Margot Robbie’s mum is taking her Gold Coast house to auction
Hollywood superstar Margot Robbie’s mother Sarie Kessler has put her Gold Coast house on the market.In 2014, Robbie paid off her mother’s entire mortgage as a gift for her 60th birthday.At the time Ms Kessler described the birthday as the “best one ever”.“It was an amazing thing (that Margot did) but I don’t want to say anything more about it,” she said at the time.Inside Sarie Kessler Gold Coast house. Picture: realestate.com.auMore from news02:37International architect Desmond Brooks selling luxury beach villa15 hours ago02:37Gold Coast property: Sovereign Islands mega mansion hits market with $16m price tag2 days ago“However, I was really disappointed it ended up on social media as it was a personal present.Property records show Ms Kessler paid $488,500 for the four-bedroom house in 2007, the year former Somerset High student Margot graduated.Make a splash in the pool. Picture: realestate.com.au The dining area. Picture: realestate.com.auLunch date sets couple back millions of dollarsCoast homes in high demand and being snapped up quickly“With elevated skyline views and within minutes to multiple dining precincts, shopping centres and 4.4km from pristine patrolled beaches, this expansive family home must be inspected.”The property goes to auction on October 13.Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayNext playlist itemMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 1:58Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -1:58 Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedQuality Levels720p720pHD576p576p360p360p216p216pAutoA, selectedAudio Tracken (Main), selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate1xFullscreenWhy location is everything in real estate01:59 One of the bedrooms. Picture: realestate.com.auThe house, which boasts Hinterland and Surfers skyline views and a pool, is being marketed by Ray White Broadbeach agents Gareth Denning and Robin Kerr.“This renovated family home is perfectly positioned in a quiet cul-de-sac and offers open plan kitchen, dining and living rooms all flowing out onto a sheltered alfresco area, surrounded by lush tropical gardens,” the listing states.The kitchen. Picture: realestate.com.au
Actor Margot Robbie (right) and mother Sarie Kessler attend the 2018 Film Independent Spirit Awards on March 3, 2018 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/Getty Images)HOLLYWOOD superstar Margot Robbie’s mother Sarie Kessler has put her Gold Coast house on the market.Robbie, who often keeps a low-profile while on the Coast, has been a regular at her mum’s Southport house in between film projects.Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayNext playlist itemMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:43Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:43 Playback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedQuality Levels720p720pHD540p540p360p360p270p270pAutoA, selectedAudio Trackdefault, selectedFullscreenThis is a modal window.Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.PlayMuteCurrent Time 0:00/Duration 0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time -0:00 Playback Rate1xFullscreenThe latest in celebrity property news00:43The humble movie star has previously described her mum as “the sweetest person on earth”, and is close to her family – this year she took her mum to the 80th Annual Academy Awards.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District, plans to perform maintenance dredging of the North Cove Federal navigation project in Old Saybrook, Conn. The town of OId Saybrook requested maintenance dredging of the project to provide safe access to the cove at all tide stages, USACE said.The authorized project provides for an 11-foot mean lower low water (MLLW) deep, 100-foot wide channel from the Connecticut River to an 11-foot mllw deep 12-acre anchorage within North Cove, and then to a 6-foot mllw deep by 17-acre anchorage.The proposed work involves maintenance dredging to remove shoals in the 11-foot channel and anchorage and the 6-foot anchorage.Natural tidal action and riverine flows result in a high rate of deposition within North Cove. These natural shoaling processes have reduced available depths in both the 6-foot and 11-foot deep anchorages to as little as 3.0 feet mllw and the 11-foot channel depths have been reduced to as little as 4.0 feet mllw, USACE said.The shoals are hindering navigational access and compromising vessel safety.The proposed work consists of the maintenance dredging of about 290,000 cubic yards of sand and silt/clay material to return the Federal project to its authorized dimensions. The work will be performed by a private contractor, using a mechanical dredge and scows, under contract to the government.The dredger will remove the material from the bottom of the cove and place it in scows which will be towed by tug to the Central Long Island Sound Disposal Site, about 30 miles away, where the material will be released.The work will be accomplished over an 8-month period, between October 1 and May 31.[mappress mapid=”24137″]
