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Monday, 15 December 2025
PRESENTING THE AUDI REVOLUT F1 TEAM
The Audi Revolut F1 Team has unveiled its official name, logo, and announced that its global launch will take place in Berlin on January 20.
This milestone marks a significant step for Audi toward joining the world championship in 2026, the team name and logo uniting Audi F1 and global fintech Revolut, following the confirmation of their title partnership in July 2025.
The partnership with Revolut is a strategic cornerstone of the team's identity. As a global fintech, Revolut shares the ambition for innovation, performance, and connecting with a diverse, international audience.
The collaboration goes beyond traditional sponsorship, creating a powerful alliance aimed at challenging conventions and shaping new forms of fan engagement through activations, race access and exclusive app-based benefits for Revolut users. The alliance also extends to key areas of the Audi Revolut F1 Team's operations: integrating Revolut Business into its financial operations and Revolut Pay into its online store for a seamless checkout experience.
For the first time, the Audi Revolut F1 Team will present its full identity at the Berlin launch on January 20. Designed to be an immersive experience, the event will showcase the core pillars of the brand: clarity, technical intelligence, and emotion. To ensure the team's entry resonates beyond the paddock, the exclusive launch will be followed by a public opening on January 21, allowing fans to be part of the inaugural moment.
A centrepiece of the Berlin launch is the official unveiling of the car's full 2026 race livery, following the reveal of the Audi R26 Concept in November. With less than 50 days to go before the first race, the team will show how the visual identity will shape its debut season and translate Audi's design principles into a striking presence on the grid.
As part of the formation of the Audi team, Sauber Motorsport AG will be renamed Audi Motorsport AG. The team's Technology Centre in Bicester, UK will also be renamed Audi Motorsport Technology Centre UK. The company honours its past by keeping the name of Sauber Holding AG and Sauber Technologies AG.
"Unveiling the Audi Revolut F1 Team name and logo marks another major milestone on our journey into the pinnacle of motorsport," said Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport AG. "Both give our ambition a clear identity, reflecting a strong vision and innovative spirit. We now look ahead to Berlin in January, where we will officially present this exciting new chapter for the Audi brand to the world."
"This announcement gives a name and a face to the incredible work being done by the team," added Mattia Binotto. "The team is taking shape, driven by a culture of precision and relentless ambition. The Berlin launch will be the first moment we stand together as a collective and invite our global fan base to join us ahead of our debut in 2026."
"Today, our project takes on its official identity," said Jonathan Wheatley. "The Audi Revolut F1 Team name is a symbol of the combined strength of our teams in Germany, UK and Switzerland, together with our partners. It provides a banner under which we all unite as we build towards 2026. This is a crucial milestone that energizes the entire project and makes our long-term ambition tangible for everyone involved."
"Revolut and Audi are uniting in Formula 1 with a global ambition to challenge the status quo and a shared obsession with engineering excellence," added Nikolay Storonsky, CEO and Co-Founder of Revolut. "The Audi Revolut F1 Team name and logo are the first symbols of this powerful alliance that will accelerate Revolut's global growth."
ALAN SHEARER SLAMS 'ROTTEN, PATHETIC' NEWCASTLE AS EDDIE HOWE'S SUNDERLAND CALLS DUG OUT
Newcastle United were beaten 1-0 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in their crunch Premier League showdown, and Alan Shearer has hammered his beloved side for their display
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| Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has blasted the Magpies performance against Sunderland |
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has absolutely hammered the Magpies following their defeat to arch-rivals Sunderland. The Magpies' all-time leading goalscorer said his former side were rotten, pathetic, dreadful, and almost ran out of superlatives to describe the Wear-Tyne Derby defeat.
A Nick Woltemade own goal was all that separated the two sides, but it was a poor game that lacked any attacking intent from either side.
Shearer singled out Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon for their poor displays and felt that Eddie Howe got his team selection wrong.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said: "I wasn't [okay]. Newcastle were dreadful.
"They were rotten and I was really shocked at how dreadful they were because, I mean, that is pathetic in any game, let alone in a derby game.
"Seriously, you're going to play in the biggest game of the season at your rivals and you've heard all the players all week, 'We know how much it means to the fans and we're going to do this and that.' Well, lads, they did nothing. They were awful, honestly."
