Author: Shekari Philemon

Alex Eala will take bronze at the Asian Games after losing to China’s Wang Xiyu 6 to 3, 3 to 6, 2 to 6 in the women’s singles semifinals on Thursday in Nagoya, matching the result she achieved in 2023. How did the match turn? She led 5 to 0. Eala broke repeatedly to open, winning the first three games and holding through the fifth, before her opponent won three straight to close to 5 to 3. She needed four set points to finish the opener. Her return game carried that set, winning 21 return points to 12. What happened…

New England quarterback Drake Maye said Wednesday that the condition of his right shoulder has not affected his throwing, pointing instead to decision making as the cause of a difficult start to the season. What is the contradiction? He appeared on the injury report the same day. Drake Maye was listed for the first time this season with a right throwing shoulder designation while practising as a full participant. Those two facts are reconcilable. Teams routinely list players managing something who are nonetheless available, and full participation is the meaningful indicator. But the listing is new, and it arrived on…

Pittsburgh agreed on Wednesday night to trade cornerback Joey Porter Jr to Dallas for a 2027 sixth round pick and a 2028 second rounder, ending a contract standoff that ran through the offseason and into the season. What was the dispute about? Guaranteed money within the contract structure, according to reporting. The two sides never made meaningful progress despite talks continuing until hours before the Week 1 game, at which point Pittsburgh stopped negotiating under a longstanding policy against in season contract talks. What is his injury situation? Unresolved, and this is the complication Dallas is accepting. He reported an…

Philadelphia guard Tyrese Maxey said Wednesday that he wants to be judged on winning rather than individual production, as the Sixers began camp with four established stars on one roster. What did he say about his role? That it is not his to define. Tyrese Maxey said he has already demonstrated what he can do individually and now wants team results to be the measure. He listed the positions and situations he can play, on and off the ball, in transition, catching and shooting, off screens and in pick and roll, and said he will play however the coach requires.…

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has been charged with driving under the influence following an arrest in Scottsdale, Arizona, in March, according to court records. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Oct. 28. What is the charge? A Class 1 misdemeanor, the most serious misdemeanor classification in Arizona. The arrest took place during a traffic stop at around 1 a.m. on March 6. No plea has been entered and the arraignment is where that happens. Has anything been decided? No. A charge is an accusation by prosecutors, not a finding by a court. The Dillon Brooks DUI charge will…

The NBA has instructed referees to penalise offensive players who push off defenders with their free arm, one of four areas of emphasis announced Tuesday for the coming season. What is a push off? An offensive player using the arm that is not handling the ball to make contact with a defender and create space, most commonly before a perimeter shot. Some jockeying between the two has always been legal and expected, which is why the league has issued a framework rather than a prohibition. How will referees judge it? Through four terms. A ball handler may use the off…

The NBA is expected to select a winning bid for its Las Vegas expansion franchise soon, with reporting placing the price at a minimum of $12 billion to $13 billion covering the team and a new arena. How large is that number? Unprecedented, by a wide margin. The most recent comparison points in the source are a $6.05 billion sale of an NFL franchise and a Milwaukee valuation of $3.5 billion in 2023. A figure roughly double the highest American sports sale on record, for a team that does not yet exist, indicates what the league believes a new franchise…

Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer took public responsibility on Tuesday for the closing sequence of Sunday’s loss to Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro, saying he hurt his team’s chance to win in the final 28 seconds. What actually happened? A chain of decisions. Dallas had first and goal from the 2. On third down, Dak Prescott threw the ball away rather than attempting a throw to George Pickens, leading to a 23 yard field goal that tied the game. Dallas then kicked off through the end zone for a touchback, giving Baltimore the ball at its own 35 with seven seconds…

The New York Giants released Odell Beckham Jr on Tuesday, ending a return to the franchise that drafted him after three games in which he did not record a catch. What were the numbers? Nineteen snaps across three games and one target. That target came Sunday against Tennessee, a throw from Jameis Winston that was nearly intercepted. He played six snaps in that game. He had not appeared in the league since 2024, when he caught nine passes for 54 yards with Miami. Why now? Roster arithmetic as much as performance. The team needed a decision on Braxton Berrios, its…

Alex Eala has secured at least a bronze medal at the Asian Games after beating Joanna Garland of Chinese Taipei 7 to 5, 6 to 0 in the women’s singles quarterfinals on Wednesday in Nagoya. How did the match go? Tight, then not. Both players broke serve in the opening two games and the first set stayed level through 5 to 5, with the lead changing hands repeatedly. Eala then took three straight games, breaking in the eleventh, to close it at 7 to 5. The second set was a shutout. She broke in the second, fourth and fifth games…