By Dave Panske SEYMOUR, Wis. (May 4) – On the best night for racing in the area so far this season, N.E.W. DIRT opened its 31st season at Seymour Speedway Sunday night. A field of 94 cars checked in and a hardy crowd witnessed a fast paced, competitive night of racing. Lucas Lamberies led the opening three circuits of the Karl Chevrolet SportMod main before Andy Kleczka took the outside line to front. On lap seven, Jeremy Cota moved into second. Kleczka stayed in the high groove with Cota running low.Over the final five laps, Cota kept inching alongside Kleczka. Kleczka was half a car length ahead with two to go and the pair crossed the line even under the white. Cota got a better jump off turn two on the final lap and was able to hold off Klecka to pick up the win. Bill Kelsey set the pace for the first six laps of the Coors Light IMCA Sunoco Stock Car main.On lap seven, Mike Coel inched into the top spot but John Heinz moved into the runner-up spot and took over the lead on lap nine. Heinz maintained control but when completing lap 11, his machine exploded and spun around in front of the field. Fortunately, the spin went to the inside and Heinz rolled the car backwards with traffic to avoid a more serious accident. Frederick inherited the lead with Brandon Czarapata taking second. Czarapata hooked up on the inside of the track and took the lead one lap later.Rod Snellenberger and Coel made it tough on the leader until a final caution on lap 16 when Coel tagged Snellenberger and sent him up to the wall. Snellenberger was put back in second with Coel going to the back. Czarapata held on for the final four laps and the win. Jamie Schmidt outdueled pole sitter Mike Wedelstadt for the lead on the opening lap of the Budweiser IMCA Modified feature and, after a couple laps, settled into a perfect rhythm in the high groove to start to pull away from the field.The win for Schmidt was his first here since Aug. 8 of 2010.
And the midfielder has hinted that move could be sooner rather than later, telling Portuguese newspaper A Bola he will not be wearing the Benfica shirt again this season. “I have played my last game here,” he said. “I want to thank all the people at the club and all the supporters. Benfica will forever be in my heart. “I played here for two and a half years. I gave my best in every training session, every match, and now is the right time to leave. “I want to improve, I want to go to a better league and I want to go to Chelsea, the club which I also love.” Matic also revealed the Lisbon side have tried everything to persuade him to stay, but his mind is firmly made up to return to England. “The Benfica president did everything he could to get me to stay here but I have wanted to leave and insisted on leaving,” said the Serbian. “I respect the effort made to keep me at the club, everyone at Benfica has been very good to me and made me very happy, but I reiterate that I insisted on going as the time is right.” Press Association Midfielder Nemanja Matic appears to be closing in on a return to Chelsea after telling the Portuguese media he has played his last game for Benfica.
The 25-year-old Serbia international left the Blues in 2011 as a makeweight in the deal that brought Brazilian David Luiz to Stamford Bridge. After two years with Benfica, however, Chelsea look ready to bring Matic back for a second stint at the club. 
Press Association Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew believes Yohan Cabaye would have slotted straight into Arsenal’s starting line-up if the midfielder had signed for the Gunners this summer. “He didn’t really have a tough time there, he was just frustrated he didn’t get enough first-team games.” Pardew added: “I think the lads here have taken him under their wing – they understand he is the benchmark for our playing staff.” Another player frustrated by a lack of first-team football is Palace striker Dwight Gayle, who is considering an offer from Bristol City after the Championship side had a bid accepted for the striker. “Dwight last year was a little bit upset he wasn’t involved in the first team and quite rightly, this is a guy who’s got 20 goals in him,” Pardew said. “He came and saw me at the start of the season and expressed a view to move elsewhere. “I’m in such a great position with the players I have, I said ‘okay that’s fine with me and we’ll try to get you a club’. “Now there is a club and there’s a reluctance to go. The ball is firmly in Dwight’s court. As far as I’m concerned, this is a player who is perhaps going to go.” Palace host Arsenal on Sunday and Cabaye is likely to start after scoring on his Eagles debut in a 3-1 win at Norwich last weekend. “Two years ago Yohan wouldn’t play (for Newcastle) at Manchester City because he thought he was going to Arsenal so it’s quite ironic he’s now here with us at Crystal Palace,” Pardew said. “He’s a fantastic player, we’re honoured to have him and he’s definitely the level of Arsenal players. “I don’t think Arsene Wenger or anyone at Arsenal would disagree with that. “We have a player who could definitely play in their team and that’s a nice feeling for us.” Cabaye eventually left Newcastle for Paris St Germain in January 2014 but he struggled to establish himself in the first team at the Parc des Princes. “He was just not getting on the pitch,” Pardew said. “He was actually playing quite well when he did get on the pitch but the competition was immense. Cabaye moved to Selhurst Park in July but was regularly linked with Arsenal and went close to joining the north London side two years ago. The Frenchman refused to play for Newcastle in August 2013 as Arsenal looked to be closing in on the midfielder but the Magpies rejected a bid and the transfer never materialised. 
