Wrexham's Hollywood Owners Front Up About Significant Financial Losses
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Wrexham’s Hollywood Owners Front Up About Significant Financial Losses

Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney opened up to The Mirror about just how much money they've lost since purchasing the Welsh club.

The Hollywood duo bought Wrexham bought Wrexham in Nov. 2020 for $2.5 million. The Welsh club has gained popularity all over the world thanks to the Welcome to Wrexham docuseries on FX. Wrexham recently achieved a second successive promotion moving up to EFL League One, the third tier of the English system.

The third season of Welcome to Wrexham debuts Thursday, May. 2 on FX and will chronicle this year's season which, knowing the outcome, should have fans excited. Though, Reynolds and McElhenney recently opened up about the finances behind the scenes since purchasing the club.

"You want to know, like how far in the red I am? It's pretty significant. It's true that in the beginning when we asked our advisors if this was a good economic investment, there was not one person that I can remember that was like, 'Yes.' It was more like, 'Don't,'" McElhenney said to The Mirror.

Reynolds reiterated that the duo were never in it to make money. "I think we recognize how lucky we are that we can be in this position where it isn't about making money or any of those things. I mean, you have to be in a pretty privileged spot to be able to do this, to begin with. But eventually, you know, as we climb up the leagues, we're going to need outside help in order to sustain this club."

Reynolds and McElhenney also recently purchased a stake in Liga MX's Club Nexaca which has a host of celebrity investors including Eva Longoria, Odell Beckham Jr, Justin Verlander and Kate Upton.

Rob McElhenney, Ryan Reynolds, SI, Soc, Soccer, Wrexham
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Twins Broadcast Rips Umpire for Yelling at Injured Byron Buxton for Slowly Walking Off Field
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Twins Broadcast Rips Umpire for Yelling at Injured Byron Buxton for Slowly Walking Off Field

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton appeared to injure himself while unsuccessfully attempting to steal a base on Wednesday against the Chicago White Sox.

Buxton immediately exited the game with right knee soreness, which could mean there's yet another trip to the injured list in store for a profoundly talented player.

After getting tagged out, Buxton took his time exiting the field because, well, he wasn't feeling great. In the moment, first base umpire Rob Drake did not properly read the situation and took issue with Buxton's pace, encouraging the speedster to show some hustle.

The Twins' broadcast took note of that exchange and didn't appreciate it.

The Bally Sports North crew of Cory Provus, Trevor Plouffe and LaTroy Hawkins probably are right in their criticism of Drake. It wasn't entirely appropriate given the circumstances.

But on the other hand, MLB has put such an emphasis on speeding up the games that one can understand when an umpire is a little too aggressive about furthering that goal.

Byron Buxton, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins
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Canelo Alvarez, Oscar De La Hoya Have Heated Confrontation at Press Conference
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Canelo Alvarez, Oscar De La Hoya Have Heated Confrontation at Press Conference

Canelo Álvarez will defend his undisputed super middleweight title this weekend against Jaime Mungia, but the fireworks started early on Wednesday. During the pre-fight press conference, Álvarez and former promoter Oscar De La Hoya got into a nasty confrontation and had to be separated from each other.

De La Hoya's speech was essentially ripping Alvarez for his repeated attacks on Golden Boy Promotions and insults towards De La Hoya himself. Alvarez fired back at the end and the two men had to be separated. This is the result of a long-simmering feud between the two.

In 2020, after years of fighting under De La Hoya's watch, Canelo sued Golden Boy and DAZN for breach of contract. He was seeking a minimum of $280 million. Alvarez believed the parties had breached the 11-fight, $365 million deal he had agreed to in 2018. The parties had disagreed over who the champion would face next and how much he would receive.

The parties settled the lawsuit and Golden Boy released Alvarez from his contract. It was still a nasty breakup that left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. Alvarez started his own promotion company in the aftermath.

Alvarez is 60-2-2 with his his only losses coming via decision against Floyd Mayweather in 2013 and Dmitry Bivol in 2022 when the Mexican superstar boldly tried to jump up to light heavyweight. Most recently, he dominated Jermell Charlo to earn a unanimous decision win in September.

On Saturday night, Alvarez will face Munguia, who is 43-0 with 34 knockouts on his resume. The 27-year-old scored a TKO win over John Ryder in January. Hopefully the fight lives up to the action from Wednesday's press conference.

Boxing, Canelo Alvarez, Oscar De La Hoya
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Diamondbacks Beekeeper Hero Got His Own Official Topps Trading Card
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Diamondbacks Beekeeper Hero Got His Own Official Topps Trading Card

A swarm of bees at Chase Field delayed the Tuesday night tilt between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks for nearly two hours before the prayers of fans were answered by none other than Matt Hilton, a local beekeeper.

Hilton arrived on the scene and was successful in his removal of the swarm, which resulted in him getting the awesome opportunity to throw out the game's ceremonial first pitch.

That's not the only way Hilton was honored, however.

