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Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright keeps Villanova in title hunt

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Hall of Fame coach Jay Wright keeps Villanova in title hunt

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Jay and Patty Wright held arms as they weaved their manner across the Madison Sq. Backyard courtroom, attempting —- if just for a second or two — to thank the group that caught round after the Huge East Event title recreation till ushers blocked anybody from approaching the couple.

For the scholars, the band, the coach flashed the “V” as he does after a victory. The previous Villanova gamers get a fast wave or a hug. Nobody who desires a second with the coach is left unrecognized amid the hoopla and Kool and The Gang blaring over the sound system.

“You go to the primary spherical of the NCAA Event, it’s not like this,” Wright stated concerning the New York championship scene. “And also you’re not on this area. And also you’re not in New York Metropolis. It is a massive jolt. That is massive time. And everyone knows it and we really feel it.”

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Now with that social gathering over, the trick is avoiding the comedown because the second-seeded Wildcats (26-7) head to Pittsburgh for the NCAA Event opener Friday in opposition to No. 15 Delaware.

“Whenever you undergo that have at Madison Sq. Backyard, and also you’re in that pleasure, and then you definitely come down from that and persons are hyping you up, you’ve bought to get your self refocused,” Wright stated. “It issues me. It’s one thing we’ve completed earlier than.”

Sure, they’ve.

Villanova head coach Jay Wright gestures to supporters whereas slicing down the online after the ultimate of the Huge East convention event in opposition to Creighton, Saturday, March 12, 2022, in New York.
(AP Picture/Frank Franklin II)

Wright has been as masterful at avoiding the upsets lately within the NCAA Event as he’s schmoozing donors and followers. He can refocus in a snap – with two nationwide titles since 2016 to indicate for it.

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This time he’ll try to do it in opposition to neighbor; simply 43 miles separate the faculties. However the hole in budgets, expertise and nationwide prominence between the basketball packages has closely favored the Wildcats. Villanova is 15-0 in opposition to the Blue Hens (22-12).

That does not imply Villanova is wanting previous Delaware.

Although the Wildcats are on roll, Wright’s program stopped being measured in Huge East titles and event appearances years in the past, a minimum of since he received the primary of two nationwide championships in 2016 (2018, the opposite).

Wright famous the 2015 postseason when the Wildcats romped previous Xavier within the convention event last, earned a No. 1 seed and thumped Lafayette, solely to get upset by NC State within the second spherical.

And there was strain that season: President Barack Obama had picked Villanova to succeed in the NCAA Event championship recreation. At that time, Villanova had not reached the second weekend below Wright since 2009′s Ultimate 4 run.

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Have a look across the Pavilion or throughout the road at Villanova’s observe facility, and it’s clear the Wildcats have realized some classes over that span. They’ve a lot crystal below the glass it appears to be like like Tiffany’s. There are two nationwide championship banners within the rafters, and the widespread dominator via the buzzer-beating triumphs and breezy blowouts within the championship runs is the 60-year-old Wright.

“He’s a cultured man and a extremely good coach,” former UConn coach Jim Calhoun stated at MSG. “Despite the fact that he thinks he appears to be like like a film star, he’s really an actual nerd. He’s a movie man. I used to be by no means a movie man.”

Wright’s wardrobe would possibly really be the one actual change via the seasons. As soon as often known as the GQ Coach, Wright gave up fits because the pandemic turned sideline apparel right into a everlasting informal Friday.

The garments moved off-rack as Wright saved racking up milestones:

— He reached 25 or extra victories for the tenth time in his 22 seasons.

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— The Wildcats have received an everyday season or postseason convention championship in every of the 9 seasons because the Huge East reconfigured in 2013.

— It is the eighth time the Wildcats are a No. 1 or No. 2 seed below Wright.

— His 516 victories at Villanova (638-231 general at Villanova and Hofstra) are probably the most in this system and earned him an induction into the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame. Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski is the one lively coach with extra nationwide titles (3) than Wright.

Krzyzewski is the NCAA profession chief in wins. The coach at No. 2 is Philadelphia’s personal Herb Magee, who retired this month with 1,144 victories over a profession spent at Division II Thomas Jefferson. Additionally a Corridor of Fame coach, the 80-year-old Magee stated Wright stands among the many all-time greats.

“I feel probably the greatest coaches that ever coached is Jay Wright,” Magee stated. “It’s his fashion of play and what he does to win video games. It’s easy issues like breaking strain or making use of strain. Final-second stuff. He’s as organized and nearly as good a basketball coach as anyone I’ve ever seen.”

