On July 17, 1994 (32 years ago) American singer and actress Whitney Houston delivered one of the most memorable musical performances in history at the FIFA World Cup 94' closing ceremony held at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California.
Houston opened the show with her 1987 hit "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" after she was escorted onto the pitch and to the stage by Brazilian soccer legend Pelẹ́
Her unparalleled vocal performance left world cup fans stunned as she nailed every note!
Did you know that Dunga still holds two of the most remarkable records in FIFA World Cup history?
At the 1994 World Cup, the Brazil captain completed an astonishing 692 passes, the most ever recorded by a player in a single tournament. As if that wasn't impressive enough, he also made 57 tackles, another all-time World Cup record for a single edition.
What's even more extraordinary is that both records were set in the same tournament.
Dunga was often overshadowed by Brazil's attacking stars, but he was the heartbeat of Carlos Alberto Parreira's side. He controlled the tempo, broke up opposition attacks, organised the midfield and led by example throughout the competition. Every successful team needs a foundation, and Brazil's was built around their captain.
His crowning moment came in the final against Italy in Pasadena. With the pressure at its highest, Dunga delivered a commanding display, covering every blade of grass before becoming the first Brazilian captain since 1970 to lift the World Cup trophy.
The statistics alone are staggering. The context makes them even more impressive.
Most passes in a World Cup tournament. Most tackles in a World Cup tournament. World Cup winner. World Cup-winning captain.
One tournament. One leader. One of the greatest midfield performances football has ever seen.
- 90's Football
The New England Patriots are 0 for 2 in Hall of Fame entries for the 2026 class.
About a week after news leaked of legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame snubbing, The Athletic reported Tuesday that Patriots owner Robert Kraft would not be a part of the class of 2026 either.
Kraft has owned the Patriots since 1994 and has overseen a record-setting 11 AFC championships, including their most recent this season. Kraft’s six Super Bowl rings are the most of any individual owner.
The Pats can surpass the Pittsburgh Steelers for most Super Bowl wins by a single franchise with a win over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl 60 on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The full list of 2026 Hall of Fame inductees will be announced at NFL Honors on Thursday.
The case could be made Kraft is the second-most influential owner over his tenure, behind only Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys.
Aside from the unprecedented success overseeing two modern-day Patriots dynasties — and counting — Kraft built the Patriots’ new home Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, which opened in 2002. He has also been influential in helping the NFL’s growth by advising commissioner Roger Goodell through media-rights negotiations.
Yet, all that could not land the 84-year-old a bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio on the first ballot. So even though he was a finalist for Hall of Fame induction, like his coach-turned-nemesis Belichick and Super Bowl adversary Eli Manning, Kraft will not get a gold jacket in 2026.
It used to be that the NFL would induct five-to-seven honorees annually to Canton. Yet, apparently those days are over.
According to The Athletic’s Chad Graff, the induction process was made more difficult for the class of 2026.
“The Pro Football Hall of Fame changed its rules this year, which made it more difficult for candidates to be enshrined,” Graff reported. “There are 50 Hall of Fame voters, each of whom casts three votes among the five candidates; a candidate must receive at least 40 votes to gain entry.”
The 80% majority is now even more stringent than the 75% required of Baseball Hall of Fame, though it is hard to imagine 11 high-profile football watchers who could reasonably deny Kraft or Belichick entry based on their resumes.
Instead, as ESPN reported, Kraft and Belichick being denied on their first year on the ballot likely is due to the Spygate and Deflategate scandals. Longtime NFL executive Bill Polian reportedly influenced enough voters to negate Belichick’s candidacy.
“A voter who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Polian, an ardent Kraft supporter and former general manager of the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts — a chief Patriots rival during their dynasty — told some voters he believed Belichick should “wait a year” before induction as penance for Spygate,” ESPN’s Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. reported Jan. 27.
Despite the snubbing of both Kraft and Belichick, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell feels both will end up with a bust in Canton.
“Bill Belichick’s record goes without saying,” Goodell said at his annual state of the league press conference. “Same with the Patriots’ Robert Kraft, who is also a candidate. They are spectacular. They contribute so much to this game, and I believe they’ll be Hall of Famers.”
- Pat Pickens
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| Troost-Ekong and Ibrahim Gusau |
As Nigeria’s Super Eagles prepare for one of their most crucial assignments in two years — the 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoffs in Morocco — the team has been plunged into yet another avoidable crisis.
On Tuesday, the players and officials boycotted training over years of unpaid bonuses and allowances, exposing once again the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) chronic failures in managing players’ welfare.
The squad, led by captain William Troost-Ekong, refused to train in Rabat, citing unresolved financial commitments stretching back several matches.