On Wednesday, the trading card company Topps unveiled an epic new baseball card, a 2024 Matt Hilton Topps Now Card, No. 145. Topps put the card on sale for 24 hours, pricing it at a reasonable $8.99 as a memento for fans who wanted to celebrate the viral beekeeper's heroics.

The card features a photo from Hilton after he transported the bees off the field on Tuesday, with his arms raised in the air while still wearing his beekeeping gear.

"Bee afraid, bee very afraid: Bees swarm in Arizona" is written on the bottom of the card.

In addition to the regular print of the Hilton card, Topps has also released special autographed editions, including a gold version of which only one was printed.

Fans at the stadium were greatly appreciative of Hilton's services on Tuesday night, and now the once in a lifetime experience has been immortalized by the trading card company in unique fashion.

Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB
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Padres Manager's Risky Decision to Take Run Off the Scoreboard Actually Worked
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Padres Manager’s Risky Decision to Take Run Off the Scoreboard Actually Worked

San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt made a huge gamble Tuesday night.

In the fifth inning of the Padres' 6–4 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Petco Park, San Diego infielder Jake Cronenworth brought home a run while grounding out to second base. But Cronenworth claimed there was catcher's interference on the play, and umpire Cory Blaser agreed and made the call, wiping out the RBI but giving Cronenworth the base.

Shildt was faced with a tough decision in the Padres' dugout. Should he decline the catcher's interference and keep the run on the scoreboard for a 2–0 lead with two outs? Or should he accept the interference, saving the Padres an out but causing Tyler Wade to go back to third base and erasing a run?

Shildt chose the latter, and San Diego's lead shrunk back to 1–0. Wade trotted back out to third base, loading the bases for Padres slugger Manny Machado with just one out.

The manager's decision could've backfired, but Machado mashed a Nick Martinez pitch to left-center field for a three-run double. Never a doubt.

Machado made his manager look like a genius.

“You can have the bases loaded and one out for Manny Machado?” Shildt said to reporters after the game. “I’m going to bet on Manny Machado.”

Through 33 games this season, the Padres are 15–18 and in third place in the NL West. They will wrap up their series against the Reds on Wednesday at Petco Park.

Cincinnati Reds, Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
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NBC Sports Executive Wants Opening-Day Premier League Games Played in the US
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

NBC Sports Executive Wants Opening-Day Premier League Games Played in the US

NBC Sports executive Jon Miller spoke with The Athletic saying he will "continue to push" for Premier League matches to be played in the United States.

NBC holds the exclusive broadcast rights to the Premier League in the United States, with its latest six-year contract beginning back in 2022. Miller said to The Athletic that he is supportive of having league matches in the United States, and there have already been conversations. "Very much so. And this is a point that we've had conversations with the Premier League and they've been very open and receptive to listening to me," Miller said.

Last summer, the Premier League Summer Series gave stateside fans a chance to see league teams compete for a pre-season trophy. Chelsea, Newcastle United, Fulham, Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford played nine games across seven days in five different American cities.

"At some point in the future, I would love to see a couple of Premier League games open the season here in big stadiums on our opening weekend. And I know that's something that we'll continue to push for because I think there's an American audience here that would like to see regular season games...," Miller said.

Major European clubs have held pre-season US tours including the likes of Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester City and United, Liverpool and many more. Having official Premier League games in the US though would be a major step.

American sports leagues like the NFL have held regular season matches in other countries. While pre-season matches give American fans a great opportunity to see their favorite teams in the summer without having to travel abroad, having regular season matches is another level and might come with its own issues to sort.

How would the Premier League decide which teams go abroad? Which stadiums would they play in? How does it affect the season's schedule? Would the league want to create a similar atmosphere for clubs? Lots of questions to figure out, and something Miller will continue to push for regardless.

Miller also said to The Athletic that he's constantly looking at how he can improve the viewer experience through access and audio specifically. "...People love to hear what Jurgen Klopp is saying to his team or what he's saying on the sidelines." Miller does acknowledge there have to be some protections and guidelines put in place.

Miller goes on to say that while the Premier League has been responsive to those conversations, it's not his place to, "try and tell the Premier League what makes a good product. Their product is spectacular. But much like we do with the NFL, and golf, we constantly have conversations with our partners and brainstorm on things we can do to make the games better and more appealing to try and grow our audience."

League, NBC, SI, Soccer, The Athletic
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Ezekiel Elliott Won't Wear His Old No. 21 Jersey in Second Cowboys Stint
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Ezekiel Elliott Won’t Wear His Old No. 21 Jersey in Second Cowboys Stint

The Dallas Cowboys reunited with running back Ezekiel Elliott this offseason, bringing him back for a second stint with the organization after he spent one season with the New England Patriots in 2023.

There will be one key change for Elliott in his return to the Cowboys, however.

Rather than re-claim the No. 21 jersey he wore throughout his first seven seasons in the NFL, he plans to continue donning the No. 15 that he wore at Ohio State and last year with the Patriots. The No. 15 had been occupied by quarterback Trey Lance in '23, but he's agreed to shed the digits and wear No. 19 in '24, per a team announcement.

