumonia), Harris English, Abraham Ancer and Louis Oosthuizen (hasn’t played since withdrawing from the RSM Classic in November).

1. Jon Rahm
The Spaniard couldn’t close out the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, where he won his first major championship in the U.S. Open in June. The scariest part for the rest of the field is that he didn’t have his best game this past week and still finished in a tie for third. He leads the PGA Tour in shots gained: total (2.153) and shots gained: off the tee (.928).

2. Justin Thomas
Thomas has four top-25 finishes in as many starts, including a solo third at the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba in November. His caddie switch to Jim “Bones” Mackay is paying big dividends; he seems more confident on the greens after some early struggles.

3. Collin Morikawa
The only player in history to win two different majors in his first two starts in those majors — he won the PGA Championship the first time he played it and The Open the first time he played it — Morikawa has made just three Tour starts since November, and finished in the top seven in each of them. He spent the past two weeks playing on the DP World Tour.

4. Patrick Cantlay
Cantlay, the reigning FedEx Cup champion, has made just two starts since November — a solo fourth at the Tournament of Champions and solo ninth at the American Express. With the way he’s striking his irons — he leads the Tour in greens hit in regulation — he’ll be among the favorites to win his first green jacket and Masters at Augusta National in April.

5. Hideki Matsuyama
The reigning Masters champion won in two of his past four starts, at the ZOZO Championship in his native Japan in October and the Sony Open in Hawaii a few weeks ago. He came back from five shots down and won the Sony Open in a sudden-death playoff with one of the best 3-wood shots you’ll ever see.

6. Viktor Hovland
The 24-year-old Norwegian is starting to prove he’s one of the most talented players in the world. He claimed his third victory in five events by making birdie from inside 3 feet to defeat Richard Bland on the first playoff hole at the Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on Sunday. He also won the World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba and the Hero World Challenge, an unofficial Tour event.

7. Rory McIlroy
Another late collapse prevented McIlroy from having a chance to win in Dubai on Sunday. Needing a birdie to win or a par to make a playoff, McIlroy hit his approach shot on the par-5 18th hole into the water, made bogey and finished third. Still, the Northern Irishman is playing solid golf; he won the CJ Cup at Summit in October, tied for sixth in Dubai and tied for 12th in Abu Dhabi.

8. Cameron Smith
The Australian won the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii earlier this month with a total of 34-under 258, the lowest score ever in a 72-hole event. He also won the 2020 Sony Open and is one of just six players in history to win both events in Hawaii.

9. Dustin Johnson
The former World No. 1 hasn’t played much golf lately and hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since winning his first green jacket at the 2020 Masters. He’ll try to defend his Saudi International title next week. His driving accuracy remains an issue.

10. Xander Schauffele
Schauffele hasn’t done much since helping the U.S. rout the Europeans in the Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits. His best finish in limited-field events was a 12th-place finish at the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the beginning of 2022. He’ll be busy the next three weeks with starts at the Saudi International, Waste Management Phoenix Open and The Genesis Invitational.

11. Will Zalatoris
It’s not a question of if Zalatoris will win a PGA Tour event, but rather when the first will come and how many major championships he’ll win in his career. He’s already one of the game’s best ball-strikers. He added weight to his slight frame — he’s listed at 6-foot-2 and a generous 175 pounds — plus some swing speed during the offseason. His putting remains a problem, though. Zalatoris finished 64th in strokes gained: putting among the 79 players who made the cut at the Farmers.

12. Sam Burns
Before missing the cut at Torrey Pines, Burns had finished in the top 20 in each of his seven starts in 2021-22. His victory at the Sanderson Farms Championship in October moved him to No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings for the first time in his career; he’s currently fifth.

13. Sungjae Im
The South Korean continues to play a lot of golf, with eight starts already this season. He won the Shriners Children’s Open in October and had three more top-10s since then, including a tie for sixth at the Farmers Insurance Open.

14. Scottie Scheffler
The Ryder Cup rookie hero is starting to heat up, with three straight top-25 finishes, including a tie for 20th at Torrey Pines. He’s still trying to dial in his driver; he ranks 110th in shots gained: off the tee and 113th in driving accuracy.

15. Daniel Berger
Berger hasn’t played much since the Ryder Cup. He has just two starts in official Tour events — a tie for fifth at the Tournament of Champions and tie for 20th in the Farmers Insurance Open. He has three straight top-10s at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, including a win last year. He will be among the favorites this week.

16. Marc Leishman
The Australian has played consistently well since the start of the 2021-22 season with five top-25 finishes in seven tour starts. He tied for third at the Shriners Children’s Open and QBE Shootout, an unofficial event.

17. Brooks Koepka
Even a radical hair-color change — he dyed his hair blond — couldn’t turn around the four-time major champion’s game.