According to veteran BBC journalist Oluwashina Okeleji, who first broke the story, the boycott was a united decision involving the players and officials.
They are demanding payment of long-overdue allowances before returning to full preparation for Thursday’s semi-final clash against Gabon.
Sources in Rabat said that, as of Tuesday night, the players had vowed not to play until the NFF cleared all outstanding debts.
Executives of the National Sports Commission (NSC), PREMIUM TIMES gathered, have contacted the team leaders, and some funds have reportedly been released to the NFF.
One of the journalists on the ground in Rabat, Sulaiman Pooja Adebayo, clarified that the dispute is not merely about immediate payments. “The players are fighting for the new generation,” he said.
“They want the NFF to be responsible going forward. This fight is beyond unpaid allowances; it’s about the future of football in Nigeria.”
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| Super Eagles (CREDIT: NFF Media) |
The Super Eagles’ current protest fits into a familiar and deeply embarrassing pattern that has trailed Nigerian football for decades. Successive national teams — from the 1994 heroes to the class of 2018 — have faced similar episodes of neglect and delayed payments, often on the eve of major tournaments.
Across the age-grade teams and even among the female footballers, the sad tale of broken promises and unpaid wages is even worse.
Former Beach Soccer captain Abu Azeez recalled his own experience, saying he once considered retiring from national duty because of repeated empty promises. “I finally joined camp and played so we qualified for the World Cup, but I was never paid that same money,” Azeez lamented. “This is not new. It’s a recurring wound.”
Former Super Eagles captain and ex-coach Sunday Oliseh also painted a grim picture of the NFF’s habit of reneging on promises when he appeared on Bet9ja’s Home Turf podcast.
Oliseh said that for the 2002 World Cup Qualifiers, the players agreed with the federation to split the FIFA qualification bonus equally — half for the federation and half for the 30 players featured in the qualifying campaign. “We had an agreement: $1 million was coming from FIFA. We said, ‘Okay, let’s split it 50–50 — $500,000 for the federation and $500,000 for the players,’” Oliseh revealed.
“Each player would have earned around $18,000. But the only way that money could be distributed fairly was if I, as captain, was there to ensure it happened.”
According to the former Juventus midfielder, the NFF allegedly disbanded the team shortly after qualification was secured — effectively removing key senior players, including himself and assistant captain Finidi George, from the final World Cup squad.
“To ensure that money was not paid, they eliminated me and Finidi,” Oliseh continued. “Eighty per cent of the players who went to the 2002 World Cup didn’t participate in the qualifiers. That means they weren’t eligible for that money — and it was never paid to those who earned it.”
Journalist Osasu Obayiuwana had sounded the alarm much earlier this year when he questioned the seriousness of Nigeria’s World Cup ambitions while owing the Super Eagles bonuses for twenty matches. His words, once seen as hyperbole, now ring prophetic.
Sources close to the team revealed that the NFF had verbally promised the squad a “special bonus” a month ago, but the agreement was never formalised. “They offered, not the players,” one source clarified. “Now the federation has gone silent.”
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| William Troost-Ekong |
Amid the tension, Captain William Troost-Ekong moved swiftly to steady the ship. Posting on his verified X account, he confirmed the situation but urged restraint and truth.
“Once a resolution is found, we will be the first to confirm,” he wrote. “Any other statement or especially demands other than the rightful request written about below is false. All we want and continue to do is focus on the big games ahead.”
His message was a subtle rebuke to speculative reports circulating online about fresh demands from the players. Ekong’s post also reflects the team’s collective frustration — not defiance, but fatigue from years of financial neglect that have repeatedly disrupted Nigeria’s football progress.
The NFF has remained publicly silent since the boycott began. Despite growing international attention, its media team has issued no statement since Tuesday. However, insiders confirm that the federation’s president, Ibrahim Gusau, is expected to meet with the players in Rabat on Wednesday morning, following overnight consultations with officials from the National Sports Commission.
According to government sources, the NSC claims it has released additional funds to the NFF to cover outstanding obligations for the qualifiers. Whether those funds, when disbursed to the players, will calm their nerves remains unclear.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye arrived late Tuesday night, completing the 24-man squad in camp.
Yet full training had not resumed as of Wednesday morning, pending the outcome of talks between the players and the NFF hierarchy.
The timing of this crisis could hardly be worse. Nigeria faces Gabon in the first semi-final of the FIFA World Cup Africa Play-off Tournament in Rabat, with a potential final against either Cameroon or DR Congo determining who advances to the intercontinental playoff stage.
But beyond the immediate embarrassment, the players’ revolt has reignited a national conversation about how football governance continues to fail its biggest ambassadors.
