Month: September 2025

As the final 36 holes of The Masters get underway Saturday and Sunday, the golf world’s best will try to win their first green jacket at Augusta National. But the field is stacked and a true drama could unfold over the next two days in Georgia.

Rory McIlroy is one of those with a shot at pulling off the feat, having ascended back up the leaderboard after collapsing into a 72 on Thursday. But he’ll have to keep playing like this to beat Justin Rose, who has a three-shot lead over defending champion Scottie Scheffler, 2024 runner-up Ludvig Aberg and Canada’s Corey Conners.

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler is making his move in the Masters, moving up the leaderboard by hitting three birdies and a par on his way to a 4-under 66. Nicolai Hojgaard, who was tied for the lead at one point, is also in contention at 2-under through his first nine holes.

Bryson DeChambeau is another name to watch as the Masters enters its final weekend. The former U.S. Open champion has a chance to win his first Masters title after a strong second round in the green jacket category. He’s one shot off the leaders after a solid 6-under 66 in the third round, and his consistency over the past two days will put him in a good spot if McIlroy or anyone else falters.

The World Series is baseball’s ultimate stage and over the years it has showcased some incredible moments that have become ingrained in the game’s lore. From Freddie Freeman’s walk-off grand slam in Game 1 to the play that earned Reggie Jackson the nickname Mr. October, here are the most memorable World Series highlights of all time.

In what many consider one of the best World Series games ever played, the 1975 Red Sox were facing elimination in the bottom of the ninth inning with a two-run deficit to the Cincinnati Reds. After a long slog of lead changes and nail-biting turns of events, the game looked to be headed towards another close finish when Red Sox slugger Carlton Fisk came to bat on a pitch that was heading for a foul ball. As he began to swing at the pitch, Fisk waved his arms towards fair territory and the ball listened — it went straight over the wall and into the left field bleachers to send Boston to their first World Series win since 1918.

The 2024 World Series pitted the Los Angeles Dodgers against the New York Yankees, who had last won a championship in 2009. The Series was tied at three games apiece going into Game 7 at Yankee Stadium. With the Dodgers’ star closer Blake Treinen on the mound and their fire-balling set-up men Michael Kopech, Ryan Brasier and deathly lefties Alex Vesia and Anthony Banda unavailable, the Yankees were hoping to put the brakes on a possible comeback by forcing a deciding Game 9. A high-scoring affair kept fans on edge until Bill Mazeroski stepped up to the plate with the Series on the line and sent a first-pitch fastball from Los Angeles starter Jack Flaherty 403 feet into the right-field seats, sending Yankee Stadium into a roar.

The end of an athlete’s career is a huge milestone, but the transition from world-class superstar to ordinary citizen is often tough. Unlike most of us, who retire in our 60s or 70s, many athletes end their careers much earlier — and can struggle to adjust to a new life of minimum wages, limited social support and financial hardship.

Luckily, there are many ways for athletes to make the most of retirement, including building businesses, investing in income-producing assets and even launching second careers in real estate, fashion or broadcasting. But for every George Foreman or Venus Williams, there are dozens of former athletes who have gone broke or failed in their post-athletic pursuits.

During the past week, several high-profile athletes have retired. Super Bowl champion Nick Foles hung up his jersey, USWNT pioneer Alex Morgan played her last match with the San Diego Wave and track star Dafne Schippers called it quits after three Olympics and multiple medals. All of these moves have brought a flood of athlete retirement news to the headlines. But while it may seem like an abrupt ending, these retirements were often long in the making — and for some, retirement was forced by the pandemic.

Whether they help bring down Jose Mourinho at Manchester United, march against their club’s owner in London or push back against plans to commercialize football, fan protest stories remind us that fan activism is more than just a fad. In the era of the Civil Rights Movement, Black fans turned their passion for sports into a powerful tool of nonviolent protest. They boycotted pro teams with segregated seating and pressed city leaders to integrate stadiums, schools, and housing. They kept their boycotts alive through the Black press, and famous writers like Jim Hall, Marcel Hopson, Marion Jackson, and Lloyd Wells encouraged them to be a force for change.

These days, when it comes to analyzing the effectiveness of fan protests, much of the debate centers around how much influence such protests can have. With a President who has shown no hesitancy in targeting perceived enemies, fans may be less likely to use their voice and risk disciplinary action by their clubs. This may explain why many clubs have swiftly moved to quell fan speech – though some are not afraid to stand by their policies and encourage fans to speak up.

When writing about these events, it’s important to capture the look and feel of the protest and include as many details as possible. Talk to organizers, participants and bystanders — especially if they are willing to be quoted. In a news short, try to quote one person; in a longer article, shoot for three people at least. Providing quotes makes your story more engaging and helps readers connect with the protesters.