He missed the cut again at the Farmers Insurance Open, the third time he didn’t play on the weekend in his past five starts.

18. Billy Horschel
Horschel won the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play last season and then became only the second American — Arnold Palmer was the first in 1975 — to win the BMW PGA Championship, the biggest event on the European Tour. He had the first-round lead at Torrey Pines before finishing tied for 11th.

19. Bryson DeChambeau
You have to wonder if all the speed training and work toward competing in a long-drive competition is beginning to take its toll on DeChambeau’s body. He withdrew from the Sony Open with a left wrist injury and then missed the cut at Torrey Pines, after holding the same wrist throughout a forgettable back nine in the second round.

20. Jason Kokrak
Kokrak won the Houston Open in November, his third victory in 13 months, and had one of the better fall swings of anyone on tour. He has made only two starts this year, finishing 38th in the Tournament of Champions and tied for 17th in the Sony Open.

21. Talor Gooch
The former Oklahoma State star won his first tour event at the RSM Classic at Sea Island and followed it up with two more top-20s. Gooch isn’t exceptionally long off the tee, but is among the better ball-strikers, which is why he ranks sixth in scoring average at 69.8.

22. Luke List
After beating Zalatoris in a playoff at Torrey Pines, List, 37, became the oldest first-time winner on the PGA Tour since Ryan Armour won the 2017 Sanderson Farms Championship at 41 years old. Going into this past weekend, he had 22 career top-10s without a victory since the 2015-16 season, second-most among players without a win during that stretch.

23. Tyrrell Hatton
We haven’t seen much of the Englishman since he was a part of the Europeans’ flop at Whistling Straits. He tied for 18th at the CJ Cup and tied for ninth at the Hero World Challenge. Hatton has done pretty good work in Europe, tying for sixth in Abu Dhabi and tying for fourth in Dubai.

24. Kevin Kisner
This ain’t no hobby, as he says, for the former Georgia star. Since missing the cut at the RSM Classic, Kisner has posted three straight top-5 finishes — tied for fifth at the QBE Shootout, tied for eighth at the Tournament of Champions and tied for third at the Sony Open. He ranks sixth in greens in regulation and 17th in strokes gained: putting.

25. Jordan Spieth
Before missing the cut at Torrey Pines, Spieth had posted three consecutive top-25s, including a tie for 18th at the CJ Cup and tie for 21st at the Tournament of Champions. He made a remarkable comeback a year ago and needs to regain that momentum at Pebble Beach, where he won in 2017 and has four other top-10s.

Just missed the cut: Matthew Wolff, Patrick Reed, Tony Finau, Louis Oosthuizen, Harris English, Abraham Ancer, Seamus Power, Max Homa, Kevin Na, Webb Simpson

Recent Match Report – SA Women vs WI Women 2nd ODI 2021/22

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Recent Match Report – SA Women vs WI Women 2nd ODI 2021/22
Report

Khaka five-for pushed the game into overtime, and that’s when the WI powerhouse hit 19 runs in five balls

West Indies Women 160 (Dottin 37, Khaka 5-26) tied with South Africa Women 160 (Luus 46, Matthews 2-21)
West Indies Women won the one-over eliminator

Deandra Dottin‘s career-best 150* on Friday could not beat the rain but her 19 off five balls in the Super Over sealed a rain-affect second ODI against South Africa. The main event was reduced to 41 overs a side and both teams were bowled out for 160 before Dottin and Hayley Matthews starred in a record Super Over of 25 without loss against Shabnim Ismail. South Africa’s Chloe Tryon and Tazmin Brits got off to a good start with 15 runs off the first four balls off Matthews, but managed only two off the last two to concede the match.

Dottin was at her destructive best in the match proper, where she top-scored with 37, and especially in the Super Over. She swiped a full toss to mid-wicket for two to start off, then moved across her stumps to ramp Ismail for four, and then got down on one knee to drive her over long-on for six. She took three off the last ball she faced leaving Matthews one ball that she sent over the leg side for another six.

When Deandra decides to bat, it’s quite difficult to have a plan,” South Africa’s captain Suné Luus conceded. “You can try and contain her on one side but she is a batter with a lot of experience and power.”

And South Africa were unable to match that skill. With Lizelle Lee out of the series as she recovers from Covid-19, South Africa chose to use Tazmin Brits and Chloe Tryon, who started the reply with a six over mid-wicket. She scrambled through for one on the ball after before Brits hit Matthews for successive fours. South Africa needed 10 runs off the last two deliveries and scored two off the penultimate ball, which put victory out of reach.