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| Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade scored the decisive goal in the wrong end against Sunderland(Image: Getty Images) |
Newcastle have won just once away in the Premier League all season, and Shearer didn't hold back in his criticism of the Newcastle manager either, adding: "Eddie made some big calls team-wise, and I thought Eddie got it wrong as well.
"The players who he picked didn't perform for him. Elanga was awful. Gordon was awful. Woltemade was awful. They offered nothing in forward positions."
Shearer got fed up with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards sniggering on the podcast, as he hit out: "Stop laughing you two d********s. You pair of... I wish I could say that word I'd call you that now."
The Newcastle icon then continued: "There was no desire, there was no energy, there was nothing. You go away to Sunderland, and who aren't a great team, and after half an hour, Sunderland had about 70 per cent possession, as if.
"I was thinking, 'Am I missing something here, are we going away to Arsenal or Man City here?'
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| Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe got some decisions wrong at the Stadium of Light(Image: PA) |
"We're going away to Sunderland. Okay, they're hard to beat at home. They're really well organized and they're above us in the table but come on, they're not Barcelona or Real Madrid.
"Are we going to have a pop at them or have a go at least? There was nothing from Newcastle. It was really, really awful."
When asked by Richards if Sunderland could get a bit of credit, Shearer said: "Yeah, they deserved to win. They were up for the fight.
"They had the energy, they won every second ball. They won every challenge. Well done, yeah. Newcastle were terrible."
- Matty Hewitt
FIFA CLUB MANAGEMENT SUMMIT
Doha, Qatar: Young Africans (Yanga) Club President, Chairman of the Clubs Association (ACA) and member of the FIFA Club Competitions Committee, Eng. Hersi Said, arriving together with Young Africans Vice President Arafat Haji at the conference organized by the world football governing body (FIFA) for two days in the city of Doha, Qatar.0
President Hersi has been selected to be among the experts who will avail his expertise on the topic of the Club Transformation System.
- Young Africans
LORD ALAN SUGAR URGES TOTTENHAM TO BRING JÜRGEN KLOPP AS NEW MANAGER WITH THOMAS FRANK FACING WIDESPREAD SACK CALLS AFTER NOTTINGHAM FOREST MAULING
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| GOAL/Getty |
Former Tottenham chairman Lord Alan Sugar has urged the club to bring in Jurgen Klopp as their new manager amid widespread calls for Thomas Frank's sacking after Sunday's humiliating 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. Spurs suffered their third loss in their last five league matches at the City Ground as they dropped to 11th place in the Premier League table.
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| Getty Images Sport |
Fans call for Frank's sacking
Callum Hudson-Odoi bagged a brace and Ibrahim Sangare also got on the scoresheet to wrap up a thumping 3-0 win for Nottingham Forest.
Following yet another shambolic performance at the City Ground, frustrated Spurs fans have called on the club to sack Frank. The defeat leaves the north London side in the bottom half of the table, with supporters angry after yet another sub-par display.
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| Getty |
Former owner wants Klopp to rescue Spurs
Lord Alan Sugar, who was a part-owner at Spurs from 1991 to 2001, has urged the English side to hire legendary former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to replace Frank in the new year.
On X, the former Spurs chief wrote: "With the massive fortune of the Lewis family it would be a win-win situation if they hired Jurgen Klopp in January. “Loads of money for players and a great manager. Who agrees #coys."
- Ritabrata Banerjee
Sunday, 14 December 2025
FC BARCELONA NEWS: 14 DECEMBER 2025; BARÇA BEAT OSASUNA TO WIN SEVENTH LA LIGA GAME IN A ROW
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| NurPhoto via Getty Images |
FC Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna: Raphinha to the rescue! - FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona will be spending the night seven points clear at the top of the Liga table after securing all three points from a difficult Saturday fixture against the defensively strong Osasuna.
HIGHLIGHTS | Barça v Osasuna - FC Barcelona
All the action from the La Liga contest at Spotify Camp Nou.
