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Russell: Who wouldn’t want to be in that position?

F1

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November 11, 2021

Russell: Who wouldn’t want to be in that position?

Williams’ George Russell has been announced as Valtteri Bottas’ replacement at Mercedes in 2022, and believes that despite the pressure coming along with the expectations, anyone would want to be in the position.

The Mercedes junior driver has always been linked to a seat alongside seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, and the announcement was made back in September, as the young Briton has been delivering a solid season with back-markers Williams, producing impressive qualifying performances that flattered the team’s slow car at his disposal.

Russell relishing the opportunity

Russell was speaking to PA news agency about next season, his expectations, and and the challenges he will face, and said: “The biggest challenge next year will be going directly up against the greatest driver of all time.

“But I am in such an amazing position because I can learn from Lewis and test myself against the best.

“Who wouldn’t want to be in that position?” he questioned.

The dynamic between the two was always going to be fascinating. Will Hamilton beat Russell, or will the upcoming star beat the seasoned veteran, and how will the pressure affect both of them?

“To be honest, it almost takes the pressure off,” Russell pointed out. “He is a proven great, but I believe in myself, I have high expectations and I have an amazing opportunity to show the world what I can do.

“And that is why I am so relaxed because I am going to a place where I couldn’t have wished for a better environment ahead of my fourth year in Formula 1,” the 23-year old admitted.

Max should’ve been way ahead

Russell’s future teammate is currently locked down in a fierce title fight this season with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who, after winning in Mexico City last weekend, is looking to extend his 19-point advantage over Hamilton in the Drivers’ Standings at the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix.

The future Mercedes driver believes that despite Verstappen’s impressive performance, he has not realized his full potential this year and should have been further ahead in the title fight.

“Max has been exceptional this year and realistically they should be a long, long way ahead in the championship and they should have the title sewn up,” said Russell.

“But you can never discount Lewis and Mercedes,” the one-time podium sitter insisted. “They have been here for the last seven years for a reason and they are probably not feeling the pressure because they have that experience.

“I am going to back Lewis and Mercedes, purely because of that,” Russell concluded adamant that his future teammate and team will prevail in this year’s title showdown.

Russell currently lies 15th in the Drivers’ Championship on 16 points, and still has four races to contest with Williams, before he joins the reigning World Champions in 2022. (Follow me on Twitter @MallakJad)

Tommy Fury begs Jake Paul not to ‘pull out’ of fight as Brit vows to ‘splatter’ rival | Boxing | Sport

Boxing

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November 11, 2021

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Tommy Fury begs Jake Paul not to ‘pull out’ of fight as Brit vows to ‘splatter’ rival | Boxing | Sport

As mentioned, despite his YouTuber background Paul also heads to Tampa unbeaten in professional boxing, posing a 4-0 record.

And despite his English opponent posing a longer professional and amateuar career – as well as coming from the notorious Fury family – Paul believes the former Love Islander hasn’t worked as hard as he has to get to this point.

Paul said: “Tommy claims to have been doing this his whole life and he’s had this amateur career, and he’s been around it and that is true, but he hasn’t worked as hard as me.

“I see a green guy who hasn’t sparred enough times and who has only been put in there with opponents that were meant to lose.

Draymond Green exits Golden State Warriors’ win over Minnesota Timberwolves due to thigh contusion

Basketball

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November 11, 2021

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Draymond Green exits Golden State Warriors’ win over Minnesota Timberwolves due to thigh contusion

SAN FRANCISCO — Warriors forward Draymond Green suffered a right thigh contusion in the third quarter of Wednesday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves and was ruled out for the rest of Golden State’s 123-110 win.

“He got a quad contusion that was pretty nasty,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said after the game. “So he’s got some ice on it now. For now, just call him questionable for Friday,” when Golden State hosts the Chicago Bulls.

Green’s injury occurred with 6:45 left in the quarter when he went up for a shot under the rim over the Timberwolves’ Jaden McDaniels. Green initially appeared to knock knees with McDaniels and stayed in for a few more moments before being taken out of the game and going back to the locker room to get checked out. Kerr said he didn’t believe there was any issue with Green’s knee.