South Africa and West Indies were involved in the last tied match, with West Indies’ winning the Super Over while South Africa have been involved in the last five tied ODIs and stand-in captain Luus joked that she hoped they could come out on the right side of tense affairs fairly soon. But for that, their tactics in crunch moments needed examination. In this case, South Africa preferred Ismail in the Super Over over Ayabonga Khaka, who took a career-best 5 for 26 in eight overs, and Luus was left to explain why. “We felt Shabnim with her experience and she bowled the over before so she was confident she could keep West Indies to a low total,” she said.

Ismail bowled what became the last over of the match and dismissed Shakera Selman lbw with scores level, to snatch a tie from the jaws of defeat after West Indies had clawed their way back into the chase. They were 83 for 6 in the 21st over, with danger-woman Dottin dismissed for 37, and South Africa’s slower bowlers enjoying success on what Luus called a “sticky” pitch. Chedean Nation and Chinelle Henry came together for the seventh-wicket with the intention to take their team over the line. “We had a discussion that it had to be between me and Chedean. It was about applying ourselves and keep it ticking,” Henry said. “We understand each other and we bat well together. We knew we had to take the responsibility to take the team to the end.”

Henry became Khaka’s fourth victim to end their partnership on 54 and Shamilia Connell was out lbw off the next ball to leave West Indies needing 24 runs with two wickets in hand. Nation and Selman then shared 21-runs for the ninth wicket before Nation was caught off Masabata Klaas and West Indies were three runs short of victory. Ismail denied them that but could not stop them from winning the Super Over.

Ultimately, South Africa may rue the way they batted, with collapses at the top and bottom of the innings. They started slowly but solidly and reached 53 without loss in the 17th over but then lost three wickets for five runs in 13 deliveries and the middle-order was required to rebuild. Luus shared a 33-run fourth-wicket stand with Mignon du Preez and a 29-run fifth-wicket stand with Tryon. She top-scored with 46 before South Africa’s lower order fell away. They lost five wickets for 18 runs in 30 balls. The five bowlers West Indies used took two wickets each, with Shamilia Connell and Hayley Matthews conceding at under three runs an over.

The third match in the series will be played on Thursday, at the same venue, where according to Luus, the persistent summer rain is helping to replicate conditions the teams can expect at the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand.

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s South Africa correspondent

Nadal beats Medvedev for record 21st grand slam — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

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Nadal beats Medvedev for record 21st grand slam — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Rafael Nadal, yesterday, at the Australian Open, came back from two sets down to win a titanic five-set duel against Daniil Medvedev to claim a record 21st Grand Slam men’s title.

Looking fatigued and out of it as the Russian world No 2 carved out an emphatic two-set lead, Nadal, after a toilet breaks, managed to come back to win 2-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in five hours 24 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.

This is the second-longest match down under, falling 30 minutes short of the 2013 finals where Djokovic wọn in five sets.

Nadal has managed to come out on top in the physical war of attrition to move ahead of era rivals, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, on the all-time list of men’s major winners. Djokovic, a nine-time winner at Melbourne and pre-tournament favourite to win this title, sadly missed his chance to improve on his Australian Open record and overall title slam when he was deported over-vaccination issues on the eve of the tournament.

It was one of the 35-year-old Spanish warrior’s great title victories in his 29th Grand Slam final. It was also his second Australian Open, 13 years after his first in 2009.

“This has been one of the most emotional matches of my tennis career,” Nadal said. “It’s just amazing. I didn’t know a few months back if I would even be playing again on the tour and I am back on this court before you all today. You don’t know how much I fought to be here.

“The huge support I have received in the three weeks here is going to stay in my heart for the rest of my life.”

Nadal also became only the fourth man to win each of the four Grand Slams twice and the third-oldest man in the Open era (since 1970) to win a Grand Slam title, behind Ken Rosewall.

The final went down to a dramatic end with Nadal being broken as he served for the championship only for the Spaniard to break back immediately, an anti-climatic end for Medvedev who looked out of it towards the end.

On his second attempt to serve it out, Nadal powered to three match points to win amid chaotic scenes in his player’s box and the frenzied crowd.

It is the fourth time in his career that Nadal clawed back to win from two sets down, but the first time in a grand slam final. It is also the second time Nadal will deny Medvedev in a grand slam final, winning a five-set epic at the 2019 US Open. Nadal holds a 4-1 lead over Medvedev in their five matches to date.

Medvedev had wrecked Djokovic’s calendar grand slam push and bid for the 21st title in New York four months ago and was aiming to do the same to Nadal in Melbourne.

Medvedev lost his second consecutive Australian Open final after falling in straight sets to Djokovic in last year’s final. While this is just the first grand slam of the year, doubts hover around Djokovic’s return at other events to challenge for the biggest titles, as other slams may enforce vaccine mandates on players.