Hansi Flick: ‘We are playing well’ - FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona secured another victory in LaLiga after defeating Osasuna and coach Hansi Flick praised his team’s control of the game and defensive work. “We controlled the match. We did a good job defensively. Maybe we didn’t have many chances, but we scored two goals and got the three points,” explained the Barça coach.
FC Barcelona equal second longest La Liga goalscoring run - FC Barcelona
Hansi Flick’s Barça have matched a historic milestone. Saturday’s 2-0 defeat of Osasuna has extended their run of game in which they have scored at least one goal to 37, with Raphinha coming to rescue this time by finally breaking the deadlock after the visitors has held out for almost 70 minutes. The run now stands as the second-best in Barça history, level with the streak achieved between 2018 and 2019 under Ernesto Valverde.
Lamine Yamal shows off Player of the Month trophy - FC Barcelona
Lamine Yamal showed off his latest individual award on Saturday before Barça’s win over Osasuna, parading with the La Liga Player of the Month award for November.
Badalona 1-5 FC Barcelona: Leaders march on - FC Barcelona
There are still two matches left to round off 2025, one in the Champions League and one in the Copa de la Reina, but this Saturday Barça Femení brought their Liga F schedule for the year to a close with a win in Palamós, where Badalona Women play their home games. The home side held their own in the first half but ultimately surrendered the points as Pajor, Pina, Carla Julià, Vicky and Brugts scored the goals.
- Renato Gonçalves
Saturday, 13 December 2025
A FORMER YOUNG AFRICANS (YANGA) PLAYER HAS PASSED AWAY | CHICO USHINDI
Career Highlights
Chico Ushindi, born January 7, 1996, played as a right winger for DR Congo's national team and clubs including TP Mazembe, AS Vita Club, Yanga SC, Nejmeh SC in Lebanon, and most recently JS Groupe Bazano. His death from an undisclosed illness was confirmed by Yanga SC, though no official cause has been released.
Tributes
Social media posts from fans and pages mourn the 29-year-old, calling him a former star of TP Mazembe, AS Vita, and Yanga, with messages like "Pumzika kwa Amani" (Rest in peace).
Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.
TOYOTA RETURNS TO FORMULA 1 IN 2026
Toyota is making a notable return to Formula 1 in 2026 by becoming the title sponsor of the Haas F1 Team, expanding on a technical partnership that began in late 2024 and strengthening its presence in the sport after withdrawing its own works team in 2009. From next season the team will compete as the TGR Haas F1 Team, with the Japanese brand’s name featured prominently on the car and team gear as MoneyGram’s sponsorship ends. This title deal builds on shared engineering work, driver development and resources between Toyota and Haas while the team continues to run Ferrari power units, and marks a major step in Toyota’s return to the top tier of motorsport.
- Car Advisor
#carsadvisor #toyota #TOYOTAGAZOORacing #HaasF1 #F1 #formula1
Friday, 12 December 2025
BLUE IVY AND JAY-Z COURTSIDE TOGETHER AT LAKERS-SPURS GAME: SEE THE PHOTOS
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| Allen Berezovsky / Contributor via Getty Images |
Blue Ivy and Hov spent some father-daughter time at the NBA game inside the Crypto.com Arena.
Key Takeaways:
- Blue Ivy Carter and JAY-Z made a stylish appearance at the Lakers vs. Spurs NBA Cup game in Los Angeles.
- Social media lit up with reactions to Blue Ivy’s outfit and her resemblance to Beyoncé.
- The sighting adds to Blue Ivy’s growing list of 2025 public moments, including her “Cowboy Carter Tour” performances.
Just like her mom, Blue Ivy Carter commands every room she walks into. On Wednesday (Dec. 10) night, she attended the Los Angeles Lakers vs. San Antonio Spurs game alongside her dad, JAY-Z.
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| Allen Berezovsky / Contributor via Getty Images |
Sitting courtside at the Crypto.com Arena, the pair were among the familiar faces spotted in the building. “No reintroduction needed: JAY-Z and Blue Ivy courtside,” the Lakers’ account captioned photos of the father-daughter duo.
For the occasion, Blue Ivy wore a black tee layered under a moto leather jacket from Balenciaga. She completed the look with denim cargo pants, a Diesel bag, and Isabel Marant Bekett wedge sneakers, which, as social media pointed out, closely resembled a pair Beyoncé wore back in 2013.