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As soon as a college that solely produced the occasional participant to the NBA, Wright’s tenure has included Mikal Bridges, Kyle Lowry, Jalen Brunson and Saddiq Bey.

“He’s only a nice individual that you just need to be round, that you just need to be taught from,” stated former Wildcat Kris Jenkins stated. “That your mother and father need you clearly to be round. He actually, actually cares about each participant and I feel it’s simple to play for a coach when he feels that manner about you.”

Wright and the Wildcats want to reduce down extra championship nets.

The brackets are out this week, and so, at Villanova, is a ladder. Simply in case.

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Angels' Mike Trout 'devastated' to miss rest of season with another meniscus tear

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Angels' Mike Trout 'devastated' to miss rest of season with another meniscus tear

ANAHEIM, Calif. — For the third time in the last four seasons, Mike Trout’s year has ended prematurely because of injury.

The three-time MVP will miss the rest of 2024 with a second meniscus tear of his left knee, the team announced, and he later confirmed.

“After months of hard work, I was devastated (Wednesday) when an MRI showed a tear in my meniscus that will require surgery again,” Trout posted on X. “Playing and competing is a huge part of my life. This is equally as heartbreaking and frustrating for me as it is for you, the fans.”

The circumstances of how Trout tore his meniscus again are unclear. He initially had surgery for a tear May 3, and after a longer-than-usual recovery, he began a rehab assignment last week at Triple A.

His rehab assignment lasted just two innings, and he returned to Anaheim for further evaluation after some discomfort. An MRI came back clean, and Trout said he expected an imminent restart of his rehab process.

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However, he started to feel significant pain Monday, Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian said. Follow-up imaging revealed the tear. It is unclear whether there was a specific incident that caused him to become reinjured.

“I’m not the emotional type, but being in the room with him and hearing the news was tough,” Minasian said. “Nobody wants to play more, nobody cares about this building, this fan base, this team, more than he does. He’s going to come back … he’s going to win the MVP, and he’s going to hit 70 home runs. Book it.”

The tear of the meniscus was in a different spot, Minasian said. So it was not necessarily a retear of his initial injury.

“There’s no event,” he said. “This is not somebody that is out playing one-on-one basketball. You know how committed this guy is to getting back. I know everybody’s like, ‘What happened? Why?’ I get it. I have the same questions. With that being said, sometimes things happen. And sometimes, that’s the answer.”

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Minasian added that the Angels haven’t discussed moving Trout out of center field, or how they’re going to have to manage his body. At this point, however, Trout’s durability is of legitimate concern. He will have played an average of 66.5 games per season over the last four years.

Trout missed the last four-plus months of 2021 with a calf strain. He missed a month in 2022 with a back injury. He missed the second half of last season with a hamate fracture. And now, in 2024, the knee issues have persisted.

“The injuries are real. I get it,” Minasian said. “Those are facts. I also know this is someone who will do everything he possibly can to get back on the field. We need to make contingency plans for everybody on the roster.”

The reality, though, is that Trout is not just anybody. He is an all-time superstar under contract for the next six seasons, and owed more than $210 million. Notable changes might need to be made to how the Angels deal with his workload, and how often he plays the field.

“No, there’s a lot of people that have had meniscus operations,” manager Ron Washington said when asked whether they’ll need to manage Trout differently next year. “It’s just unfortunate that his popped again. He’s going to get strong, he’s going to get into spring training, he’s going to prepare for a season, and we’re looking forward to when he returns.”

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Minasian said the team had already been discussing possible swing changes with Trout in recent weeks. The GM said Trout was “really, really excited” about implementing them upon his return.

On top of Trout’s injuries, his on-field performance when healthy was not the same as it had been during his best years. He hit just .220 with an .867 OPS this season, well below career averages.

It is a difficult time for Trout, who will turn 33 on Aug. 7. After nine years with almost no health issues — nine years when he was unequivocally the game’s best offensive player — the last four seasons have marked a drastic shift.

The Angels still believe Trout can be an MVP in the future. The present, however, offers a far more bleak outlook.

“It makes us all speechless,” said Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who has stepped up as a team leader over the last year. “I feel for him more than anyone. I feel for his family too. Beckham (Trout) loves coming and watching his dad ball out, as do we. So, yes, it’s frustrating news.”