For all the glitz around modern Nigerian stars — Osimhen, Lookman, Ndidi — their working conditions remain disturbingly unstable.
For many, the federation’s inability to settle basic entitlements undermines morale, professionalism, and public confidence — at a time when the country can least afford distractions.
As negotiations continue in Rabat, the message from the players is unmistakable: this is no longer just a fight for money, but for dignity and accountability.
- Tunde Eludini
Jurgen Klinsmann Tottenham White Hart Lane September 1994
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| USA's Venus Williams waves at supporters after losing against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova at the end of their women's singles first round tennis match on day two of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City Image: Kena Betancur / AFP |
Venus Williams battled bravely before bowing out of the US Open on her return to Grand Slam tennis on Monday as Spanish ace Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the second round with a dominant opening win.
The second full day of action in New York saw all eyes turn to the Arthur Ashe Stadium's night session, where the 45-year-old Williams lost in three sets to 11th seed Karolina Muchova.
Williams only returned to competitive tennis in July following a 16-month absence from the sport and had been granted a wild card into the main draw at Flushing Meadows.
But hopes of a fairytale run -- 28 years after her debut in the tournament -- ended in a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 loss to Muchova, who was not even born when Williams turned professional in 1994.
"I didn't win today but I'm very proud of the way I played," Williams, the US Open champion in 2000 and 2001, said.
"I don't think I've ever had a crowd on my side like that. I knew people around the world and around the United States were really rooting for me, and that felt great."
With the American exiting, 2022 men's champion Alcaraz took centre-stage in the late game in his first round tie against unseeded American Reilly Opelka.
The Spaniard arrived for the game sporting a striking new hairstyle -- a severe crew cut -- and he duly chopped down the 6ft 11in Opelka with a blistering 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory in 2hr 5min.
"Today was a really difficult one," Alcaraz said. "Reilly is a great, tough player. I couldn't get the rhythm that I wanted to get but I'm just really happy with what I did today. I did a great performance today."
Alcaraz is chasing a second US Open title following his maiden Grand Slam victory at the tournament three years ago.
Australian Open winner Madison Keys became the highest-ranked player to exit so far, the sixth seed losing to Mexico's Renata Zarazua 6-7 (10/12), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5.
"Today was the first time in a while where my nerves really got the better of me and it kind of became a little bit paralyzing," home hope Keys said.
"I was just slow, I wasn't seeing things the way that I wanted to, which I feel like resulted in a lot of bad decisions and lazy footwork."
Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova bundled out rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko, defeating the teenager 6-3, 6-2.
Belgian 19th seed Elise Mertens ousted wild card Alyssa Ahn 6-1, 6-0 while Ukrainian 30th seed Dayana Yastremska exited in a 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 loss to Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova brought the curtain down on her career after a 6-1, 6-0 defeat to France's Diane Parry.
The 35-year-old Czech had already announced her intention to retire after the US Open, but was nonetheless overcome with emotion as she said farewell to the sport, breaking down in tears as she addressed fans afterwards.
"I hoped I would put on a better show today," Kvitova said. "It was tough to know it could be my last match, and emotionally it was very tough as well."
Qualifier Coleman Wong became the first man from Hong Kong to record a victory in a Grand Slam singles event in the Open era with a 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) defeat of US player Aleksandar Kovacevic.
It was the latest in a series of breakthrough results by young Asian players at this year's US Open.
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines -- who trains with Wong at Rafael Nadal's academy in Spain -- and Indonesia's Janice Tjen both won their first-round matches in the main draw.
British fifth seed Jack Draper needed four sets to get past Argentina's Federico Gomez, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 6-2.
Other seeds to advance included Norway's Casper Ruud, the 12th seed, who downed Austria's Sebastian Ofner 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).
US 17th seed Frances Tiafoe beat Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.
- AFP
31 years ago today, a terrifying moment for Jos Verstappen and his team during what was supposed to be a regulation pit stop at the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim.
Fuel sprayed onto the Benetton driver and his car as the crew fumbled in attaching the refuelling rig. A split second later, the car was engulfed in flames but marshals acted quickly to extinguish the blaze. Verstappen and the pit crew only suffered minor burns.
- Autosport
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| Arsenal.com |
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Arsenal will need a big performance if they are to overcome Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League second leg. Ousmane Dembele's goal gave the Parisians a first-leg victory at the Emirates with the Gunners heading to France needing a win to remain in contention. TNT Sports looks at whether history is on their side at the Parc des Princes.
Arsenal are facing an uphill task if they are to reach the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since 2006.
Mikel Arteta’s side put in a lacklustre display in the first leg of their semi-final as they were beaten 1-0 by an impressive Paris Saint-Germain, thanks to Ousmane Dembele's early goal.