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| Allen Berezovsky / Contributor via Getty Images |
“Oh, Blue is THAT GIRL!” someone wrote beneath the Lakers’ post. Another person joked about how much she’s grown up: “Me: ‘Who is this grown woman with him?!’ — OMG.” See for yourself below.
Several other photos from that night showed JAY-Z talking to LeBron James after the game. Unfortunately, depending on who you were cheering for, the Lakers lost 132-119 to the Spurs. In another shot, Yaya Mayweather (daughter of Floyd Mayweather) was seated beside Blue Ivy with her son, Kentrell Jr., whom she shares with YoungBoy Never Broke Again.
Thanks to Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter Tour,” we saw a whole lot of Blue Ivy in 2025. The show run began toward the end of April and moved through cities like Chicago, London, Paris, and Houston. As some fans might recall, the Carters’ eldest daughter stepped onstage for a solo dance break during “Deja Vu,” then later returned with her younger sister, Rumi, for “PROTECTOR.”
Beyoncé rolled out new COWBOY CARTER-themed holiday merch last month as well. A couple of the items referenced the joke that Blue Ivy might be the “COZY” singer’s manager. That hilarious theory stemmed from a selfie posted to Bey’s account of the 13-year-old and Tina Knowles at the 27th Annual Angel Ball.
- MALCOLM TRAPP
MAX VERSTAPPEN TO SKIP FA GALA AS LANDO NORRIS RECEIVES F1 CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
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| Lando Norris (right) pipped Max Verstappen (centre) and Oscar Piastri (left) to the 2025 F1 title (Photo: Getty) |
Max Verstappen will not attend the FIA Prize Giving Gala on Friday where Lando Norris will receive his trophy for winning the Formula 1 world championship.
Norris ended Verstappen’s dominance of the sport at last weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, pipping the Red Bull driver to the title by just two points.
But unlike many other sports, the F1 champion does not officially get his prize at the season finale. Instead, the awards are giving out at a ceremony run by motorsport’s governing body.
The annual event also sees the victors of other FIA series like Formula E and the World Rally Championship collect their silverware.
FIA regulations dictate that the top-three finishers in the championship attend, with Norris and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri travelling to Uzbekistan for the gala.
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| Verstappen previously said he did not want to attend the gala (Photo: Getty) |
However, Verstappen will not be there, with reports claiming the four-time F1 champion has been struck down with the flu.
He risks being punished for not turning up, with Sir Lewis Hamilton fined £42,000 for skipping the ceremony in 2021 after controversially losing the title to Verstappen at the last race in Abu Dhabi.
However, it has been suggested that the 28-year-old will escape such a penalty due to the reasoning behind his absence.
Curiously, the Dutchman did state last weekend that he did not want to go to the gala, telling Viaplay: ‘I have to go. Otherwise, I get a penalty. But honestly, it is nonsense.
‘We are exhausted. It has been a very tough season. You want to recharge, not sit in a hall for hours. If it were optional, I would not be there.’
What time is the FIA Prize Giving Gala and how to watch
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| Lando Norris will officially be crowned F1 World Drivers Champion at the FIA gala (Photo: Getty) |
The FIA Prize Giving Gala is taking place on Friday, December 12 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan,
It is scheduled to get underway at 11pm local time (6pm UK time).
You can watch Norris lift the F1 championship trophy by live streaming the ceremony for free on the official FIA YouTube channel.
- Callum McAvoy
ARSENAL HAVE REACHE A MEGA SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH DEEL
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Arsenal have reached a massive sponsorship agreement with Deel. The global payroll powerhouse is also believed to replace the Visit Rwanda sleeve patch on the iconic Arsenal jersey.
It is understood, Chelsea were closing in on an agreement with Deel as a exclusive shirt sponsor which fell through when Arsenal presented their global scalability power in comparison to the West London Blue club.
#Arsenal #Deel #sponsorship #thefunners
Thursday, 11 December 2025
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB
Happy 139th birthday to our club founded on this day December 11th 1886 as Dial Square 🔴⚪
SIGNED UPPER DECK KOBE BRYANT CARD FETCHES $1 22M AT AUCTION
A 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Emblems of Endorsements card of Kobe Bryant recently sold for $1.22 million, including buyer's premium, with Goldin Auctions.