A Stuart man who beat the coronavirus is gaining national attention for donating his plasma donation to save the life of an Orlando father.The experimental treatment is credited with possibly saving the life of the patient who has been in a medically-induced coma two weeks ago at Orlando Health.Michael Rathel received the plasma injection Monday and just four days later he has improved so much that he could be moved out of the ICU as soon as today. James P. Crocker, who lives in Martin County and is the president and founder of Hog Technologies in Stuart, said he contracted COVID-19 while attended a funeral in Palm City on Feb. 27 for his nephew.Crocker said 20 people at the service got sick about a week later. He was one of two family members who tested positive for the coronavirus.As he recovered, Crocker reached out to a friend in Orlando who had told him about 52-year-old Michael Kevin Rathel’s battle with the coronavirus in Orlando.His friend told him that his 52 year-old friend was “perfectly healthy” but now “on life support and his only real chance was plasma.Rathel was hospitalized in a coma and hydroxychloroquine and other treatments did not work.Crocker drove to Orlando and within 36 hours had donated his plasma, meeting Rathel’s family beforehand.Convalescent plasma uses blood from coronavirus survivors to help patients with COVID-19. The FDA recently approved it only for emergency use on a case by case basis.Those who have recovered from COVID-19 and want to donate their plasma can visit OneBlood.org for more info.
Andrew Strauss urges Ben Stokes to stay grounded. England’s next assignment will be Ashes. Ben Stokes was awarded as the man of the match. For all the Latest Sports News News, ICC World Cup News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London: Andrew Strauss has urged Ben Stokes to keep his feet on the ground after the England all-rounder earned hero status with his role in their incredible World Cup final triumph. Stokes scored 84 not out against New Zealand at Lord’s on Sunday to force a Super Over in which he and Jos Buttler pushed England towards their first World Cup crown.Former England captain Strauss believes Stokes will be deluged with demands on his time and he warned the star not to be distracted by his sudden spike in popularity.”What will be hard for Ben going forward is the levels of adulation he’ll receive,” Strauss said on Tuesday.”That was a burden for Freddie Flintoff. He often lived up to it and that was great, but increasingly you are under more and more pressure to be the man every time you play and that is a big burden.Stokes’ man-of-the-match display went some way towards making up for the 2016 T20 World Cup final when Carlos Brathwaite hit him for four sixes in the final over to grab an unlikely victory for the West Indies.It also came less than a year after Stokes was found not guilty of affray following a late-night brawl in Bristol, an incident that forced him to miss an Ashes series and placed his future in doubt.Strauss was director of England cricket at the time and was present when Stokes was released from his police cell before helping guide him through the aftermath.Strauss, who on Tuesday announced that Lord’s will be turning red for day two of the second Ashes Test on August 15 in aid of the Ruth Strauss Foundation, sensed early on that the 28-year-old would go on to flourish despite the controversy.”You know what, I just remember going down to the police station with Ben. I spent a long time with Clare, his wife, waiting for him to come out of the jail,” he said.”What struck me as soon as he came out was actually his character. Because he stood up and said, ‘I’ve got this horribly wrong. I apologise sincerely for what I’ve done here’.”From that moment on, I thought this was going to be a good thing for him. It was very hard to know which way it was going to go. People can go two ways after something like that happens to them.”Anyone who knows Ben and who has played with him knows what an incredible person he is to have on your team.”What we’ve seen is some of those rough edges just smoothed a little bit over the last 12 or 18 months without him losing that incredible desire and hunger to win.”It’s an easy story to say what happened in the World Cup final is redemption for him, but I just think it was one of English cricket’s talents showing what he can do on the greatest stage.”