Elliott returned to Dallas on a one-year deal with a maximum value of $3 million. He joins a running backs room consisting of Royce Freeman, Rico Dowdle and Deuce Vaughn, and figures to compete for a healthy share of the workload.

The 28-year-old had a down year in '23 with the Patriots, registering career lows with 184 carries, 642 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Across 103 games with the Cowboys from 2016 to '22, Elliott had four seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards and scored a total of 80 touchdowns.

Dallas Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott, NFL, Trey Lance
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Chris Fowler Shared Wild Details of 115 Hours Recording Calls for ‘EA College Football 25’
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Chris Fowler Shared Wild Details of 115 Hours Recording Calls for ‘EA College Football 25’

With the release date of EA Sports' College Football 25 video game inching closer, ESPN broadcaster Chris Fowler posted that he officially completed his announcing parts for the game.

Over the course of two years, Fowler recorded around 115 hours of audio, including about 700 college football stars' names. Unlike the previous edition of the game, which last came out in 2013, this edition will be able to include the players' names because of NIL rules.

Fowler explained just how detailed the analysis for the game will be as he listed numerous scenarios in which him and his broadcasting teammate Kirk Herbstreit recorded content for.

"It is an incredibly detailed process," Fowler said. "I couldn't be more impressed with everyone at EA. Total pros who care so much about the quality and sweat the details."

The game is expected to be released on July 19 after years of anticipation. A cover athlete is supposed to be announced some time in May.

College Football, NCAA, Video Games
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Drew Lock Has ‘Good Shot’ to Start Over Daniel Jones, NFL Insider Says
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Drew Lock Has ‘Good Shot’ to Start Over Daniel Jones, NFL Insider Says

The New York Giants opted not to select a quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft, leaving Daniel Jones, Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito as the trio of QBs on the current roster.

One NFL insider believes that a quarterback competition could be on the cards for the Giants, hinting that Daniel Jones's status as the starter may not be all that secure.

"I believe Drew Lock has a really good shot on winning that job," NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah said, via Gregg Rosenthal. "They were comparing Daniel Jones and Drew Lock, emphasis on Drew Lock, to the QBs that were going to be there (at the No. 6 pick in the draft) and the line for them was Drake Maye."

Lock made the move to New York this offseason on a one-year, $5 million deal. In March, the 27-year-old told reporters that it had been "conveyed" to him by the team that Jones was going to be the Giants' starting quarterback.

That differs from what Seattle Seahawks GM John Schneider said when Lock signed with New York. At the time, Schneider said during a radio appearance that the Seahawks attempted to re-sign Lock, but he was lured to the Giants under the pretense that he could compete for the starting role.

Giants GM Joe Schoen said (via ESPN) that Jones, who signed a four-year, $160 million extension last March, would remain the team's starter in 2024. Jeremiah indicated Wednesday, however, that he believes Lock could make a push for the starting job.

After a strong campaign in '23, Jones featured in just six games last year before missing the rest of the season with a torn ACL. He struggled when healthy, throwing two touchdowns to six interceptions and coughing up four fumbles.

It's possible Jones will be on a short leash in '24, and Jeremiah suggested that Lock could outright usurp him for the role ahead of the season.

In Lock's lone season with the Seahawks, he appeared in four games, including two starts, and completed 63.2% of his passes for 543 yards and three touchdowns to three interceptions.

Daniel Jones, Drew Lock, New York Giants
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The One Transfer Manchester City Are Said to Regret Sanctioning
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

The One Transfer Manchester City Are Said to Regret Sanctioning

Manchester City overhauled its squad at the start of the 2023/24 Premier League season after a treble-winning campaign. Notable players like Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte went to the Saudi Pro League, while youngster Cole Palmer is the favorite for Young Player of the Year at Chelsea.

Though, it's another departure that has Manchester City regretting signing off on. According to Barcelona news outlet Mundo Deportivo, Man City manager Pep Guardiola misses and regrets selling midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.

The German midfielder was a stalwart for the club in his 188 appearances for the club. He notably scored the Premier League title winner for Man City in the 2021/22 season against Aston Villa completing a remarkable comeback.

Gundogan departed for Barcelona at the start of the season on a free transfer. Man City certainly haven't lacked midfield options bringing in Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes from Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, but it's understandable why Guardiola would miss Gundogan's intangibles. Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri as a midfield played a massive part in the treble last season.

Man City is currently a point off Arsenal in the Premier League title race with four matches remaining, but the club does have a game in hand over its North London competitor. If Manchester City wins its remaining games, it will win an unprecedented four league titles in a row. Yet another feather in the cap of what's been the most dominant run in the league's history.

There were questions entering and throughout the season whether Man City would come into the season with the same hunger. Man City has trailed both Arsenal and Liverpool at different points in the season, but if all goes according to plan those days in second and third place will be a formality. A double is also on the cards with an FA Cup final rematch set with rivals Manchester United. However, City failed to win the Carabao Cup and were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Real Madrid.

Fans won't be disappointed at all if the season ends with a league and cup double, but perhaps Guardiola wonders what could've been if Gundogan wasn't sanctioned to leave.

Manchester City, SI, Soccer
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