“When he came off the floor he said it was a bad thigh, muscle bruise,” Kerr said. “Like he just got kneed in the thigh, but it was close to the knee. But I have no reason to believe it has anything to do with a joint contusion from what I understand.”

Green, who has been the defensive engine behind the Warriors’ 10-1 start to the season, scored seven points, dished out six assists and grabbed five rebounds in 21 minutes before leaving the game. If he has to miss any stretch of time, his teammates know it will be a group effort to try to replace what he does.

“You have to have a collective effort on the defensive end to try to do what he does by himself as a disruptor on that end,” Warriors guard Stephen Curry said. “Offensively, it changes a little bit if he’s not out there in terms of who’s initiating the offense and how we create shots, but this team is obviously a little different in that respect, knowing we have kind of shooters all over the floor and different sets to help feature those guys. But obviously defense is most important because that’s what wins basketball games.”

Warriors big man Kevon Looney echoed a similar sentiment.

“He’s a tough guy to replace,” Looney said of Green. “His energy, his leadership, is tough to fill it in with somebody. But we have a pretty deep team, it’s going to open an opportunity for a lot of guys at that position. Me, Otto [Porter Jr.] and Juan [Toscano-Anderson], [Nemanja Bjelica], get some more time. So we just got to go in, and it’s going to be a group effort, just got to continue to get better, talk on defense and play together. … We just got to hold down the fort until he gets back.”

‘Rivers Angels embarrassed Nigeria at CAF Champions League’ | The Guardian Nigeria News

Football

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November 11, 2021

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‘Rivers Angels embarrassed Nigeria at CAF Champions League’ | The Guardian Nigeria News

Former defender of Nigerian U-20 female team, Falconets, Blessing Akusobi, has described Rivers Angels poor campaign at the maiden CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt as big embarrassment to the country.

Rivers Angels, Nigeria’s sole representative in the competition, fell again on Tuesday, losing their second Group B match 1-0 to South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. The Nigerian team, which is the oldest club side among those featuring at the maiden CAF Champions League, earlier suffered heavy defeat, 3-0 to ASFAR FC of Morocco in their opening group match on Saturday.

Speaking with The Guardian yesterday, Akusobi, who still shows signs of injury she suffered playing for the Falconets at the 2006 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Russia, said Rivers Angels poor performance in Egypt is bad for the Nigerian women football league.

“In our playing days, there was nothing like the CAF Champions League, and I felt Rivers Angels will easily dominate it in Egypt as the champions of Nigeria. My thinking is that the Nigerian women’s League is stronger than what is on ground in Morocco. I can’t believe that a Moroccan team could disgrace Rivers Angels in such a way. Losing 3-0 to the Moroccan team and I-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa on Tuesday was a big embarrassment to Nigerian football as far as I am concerned,” Akusobi stated.

Akusobi had her ligaments torn in the quarterfinal clash against Brazil in Moscow after a Brazilian player landed on her left leg following an aerial contest.

The former defender attributed Rivers Angels defeat in Egypt to several factors, including poor organisation of the Nigeria women football league. “This means the standard of our league has fallen so low,” she stated.

Rivers Angels, led by newly appointed Super Falcons assistant coach, Edwin Okon, went into Tuesday’s Group B match needing a win to raise hope of progressing to the semifinals of the continental women league. But they fell to the South Africans first half goal.

Meanwhile, ASFAR FC of Morocco, who thrashed Rivers Angels 3-0 in their first match, were beaten 2-0 by Vihiga Queens of Kenya on Tuesday in the other group B match.

The victory has thrown Group B wide open as both ASFAR and Vihiga have three points each and they both must win their last group matches to sail through.

Rivers Angels will face the Kenyan giants, Vihiga Queens, tomorrow, while Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat Vihiga 1-0 in the opening match take on ASFAR of Morocco.

Rivers Angels need to do the unthinkable by beating Vihiga Queens by at least six goals without conceding hoping that Sundowns will do them a favour by beating Vihiga Queens to have the hope of remaining in the competition.

Mamelodi Sundowns have qualified for the semi-finals with six point from two matches. They need only a draw tomorrow to confirm their top position on the log.

Jayson Tatum helps Celtics beat Raptors, 104-88

Sport News

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November 11, 2021

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Jayson Tatum helps Celtics beat Raptors, 104-88

BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum had 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists in the Boston Celtics’ 104-88 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night.