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TENNIS-FRENCH OPENFrench Open to allow fans in stands at the tournamentPARIS (AP) — The French Open will allow fans to attend this year’s postponed tournament.The French Tennis Federation says up to 60% of the stands can be filled with fans when play starts in September at Roland Garros. Tickets will go on sale on July 16 for the Sept. 27-Oct. Oct. 11 tournament.In other tennis news: Share This StoryFacebookTwitteremailPrintLinkedinRedditMLB NEWSTigers announce partnership with sportsbook operatorDETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers have become the first Major League Baseball team to reach a deal with a sports gambling company, announcing a multiyear partnership with PointsBet. Associated Press Update on the latest sports Detroit said the agreement will enhance fan engagement and game-day excitement. Johnny Aitken, CEO of PointsBet USA, says it is the first legal sports betting operator in U.S. history to partner with a Major League Baseball franchise.In other baseball news:– All 30 Major League Baseball teams will train at their regular-season ballparks for the pandemic-shortened season after the Toronto Blue Jays received a Canadian federal government exemption to work out at Rogers Centre. Toronto will move training camp from its spring training complex in Dunedin, Florida. This exemption does not cover the regular season and player travel between the U.S. and Canada. MLB required an exemption to a requirement that anyone entering Canada for nonessential reasons must self-isolate for 14 days. The U.S.-Canada border remains closed to nonessential travel until at least July 21.— The Boston Red Sox are getting ready to open their spring training reboot at Fenway Park. The team is scheduled to hold its first workouts Friday. Weights and exercise equipment were set up in the concourse Thursday to allow players to work out with more social distancing than the usual cramped facilities would allow. Masked grounds crew members worked to get the field ready. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker was at Fenway to sign an order allowing the Red Sox to open the ballpark without fans.— The Philadelphia Phillies have placed infielder Scott Kingery and pitchers Hector Neris, Ranger Suarez and Tommy Hunter on the 10-day injured list with no specified injuries. The team opens camp on Friday but the four players won’t be eligible to return until late next week at the earliest. The Phillies had seven players test positive for Covid-19 last month, but manager Joe Girardi couldn’t answer whether any of the players were among them because of medical privacy. The program cuts, along with additional department and program operating reductions, will reduce the overall athletic budget by nearly $3 million.The school said all scholarships for athletes in the affected programs, including incoming 2020 signings, will be honored.In other sports news affected by the virus outbreak:— Finishers of the virtual Boston Marathon will receive their medals in an Amazon package instead of having a volunteer drape it around their necks on Boylston Street. Runners will have from Sept. 7-14 to complete the 26.2-mile distance and submit proof. There is no time limit, but it must be completed in one continuous run. – Soccer-starved Argentines have found a way to play their beloved sport while social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. The rules have been altered, and the dazzling end-to-end dashes produced by national legend Diego Maradona are impossible. The system has been dubbed “metegol humano,” or “human foosball.” It involves dividing the field with white chalk into 12 rectangles and restricting each player to a defined space. The ball can be passed across rectangles, and players can dribble inside their areas, but leaving one’s rectangle incurs a penalty. The modified game emphasizes passing and shooting over running and fancy footwork. — Chicago Cubs left-hander José Quintana had surgery to repair nerve damage in his pitching thumb Thursday after he cut himself washing dishes and is out indefinitely. The Cubs said Quintana lacerated his thumb at his home in Miami on Saturday and needed five stitches. He had surgery in Chicago on Thursday morning. The 31-year-old Quintana is expected to resume throwing in about two weeks. The Cubs will then get a better idea of how much time he will miss.— New York Mets hitting coach Chili Davis will keep on working remotely when the team opens summer training camp Friday. 60-year-old Davis won’t be on site at Citi Field for the beginning of practices because of concerns about the coronavirus. Assistant hitting coach Tom Slater will substitute on site for Davis, who lives in Arizona during the offseason. Minor league hitting coordinator Ryan Ellis will assist Slater— Infielder Breyvic Valera has been claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays off waivers from the San Diego Padres. Toronto also placed four players on the 10-day injured list in moves retroactive to Tuesday: right-handers Elvis Luciano and Hector Perez, third baseman Brandon Drury and center fielder Jonathan Davis. The 28-year-old Valera hit .234 in 17 games last season for the New York Yankees and the Blue Jays, who claimed him off waivers on Sept. 20. He hit his first career home run on the final day of the regular season. San Diego claimed him from Toronto on Feb. 12.