And ahead of the second leg, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, the Gunners find themselves in inconsistent form, losing their most recent Premier League outing against Bournemouth leaving them with just three league wins in 10.
Europe remains their last shot at silverware this season and Arsenal will have to produce something special to overturn the first-leg deficit and advance to the final in Munich at the end of the month.
The trip to France may be a daunting one, but it presents an opportunity, and Arteta’s side might look to take inspiration from previous trips to the country.
Ahead of their latest showdown in Paris, Arsenal have played away in France in European competition a total of 15 times, winning eight, drawing five and losing twice. They have scored 20 times and conceded 14 in that time.
While Gunners fans will be encouraged by the victories, there will be concern that only one of these has arrived by more than a single goal, which would only be enough to force extra time this week.
Another concern would be that, after a run of seven victories between 2000 and 2015, their last two trips to France against Stade Rennes and Lens have ended in defeat.
Winning in normal time would require Arsenal scoring twice, something they have managed five times in total in France, and have only ever failed to score in the country on one occasion.
Defensively, Arsenal know a clean sheet is probably needed if they are to realise their ambitions, something they have managed six times on previous trips to France.
FC Rouen 1969/70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup third round first leg – 0-0
Arsenal first visited France in the third round of the 1969/70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup – the predecessor to the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League – taking on FC Rouen in a first-leg stalemate.
The Gunners won an equally tight second leg 1-0 with a last-minute winner from Jon Sammels on their way to lifting the trophy.
Arsenal’s next trip to France in European competition was coincidentally to the Parc des Princes to face PSG back in their successful 1994 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup run.
The leg of the semi-final in France saw Ian Wright put Arsenal in front 10 minutes before half-time, though David Ginola levelled for the home side in the second half.
Kevin Campbell secured a 1-0 win in the return match to send Arsenal to the final.
The following year saw Arsenal win in France for the first time courtesy of an Ian Wright screamer in the second leg of the Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final, following a 1-1 draw at home.
The Gunners were left frustrated in their opening match of the group as Tony Vairelles’ stoppage-time equaliser denied Arsene Wenger’s side victory after Marc Overmars had given them a second-half lead.
Leading 3-0 from the first leg, Arsenal were 6-1 up on aggregate by half-time at Stade de la Beaujoire after Gilles Grimandi, Thierry Henry and Overmars cancelled out Antoine Sibierski’s opener for the home side.
Nantes did rally, however, as Sibierski and Marama Vahirua restored pride by salvaging a draw.
With a 1-0 lead from the Highbury fixture, Henry’s goal before the break at Stade Bollaert-Delelis doubled Arsenal’s advantage in the tie.
Although Pascal Nouma reduced the deficit, Nwankwo Kanu restored the two-goal advantage late on to book the Gunners’ place in the final.
Henry was once again the scourge of his countrymen with the winning goal in this clash at Stade de Gerland.
Another hard-fought victory on French soil, with Gilberto netting the only goal of the game at the start of the second half.
A now familiar scoreline when Wenger returned to his homeland with Arsenal. This time the Gunners left it late with Aaron Ramsey snatching the winner deep into stoppage time to steal the three points.
An electric start saw Younes Belhanda fire the home side ahead from the penalty spot but within ten minutes, Arsenal were ahead through Lukas Podolski and Gervinho with no further scoring.
Theo Walcott volleyed Arsenal into the lead at the Velodrome with 25 minutes to play before Ramsey wrapped up victory with 5 minutes to play.
Jordan Ayew scored a late penalty, but it was ultimately inconsequential.
A seventh successive win on French soil, but there was little cause for celebration as Arsenal crashed out of the competition.
A shock 3-1 home defeat left the Gunners with all to do in the return match, but goals from Olivier Giroud and Ramsey weren’t enough and the Ligue 1 side advanced on away goals.
Edinson Cavani headed PSG in front after three minutes and threatened a rout but wasteful finishing allowed Alexis Sanchez to snatch a late point for the Gunners.
A first defeat in France came against an inspired Rennes side who were eyeing a huge scalp.
Alex Iwobi put the Gunners 1-0 up but a red card for defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos turned the game on its head as Benjamin Bourigeaud, a Nacho Monreal own-goal and Ismaila Sarr compounded Unai Emery’s side to defeat.
The Gunners recovered to blitz their opponents 3-0 in the return leg to advance.
Arsenal’s most recent trip across the channel also ended in defeat despite taking an early lead through Gabriel Jesus.
Goals from Adrien Thomasson and Elye Wahi stunned Arteta’s side.
- IBRAHIM MUSTAPHA
One of the globally acclaimed footballers to have come from Nigeria is Austin Okocha, who is better known as ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha.