It's the third highest public sale for a solo Bryant card all-time.
The card is autographed in blue ink, numbered 8/15 and graded near-mint 8 by Beckett Grading Services. It features two multicolored game-used patches cut from a then-No. 8 Bryant jersey.
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| A 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Emblems of Endorsements card of Kobe Bryant recently sold for $1.22 million, including buyer’s premium, with Goldin Auctions. Courtesy of Goldin Auctions |
In the same Goldin auction, the Bryant card was one of four cards to top $500,000. The others: A 2005 Topps Finest SuperFractor die cut Tom Brady card, which sold for $704,550; a 1997-98 Skybox Metal Universe Precious Metal Gems Red Michael Jordan card, which sold for $651,334; and a 1998 Pokémon Japanese Promo Holo Illustrator Pikachu card, which sold for $610,000.
The all-time record paid for a sports card still belongs to one featuring Bryant. A one-of-one numbered, on-card autographed Bryant/Jordan dual Logoman, purchased by Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary, mega-collector Matt Allen (better known as Shyne150 in the collecting space) and entrepreneur Paul Warshaw for $12.932 million last August.
- Dan Hajducky
NASCAR SETTLES FEDERAL ANTITRUST CASE FILED BY 2 OF ITS TEAM, ONE OWNED BY NBA GREAT MICHAEL JORDAN
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| Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, sits in his pit box during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Talladega Superspeedway, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill) (Butch Dill) |
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR reached a settlement Thursday of the bruising antitrust lawsuit filed against the stock car series by two of its race teams, including one co-owned by NBA great Michael Jordan.
“Today’s a good day,” Jordan said as he waited in the gallery for attorneys to announce the deal. Details were not immediately released.
The settlement came on the ninth day of the trial before U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell, who set aside motions hearing for an hour-long sidebar. Jeffrey Kessler, attorney for 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, emerged from a conference room at the end of the hour to inform a court clerk “we’re ready.” Kessler then led Jordan and 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin, as well as Front Row owner Bob Jenkins, to another room for more talks.
23XI and Front Row filed their lawsuit last year after refusing to sign agreements on the new charter offers NASCAR presented in September 2024. Teams had until end of day to sign the 112-page document, which guarantees access to top-level Cup Series races and a revenue stream, and 13 of 15 organizations reluctantly agreed. Jordan and Jenkins sued instead and raced most of the 2025 season uncharted.
Both teams said a loss in the case would have put them out of business.
Bell told the jury that sometimes parties at trial have to see how the evidence unfolds to come to the wisdom of a settlement.
“I wish we could’ve done this a few months ago,” Bell said in court. “I believe this is great for NASCAR. Great for the future of NASCAR. Great for the entity of NASCAR. Great for the teams and ultimately great for the fans.”
All teams felt the previous revenue-sharing agreement was unfair and two-plus years of bitter negotiations led to NASCAR’s final offer, which was described by the teams as “take-it-or-leave it.” The teams believed the new agreement lacked all four of their key demands, most importantly the charters becoming permanent instead of renewable.
The settlement followed eight days of testimony in which the Florida-based France family, the founders and private owners of NASCAR, were shown to be inflexible in making the charters permanent.
When the defense began its case Wednesday it seemed focused more on mitigating damages than proving it did not act anticompetitively.
An economist earlier testified 23XI and Front Row were owed over US$300 million in damages.
- Jenna Fryer, The Associated Press
WHO IS PAIGE SHIVER? ABOUT THE MICHIGAN STAFFER & HER ALLEGED AFFAIR WITH SHERRONE MOORE
Shiver's name quickly made headlines after rumors about an alleged affair with ex-University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore went viral.
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| Image Credit: Getty Images |
Former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore was fired, then arrested, after rumors of an alleged “inappropriate” affair with a staff member surfaced. Amid the viral rumors, Paige Shiver, the alleged staffer in question, found herself thrown into the public eye due to online rumors.
“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement in December 2025. “Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. This conduct constitutes a clear violation of University policy, and U-M maintains zero tolerance for such behavior.”