— Right-hander Max Meyer has agreed to a $6.7 million signing bonus as part of a minor league contract to join the Miami Marlins, and he’ll take part in training camp starting Friday. The deal was for less than his slot value of $7,221,200 as the No. 3 overall pick in last month’s amateur draft. Meyer had a 2.07 career ERA at the University of Minnesota. He’s in the Marlins’ 60-man player pool and could crack their rotation at some point this year.NFL-WASHINGTON REDSKINS-FEDEX UNDATED (AP) — Watkins Glen International is open again for racing in upstate New York.Track president Michael Printup says most furloughed employees have returned to work.Printup says it’s too early to speculate, but if all goes according to plan he estimates the track could host at least 20,000 fans for NASCAR weekend in mid-August. That will snap a string of five consecutive sellouts that has attracted more than 90,000 fans annually. It would still be a welcome boost for the local economy.In other racing news:– NASCAR and IndyCar have come together for an unprecedented weekend of racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. IndyCar will start the racing on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Xfinity Series making its debut on the road course. Then NASCAR’s elite Cup Series will race on the oval on Sunday. Fans aren’t allowed to attend what is considered a major milestone for American motorsports. — “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” will be performed live or played before “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to each NFL game during Week 1 and the league is considering putting names of victims of police brutality on helmet decals or jersey patches, a person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press. The person said the league is working collaboratively with players to recognize victims of systemic racism throughout the season in a variety of ways. The person spoke to the AP on Thursday on condition of anonymity because discussions between the league and the NFL Players Association are ongoing.NBA-NEWSCoronavirus numbers rising ahead of NBA restartUNDATED (AP) — The coronavirus numbers are rising in Florida and across the NBA. The league says a total of 35 players and staff from the 22 teams that will take part in the rebooted season have tested positive since such checks became mandated on June 23. And statewide, Florida reported more than 10,000 new cases in a single day for the first time. All that news comes less than a week before teams begin arriving at the Disney complex near Orlando.In other NBA news: — Novak Djokovic says he and his wife have now tested negative for the coronavirus. The top-ranked player tested positive for the virus after playing in an exhibition series he organized in Serbia and Croatia with zero social distancing amid the pandemic. His media team says both had no symptoms and that they were in self-isolation in the Serbian capital since testing positive 10 days ago. Djokovic was the fourth player to come down with the virus after participating in matches held in Belgrade and Zadar, Croatia. GOLF-ROCKET MORTGAGE CLASSICDoc Redman in 3-way tie for lead at Rocket Mortgage ClassicDETROIT (AP) — Doc Redman took a step toward remaining among those to make the cut in every event since the PGA Tour resumed, opening with a 7-under 65 to share a one-shot lead with Scott Stallings and Kevin Kisner in the Rocket Mortgage Classic. Redman closed his first round Thursday with four straight birdies and seven over the last eight holes at the Detroit Golf Club. He went from being a Monday qualifier to finishing second at the inaugural Rocket Mortgage Classic last year. The 22-year-old Redman is shooting to take the next step with his first PGA Tour victory.Elsewhere in the PGA: The Aggies were found to have violated recruiting and other rules beginning in January 2018. The NCAA says Fisher and an assistant coach had impermissible contact with a recruit.Fisher was banned from phone calls, emails and texts with prospects for nine days in January. The school was fined $5,000 and given other recruiting restrictions.SPORTS-VIRUS OUTBREAKBoise State cuts baseball, women’s swimmingUNDATED (AP) — Boise State is cutting its baseball and women’s swimming and diving programs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. — Ben Simmons says he’s finally healthy and ready join the Philadelphia 76ers for the NBA restart. Simmons says he’s feeling better now than he did at the start of the season. His last game was Feb. 22 when he took such a hard fall in Milwaukee that he was left lying on his back, vomiting from the pain. He is good to go now and can help the Sixers resume their push to win their first NBA title since 1983. The NBA resumes July 30 at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex in Florida. — Pelicans rookie Zion Williamson says he feels like he’s in good shape as he prepares to help lead New Orleans’ eight-game push to make the NBA playoffs. Williamson says his top priorities include bonding with teammates after the NBA this week allowed team facilities to reopen for mandatory workouts. Williamson says the Pelicans can be “really special” if they are healthy and in sync when the season resumes July 30 in Orlando. Williamson has averaged 23.6 points in 19 games since coming back from a preseason knee injury.