Robert Williams III added 16 points and 13 rebounds, with a career-best eight coming on the offensive glass. Dennis Schroder scored 20 points, Josh Richardson had 15 and Marcus Smart 13.

Scottie Barnes led Toronto with 21 points, Fred VanVleet had 16, and OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. each had 14. The Raptors dropped to 4-1 on the road.

In the teams’ first meeting of the season — in Boston’s home opener on Oct. 22 — the Raptors won by 32 points, and Celtics coach Ime Uboka said after that his team got “punked out there.” Boston was booed off the court at halftime.

Anthony Joshua told about perfect Rob McCracken replacement before Oleksandr Usyk rematch | Boxing | Sport

Boxing

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November 11, 2021

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But he warned that Booth may insist on keeping Joshua’s entourage at arm’s length.

“Nobody has an understanding of the game like Adam Booth. Nobody knows what it takes to improve a fighter like Adam Booth,” he added.

“But I think it would come with a few conditions, like when it is time for the training the only person who walks through that gym door is Anthony Joshua.

“They lock the door behind them and they get to work and every day is like that. Adam has already told me a few things he has seen, just over a few text messages, about how he would improve Joshua.

“Rob McCracken is a great coach and he does not need replacing, in my eyes, but if he is then I think he should at least touch base with Adam and explore that avenue.”

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown out 1-2 weeks with hamstring injury

Basketball

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November 11, 2021

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Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown out 1-2 weeks with hamstring injury

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown will miss the next 1-2 weeks with a right hamstring strain, coach Ime Udoka announced Monday.

Brown is leading the Celtics in scoring with a career-high 25.6 points per game.

The injury has already forced Brown to miss one game, a buzzer-beater loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday. That defeat was Boston’s first since holding a players-only meeting last week.

The Celtics (4-6) next play the Raptors (6-5) on Wednesday night.

Bodyguards banned from F1 grid after Brundle incident

F1

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November 11, 2021

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Bodyguards banned from F1 grid after Brundle incident

megan-thee-stallion-brundle skytv

Formula 1 has banned celebrities from bringing bodyguards to the starting grid after an incident with commentator and former driver Martin Brundle at last month’s United States Grand Prix in Austin.

The 62-year-old Briton, a former teammate of Germany’s seven-times F1 world champion Michael Schumacher, was doing his popular pre-race ‘grid walk’ for Sky television in Austin when he tried to catch a word with rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

After approaching with a microphone to enquire whether she had any rap for F1, and being asked if she had “no rap today”, Brundle asked her who she was supporting. A flustered bodyguard then told him he could not do that.

“I can do that, because I did,” replied Brundle, who has interviewed Hollywood A-listers and sporting greats over the years, to the delight of many on social media.

A F1 source confirmed to Reuters that bodyguards would no longer be allowed due to space limitations and COVID-19 restrictions, but celebrities would not be obliged to give interviews.

Brundle told his viewers on Sunday that new rules had been introduced and referred to a ‘Brundle Clause’.

He took to Twitter on Tuesday to offer a further clarification: “For the avoidance of doubt I don’t care who visits the F1 grid, the more the merrier. Talk to me, ignore me, shove, wave, hug, call me names, whatever makes you happy.

“All I ask is that you soak up the atmosphere, enjoy the privilege. I’ve not asked for any grid protocol changes,” added Brundle. (Reporting by Alan Baldwin)

Rory McIlroy parts with Pete Cowen, back with longtime coach Michael Bannon

Golf

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November 11, 2021

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Rory McIlroy parts with Pete Cowen, back with longtime coach Michael Bannon

Rory McIlroy has reunited with Michael Bannon, his longtime coach from Northern Ireland who is now allowed to travel to the United States following COVID-19 restrictions.

McIlroy, a four-time major winner, had been working with Pete Cowen for most of this year.

Bannon, who began working with McIlroy when he was a young boy, is in Florida this week with McIlroy in preparation for next week’s DP World Tour Championship, the final event of the European Tour schedule.

Golfweek reported the switch back from Cowen, an England-based instructor who works with several prominent players and began helping McIlroy in March at the Players Championship.

