Move over torpedo bats, there’s a new hot trend in the baseball world.
Well, maybe not a trend yet, but it’s certainly got our attention: The New York Mets are using a sledgehammer to warm up while in the on-deck circle.
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo could be seen with the team’s hammer while getting ready to hit against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night.
Per the Mets broadcast, the sledgehammer was a thing that Mets slugger Pete Alonso had been playing with all the way back since spring training. Over the weekend, he and Nimmo apparently had a “there’s nothing in the rulebook that says we can’t” moment, and decided it was time to take it onto the field.
Part of me wants to say that the sledgehammer bit feels a bit performative, like when a college football team warms up shirtless before a snow game to show that they are tough or something.
But on the other hand, swinging a sledgehammer is, undeniably, a cool look. We’ll see how the bit develops over time.
U.S. international Trinity Rodman said she is still weighing her next move as her contract with the Washington Spirit nears its end, noting that emotions and timing are shaping a decision she hasn’t made yet. Her deal expired after Sunday’s NWSL final against Gotham FC, officially making her a free agent and leaving her at a potential career crossroads.
'My answer goes back and forth'
In an interview with filmed before the NWSL final, Trinity Rodman acknowledged the emotional weight of her looming free-agency decision. The 23-year-old U.S. women’s national team forward said she remains conflicted about her future with the Washington Spirit, the club that drafted her first overall in 2021.
“My answer goes back and forth – it’s kinda hard,” Rodman said. “The question that always comes up is, ‘Am I done with Spirit yet?’ which is very emotional, honestly. So when I’m saying I don’t know what I’m doing, I genuinely don’t know. I really don’t, guys – I’m a little girl trying to figure it out.”
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'We want those top players here'
Rodman’s free agency comes at a time when several prominent American players have moved from the NWSL to European clubs. Reports indicate that three teams from England’s Women’s Super League have expressed interest in signing her, while the USL Super League’s D.C. Power has also been linked.
NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman addressed Rodman’s situation ahead of the championship match, reiterating the league’s desire to keep top talent.
“Specifically, as it relates to Trinity – and, candidly, any other top player in the world – we want those top players here in the NWSL,” Berman said. “And particularly, we want Trinity in the NWSL, and we will fight for her.”
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Rodman’s decision represents inflection point for NWSL
Rodman’s decision comes amid a period of increased movement by U.S. national team players to Europe. Recent transfers include Naomi Girma and Alyssa Thompson to Chelsea, Emily Fox to Arsenal, and Lindsey Horan to Lyon. Her choice will add another data point to the trend of American players evaluating opportunities in both the NWSL and European leagues.
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League awaits star's decision
Following the Washington Spirit’s 1-0 loss to Gotham FC in the final, Rodman plans to take a break before making her final decision, a timeline that will keep the NWSL and interested clubs in suspense. The league office will undoubtedly continue working behind the scenes to create conditions favorable for keeping Rodman in Washington.
Manav Suthar took three wickets and Akash Deep two on the opening day of the Irani Trophy
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Oct-2025
Atharv Taide’s century kept Vidarbha in the contest•PTI
Vidarbha opener Atharva Taide scored an unbeaten 118 on the first day of the Irani Cup in Nagpur, putting his team on course for a strong first-innings total against Rest of India. He wasHe began the day alongside Aman Mokhade, who hit four boundaries during his 27-ball 19, before nicking an Akash Deep delivery in the eighth over of the match. Akash Deep – returning to competitive cricket for the first time since his Test tour of England – found success at either end of the day’s play. He was the most economical bowler for Rest of India, going at just 2.50 across his 14 overs.Akash Deep capped off the day by having Vidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar caught behind for 5 in the 82nd over. Vidarbha were reduced to 275 for 5, and Taide batted out the remaining overs alongside Yash Thakur to take Vidarbha to stumps on 280 for 5.Earlier in the day, Rajasthan allrounder Manav Suthar had threatened to roll them over for much less. Fresh off an eight-for against Australia A in Lucknow, he took back-to-back wickets in his first over – the 23rd of the innings. First, he cleaned up Dhruv Shorey (18) while the batter was playing down the wrong line, before he had Danish Malewar caught behind just three balls later. The latter was the second of three catches Ishan Kishan completed behind the stumps.Akash Deep impressed on his return to competitive cricket•PTI
At 80 for 3, 25-year-old Yash Rathod walked in. He stopped the slide and continued his good form from the Duleep Trophy, where he had scored 374 runs in five innings at 124.67. Rathod and Taide batted through the second session, and looked all set to bat till stumps.However, after having hit Suthar for a six just the previous ball in the 74th over, Rathod skipped down the track for the second time in a row and holed out to mid-off on 91 against the run of play. The dismissal ended a 184-run partnership for the fourth wicket.While Akash Deep snared the fifth wicket before the close of play, Taide’s presence in the middle will be essential to Vidarbha’s hopes on the second day. In case an outright result cannot be achieved over five days, the team with the first-innings lead will be declared the winner.Vidarbha will thus be looking to bat deep in their first Irani Cup outing since the 2018-19 edition, which they won through a first-innings lead as well.