He belongs to the acclaimed Golden Generation of the Super Eagles, which dazzled the continent and the world from 1994 to 1996. Okocha was pivotal and a central performer in the squad.
His illustrious career in the squad with which he made 68 appearances started on this day 32 years ago, on 2 May.
He made his first appearance for the Super Eagles in a World Cup qualifying duel with Côte d’Ivoire in Abidjan. Nigeria lost 2-1. Since then, Okocha has had 68 caps.
He remains one of Nigeria’s most iconic footballers as his fame cut across the continent.
At Eintracht Frankfurt, he remains one of the most revered players to have worn the German club’s colours, as the fans still have fond memories of him, even over two decades since his departure.
His skill with the ball was a beauty to behold. Even other accomplished players confessed they were inspired by Okocha’s skills.
From being a midfielder, he rose to become the captain of not just his English Premier League club, Bolton Wanderers, but also of the Super Eagles.
In March 2004, the legendary Brazilian football icon, Pelé, named him among the top 125 living footballers in the world. Significantly, only five players from Africa made the list.
When he moved from Fenerbahçe of Turkey to 1998 French Cup winners, Paris St. Germain, at a record transfer fee of $17 million, the amount eclipsed the two most expensive transfers previously made in French soccer history, when Olympic Marseille paid $12.6 million each for Italian international Fabrizio Ravenelli and former Metz star, Robert Pires.
Okocha’s sign-up was regarded as a bid to rebuild the club to recapture the French League. His languid skill and deceptive pace already made him a favourite among French fans who watched him play four World Cup matches. His creative spark was the most noticeable feature of the erratic Super Eagles at the France ’98 World Cup.
Okocha’s career began at home while playing as a 16-year-old for Enugu Rangers. But a chance encounter whilst on holiday in Germany launched his international career. He tried out for a fourth division club, Borussia Neunkirchen, and they snapped him up.
In 1992, Okocha began his ascent in the German league, joining first division club Eintracht Frankfurt and signing professional terms. It was at Frankfurt that he first began to excite German crowds with his dazzling dribbling skills and drew the attention of European agents.
A £ 1 million move to Turkish outfit Fenerbahce was the result in 1996 and Okocha helped his new side to the league title in his first season, but just two seasons later he was on the move again in a staggering $17million switch to Paris St. Germain, making him the most expensive Nigerian footballer ever.
After seeing out his contract with the French giants, Okocha was available on a free transfer – hence the rumoured £ 3.3 million-a-year wages he was reported to be demanding from Bolton Wanderers. It is testament to Sam Allardyce’s negotiation skills that he was able to convince the midfielder to drop his high demands and join the English Premier League outfit.
At Bolton, he was like a cult hero. “Jay Jay Okocha – so good they named him twice” was a common chant by Bolton fans. This was the attitude of fans towards the gifted Nigerian after the skilful midfielder played the lead role in securing the Trotters’ Barclaycard Premiership status in his debut season at the club. The Nigerian helped Bolton to one of their most successful seasons ever during the 2003/04 campaign. For 131 years, Bolton Wanderers had wandered in the wilderness.
The 2003/04 season was undoubtedly the best season the club ever had. Okocha was part of that historic moment. In the past, it was common to see Bolton Wanderers slipping into relegation almost every other season. Before Okocha arrived at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton Wanderers hardly ever spent three consecutive seasons in the top division.
After a slow start to his Bolton career, Okocha came into his own in the second half of the season, thrilling crowds with his tricks and pleasing Sam Allardyce with his match-winning performances. Bolton’s Player of the Season had many memorable moments throughout the 2002/03 campaign, but his most important contribution was the winning goal against relegation rivals West Ham at the Reebok.
As if to prove his talent, Okocha was honoured with the BBC’s African Player of the Year award for two consecutive seasons. The player who once featured for Nigeria at Mauritius ’93 African Youth Championship moved to SC Qatar at the close of the 2005/06 season.
At the close of the 2006 season, he ranked next to Muda Lawal in the number of international appearances for Nigeria.
The high point of his career was the scoring of the historical 1,000th goal of the African Cup of Nations. This he did at Monastir, Tunisia, when he converted a penalty kick to put the scoreline at 2-0 in a 4-0 defeat of South Africa.
- Kunle Solaja
Legendary promoter Bob Arum has worked with a number of legendary heavyweights throughout his career, including the late, great George Foreman.
The 93-year-old’s first championship promotion was with Muhammad Ali back in 1966, when he defended his heavyweight title against George Chuvalo in Toronto, Canada.
Arum went on to establish Top Rank in 1973, where he has played an instrumental role in promoting over 500 world title bouts across five decades. As well as working alongside Ali, the 93-year-old has promoted fighters such as Foreman, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao to name just a few.