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(Photo of Mike Trout: Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

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Jemele Hill, Dawn Staley call out critics of controversial Olympic boxer: 'Hope Khelif sues some people'

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Jemele Hill, Dawn Staley call out critics of controversial Olympic boxer: 'Hope Khelif sues some people'

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After Italian boxer Angela Carini expressed regret and wanted to “apologize” to Imane Khelif, former ESPN writer Jemele Hill and South Carolina women’s basketball head coach Dawn Staley followed suit.

Carini said the controversy surrounding Khelif “makes me sad,” and she “respect[ed]” the IOC’s decision to let Khelif fight.

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Khelif is considered to have male XY chromosomes and was barred from competing in the women’s world championships last year.

Jemele Hill and Dawn Staley called out critics of Imane Khelif Friday. (Getty Images)

After Carini apologized, Hill said many others need to follow suit, and she wants Khelif to take further action.

“A lot of people need to apologize,” Hill, a writer for “The Atlantic,” wrote on X. “I hope Khelif sues some people over their reckless remarks. All this story did was expose ugliness, hatred, and transphobia. As Carini admitted here, she quit because she was upset she was gonna get her a– whooped and other folks turned it into something else.”

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Staley caught wind of Hill’s post and added another comment.

“They also need to pray and be prayed for because…..the way their lives are set up pure hatred,” Staley wrote.

Imane Khelif reaches out to Angela Carini

Algeria’s Imane Khelif (in red) gestures to Italy’s Angela Carini in the women’s 66-kilogram preliminaries round of 16 boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the North Paris Arena in Villepinte Aug. 1, 2024. (Mohd Rasfan/AFP via Getty Images)

RILEY GAINES CALLS FEMALE BOXER A ‘HERO’ FOR FORFEITING MATCH AGAINST FIGHTER WITH XY CHROMOSOMES, SLAMS IOC

Hill replied that she “agree[d].”

Carini appeared to give Khelif the cold shoulder after the right. She said it was one of the things she regretted about the match.

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“It wasn’t something I intended to do,” Carini said. “Actually, I want to apologize to her and everyone else. I was angry because my Olympics had gone up in smoke.”

Khelif will fight in the next round Saturday against Hungarian Luca Hamori.

The International Olympic Committee defended Khelif’s eligibility Thursday as the gender controversy heated up.

“These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA,” the IOC said of Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-Ting. “Towards the end of the IBA World Championships in 2023, they were suddenly disqualified without any due process.”

Angela Carini on the ground

Algeria’s Imane Khelif, right, defeated Italy’s Angela Carini in their women’s 66-kilogram preliminary boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024, in Paris.  (AP Photo/John Locher)

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According to IBA minutes available on its website, the decision was initially made by the IBA secretary general and CEO. The IBA Board only ratified it afterward and only subsequently requested that a procedure to follow in similar cases in the future be established and be reflected in the IBA Regulations. The minutes also say the IBA should “establish a clear procedure on gender testing.”

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Simone Biles' memo to Trump: 'I love my black job.' No one is replacing gymnast at Olympics

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Simone Biles' memo to Trump: 'I love my black job.' No one is replacing gymnast at Olympics

Simone Biles may be a tad bit busy in Paris this week, but the U.S. gymnastics great seems to be keeping up with what’s going on back home.

On Friday morning — the day after winning her second gold medal of these Olympics and the day before the first of her three remaining opportunities to add to her 2024 medal count — Biles took to X to take an apparent dig at former President Trump, the current Republican presidential nominee.

“I love my black job,” Biles wrote.

Here’s the backstory.

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While discussing immigration during his June 27 debate with President Biden, Trump said that migrants are “taking Black jobs now.”

He made a similar comment this week onstage at the annual convention of the National Assn. of Black Journalists in Chicago. “I will tell you that coming from the border are millions and millions of people that happen to be taking Black jobs,” Trump said.

Asked to define a “Black job,” Trump responded: “A Black job is anybody that has a job. That’s what it is, anybody that has a job. They’re taking the employment away from Black people. … The Black population is affected most by that.”

On Thursday, Ricky Davila — who describes himself in his X bio as a “Singer-Songwriter. Foodie. Political junkie” and whose feed features numerous comments critical of Trump — posted two photos of Biles with the women’s all-around gold medal she won that day.

“Simone Biles being the GOAT, winning Gold medals and dominating gymnastics is her black job,” Davila wrote in the post.

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The next day, Biles reposted Davila’s post, along with her own comment about her “Black job.”

Soon after, Lakers superstar LeBron James reposted Biles’ post and called her the Black GOAT.

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