Everton appoint Frank Lampard as new manager — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

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Everton appoint Frank Lampard as new manager — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Everton on Monday appointed Frank Lampard as their new manager on a two-and-a-half year deal with the task of keeping the Toffees in the Premier League.

Lampard has been out of the game since being sacked as Chelsea boss a little over a year ago.

The former England international will take charge for the first time on Saturday when Everton host Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

“It is a huge honour for me to represent and manage a club the size and tradition of Everton Football Club. I’m very hungry to get started,” said Lampard.

“I think Everton is a unique club in that you can really understand what the fans want to see. The first thing they want is fight and desire and that must always be our baseline.

“My first message to the players will be that we have to do this together. We’ll try to do our job and I know the fans will be there backing us.”

Lampard takes charge with Everton just four points above the relegation zone.

Rafael Benitez was sacked earlier in January following a 2-1 defeat relegation rivals Norwich.

The Spaniard had been an unpopular appointment with Everton fans due to his history as a Champions League-winning manager for Liverpool.

Supporters protested inside Goodison Park after a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on January 22 and outside the stadium over the past week at the running of the club by British-Iranian businessman Farhad Moshiri.

Moshiri has spent over half a billion pounds ($672 million) on transfers since his takeover in 2016, but much of that money has been wasted.

Lampard becomes the club’s seventh permanent manager in less than six years.

His former England teammate Wayne Rooney turned down the chance to have an interview for the job, while Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira was reportedly the favourite until a fan revolt against his appointment.

“I am really delighted that Frank has joined us,” said Moshiri.

“He has played at the very highest level of the game and has football in his blood. He impressed us all greatly during the thorough interview process and we’re all ready to give him all of our support as he looks to give the team an immediate boost.”

After the visit of Brentford, Lampard has a baptism of fire back in the Premier League, with a trip to fellow-strugglers Newcastle on February 8 that could have a huge bearing on who is relegated at the end of the season.

The 43-year-old, Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer as a player, started his managerial career at Derby.

He led the Rams to the Championship play-off final in his only season in charge at Pride Park, which ended in defeat to Aston Villa at Wembley.

Lampard led Chelsea into the Champions League during his only full season as manager at Stamford Bridge, but was dismissed last January with the Blues languishing in ninth place in the Premier League table.

Daytona 24H: Castroneves wins in a Meyer Shank Racing Acura

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Daytona 24H: Castroneves wins in a Meyer Shank Racing Acura

Daytona 24H: Helio Castroneves wins for Meyer Shank Racing

Helio Castroneves climbed the fence for the third time this calendar year Sunday after earning another crown jewel victory, this time a second consecutive win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The Brazilian closed out the race for Meyer Shank Racing, the team that helped him win a record-tying fourth Indianapolis 500 last May.

Castroneves in the No. 60 Acura held off Ricky Taylor over the final hour of the twice-round-the-clock race – an ironic close because Castroneves won his first career Rolex watch 365 days ago as Taylor’s teammate in the No. 10 Acura.

Castroneves denied Wayne Taylor Racing a fourth consecutive win at Daytona International Speedway, where he of course climbed the fence with his team in celebration. Now rival team owner Taylor went to victory lane to congratulate Castroneves.

The win for Michael Shank came on the 10th anniversary of Shank’s first victory in North America´s most prestigious sports car race. That win in the 50th running of the Rolex with the late Justin Wilson and NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger gave Shank’s fledgling program credibility, and Castroneves since May has helped Shank show the team is a legitimate force.

Castroneves will drive the full IndyCar season for Shank this year in a two-car effort that includes his former Penske teammate Simon Pagenaud. Shank grabbed both Castroneves and Pagenaud to help his fulltime IMSA sports car drivers Olivier Jarvis and Tom Blomqvist win the 60th running of the Rolex.

Daytona 24H went down to the final minutes

The 24-hour race remarkably came down to the final minutes in four of the five classes at Daytona. And it was a huge day for the IndyCar Series, which had five drivers claim Rolex watches.

Colton Herta, Pato O’Ward and IndyCar rookie Devlin DeFrancesco rallied DragonSpeed USA from several laps down to win the LMP2 class, with Herta going door-to-door in the final minutes with Tower Motorsport. Herta came out the victor when the two cars almost touched and Louis Deletraz went off course.

The new GTD Pro class was decided by a frantic battle between a pair of Porsches, and Pfaff Motorsports, which enlisted IMSA reigning co-champion Felipe Nasr as its endurance driver, earned the win.

Riley Motorsports won the LMP 3 class and Wright Motorsports won the GT Daytona class.

The field featured 61 cars, the most since 2014, and was run in record-low temperatures.

Temperatures dipped into the low 30s overnight, but it was a mild 53 degrees and sunny when Castroneves climbed yet another fence. (Report by Jenna Fryer)

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