— Ja Morant has taken advantage of the NBA’s hiatus and added 12 pounds of muscle, and the NBA’s likely rookie of the year knows exactly what he wants when the Grizzlies go to Orlando. With Morant leading the way, the Grizzlies won four of their final six before the NBA stopped play March 12. Memphis goes into Orlando’s seeding games sitting in the eighth spot in the Western Conference with a 3 1/2-game lead trying to clinch the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2017. The extra pounds not only make Morant stronger, but the guard listed at 6-foot-3 and 174 pounds when play stopped expects he will be able to absorb contact better. — The sudden suspension of the NBA season was a double disappointment for Anthony Davis because it happened on his birthday. Davis is back at work with the Lakers on achieving their interrupted goals after a few homebound months spent largely improving his video game skills. The Lakers were leading the Western Conference and preparing for their first playoff run together when the season stopped. Davis still loves the Lakers’ chances of contending for the franchise’s 17th championship largely because his team is healthy. Davis, LeBron James and the Lakers are gathered for individual workouts this week in preparation for their trip to Orlando.NHL-FLYERS-LINDBLOM SOCCER-EQUAL PAYAmerican women hire appeals lawyers in equal pay lawsuitLOS ANGELES (AP) — American women players suing the U.S. Soccer Federation for equal pay have hired a pair of appellate lawyers, even before a trial. Nicole Saharsky and Brian Netter of Mayer Brown joined the legal team on today. Netter is a former clerk of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. Players sued in March 2018 under the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and they asked for more than $66 million in damages. U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner threw out the pay claims in May but allowed discriminatory work conditions allegations to go to trial. That’s scheduled for Sept. 15.FORMULA ONE-HAMILTON-RACISMHamilton feels responsibility to push for more F1 diversity Flyers’ Lindblom completes treatment for rare bone cancerPHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Flyers forward Oskar Lindblom has completed radiation treatments for a rare form of bone cancer. He rang the bell at Abramson Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, which signifies that he has completed his radiation treatments. The 23-year-old was diagnosed in December with Ewing’s sarcoma, a cancerous tumor that grows in the bones or in the tissue around bones. Lindblom says he’s grateful the cancer was caught early and he’s happy to be alive.COLLEGE FOOTBALLTexas A&M, Jimbo Fisher handed recruiting penalties by NCAACOLLEGE STATION (AP) — The NCAA has put Texas A&M’s football program on probation and coach Jimbo Fisher has been given a six-month show-cause order. FedEx asks Redskins to change their nameWASHINGTON (AP) — The title sponsor of the Washington Redskins’ stadium wants the NFL team to change its name. In a statement today, FedEx said they “have communicated to the team in Washington our request that they change the team name”. The company paid the team $205 million in 1999 for the naming rights to FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland. In addition to the stadium name and sponsorship agreement, FedEx CEO Frederik Smith is a minority owner. Majority owner Daniel Snyder has shown no indications he’ll change the name since buying the team in 1999.On Thursday night, Nike appeared to remove all Redskins gear from its online store. The other 31 NFL teams were listed and a search for “Redskins” came up with no results. Nike did not immediately respond to an email message seeking comment.Elsewhere in the NFL:— Fewer preseason games following an offseason without on-field workouts creates more challenges for new coaches, players who changed teams and rookies. The NFL is cutting the exhibition schedule in half and pushing back the start of the preseason to allow teams more time to train because the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of organized team activities and minicamps. Players are strongly considering asking for even fewer exhibition games. July 3, 2020 — The PGA of America is removing Horton Smith’s name from one of its awards because of his history opposing Blacks. Smith is best known as the first winner of the Masters. The Hall of Famer was president of the PGA of America from 1952 to 1954. The PGA of America board decided to rename the Horton Smith Award after a review found that Smith defended the “Caucasian-only” clause while PGA president. The clause was rescinded in 1961. The honor will now be called the PGA Professional Development Award. It’s given to a member for outstanding contributions to professional education.— Chase Koepka gave up a rare chance to play on the PGA Tour by withdrawing from the Travelers Championship out of safety involving the coronavirus. Now the younger brother of Brooks Koepka is being rewarded . The tour is adding Chase Koepka to the field next week for the Workday Charity Open at Muirfield Village. Koepka got into Travelers as a Monday qualifier. He played a practice round with his brother and Graeme McDowell. Their caddies tested positive for the virus. That led Chase Koepka to withdraw to protect the field in case he wound up with the coronavirus.