نجح منتخب نيجيريا في تحقيق فوز كبير على الجابون، بأربعة أهداف مقابل هدف، في لقاء أقيم مساء الخميس، في الملحق العالمي المؤهل لنهائيات كأس العالم 2026.
والتقى منتخب نيجيريا نظيره الجابوني على ملعب مولاي الحسن بالعاصمة المغربية الرباط، في نصف نهائي الملحق الإفريقي المؤهل للملحق العالمي المؤهل لنهائيات كأس العالم 2026.
طالع|فيفا يعلن تصنيف شهر أكتوبر 2025.. منتخب مصر يتقدم 3 مراكز
وجاء الهدف الاول في الدقيقة 77 بعد تمريرة خاطئة من المدافع يستغلها آدامز ويراوغ الحارس ويسجل في الشباك، وتعادل منتخب الجابون في الدقيقة 89 عن طريق ماريو ليمينا من تسديدة ترتطم بالمدافع وتسكن الشباك.
وفي الدقيقة 97 من الشوط الإضافي الأول، سجل منتخب نيجيريا الهدف الثاني عن طريق سيدرا إدجوكيه، وجاء الهدف الثالث عن طريق أوسيمين في الدقيقة 102، بعدما سدد كرة قوية من داخل منطقة الجزاء تسكن الشباك، وعاد نفس اللاعب ليسجل الرابع في الدقيقة 110، ليحسم المباراة على حساب الجابون.
ويشمل الملحق أفضل 4 منتخبات احتلت المركز الثاني للمجموعات التسعة خلال مرحلة التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة إلى كأس العالم 2026، وهي، “نيجيريا والجابون والكاميرون والكونغو الديموقراطية”.
وسيلتقي منتخب نيجيريا مع الفائز من الكاميرون ضد الكونغو الديمقراطية في نهائي الملحق الإفريقي.
وسيتأهل بطل الملحق الإفريقي إلى الملحق العالمي في مارس 2026 لخطف مقعد في نهائيات المونديال. أهداف مباراة نيجيريا والجابون في ملحق كأس العالم
Com direito a invasão de cachorro no campo e golaço, o Cuiabá venceu o Coritba por 3 a 0 e se afasta da zona de rebaixamento do Brasileirão Série A. A partida foi realizada no Couto Pereira e foi válida pela 27ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.
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Mesmo fora de casa, o Cuiabá teve mais oportunidades no primeiro tempo e foi recompensado com gol. Em escanteio cobrado aos 23 minutos, Deyverson cabeceou e abriu o placar para o Dourado. Sete minutos depois, Slimani empatou, mas o argelino estava impedido e o gol foi anulado.
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Aos quarenta minutos, um jogador extra entrou em campo. Um cachorro invadiu o gramado do Couto Pereira e por cerca de um minuto, virou a grande atração do jogo.
Na etapa final, o Cuiabá seguiu atacando e com um golaço de Pitta aos 36, o Dourado ampliou a vantagem, que ficou maior quando Raniele cabeceou em falta cobrada por Denilson e fazendo o gol derradeiro da partida, garantindo os três pontos para os Cuiabanos.