Shiver has yet to publicly comment on the rumors about her alleged connection to Moore. She is keeping her social media accounts private, and the University of Michigan has not named her in its firing of Moore.
Learn more about Shiver below.
Paige Shiver Works as the Executive Assistant to Coach at Michigan
Shiver works for the athletics division of the University of Michigan, according to the school.
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Paige Shiver Is the Daughter of a Chicago Bears Scout
Shiver is the daughter of a Chicago Bears scout named Jeff Shiver, per a profile the school published on her.
Paige Shiver Battled a Glycogen Disorder Called Pompe Disease
Shiver opened up about her rare genetic disorder, known as Pompe Disease, in her Chicago Bears profile in 2016. The illness makes it difficult for the body to break down glycogen, which can cause a build-up in the muscle cells and lead to potential heart issues and muscle damage, according to multiple outlets, including the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
QThe Bears’ website described her as “an active college student” at the time, who used to “go on 30-minute runs, take cycling classes and lift weights virtually every day without getting tired.”
But in 2015, while a junior at Purdue, Shiver felt “exhausted” with pain “throughout her body.”
“I would go for a run and couldn’t run for more than 5 minutes because my lungs started getting affected,” the then-22-year-old said, according to the Bears’ site. “It was really hard to catch my breath and my legs felt really heavy, like I could barely lift them up.
Paige Shiver Has a Degree in Retail Management
"Shiver graduated from Purdue with a degree in retail management, per a 2013 West Lafayette, Indiana, high school bio about her.
Paige Shiver Is in Her 30s
A decade has gone by since Shiver spoke with the Chicago Bears about her rare genetic disease. Since she was 22 in 2016, this would mean she’s in her early 30s as of 2025.
- Hollywood Life
BENGALS STAR JOE BURROW REVEALS HE'S "GOING THROUGH A LOT" ON AND OFF THE FIELD
The Bengals walked out of snowy Highmark Stadium with a 39-34 loss, but Joe Burrow’s postgame tone hit harder than the scoreboard. The Cincinnati Star opened a rare window into his mindset. The Bills delivered chaos, but Burrow delivered honesty. And for a quarterback built on steady control, that honesty raised eyebrows across the league.
In the post-game conference, Burrow said, “There are just a lot of things going on right now. A lot of things are going on.”
Joe Burrow Admits the Weight He’s Carrying As the Bills’ Late Storm Deepens the Bengals’ Concerns
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| Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow speaks at a press conference at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Nov. 25, 2025. |
Burrow didn’t hide from the moment. His four-touchdown day looked sharp on paper, but he sounded like someone fighting a bigger battle than a December road game. He dealt with wrist surgery last year, turf toe recovery this season, and the mental drain that comes with constant rehab. Meanwhile, Sunday’s collapse in Orchard Park only added to that burden. The Bills flipped the game with three touchdowns in 4:30, and Burrow could only watch the stadium roar back to life.
Then the rhythm he built early vanished. Cincinnati converted third downs at an absurd rate, going 10 of 12, yet the defense cracked at the worst possible time. Burrow admitted that those huge swings test even the toughest players. One late interception came from Christian Benford’s pick-six, while another popped loose to AJ Epenesa after a deflection – both swings changed everything, just like the sudden blows he’s felt before in past seasons.
Even when he praised Buffalo’s defensive plays, the exhaustion in his voice stood out. He sounded reflective. Drained. Still competitive, but no longer masking the grind. Reported comments this week from Yahoo Sports reinforce that tone. Burrow said he has “been through more than most” and emphasized how important it is to rediscover joy. That mindset surfaced again after this loss, especially as Cincinnati slipped deeper in the AFC race.
Still, the Bills counted on Josh Allen dashing with his feet to finish the rally. That 40-yard sprint lit up the crowd like lightning. A clutch 17-yard scramble on third down, way behind schedule, shut the door for the Bengals. When Buffalo celebrated loudly, Burrow stood before the media, not tossing stats around, yet revealing something deeper instead. The league caught sight of a starting QB battling sore muscles, team stress, and the mental grind of a year that’s taken every ounce he’s got.