Arum promoted Foreman’s incredible 1994 victory over Michael Moorer, which saw ‘Big’ George become the oldest heavyweight champion in history when he captured the WBA and IBF titles with a tenth round stoppage over the previously unbeaten heavyweight star.
In an interview with Sean Zittel, Arum was asked how he believes the heavyweight icon would have fared against the stars of today, before saying former that former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is the only fighter who comes close to carrying the level of punching power that ‘Big’ George did.
“I think quite well, because I don’t know any heavyweight around who had the ring savvy that he had and the punching power that he possessed. Of heavyweight fighters with punching power, the one that came close was Wilder, but Wilder didn’t have the defensive skills that George had and couldn’t take a punch the way George did.”
Foreman picked up 76 victories throughout his tenure, with 68 of those coming via stoppage. Perhaps one of the most famous wins of his career came in January 1973 when he dropped Joe Frazier six times before knocking him out in the second round of their bout to become the world heavyweight champion for the first time.
Wilder has 43 knockouts from his 43 wins and believes himself to be the biggest puncher the sport has ever seen. After back-to-back losses in Saudi Arabia against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, the 39-year-old is making a low-key comeback this June before one last crack at the top level.
- Toby Morgan
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| Foreman died aged 76 (Picture: Getty Images) |
Mike Tyson has led the tributes to George Foreman following the death of the heavyweight legend.
Foreman’s family announced the death of the former world champion on Friday night with ‘their hearts broken’ after the loss of ‘Big George’ at the age of 76.
He leaves behind a staggering legacy in boxing, having won gold for USA at the 1968 Olympics before becoming one of the most feared world champions in the sport.
Foreman fought Muhammad Alli at the legendary ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ and was crowned the oldest world champion in history in 1994.
Foreman is remembered as one of the most ferocious punchers in boxing history with tributes quickly pouring in for the American.
Another heavyweight legend in Mike Tyson was among the first to pass on his message of support to the Foreman family.
‘Condolences to George Foreman’s family,” Tyson said on social media, sharing pictures of the two together. ‘His contribution to boxing and beyond will never be forgotten.’
Veteran boxing promoter Bob Arum said: ‘George was a great friend to not only myself, but to my entire family. We’ve lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.’
Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew wrote: ‘RIP to one of the greatest human beings to ever put on boxing gloves.. This man was truly amazing!
‘There is no doubt imo he’s the greatest puncher boxing has ever seen.. Rest easy king the world is a lesser place without you.’
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| Foreman weighing in for Rumble In The Jungle (Picture: UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images) |
A statement from the Foreman family released overnight said: ‘Our hearts are broken.
‘With profound sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved George Edward Foreman Sr. who peacefully departed on March 21, 2025 surrounded by loved ones.
‘A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand and great grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility, and purpose.
A humanitarian, an Olympian, and two time heavyweight champion of the world, He was deeply respected — a force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name— for his family.
‘We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers, and kindly ask for privacy as we honor the extraordinary life of a man we were blessed to call our own.’
- Tony Mogan
In 1974, 25 year old George Foreman was unbeaten heavyweight champion of the world until he faced Muhammad Ali in the legendary “Rumble in the jungle” when he was defeated in the eighth round.
Nearly 20 years later on November 5th, 1994 at 45 years old Foreman stepped back into wearing the same red shorts that he lost in. He went on to win in a huge upset knocking out Michael Moorer to reclaim the heavyweight world championship.
- Ring Magazine
Full name: Nwankwo Kanu
Date of birth: 1 August 1976
Height: 1.97 m
Place of birth: Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
🏆 UEFA Champions League (Ajax 1994/95)
🏆 UEFA Europa League (Inter Milan 1997/98)
🏆 UEFA Super Cup Winner (Ajax 1995)
🏆 Intercontinental Cup (Ajax 1995)
🏆 Premier League 2x (Arsenal 2001/02, 2003/04)
🏆 English "FA Cup" 3x (Arsenal 2001/02, 2002/03; Portsmouth 2007/08)
🏆 English "Community Shield" (Arsenal 1999)
🏆 Dutch "Eredivisie" 3x (Ajax 1993/94, 94/95, 95/96)
🏆 Nigerian Premier League (Iwuanyanwu Nationale 1992/93)
🏆 Olympic Medalist (Nigeria Olympic Team 1996)
CAREER STATS
1. Iwuanyanwu Nationale (1992 - 1993)
🎬 25 Appearances
⚽️ 15 Goals
2. Ajax Amsterdam (1993 - 1996)
🎬 75 Appearances
⚽️ 27 Goals
🎯 15 Assists
3. Inter Milan (1996 - 1999)
🎬 20 Appearances
⚽️ 1 Goals
🎯 - Assists
4. Arsenal (1999 - 2004)
🎬 197 Appearances
⚽️ 44 Goals
🎯 35 Assists
5. West Bromwich Albion (2004 - 2006)
🎬 57 Appearances
⚽️ 9 Goals
🎯 3 Assists
6. Portsmouth (2006 - 2012)
🎬 166 Appearances
⚽️ 28 Goals
🎯 14 Assists
7. Nigeria (1994 - jul, 2010)
🎬 84 Appearances
⚽️ 12 Goals
🎯 4 Assists
8. Nigeria Olympic Team (jul - Aug, 1996)
🎬 6 Appearances
⚽️ 3 Goals
🎯 2 Assists
 |
| Emergency response units assess airplane wreckage in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington Airport in Arlington, Virginia, on Jan. 30, 2025. | Andrew Harnik/Getty Images |
NORWOOD, Mass. (AP) — Two young figure skaters, two of their parents and two highly-regarded Russian figure skating coaches were among those killed after an American Airlines flight collided with an Army helicopter Wednesday night and crashed into the frigid waters of the Potomac River.