“Yes, Michael and I are back working together,” McIlroy, 32, told Golfweek. “I’ve always had a relationship with Pete, and I’ll ask for his input if I feel I need it. But now it’s Michael and me.”

Bannon began working with McIlroy at age 8 and resumed the relationship him last month following the golfer’s victory at the CJ Cup in Las Vegas. The win was the 20th for McIlroy in his PGA Tour career but came after months of frustration, including a poor Ryder Cup that saw him go 1-3 in a losing European effort at Whistling Straits.

Bannon had been unable to travel to the United States since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.

McIlroy dropped to 16th in the world in August, his lowest since he was 17th in 2009. He has since moved to eighth in the world.

In addition to the start in Dubai next week, McIlroy has entered Tiger Woods’ Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas in December.

Djokovic breaks idol Sampras’s world number one record — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Tennis

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November 11, 2021

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Djokovic breaks idol Sampras’s world number one record — Sport — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Novak Djokovic gained some consolation for missing out on a Grand Slam sweep this year when he was crowned season-ending world number one for a record seventh time on Saturday.

The 34-year-old Serbian had jointly held the record of six with Pete Sampras but took sole possession when he beat Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7/5) to reach the Paris Masters final.

Djokovic had taken a seven-week break after his dreams of a Grand Slam were dashed by Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final in September.

However, the 20-time Grand Slam champion said on Friday the main reason for his return this week was to seal the number one spot and break the record.

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning against Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz at the end of their their men’s singles semi-final tennis match on day five of the ATP Paris Masters at The AccorHotels Arena in Paris on November 6, 2021. (Photo by Christophe ARCHAMBAULT / AFP)

“It is a dream for me as Pete was my idol when I was a young boy,” said Djokovic.

“To arrive at this moment is not just my achievement but my team’s. It is wonderful to be in this position.

“I am very proud to finish number one and what a match to do it in. It was so tight right to the last point but I am a very happy man now obviously.

“I am overwhelmed with all the beautiful positive emotions.”

Djokovic — who broke Roger Federer’s record of weeks at number one earlier this year — said it was hard to rank his records.

“Being historically No. 1 ranked player in the world is probably the paramount achievement of our sport,” said Djokovic.

“It’s difficult for me to understand the magnitude of these achievements, you know, not just for myself but for the sport while I’m still an active player.

“Probably when I retire, I’ll be able to reflect on that a little bit more and appreciate it a little bit more.”

– ‘Very, very intense‘ –
Djokovic can take some satisfaction that he denied Medvedev the world number one spot, though the Russian admitted his chances of toppling the Serbian were slim.

The two will meet in Sunday’s final after titleholder Medvedev crushed the man he beat in last year’s final Alexander Zverev 6-2, 6-2 in the second semi-final.

It was a rude awakening for Zverev who had come to Paris seeking his sixth title of the year after winning in Vienna last Sunday.

Djokovic and Medvedev — who calls the Serbian ‘his friend’ — said he hoped he would be able to put up a better performance than in the US Open final.

“Last time we played, he outplayed me,” said Djokovic.

“I outplayed him in the finals of the Australian Open. It was quite straightforward matches, both of them.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to turn the tables around this time, learning from that experience in New York.

“But he is back to his best and seems to be in the groove.”

Medvedev said he was sure Djokovic would have learned from the US Open defeat.

“Of course winning the US Open would give me maybe some tactical things I want to try to repeat or use against Novak,” said Medvedev, who described as ‘magical’ the first time he played Djokovic in a Davis Cup tie.

“At the same time, we all know who Novak is. If he would not adapt to circumstances, he would not be where he is now.

“So he’s definitely going to try to change something. I cannot know what it is he’s going to try to do, so I’m going to try to think about this,” added the 25-year-old Russian.

Hurkacz has had a breakout season, winning the Miami Masters, reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals and on Friday qualifying for the season-ending ATP Finals.

The 24-year-old Pole could have capped it all by beating Djokovic but admitted the Serbian just had that edge when it came to big moments.

“Novak is such a great player, great competitor,” said Hurkacz.

“He’s just super solid in the very important moments.

“His return is really amazing. So just puts a lot of pressure on you. I always have to fight for every single point. It’s very, very intense.”