- Heena Singh
HELMUT MARKO: THE DEVISIVE CHARACTER WHO HELPED RED BULL TO BECOME MODERN F1 POWERHOUSE
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| Helmut Marko will step down from his role with Red Bull |
At the end of two decades at Red Bull, possibly the most divisive character in modern Formula 1 in Helmut Marko, can be credited with a huge role in the team’s success.
While Marko has grabbed headlines with sharp-edged comments, his influence surrounding the young driver programme at Red Bull can and should not be understated.
In his two decade spell in association with Red Bull, Marko has overseen the development of 20 drivers into F1, including the most successful in Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel.
With Vettel and Verstappen at the helm, Red Bull won eight Drivers’ titles and six Constructors’ Championships between 2010 and 2024, along with over 100 race victories.
Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s CEO of Corporate Projects and Investments, branded the outgoing Marko “an engine of innovation, and a cornerstone of international motorsport”.
“His instinct for exceptional talent not only shaped our junior program but also left a lasting impact on Formula 1 as a whole. Names like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen stand for the many drivers who were discovered, supported, and guided to the very top under his leadership. His passion, his courage to make clear decisions, and his ability to spot potential will remain unforgettable.”
Aside from the title winners, Marko has also unearthed plenty more talented drivers who have had healthy stints in F1, with seven of the 20 drivers on the grid in 2025 having advanced through the Red Bull junior programme. And as F1 and Red Bull enter an exciting new era, Marko’s eye for talent could see the Red Bull family on the front foot in 2026.
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| Helmut Marko unearthed Isack Hadjar, who will race with Red Bull in 2026 |
Red Bull’s new era
Isack Hadjar, who steps up to the senior team for 2026, and Arvid Lindblad for Racing Bulls, will be the last two drivers to emerge from Red Bull’s talent pool under the control of Marko.
Hadjar’s exciting debut F1 season, which saw him become the youngest French driver to stand on the podium, alongside Lindblad’s promising Formula 2 campaign, sees Red Bull in a good position to enter F1’s new era in 2026.
Alongside a new engine partnership with the Ford Motor Company under the helm of new Team Principal Laurent Mekies, 2026 will be the first season for Red Bull without its cornerstone team members.
Marko marks the last figurehead of the original Red Bull F1 project to depart the Milton-Keynes squad and the end of a significant era of success for team.
After the departures of Johnathan Wheatley, Adrian Newey and most notably long time Team Principal Christian Horner it felt like a matter of time before Dr Marko would step away and allow Red Bull to enter its new evolution under the steady hand of Mekies.
While Marko has been a huge influence in Red Bull’s success in regards to his ability to spot talent early, his departure seems timely as the Red Bull brand looks to the future under a completely new leadership structure.
This alongside a list of controversies sees it unsurprising that Red Bull keen to enter its new era without such a divisive figure at the forefront of its future.
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| Helmut Marko was a divisive character in the paddock |
Not without controversies
After the death of Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022, someone with whom Marko had a close relationship, and significantly, the departure of Red Bull’s two-decade-long team boss Christian Horner midway through 2025, Marko’s position within the team has become increasingly untenable.
Away from his tremendous success regarding the young driver programme, Marko has had a tumultuous history of stirring the pot and saying the wrong things.
The Austrian has clashed with Red Bull’s new management style on multiple occasions since the team’s change in direction including derogatory statements made regarding then Red Bull driver Sergio Perez in late 2023.
Marko had blamed Perez’s fluctuations in form on the track on the Mexican driver’s ethnicity claiming ” he is South American and he is just not as completely focused in his head as Max is or as Sebastian.”
More comments aimed towards Andrea Kimi Antonelli after this season’s Qatar Grand Prix, where Marko claimed the Italian had “waved Norris past” on the penultimate lap in Doha, saw the Italian receive thousands of messages of abuse for an honest on-track mistake.
This alongside a failed attempt to oust Marko in early 2024 has soured the atmosphere within the Red Bull family and dampened spirits despite the team’s great successes and dominant recent seasons.
While F1 will remember Marko for his success in cultivating Red Bull’s driver talent, a string of controversies will always linger on a somewhat tarnished legacy.
- Daniel Harris
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