Author: Shekari Philemon

Green Bay lost 35 to 14 at home on Thursday and was booed off its own field, leaving a coach in his eighth season saying he does not know what his offense currently does well. How bad were the numbers? Historic in the wrong direction. The Packers offense produced 17 rushing yards, 225 fewer than Atlanta. The total ties for the third fewest in franchise history across more than 90 years. They attempted only nine rushes, four from each of two backs and one quarterback scramble. Through three games they have gained 146 rushing yards, the fewest by any team…

Michael Penix Jr played his first game since tearing his left ACL last November, and Atlanta responded with a 35 to 14 win at Lambeau Field that few expected. How did he play? Eighteen completions on 25 attempts for 256 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. The interception came on the opening series. What followed was the more instructive part. Across the second and third quarters he completed 13 of 15 passes, converted all five third downs he faced and threw a 5 yard touchdown to Austin Hooper with under a minute left in the half. He said the…

Los Angeles Lakers president of basketball operations Rob Pelinka spoke publicly for the first time Thursday about LeBron James leaving the franchise, describing the process as amicable and expressing gratitude for eight seasons that produced a championship. What did he actually say? Little of substance, carefully. Rob Pelinka opened by thanking James for his time in Los Angeles, noted the run included a title and a Western Conference finals appearance, and said the team became a perennial playoff contender during it. Pressed on why James is now in Philadelphia, he returned to gratitude, describing offseason communications as diplomatic, professional and…

Alex Eala’s return to competition ended in the round of 16 at the Singapore Tennis Open on Thursday, losing 6 to 4, 5 to 7, 3 to 6 to Tatiana Prozorova after more than three hours at OCBC Arena. How did the match turn? Slowly, and then all at once. Alex Eala had not played competitively for 18 days and looked it early, unable to pressure her opponent’s serve in the opening games and falling behind 3 to 1 in the first set. She then won four straight games to lead 5 to 3, needed seven set points to close…

Coco Gauff will compete as a player and an owner when World Team Tennis returns in December, joining the Florida franchise in a dual role that is unusual for an active player at her level. What is her involvement? She holds an ownership stake in the Florida Flamingos Racquet Club and is scheduled to play the team’s home matches on Dec. 14 and 15 at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise. She grew up in Delray Beach and said she is looking forward to playing in front of family and friends in South Florida, describing the team format as a rare…

Spain reached the semifinals of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals on Wednesday for the first time in 18 years, beating Kazakhstan 2 to 1 in Shenzhen on the strength of a doubles performance that survived relentless pressure. How close was the deciding rubber? Closer than the score suggests. Cristina Bucsa and Sara Sorribes Tormo faced 20 break points against Anna Danilina and Zhibek Kulambayeva and saved 18 of them, winning 6 to 2, 7 to 5. Conceding that many chances and losing only two is unusual, and it is the entire reason Spain is still in the competition. A…

An independent tribunal has banned Indian player Parikshit Somani from tennis for four years after rejecting his explanation for a positive drug test, the sport’s integrity body announced Wednesday. What was the substance? Trimetazidine, a heart medication prohibited in sport. The 26 year old tested positive at a lower tier event in Astana, Kazakhstan, last year. His career high ranking was 256 in doubles, meaning this tennis doping ban involves a player operating at the margins of the professional game rather than a recognised name. What was his explanation? Contamination through food. He said a family member’s medication had entered…

Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said Wednesday that recently circulated comments about a 2024 dispute with Denver counterpart Sean Payton were never intended for publication, and that he called Payton to apologize. What did he say about it? That responsibility sits with him regardless of circumstance. Mike Macdonald said he did not intend the remarks for public use but felt reaching out to Payton was the right step, since the Broncos were left handling something that originated on Seattle’s side. He described falling short in the moment and said he is responsible for what he says whether or not he…

Contract extension talks between the New York Knicks and Karl-Anthony Towns have stalled, with an agreement considered unlikely as the defending champions open training camp next week. What is available to him? Up to four years and $276 million. The two sides spent considerable time on it during the offseason without reaching terms, and negotiations have not moved recently. Nothing prevents a deal later in the season, but nothing appears close. Why would the Knicks hesitate? Payroll structure. The owner has repeatedly stated an intention to keep the team out of the second apron, the upper tier of luxury tax…

Stephen Curry has not signed the contract extension available to him, and he says that will change nothing about how he plays when Golden State opens training camp next week. What is on the table? An extension of up to two years and $136.7 million, which he became eligible for on Aug. 29 off a one year, $62.6 million expiring deal. The team presented several versions immediately, according to people within the organisation, ranging from the maximum to modest reductions to the option of waiting and deciding later depending on what flexibility the front office can generate. Why hasn’t he…