— Cameron Champ was added to the field in the Rocket Mortgage Classic under a modified PGA Tour policy that allows players who test positive for the coronavirus to be eligible if they had no symptoms and get two negative test results at least 24 hours apart. Champ says he does not believe he ever had COVID-19 based on what specialists have told him. The decision to let Champ play on the eve of the tournament was the latest change to an evolving plan as the tour enters its fourth week back from the pandemic-induced shutdown.NASCAR-WATKINS GLENWatkins Glen open again, optimistic for NASCAR weekend SPIELBERG, Austria (AP) — Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton feels it’s his responsibility as a global star to keep pushing for more diversity in his profession and beyond. Hamilton has attended a Black Lives Matter march in London and is setting up a commission to increase diversity in motorsport.RUSSIAN DOPINGWorld Athletics freezes Russia panels because of unpaid fineMONACO (AP) — World Athletics has frozen the program allowing Russian track athletes to compete internationally after the country’s federation failed to pay a fine on time. The Russian track federation owes a $5 million fine and another $1.31 million in costs for various doping-related work and legal wrangles. World Athletics says it will freeze the work of its Russia task force and its panel for vetting those who want to compete internationally. They will remain shut down until the World Athletics council meets at the end of July. RACIAL INJUSTICE-OKLAHOMA STOklahoma St finds ‘no signs’ of racism in football programSTILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma State’s athletic director says an internal review has found “no sign or indication of racism” in the football program under coach Mike Gundy. Two weeks ago, star running back Chuba Hubbard criticized Gundy for wearing a T-shirt promoting a far-right news channel that has been critical of the Black Lives Matter movement. Gundy apologized. Athletic director Mike Holder says Gundy needs to invest more time building relationships with his players. But he says he is confident in his coach.
Mookie Betts is the only Dodger kneeling during the anthem. Cody Bellinger has his hand on his shoulder. pic.twitter.com/6DIOzAdtLF— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) July 24, 2020″I think everybody’s on board with what’s going on in the world, how we have to make some change. It starts here and we have to do our part,” Betts told ESPN’s Michael Eaves. “It’s amazing to know that everybody here is on board with something that, like I said, we have to find a way to make change and this is the first step.”Before the anthem, everyone except Giants relief pitcher Sam Coonrod knelt for a moment of silence in an act of solidarity with recent nationwide protests against police brutality. Coonrod told reporters after the game (per Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic) that, as a Christian, kneeling would have made him a hypocrite. He also expressed concern about things he has read about the Black Lives Matter organization, which it should be noted is now part of a much broader movement that transcends its original framework.More Coonrod: “I’m a Christian and I can’t get on board with a couple things I read about Black Lives Matter. How they lean toward Marxism. And they said some things about the nuclear family. I can’t get on board with that.”— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 24, 2020MORE: Yankees, Nationals kneel before anthem in D.C. openerThis week has marked a surge in activism among MLB players, who have historically been quiet on the subject of racism. Reds first baseman Joey Votto was among several players to kneel during the anthem in exhibition games when he made the gesture Wednesday afternoon.MORE: MLB players explain sudden decisions to kneelBaseball is not the only sport finding its social justice voice during the U.S. response to the killing of unarmed Black man George Floyd by police in May. NASCAR, which has also typically steered clear of race-related issues, has voiced support for the country’s protests against unnecessary law enforcement violence toward Black people.Led by former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, NFL players introduced kneeling during the anthem as a form of protest in 2016. The gesture has been controversial among fans since its inception, causing a rift in pro football between Black activists and league interests. Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts knelt during the national anthem before Thursday’s game against the Giants in apparent support of the Black Lives Matter movement.Betts, who is Black, was the only Los Angeles player to kneel during the playing of the anthem, though teammates Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy placed their hands on his shoulders. Ten members of the Giants organization knelt, including manager Gabe Kapler. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell recently apologized to players for not supporting their protests in the face of criticism.The NBA, which has been more active on such issues, is allowing players to replace their names on jerseys with messages supporting social justice causes.Betts signed a 12-year, $365 million contract extension with the Dodgers on Wednesday. He had never protested during the anthem before Thursday’s opener but did express regret at not speaking up more about racism in the past. He said after the game (per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) that he isn’t sure whether he will continue to kneel.
