Category News

Stephen Curry, the star of the Golden State Warriors, claims that despite an FBI investigation into illegal sports betting, he “wouldn’t worry” about the integrity of the NBA.

Hundreds of people have been detained as part of a comprehensive investigation that also includes allegedly rigged, mafia-linked poker games, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier.

Federal prosecutors released the names of Rozier and Billups in separate indictments on Thursday. The allegations are disputed by both men.

Rozier, 31, is one of six people who have been detained for alleged gambling id laws. NBA players are accused of fabricating injuries to influence gambling trends, among others.

Since the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018, there has been concern about the impact of gambling on the integrity of American sports. In fact, most US states have legalized sports betting.

According to Curry, who has twice been the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, “everyone is very aware of what to do, what not to do, and understanding the landscape of sports in general.”

“This is new territory for everyone, not just an NBA thing.” So, overall, I believe we all have a lot of responsibility to take.

Whatever happens, we let the situation play out, and the integrity of the game is fine. But I wouldn’t be too concerned about that.

Draymond Green, the team’s star, said, “I was shocked. The individuals involved are at a difficult point, and the league is at a difficult point.

However, I won’t sit here and say, “Man, you all partner with a gambling company, you open a can of worms.” Whether or not partnerships with gambling companies can open those can of worms.

Before his arrest, Billups oversaw his team’s defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Prior to his arrest, Rozier was not present for the Heat’s defeat to the Magic in Orlando.

Damon Jones, a former NBA player and coach, was also detained as part of the investigation, which identified seven games that occurred between February 2023 and March 2024.

Rozier is alleged to have been involved in leaking insider information and fabricating injuries to affect the Charlotte Hornets’ and New Orleans Pelicans’ betting odds in March 2023. Rozier participated in that match while a Hornets player at the time.

Jones, who retired from professional football in 2012, is alleged to have played in two games as part of the scheme, Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks in February 2023, Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder in January 2024.

The second indictment, which involved a total of 31 defendants, including Billups, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year, has to do with illegal poker games and has ties to organized crime.

Robbery, extortion, wire fraud, bank fraud, and illegal gambling are just a few examples of those charges.

Billups and Rozier both appeared in court on Thursday and were given immediate leave of absence from their positions by the NBA prior to their court appearances. On Friday, both Miami and Portland play.

Adam Silver, the commissioner of the NBA, called for stricter gambling laws in the US earlier this week.

The commissioner has the authority to “direct the dismissal and perpetual disqualification” of any player who offers, consents, conspires, assists, or attempts to cause any game of basketball to end elsewhere than on its merits, according to Article 35 of the NBA Constitution.

Rob Hawkins scored five tries in Sydney as England’s wheelchair rugby league team won 86-10 to begin their tour of Australia.

After helping his team, the Halifax Panthers, win the Challenge Cup, League Leaders’ Shield, and Grand Final, Hawkins, the reigning international wheelchair player of the year, wants to wrap up a memorable 2025 with a victory in the Ashes series.

As head coach Tom Coyd divided his squad into half-games, with five of them playing the first half and the other five, the other half, with England scoring 15 tries.

Before the break, debutant Luis Domingos, captain Lewis King, and veteran Wayne Boardman crossed for England’s first four tries, all scored by Hawkins’ Halifax team-mate Jack Brown. Five more goals were added by Boardman.

In the second half, Halifax’s Finlay O’Neill made his debut while Leeds pivot Nathan Collins scored 20 points from a try and eight goals, while Wheels of Steel winner Joe Coyd touched down once and Seb Bechara twice.

The game against New South Wales was very important, according to Tom Coyd, who admitted that we had jet lag and fatigue this week after the flight.

We needed to get out on the field together because it has been almost a year since our last game as an England team, with the last Test against France being in November.

“It was great to see Finlay O’Neill and Luis Domingos in action in their first official English uniforms,” said one participant. “I think we’ll wake up on Saturday morning knowing that we’ve arrived in Australia.

England are returning home for the first time since their magnificent Euro 2025 campaign, and they kick things off with a statement matchup with Brazil, the 2025 Copa America champions.

For the first time since 2005, when Etihad Stadium was only three years old, the Lionesses will play in a friendly at Etihad Stadium.

There are a few Brazilian players who are no strangers to the Etihad, even though this will be their first international game against the Brazilian women’s team in Manchester.

Anthony Gordon was expressed in three plain words by Jose Mourinho.

“You’re too much”.

As Newcastle United’s forward embraced him on Tuesday at St James’ Park at full-time, the Benfica manager said that.

In a 3-0 victory over his team in the Champions League, Mourinho had just watched Gordon open the scoring and set up Harvey Barnes’ second goal.

The first Newcastle player to score in three successive games on the night was Gordon.

The man of the match looked at home at Europe’s top table on the night.

According to Gordon, “It brings the best out of me.” “I feel alive the moment I play the biggest games. This level of play is what I enjoy. I wanted to play there when I was younger, so I’m living the dream.

That performance must be taken into Saturday’s home game against Fulham for Gordon and Newcastle.

For Newcastle, Gordon has performed in big-games so frequently.

The England forward scored against Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea, Tottenham, and Manchester United in a single Premier League campaign, becoming only the second player to do so alongside Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy.

Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Arsenal were the only other goals he scored for Newcastle in all competitions last year, scoring five of the nine goals.

Perhaps his relished life in the Champions League should not come as a surprise.

In that competition, Gordon ranks joint first for total goals and assists (five), third for goals (four), and has the most big chances (six), and tied for fourth for wins (eight), among all players.

His shot conversion rate (50%) and xG (2.73) were higher in the Champions League than in the Premier League this season from a small sample size, which includes two penalties against Union Saint-Gilloise.

On the other hand, according to Opta, Gordon has five more chances in the top flight, he has dribbled more times, he has nine more fouls, he has taken more shots (13), and he has had more touches in the opposition box (18).

Despite appearing in two more Premier League games, he has yet to find the back of the net or make an assist.

The England international jokes that domestically playing with the Champions League ball would be beneficial.

One or two of his team-mates might be equally impacted.

Newcastle may have scored eight goals in Europe this year, but only the bottom three Premier League sides have allowed less than seven goals in eight games.

What’s the purpose of this? Many find it perplexing.

Following a halt in his career, Gordon is certain to be desperate to find the solution.

After receiving a mindless red card against Brighton, Gordon was sent off for the Carabao Cup final last year, which saw Newcastle finally come to an end to a 70-year drought to capture a significant domestic prize at Wembley.

Gordon could only watch as Harvey Barnes, a left-winger, flourished before returning to the Newcastle starting lineup for the final few games of the campaign, before suffering a thigh injury while on international duty.

In contrast to former team-mate Alexander Isak, who was attempting to force through a move to Liverpool, Gordon took to the field in the pre-season eager to make his mark, especially in a World Cup year.

However, Gordon’s unwavering desire to excel showed up in his performance against Liverpool in August when he was sent off for a late tackle on Virgil van Dijk, which resulted in his receiving a three-game Premier League suspension.

Yet it is simple to forget that this player is only 24 years old.

With his abrasive and creative play when at his best, Gordon has already established himself as an unwavering favorite of England manager Thomas Tuchel.

Delivering week in and week out is now the challenge.

Eddie Howe, the manager of Newcastle, said, “I believe there is more to come from him.” On Tuesday, he appeared to be in a really good mood. He ran straight and was energetic.

Due to an elbow injury, Hannah Hampton will miss England’s friendly against Brazil on Saturday, making one of the other goalkeepers’ debuts.

The 24-year-old saved two penalties in England’s final shootout victory over Spain, making it one of the stars of the Euro 2025 victory.

In Hampton’s absence, one of the backup goalkeepers, Khiara Keating or Anna Moorhouse, is expected to play at Etihad Stadium, but manager Sarina Wiegman won’t say who.

Lotte Wubben-Moy, a defensive defender for Arsenal, and Jess Park, a player for Manchester United, will both miss Saturday’s game due to illness.

“It’s not nice to have a injury, but it’s not a serious injury. The other goalkeepers also have a chance, Wiegman said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

We were going to try these friendly games anyway, and they’re good for that. Because there is only one position, it’s always harder to get goalkeepers.

Khiara Keating and Anna Moorhouse are two very different goalkeepers. A young, extremely talented player, Khiara.

Khiara plays out from the back and is very explosive on the line. Anna is extremely skilled at defending crosses. They are the differences because they play at her club a little differently and are more direct.

In a series of homecoming games to end the year, The Lionesses will celebrate their European successes by hosting four friendlies in succession.

England defender Alex Greenwood praised the other goalkeepers’ influence during Euro 2025, saying, “They have been very patient. They did a fantastic job of supporting both Hannah and the team over the summer.

In Leah Williamson’s absence, the Arsenal defender hasn’t played since having knee surgery, so Wiegman confirmed that Chelsea midfielder Keira Walsh will be the team captain for the game at Etihad Stadium (17:30 BST).

Walsh, 28, has a lifelong support base at Manchester City and spent eight years there before moving to Barcelona in 2022, breaking the previous record.

It’s a role that Keira genuinely deserves. She is incredibly influential, according to Greenwood, who probably doesn’t give herself enough credit in the leadership position.

Keira and I are a little older than each other, but she has a significant impact on this team both on and off the field.

She says, “Her experience and demands of high quality, day in, day out,”

Greenwood, who is the captain of Manchester City and has never played for England, will also have a “really special” night.

It’s similar to returning home, she said in a way. It will be a memory I’ll cherish for a long time. It’s been a while since we last played in Manchester (at Old Trafford), so it’s nice that I get to play on my side this time.

England’s preparation for the 2027 Women’s World Cup begins with a new cycle against Brazil.

In addition to the squad, Chelsea’s Lucia Kendall, an uncapped AFL player, Taylor Hinds, an Arsenal defender, and Grace Fisk, a Liverpool captain, are also in the squad.

With Wiegman’s former right-hand man Arjan Veurink joining the Netherlands as head coach and Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit joining the Lionesses as assistant coaches, there have also been changes in the coaching staff.

“We won’t be starting fresh, so I think it’s important to see it as a new cycle.” “We’ll pick up where we left off,” Greenwood remarked.

“It’s important that we don’t put what we’ve done to bed and build on that, rather than take it away,” said the player and staff group.