Liverpool's record signing Alexander Isak has been called out by a club legend, with the struggling striker told that he's doing a lot of 'huffing and puffing' but not making himself 'a menace' for the Reds. The Premier League champions signed Isak for a British record fee of £125 million ($169.3m) from Newcastle United in the summer but the Swedish forward is struggling for form at Anfield.
£125m striker yet to justify massive price tag
Isak was the standout performer for Newcastle during his previous three seasons in the Premier League, as he consistently scored for the Magpies and even helped win a historic Carabao Cup last year, scoring as they beat Liverpool in the final. The forward also helped the club finish fifth in the table, which secured them a place in the Champions League this year.
The 26-year-old arrived at Anfield in a grand manner on deadline day, but his first few months at Liverpool have proven turbulent. On Merseyside, the striker has scored just one goal in eight appearances across all competitions and he recently also suffered an injury setback, which ruled him out of the club's latest Premier League clash against Brentford. Isak's dip in form has also affected the Reds' performances, with Arne Slot's side now on a four-game losing streak in the English top-flight.
AdvertisementGettyHeskey voices concern over Isak
Former England Liverpool forward Emile Heskey shared his opinion on the club's record signing, as he told : "The thing for me is when you are not scoring goals, you need to still contribute to games. We've seen ups and downs with Mo Salah, who has scored so many goals. But when he does not score, he will want to be contributing more. My view was, the fundamental thing you can do is work hard, run around, and frustrate defenders. The defence starts at the front. I was told this at Leicester, I was told this at Liverpool, because they had the best defender who played up front – Ian Rush. And he was just a menace to defenders. Fundamentally, you have to get that right, and everything else will follow."
Heskey added: "It looks like his fitness is not quite where it should be. It looks like he’s huffing and puffing a bit, so he just needs to get his fitness up a bit to put in the graft that is needed at the highest level. It’s fascinating because at the highest level, you believe you get more time on the ball so you need to do less work. But in fact, you have to do more work. When I was playing, Cesc Fabregas was the one who did the most running. Now, Arsenal were having 60-70% of the ball, so why was he doing the most running? Because he wanted it more than the others."
'Work even harder'
Heskey also shared some valuable suggestions for Isak, as he added: "The only way to get that match fitness back is in training, and obviously when thrown into games, work even harder. I saw Andy Robertson talking about them needing to work harder to get the best out of themselves. They’re great players. They’ve shown it time and time again. It’s there, they need to unlock it by working harder."
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AFPThree home games in a row for Liverpool
Slot will hope that his side recover from this setback and work on their shortcomings to regain their form from the start of the season, where they won seven matches in a row. A series of home matches against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup, Aston Villa in the Premier League and Real Madrid in the Champions League provides the Reds with the ideal opportunity to get back to winning ways.
On Wednesday, Slot's men host Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup and the Merseysiders aim to seek revenge after going down twice already against the Eagles in the 2025-26 campaign.
Manchester City are ahead of Manchester United in the race to sign an “extraordinary” Champions League winner.
Haaland in form of his life for Man City
Pep Guardiola’s men battled their way to a 1-0 win away to Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday, thanks to yet another Erling Haaland goal. The Norwegian looks unstoppable currently, bagging 18 goals in 11 appearances for club and country this season, and speaking after the victory over the Bees, the City star admitted he has never been in better form.
“You can say so, I’ve never felt better than I do now. So yeah you can say so. I think it’s about preparation first of all, getting ready for the games. You can be physically ready but you need to be mentally ready as well.
“And to be honest I think with a kid, it makes me even better because I actually disconnect more than ever. I don’t think of football at all which sometimes when you’re younger you think of this and that and maybe worry a little bit about things. But when I go home I relax even more so I think I need to give a shoutout to my son!”
Haaland is one of the best players in the world currently, and one club who have plenty of players in that bracket are Madrid, as City look to poach their status as the dominant number one in world football by signing one of their brightest stars.
Man City in pole position to sign Real Madrid star
According to a report from Spain, Manchester City are leading rivals United in the battle to sign Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga in 2026.