Football never ceases to amaze.It was bad enough for Tottenham fans to learn they’d be losing their beloved manager Mauricio Pochettino.2 Spurs fans will struggle to adjust in such a short space of timeBut before they’d even managed to process the shock news, imagine waking up to a new head coach in none other than Jose Mourinho.Jose Mourinho, Spurs manager.It doesn’t even sound right.Jose Mourinho, Chelsea legend… that’s better.No matter what he does for Tottenham, he will always be Chelsea’s man.The timing seems odd too.ACCA WITH LADBROKES Pick up a whole load of acca features to help you land the big oneThe end of an international break – and ahead of a crunch tie with West Ham rather than after it – but there’s no time to accept or reflect.It’s time to move on.Tottenham fans were given all of a few hours to thank their man, heartfelt thanks poured out on social media.Pochettino’s legacy at Tottenham Hotspur is clear.Fighting back tears, the Argentine thanked his family in an emotional interview after he’d guided his team to a Champions League final.Even if the man himself is not immortalised at the new White Hart Lane, memories of Lucas Moura’s hat-trick and Pochettino’s tears at the final whistle will be.Mourinho’s first ten games at SpursNov 23 – West Ham (A)Nov 26 – Olympiakos (H)Nov 30 – Bournemouth (H)Dec 4 – Man Utd (A)Dec 7 – Burnley (H)Dec 11 – Bayern Munich (A)Dec 15 – Wolves (A)Dec 22 – Chelsea (H)Dec 26 – Brighton (H)Dec 28 – Norwich (A)It’s not all bad for the man affectionately known as Poch though.A Christmas to spend with his family and his stock sky high even though he leaves Spurs in the bottom half of the table.Particularly when you consider it wasn’t that long ago he suggested he’d taken Tottenham as far as they can go.I won’t be surprised if I see him at a top Champions league side sooner rather than later.As for Mourinho, where do you even begin?I bet Amazon are rubbing their hands together: ‘All or Nothing’ right now, they are getting it all, pure box office.Dates for your diary December 4 at Old Trafford and December 22, it’s Master vs apprentice as Chelsea come to the new White Hart Lane with the Special One in the dugout.2There’s no denying Mourinho’s a winner.What he’s won over the years is plain for all to see, but Spurs fans have been used to Mr. Charisma and have just three days to adjust.The fact is, the man in the away dugout at London Stadium for the must win game against fierce rivals West Ham is an icon for their equally bitter foes in West London and that’ll be a tough pill to swallow.I think it’s going to take a while to get used to that.I can’t help but wonder how Mourinho will cope with the financial restraints put on him.It was no secret Pochettino was growing frustrated at the lack of investment and ambition and Mourinho will surely be in the same boat?It was a smart move in one respect. When I learned of Pochettino’s departure, I wondered who might follow?But in Mourinho they have a manager who appears to have the respect of players for what he’s won and achieved.MOST READ IN FOOTBALLTHROUGH ITRobbie Keane reveals Claudine’s father was ’50-50′ in coronavirus battleTOP SELLERGavin Whelan has gone from League of Ireland to David Beckham’s InstagramExclusiveRIYAD RAIDMan City’s Riyad Mahrez has three luxury watches stolen in £500,000 raidPicturedAN EYEFULMeet Playboy model and football agent Anamaria Prodan bidding to buy her own clubI SAW ROORodallega saw Rooney ‘drinking like madman’ & Gerrard ‘on bar dancing shirtless’NEXT STEPJonny Hayes set to move to English Championship having been let go by CelticREF RELEASEDChampions League ref Vincic released by cops after arrest in prostitution raidKEANE DEALEx Man United youth ace David Jones says Roy Keane negotiated a contract for himThat will buy Spurs a little time before they have to make do with life without their big names.But football is fickle, it’s about winning, and no doubt we’ll see the inevitable ‘new manager bounce’ and with Mourinho’s hunger for football sky high, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets this Spurs side back into the top four.It looks like a huge task right now, but Mourinho loves a challenge.Tottenham appoint Jose Mourinho as new manager less than 24 hours after sacking Mauricio Pochettino