A lot of great tennis is on the way this week at the US Open in Queens, New York. And as usual, the raucous Grand Slam is filled with controversy. Jelena Ostapenko’s comments on Taylor Townsend have dominated headlines, whilst Daniil Medvedev’s aggressive reaction to his early exit has also raised eyebrows.

But there is plenty more to look forward to this week, with the quarterfinals set to be a tense affair and Felix Auger-Aliassime looking to continue his thrilling run against top seed Novak Djokovic. Two-time champion Naomi Osaka looks to continue her resurgence after a scintillating win over Coco Gauff. And defending champions Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka will be in action against the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula.

You can watch all the action live on ESPN in the US, across the rest of the Americas and South America, as well as on Eurosport for fans in Europe. Canadians can tune in on TSN, while Sky Sports has the rights across the pond. Alternatively you can follow the action on our dedicated US Open page, or download the official U.S. Open Everywhere app (search on the apps store for ‘2025 US Open’).

Social media is an integral part of sports, promoting campaigns, events, and teams across the globe. Moreover, athletes use social media to build personal brands and connect with fans year round. An engaged social media following increases a player’s earning potential even after their athletic window closes. But, a mindless approach to social media can damage an athlete’s image and negatively impact their career.

Social Media in Sports

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when many sporting competitions were suspended, teams used social media to share fresh content and engage their audiences. They also used it to maintain communication with benched players, enabling them to feel connected to the team. Moreover, social media allows fans to curate their social feeds to only follow their favorite teams and create more personalized connections with their sports heroes.

In addition to delivering fresh content, sports organizations can leverage social media to boost their audience engagement and partner revenue opportunities. They can create and distribute short-form digital media content, such as real-time games, play-by-play updates, goal announcements, and more. This digital content helps increase fan base, build brand awareness, amplify athlete personalities, and drive sponsorship opportunities.

Similarly, athletes are using social media to communicate with fans, promote their upcoming appearances, and sell merchandise. However, it is important for athletes to balance their professional and social lives and avoid posting anything controversial or embarrassing. They should also remember that social media can be time-consuming and addictive, especially if scrolling through newsfeeds becomes a habit. This can take away from their physical activities, interpersonal relationships, and self-care.

Whether you’re an athlete, fan or sports facility manager, the industry is evolving rapidly and you need to stay ahead of the curve. This is not your grandfather’s sporting experience—from the athlete’s performance to fan engagement, we have seen a massive shift towards more sophisticated, technology-driven sports practices.

Advanced technologies are transforming how athletes train, track progress and protect themselves on the field. For example, fitness watches can measure heart rate, calories burned and distance travelled to help athletes monitor their health and improve training. Communication helmets that enable athletes to communicate with coaches and teammates also make players safer on the field.

Additionally, AI and ML are reshaping the way sports teams evaluate and recruit talent. Al-based automation streamlines scouting and recruitment by analyzing player performance data, which allows coaches to identify potential talents more efficiently. Meanwhile, AI-powered refereeing systems increase efficiency by eliminating human error.

The evolution towards personalized and individualized training programs is crucial for athletes looking to maintain a competitive edge and avoid injury. Using data analytics, coaches can create training regimens that meet the unique requirements of each position and type of athlete—for instance, goalkeepers need to focus on reflexes rather than endurance.

Despite the fact that many sports fans no longer watch live games on TV, stadiums still need to cater to them to attract new customers and generate revenue. To do this, they can integrate technologies like asset tracking, geofencing and AI coaching apps into their facilities. These tools are not only user-friendly, but they also provide a great return on investment.

When it comes to sports, sometimes athletes do things so awe-inspiring or entertaining that they transcend their respective leagues and capture the world’s imagination. These micro-moments captivate fans and ignite social conversations, ranging from pranks gone wrong to heartwarming tributes. They are more than just awe-inspiring plays or entertaining antics; they help athletes and sports teams bridge the gap to new fans, build communities of team loyalty and create lasting memories.

While many of these moments occur on the field, others happen off the field as well. For instance, Freddie Andrews went viral in 2017 after sliding down the metal divider between two escalators on the London Underground after consuming 10 pints. Needless to say, the move did not go well and racked up over 10 million views on YouTube in just a few days.

The Olympics dominated viral sports moments this summer, from “pommel horse guy” earning a bronze medal (and a spot on Dancing With the Stars) to Ilona Maher rumbling over Aussies and Steph Curry knocking out France. Outside the Games, Rachael Gunn’s breakdancing had spectators scratching their heads and late-night hosts laughing, while Yusuf Dikec’s incredibly casual stance earned him a silver medal and spawned countless memes.

While these athletes may be famous for their on-field achievements, it is their off-field antics that make them truly legendary. From a dog saving a soccer goal to a mascot’s funny antics, we have rounded up some of the most viral sports moments ever.