The La Liga giants are thought to be willing to sell the Frenchman for £52m, having fallen out of favour under new manager Xabi Alonso this season. It is also claimed that Madrid would rather negotiate with City over their rivals.
Camavinga is a fantastic player who has already offered so much for Madrid by the age of just 22, winning the Champions League and being hailed by Carlo Ancelotti.
“He’s a player with extraordinary qualities. He can play anywhere on the pitch, he’s special. He can play as a midfielder, or as a defender.”
It does seem strange that Alonso doesn’t seem to consider Camavinga an important part of his plans, given his technical brilliance – he hasn’t started a single game in La Liga or the Champions League this season – but City should be looking to take advantage of the Frenchman’s situation.
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Pep Guardiola has hit the jackpot with this Manchester City signing.
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At just 22, his career is still in its relative infancy, and with Rodri worryingly continuing to suffer from injury problems, the Madrid man could be an ideal long-term option to sit in front of the defence and dictate matches.
أعلن الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم “يويفا”، عن الفائز بجائزة رجل مباراة ليفربول وآينتراخت فرانكفورت في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، مساء الأربعاء.
واستقبل آينتراخت فرانكفورت نظيره ليفربول، ضمن مواجهات الجولة الثالثة لمرحلة الدوري لبطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا موسم 2025-2026.
ونجح ليفربول في تحقيق فوز كبير أمام فرانكفورت بخمسة أهداف مقابل هدف، ليرفع رصيده إلى 6 نقاط في دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وسجل لليفربول في مباراة اليوم، هوجو إيكتيكي، فيرجيل فان دايك، إبراهيما كوناتي، كودي جاكبو، ودومينيك سوبوسلاي.
اقرأ أيضًا | تقييم محمد صلاح في مباراة ليفربول وفرانكفورت بـ دوري أبطال أوروبا
وحصل فيرجيل فان دايك قائد ليفربول، على جائزة رجل المباراة أمام فرانكفورت، بعد أدائه خلال اللقاء.
اختير مدافع ليفربول، فيرجيل فان دايك، أفضل لاعب في المباراة، وقالت مجموعة المراقبين الفنيين في الاتحاد الأوروبي لكرة القدم: “كان قائدًا للفريق، يُنظم كل شيء، ويتحدث دائمًا، ويشارك دائمًا”.
وأضافت: “لم تُتح لفرانكفورت سوى فرصتين، فقد قدم أداءً رائعًا في التمركز، وكان قويًا في المواجهات الفردية، كما كان لا يُقهر في الكرات الهوائية، وكان هدافًا”.
Nehal Wadhera didn’t think he would make his Punjab Kings (PBKS) and IPL 2025 debut on April 1 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).Vijaykumar Vyshak was the Impact Sub for Priyansh Arya in their season-opener against Gujarat Titans (GT). But, in their second game, Wadhera came on after Yuzvendra Chahal finished his four overs. And when LSG substituted David Miller for left-arm spinner M Siddharth in Lucknow, head coach Ricky Ponting asked him to be ready to bat, ahead of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.PBKS had already wiped out 110 of their 172-run target in just 10.1 overs. Wadhera went out at No. 4 and finished with a polished, unbeaten 25-ball 43 in Shreyas Iyer’s company. The pair added 67 in just 37 balls to take their team to victory with 22 balls to spare. And Wadhera hadn’t even bothered to take his whole kit to work, he was so sure he wouldn’t get a look-in.Related
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“We talk about players making an impact, right? You get an opportunity in a T20 game and it’s all about making an impact on the game and on the contest when you can,” Ponting said in his post-match briefing, which PBKS put up on their YouTube channel. “And Nehal, I know, came today, he only packed one shirt in his bag, because he didn’t think he was going to be taking much part in the game.”He fields the last four overs [of the LSG innings] and then I tap him on the shoulder when I saw that they’d made their Impact Sub as a left-arm offspinner, I said, ‘mate, you’re going in’. And I said, ‘make the most of the opportunity, play your way’.”Wadhera, subbed in for Yuzvendra Chahal, hit three fours and four sixes in his innings, building on the promising IPL initiation he had with Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2023, where he had played a similar role as a middle-order floater, before not featuring in MI’s plans too much in IPL 2024.4:56
Knight: PBKS winning without overseas contributions a great sign
“It’s a great feeling,” Wadhera said in the PBKS video. “My only thought when I went into bat was that Iyer is set, I shouldn’t allow pressure to creep in on him. And I need is to prove Ricky Ponting right for the faith and backing he gave me.”After his unbeaten effort, Wadhera was full of praise for Iyer’s captaincy, while also speaking with admiration of Ponting, who he said he had “never heard any negative talk” from.”All credit goes to the way he [Iyer] is captaining us,” Wadhera told the official broadcaster after the LSG game. “And also the way he is boosting our confidence and the way he was telling me things like, ‘play your natural game, just go with the flow,’ and I just love playing like that.”
