Dutch footballing legends

247Sports It was a simpler time six years ago. The lone National Signing Day for the 2017 cycle was the first Wednesday in February, but that was before everything changed 10 months later with the introduction of the early signing period in December. Since that first early signing period during the 2017-18 recruiting cycle, we've witnessed a seismic shift in the timing of when top recruits announce their college choices and sign with their schools, a timeframe that has heavily shifted to December. Though the landscape has drastically changed, there remains a few uncommitted/unsigned players who have yet to make their decisions and will do so on Wednesday, Feb. 1. So there are still plenty of storylines to follow during the traditional National Signing Day which will take center stage next week, so let's break down some of the top ones to follow as the 2023 recruiting cycle quickly comes to a close. 1. Coach Prime's time In December 2021, Deion Sanders and Travis Hunter … [Read more...] about College football recruiting: Five key storylines to follow during National Signing Day 2023

Getty Images Olympic legend Usain Bolt has lost over $12.7 million from his bank account with the Jamaican private investment firm Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL), according to his lawyers . The FBI is officially involved in the investigation. SSL is currently under surveillance, as the eight-time Olympic gold medalists is one of over 30 alleged victims affected. The sprinter, who was left with $12,000, opened the account in 2012 and has not withdrawn or transferred any money since. The account was intended to serve as a pension for the athlete and his parents, Bolt's attorney. Linton Gordon, told Reuters . In a letter written to SSL on Jan. 16, Gordon threatened legal action if his client's money was not restored within 10 days. According to a report by Loop Jamaica news , the company's total alleged fraud is estimated at $3 billion, and SSL has reported that it only has $1 million in insurance for the investments it managed. As of Jan. 17, Jamaica's Financial … [Read more...] about Usain Bolt situation explained: Olympic legend is missing $12.7 million in alleged fraud scheme

Hope Powell has revealed how she defied her Mum to play football, how she built England Women and the importance of representing her communities. Powell is perhaps best known for her time as a coach with the Lionesses, Team GB and, more recently, with Brighton. But she was also an experienced player herself, amassing over 60 England caps and a raft of other domestic accolades. However, growing up in West Indian culture in south London in the 60s and 70s, it was not the most conventional career path for a girl - and Powell's mother even tried to dissuade her from football. "When I was growing up and playing on the estate, I honestly thought I was the only girl that played," she told Jess Creighton on Inside the WSL. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player This week's episode of Inside The WSL takes a dive into the life of Hope Powell - one of the most influential figures in the game. Izzy Christiansen: WSL postponements a … [Read more...] about Hope Powell: Defying Mum to play football, building England Women and representing her communities

Getty Images Amid controversy, Claudio Reyna has resigned as the sporting director of Austin FC but will continue serving as a technical adviser, the club announced on Thursday. The transition will see head coach Josh Wolff serve as the club's chief soccer officer while Sean Rubio will be the interim sporting director until a decision is made on where the team is going. After Reyna and his wife, Danielle, brought domestic violence allegations to the attention of U.S. Soccer regarding former United States men's national team head coach Gregg Berhalter in retaliation for their son barely playing in the World Cup, it was wondered if there would be fallout for Reyna's current position. But with him stepping down, the team will get to move on on their own terms after the team's second season in MLS, making it to the last four and nearly to MLS Cup. The investigations by U.S. Soccer into both Berhalter and "potential inappropriate behavior towards multiple members of our staff … [Read more...] about USMNT legend Claudio Reyna, amid controversy, steps down as sporting director of Austin FC

Derrick Tuskan, SDSU Athletics SAN DIEGO -- J.D. Wicker is standing on the top concourse of one of the biggest parties in the country. What else would you call San Diego State's new stadium, which equates to the latest lob pass for what the school hopes is a slam-dunk entry into the Pac-12? On its best day, which projects to be every game day , college football is almost a sideshow in new Snapdragon Stadium. The main event is the craft brew-infused vibe that San Diego State's athletic director has, well, crafted. "There's more bars in that stadium than there are in most cities," said Aztecs coach Brady Hoke. That isn't entirely why San Diego State enters 2023 as the next hottest realignment candidate, but elite concessions certainly do not hurt. Taps or no taps, Wicker's vision of a 35,000-seat boutique stadium reflecting the city's culture, history, food and brew -- built on one of the country's most expensive pieces of real estate -- was going up regardless. … [Read more...] about With a sparkling stadium and surging program, San Diego State makes an easy case for Pac-12 expansion