Doug Zeghibe, the chief executive at the Skating Club of Boston, said Thursday that skaters Jinna Han and Spencer Lane were among those killed, along with coaches Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.
“This will have long reaching impacts for our community,” he said during a news conference where he was visibly emotional.
U.S. Figure Skating previously confirmed that several skaters, coaches and family members were on the commercial flight after attending a development camp that followed the national championships, which wrapped up Sunday in Wichita, Kansas.
“We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends and coaches, are understood to be among those on board,” U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.
“Figure skating is more than a sport — it’s a close-knit family — and we stand together.”
The Kremlin also confirmed that Shishkova and Naumov were aboard. They were were well-known skaters in their own right after winning the pairs world title in 1994 in Chiba, Japan. They moved to the U.S. and became coaches, first at the International Skating Center in Connecticut and since 2017 at the Skating Club of Boston.
Among their students is their 23-year-old son, Maxim, a former U.S. junior champion. He has finished fourth at senior nationals the past three years, narrowly missing the podium Sunday while his parents watched at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita.
There were 60 passengers and four crew members on the American Airlines flight and three soldiers aboard a training flight on the Blackhawk helicopter. There was no immediate cause of the collision, but officials said flight conditions were clear as the jet coming from Wichita was making a routine landing when the helicopter flew into its path.
“We are now at the point where we are switching from a rescue operation to a recovery operation,” John Donnelly, the fire chief in the nation’s capital, said in an update Thursday morning. “We don’t believe there are any survivors.”
The Skating Club of Boston, which is set to host the world championships in March, is among the best-known clubs in the world, producing numerous Olympic and world champions. Among them have been two-time Olympic champion Dick Button, Olympic gold medalist Tenley Albright, two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan and Olympic silver medalist Paul Wylie.
Jimmy Ma, who finished fifth at the U.S. championships on Sunday, is among current athletes from the Skating Club of Boston.
This is the second time a plane crash has rocked the figure skating community.
On Feb. 15, 1961, a Boeing 707 traveling from New York to the world championships in Czechoslovakia crashed on approach in Brussels, Belgium, killing all 72 people aboard. That included all 18 members of the American team heading to worlds, along with 16 family members, coaches and skating officials that were on their way to support them in Prague.
Among those killed in that crash were former U.S. champion-turned coach Maribel Vinson-Owen and her daughters, 16-year-old Laurie Owen and 20-year-old Maribel Owen. Two weeks earlier, Laurie had won her first women’s title and Maribel won her first pairs title at the national championships in Colorado Springs, Colo. They also represented the Skating Club of Boston.
The world championships were canceled that year out of respect for the American team killed in the crash.
The European championships are taking place this week in Tallinn, Estonia. They were expected to continue as scheduled.
“The International Skating Union and the global skating community are deeply shocked by the tragic accident involving an American Airlines flight in Washington, D.C. We are heartbroken to learn that figure skaters, along with their families, friends, and coaches, are understood to be among those on board,” the ISU said in a statement. “We remain in close contact with U.S. Figure Skating and offer our full support during this incredibly difficult time.”
- DAVE SKRETTA
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| Franz Beckenbauer passed away at the age of 78 in January this year. Werner Schulze/ullstein bild via Getty Images |
Bayern Munich have honoured club and Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer by retiring his No. 5 jersey.
Widely regarded as Germany's greatest ever player, Beckenbauer passed away at the age of 78 earlier this year.
He led his country to glory at the European Championships in 1972 and the 1974 World Cup, and also won three successive league titles and a hat trick of European Cups at Bayern.