It’s been a bumpy ride for Aston Villa so far during the chaotic summer transfer window.
PSR-related issues have hindered the number of incoming signings the Premier League outfit has been able to make, with their worrying financial state resulting in the sale of homegrown prodigy Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United for £43m.
Jacob Ramsey in Premier League action for Aston Villa.
Morgan Rogers could soon be the next devastating exit as Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur wait in the wings for his £100m signature.
However, all the doom and gloom enveloping Villa Park would surely be lifted by some exciting additions to the building, before the dramatic window shuts.
Aston Villa very keen on last-minute signing
Losing a player of Rogers’ spellbinding quality would be a crushing blow to Villa’s already fragile confidence, considering the recent recipient of the PFA Young Player of the Year – who has also been looked at persistently by Chelsea – collected an astounding 30 goals and assists in all competitions last campaign.
Unai Emery and Co. won’t want to be bogged down too much by the anxiety of losing another of their star assets, though, as last-ditch incomings are also in the pipeline.
Adrien Rabiot is reportedly on their radar as he attempts to leave Marseille behind after a public falling out. On top of that development, Nicolas Jackson is also being regularly spoken about as another potential arrival, with the ex-Villarreal attacker being eyed up by Bayern Munich, alongside the Villans.
Jackson’s teammate at Stamford Bridge in Christopher Nkunku is another interesting name on the Villa shortlist, with journalist Fabrizio Romano now delivering an update as to whether a move could soon whir into motion.
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Indeed, Romano – while chatting on DAZN – stated that Emery’s men remain “very keen” about striking up a last-ditch deal for the hot-and-cold Frenchman, with a speculated £35m price tag already in the air.
While the ex-RB Leipzig attacker hasn’t always been full guns blazing in West London, he could well prove to be a smart buy, particularly as Villa attempt to finally land a Jhon Duran replacement.
How Nkunku can finally replace Duran
This might well be viewed as a wild initial shout, considering Nkunku has largely struggled to get going donning Chelsea blue.
From 38 mainly unmemorable Premier League outings, the £35m-rated forward has only collected six strikes, but there is a method behind the madness here.
Games
38
55
Starts
11
7
Goals
6
12
Assists
2
0
Indeed, as can be seen when glancing at the table above, Nkunku has managed to collect a majority of these strikes when being utilised as an impact substitute in West London, with precisely four of those six goals coming when he’s been launched into action mid-contest.
Of course, his lightning-quick numbers do pale in comparison somewhat to Duran’s blistering output – with Emery even going out of his way to label the Colombian as “very clinical” for his 12 goals from just seven top-flight starts – but there are positive signs that he could be the Spaniard’s next iteration of the South American.
After all, if Emery can get the very best out of Nkunku daily, landing the Frenchman will surely be seen as a similarly golden steal to Duran’s £18m entry fee, with the Chelsea number 18 once branded as “unstoppable” by journalist Zach Lowy when sensationally notching up 70 goals and 56 assists on the books of Leipzig.
It will be a tough ask to get this instantly back out of an attacker bruised by his injury-strewn Chelsea experience.
But, it could be a worthwhile gamble, if he goes on to excite and tantalise Villa fans in a similar electric manner to that of Duran.
Aston Villa send late bid to seal a better signing than Nkunku & Jackson
Aston Villa could win a better signing than both Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson joining with this last-ditch move.