USATSI The 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games will be the first of its kind, presenting a new spin on the league's annual all-star game. Replacing a full-contact exhibition with an expanded skills competition and flag football tournament, the February showcase could ultimately also be a stepping stone to even bigger changes down the road. When the NFL first announced details for the Pro Bowl Games in a memo to league personnel, it referred to the event as the "Replacement Event," suggesting the new format is merely a trial run. That is, in fact, the case, according to Anthony Storm, senior vice president of A. Smith & Co. Productions, which is behind this year's Pro Bowl Games. "I don't know what the NFL's future plans are," Storm tells CBS Sports, "but I know this is a great opportunity for us to grow the skills competition. And I know flag football is a big initiative over there. So I think there's a lot of room for growth. This is the first time we're expanding it into a … [Read more...] about 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games testing expanded skills competition, could be ‘bigger and better’ next season

247Sports on Thursday afternoon released the final edition of the 2023 Top 247 rankings, headlined by the 32 five-star prospects designated annually. Four of those players rose to 100 ratings 247Sports on Thursday afternoon released the final edition of the 2023 Top247 rankings, headlined by the 32 five-star prospects designated annually. Four of those players rose to 100 ratings — 98 represents the five-star threshold — to lead the class. As a reminder, December's pre-Early Signing Period update marked the beginning of the Top247's new five-star era, which will take full effect in the 2024 class. That means the next update to the 2024 Top247 will feature a full 32-player five-star field. Stay tuned for that in the coming spring. Below readers will find a link to the full 2023 Top247 final edition, as well as the final 32-player five-star field for the senior class. As for that quartet of 100-rated prospects atop the board, we provide some context on their standing as well. … [Read more...] about 2023 Top247: Final edition sets 5-star field

Getty Images The year is 2029. Graham Potter's vibrant Chelsea side are once more sweeping all ahead of them, swashbuckling in attack but with the defensive instincts that only come through years together on the training ground. Yet another Champions League is seemingly within reach for this side, who, for what feels like a generation, have grown together into a footballing force. That, perhaps, is the end vision underpinning Chelsea's radical new approach to the management of contracts at Stamford Bridge. In an era of dwindling patience and fast fixes, the Todd Boehly-led consortium that took control last summer are building a squad for the long term, whether they like it or not. Golazo Starting XI Newsletter Get your Soccer Fix from Around the Globe Your ultimate guide to the Beautiful Game as our experts take you beyond the pitch and around the globe with news that matters. I agree to receive the "Golazo Starting XI Newsletter" and marketing … [Read more...] about How Chelsea’s new spin on long-term contracts aligns with Todd Boehly’s approach as Dodgers minority owner

Getty Images It may yet be the most telling mistake Manchester City have made in recent seasons. The moments that cost them a English league three-peat -- as sizeable a mark of greatness as any in this country -- might have come before a ball was kicked when they sold first Gabriel Jesus and then Oleksandr Zinchenko to Arsenal . Not even the Gunners' own sales of Ashley Cole, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie compare as an act of self-sabotage; Arsenal did not forge contenders with those sales nor did they have much of a title challenge to handicap. They had a stadium to finance. Pep Guardiola had no such concerns in sending two squad players to north London. It was the move the players wanted and the Premier League champions wanted to do right by them. City did not see this Arsenal emerging, the one they will face first in Friday's FA Cup fourth-round tie, a mere warmup act to the title showdown that their meeting on February 15 may yet be. If they had, then the … [Read more...] about Manchester City vs. Arsenal: Oleksandr Zinchenko is making his former club pay for their generosity

USATSI The Cincinnati Bengals will seek their second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in the 2023 AFC Championship Game. This is a rematch of last year's AFC title game in which the Bengals overcame an 18-point deficit to prevail 27-24 in overtime and advance to Super Bowl 56, where they fell 23-20 to the Los Angeles Rams . Last week, Kansas City staved off the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-20 in the divisional round, while Cincinnati dominated from the outset in a 27-10 road victory over the Buffalo Bills . Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. ET from Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs are one-point favorites in the latest Chiefs vs. Bengals odds from Caesars Sportsbook and the over/under for total points scored is 47. Before locking in any Bengals vs. Chiefs picks, make sure you check out the NFL predictions and betting advice from SportsLine senior analyst Larry Hartstein . A former lead writer for Covers and The Linemakers, … [Read more...] about Chiefs vs. Bengals odds, start time, prediction: 2023 AFC Championship Game picks by NFL expert who’s 29-16