His contributions and persona on the field saw him dubbed "Der Kaiser," which translates as "The Emperor."
He had two spells as manager at Bayern, winning the Bundesliga in 1994 and the UEFA Cup in 1996, and also served as club president.
"Forever our Kaiser," Bayern wrote in a post on X.
"In memory of Franz Beckenbauer: FC Bayern will never again give out jersey number 5."
- ESPN
CLEVELAND -- Darius Garland scored 25 points, Ty Jerome matched his career high with 24 in place of Donovan Mitchell, and the Cleveland Cavaliers stayed unbeaten with a 128-114 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.
The Cavs are the fourth team to start 15-0 and are tied for the second-best start to a season in NBA history, trailing only the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors (24-0). The Warriors set the league record by winning their first 24 games on the way to a 73-9 season.
The 2015-16 Warriors, 1993-94 Houston Rockets (started 15-0) and 1948-49 Washington Capitols (15-0) all made the NBA Finals.
Evan Mobley had 23 points and 11 rebounds, and Jarrett Allen had 21 points and 15 rebounds for Cleveland, marking the second time the Cavaliers have had four 20-point scorers in consecutive games in franchise history, and the first time since 1972.
The Cavs also extended the longest winning streak in team history and have given Cleveland sports fans something to be excited about in the midst of a football season that crashed long ago for the Browns.
"It's incredible," Allen said of how the city is embracing the Cavs. "Everyone is showing tons of energy, all over the city. It's incredible how Cleveland has adopted us. They come to every game, yelling for everything. The city of Cleveland has our backs."
Although they wanted to keep their winning streak alive, the Cavs felt getting Mitchell rest was more important. It's a long season with bigger games ahead, and first-year coach Kenny Atkinson, who has yet to lose with Cleveland, said sticking to the plan with Mitchell was a priority.
The Cavaliers barely missed a beat without Mitchell, who was coming off a season-high 37-point performance. One of the many pluses during the winning streak is that it's allowing Atkinson to further develop his bench.
As has been the case in almost every game, the Cavs got positive minutes and moments from everyone Atkinson put on the floor. They also overcame some adversity as both Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade were forced out in the second half with ankle injuries. Wade, who has made seven starts, left Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in a walking boot.
The Cavaliers will put their perfect start on the line Tuesday against the defending NBA champion Boston Celtics at TD Garden.
"Boston Garden," Atkinson said. "What's better than that?"
As NBA games in November go, not much.
This is the fourth time in NBA history a team on a win streak of 15-plus games faces off against the defending NBA champion, and the first time since the Chicago Bulls faced the Rockets in 1996. One of these instances came in 1972, when the Los Angeles Lakers saw their NBA-record 33-game win streak come to an end against the Milwaukee Bucks.
"It's great for the NBA, right?" said Atkinson, the only coach to win his 15 first games with a new team. "Everybody is going to be watching, and I know our guys are anxious. I know they remember last year. We're going well. They're going well. It's great for the league. Great for our franchise. We're excited."
Mitchell didn't play in the final two games of last year's Eastern Conference semifinals, when the Cavs were eliminated in five games by the Celtics, who went on to win another championship.
Allen missed that entire Boston series with a broken rib and said he and his teammates are looking forward to seeing how they measure up with the Celtics now.
have some players. And we didn't have me, so I want to try and beat them and test where we are with them."
Atkinson feels the same way. If the Cavs have title aspirations, this a chance for them to see if they're real.
"It's going to be a great test for us," he said. "They obviously play a different style, five-out with five shooters, so it's going to be a real good test for us. We're at that point right now -- 15-0 and let's test ourselves against the best and see where we stand and see where we're going to make adjustments or not make adjustments.
"It actually comes at the perfect time."
ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
- ESPN News Services
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk shared 'good vibes' with NBA legend LeBron James at a special event in London.
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Van Dijk shared snaps on Instagram of himself with James, Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg, looking firmly at home alongside megastars of sport and music.
WHAT VIRGIL VAN DIJK SAID
Van Dijk captioned his post: "When worlds collide! Good vibes, good people."
THE GOSSIP
Van Dijk was invited to attend the UK launch of Dre and Snoop's Gin & Juice drink, named after the duo's 1994 single, at Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace in west London. The rappers performed together on a London stage for the first time in 30 years and were even joined by surprise guest Eminem.
WHAT NEXT?
Van Dijk was in action at Euro 2024 for Netherlands until July 10 and is currently taking a break before he resumes training with Liverpool. His team-mates were beaten by Preston in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Friday before they head off to the United States for their pre-season tour. Three games will see the Reds take on Real Betis, Arsenal and Manchester United between July 26 and August 3.
- Jamie Spencer
