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Real Madrid set to begin Spanish league without a world-class scorer as wait for Mbappé continues

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:59:37 GMT

MADRID (AP) — From Alfredo Di Stéfano to Hugo Sánchez to Raúl González. From Ronaldo to Cristiano Ronaldo to Karim Benzema.It seems there has always been a world-class scorer associated with Real Madrid throughout the club’s storied soccer history.It may not be the case this season, though, as Madrid is about to begin the campaign without a high-profile striker in its squad.Benzema, the team’s best player the last few seasons and last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, made the lucrative move to Saudi Arabian soccer and the Spanish powerhouse has yet to replace him with someone of the same prominence.With less than a week before the season kicks off, Madrid’s squad included only four forwards, with only one true striker among them. Madrid has tried to sign Kylian Mbappé but has been unable to reach a deal for the France star. It may have to wait until his contract with Paris Saint-Germain ends at the end of the season to be able to finally bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu.For now, M...

France coach sends a spoiler alert ahead of the Women’s World Cup quarterfinal against Australia

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:59:37 GMT

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Spoiler alert. Hervé Renard’s French lineup knows what the atmosphere and the tension is like playing a Women’s World Cup quarterfinal on home soil, and is projecting that onto Australia’s Matildas.The French hosted the 2019 tournament and lost in the quarterfinals to the U.S. team, which went on to successfully defend its title.France is coming off a comprehensive 4-0 win over Morocco that set up a quarterfinal against the host team on Saturday in Brisbane, where almost 50,000 people will pack the stadium to continue a tournament that has already beaten France ’19 for ticket sales.Renard said record crowds have no doubt been inspiring the Australian team but he warned: “It can be hugely disappointing.”“And it was for France when they went out to the U.S. in the quarterfinals,” Renard said. “We’re hoping to put Australia through exactly what France went through when they were the host country.“We’ve come with great ambition. And when you come w...

‘We are clearly in a war zone’: DC Council member calls on National Guard to fight city violence

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:59:37 GMT

Standing not far from where three people were shot and killed in Anacostia on Saturday night, D.C. Ward 8 Council member Trayon White called for the deployment of the National Guard to help the District get a grip on the tide of killings that have taken place.White addressed a crowd gathered for the news conference on Good Hope Road in Southeast on Tuesday afternoon.“I know those who live here know that we are clearly in a war zone,” he declared. “I’m going to say it again: We are clearly in a war zone.”As he repeated the phrase, the crowd joined in on those last four words and chanted along with him: “In! A! War! Zone!”White was referencing the words of acting D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith, who said over the weekend that the District was not a war zone, despite the jump in deadly shootings.In the first six days of August, 16 people had been killed on D.C. streets. Since the start of the year, there have been more than 160 homicides.White said he had reached out to Mayor Muriel Bow...

Es probable que la fiscal de distrito del condado de Fulton presente su caso contra Trump ante el jurado investigador la próxima semana

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:59:37 GMT

(CNN) — La fiscal de distrito del área de Atlanta que investiga al expresidente Donald Trump y sus aliados ha reunido testigos para que comparezcan ante un jurado investigador con el fin de elaborar una narrativa sobre cómo Trump y sus seguidores intentaron revertir los resultados de las elecciones presidenciales de 2020 en Georgia, según personas familiarizadas con el asunto.Se espera que la fiscal de distrito del condado de Fulton, Fani Willis, pase dos días presentando su caso ante un jurado investigador la próxima semana.Willis podría buscar varias acusaciones mientras observa un caso de extorsión radical que mostraría a Trump y a varios de sus asociados como operadores de una empresa criminal que intentó cambiar los resultados de las elecciones de Georgia.Si Willis procede con los cargos de extorsión, “creo que va a contar una historia”, dijo el profesor de Derecho del estado de Georgia, Clark D. Cunningham. “La historia de cómo una persona en la cima, el expresidente, re...

Reds square off against the Marlins with series tied 1-1

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:59:37 GMT

Miami Marlins (59-56, third in the NL East) vs. Cincinnati Reds (60-56, third in the NL Central)Cincinnati; Wednesday, 12:35 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Marlins: Johnny Cueto (0-3, 5.32 ERA, .96 WHIP, 18 strikeouts); Reds: Graham Ashcraft (6-7, 5.18 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 81 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Reds -126, Marlins +107; over/under is 10 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins play on Wednesday with the three-game series tied 1-1.Cincinnati has a 60-56 record overall and a 29-30 record at home. The Reds have a 23-9 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.Miami has a 25-32 record in road games and a 59-56 record overall. The Marlins are 46-17 in games when they have more hits than their opponents.The teams square off Wednesday for the sixth time this season. The Reds are ahead 3-2 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: TJ Friedl has a .283 batting average to lead the Reds, and has 18 doubles, four triples and 10 home runs. Matt McLain is 10-for-40...

Brewers and Rockies play, winner secures 3-game series

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:59:37 GMT

Colorado Rockies (45-68, fifth in the NL West) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (61-54, first in the NL Central)Milwaukee; Wednesday, 2:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Chris Flexen (1-5, 7.82 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, 35 strikeouts); Brewers: Adrian Houser (4-3, 4.19 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 57 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Brewers -232, Rockies +190; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies play on Wednesday with the winner claiming the three-game series.Milwaukee has a 32-27 record in home games and a 61-54 record overall. The Brewers have gone 21-10 in games decided by one run.Colorado has a 20-38 record on the road and a 45-68 record overall. The Rockies have a 30-15 record in games when they have more hits than their opponents.The matchup Wednesday is the sixth time these teams square off this season. The Rockies hold a 4-1 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Yelich has 27 doubles, two triples and 16 home runs while hitting .289 f...

National Weather Service confirms EF-1 tornado in Mattapoisett, EF-0 in Barnstable

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:59:37 GMT

Officials with the National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado appeared in the area of Mattapoisett Tuesday morning. Video shows the destructive path left in its wake.In an update provided by the National Weather Service – Boston/Norton office, officials said that a survey team was in the process of investigating damage after the tornado appeared around 11:30 a.m., while a Tornado Warning for the area was active.“A small EF-1 tornado touched down in the town of Mattapoisett, Massachusetts at 11:20 AM EDT. The storm was on the ground for approximately 3 minutes,” the National Weather Service National Headquarters stated in a report. “The storm moved to the northeast at approximately 20 MPH and lifted off the ground on North Street just north of Eldorado Drive. SKY7-HD later flew over the area and spotted hundreds of downed trees – a number of which landed on various homes, sheds and infrastructure throughout the area. NWS officials said the &#...

Quiet Wednesday, Unsettled Pattern Ahead

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:59:37 GMT

Yesterday was quite the active weather day across southern New England. With several rounds of downpours that added up to several inches of rain, flooding was a common sight across the area. For the most part it was urban and street flooding, flooding cars and parking lots, but unfortunately we saw some flooded houses and properties as well. Of course the other headline grabber was the tornado warnings yesterday. We had three warnings yesterday morning which ended up producing two tornadoes. The first was near Mattapoisett, the second in Barnstable near Marstons MillsAs that storm system exits, it is taking the clouds, rain, and humidity with it. As the dry air punches in, it will be a bit breezy this morning, but it’s a refreshing drier breeze than the tropical air we had yesterday. Dew points in Boston over the last 24 hours have really fallen off — really in the last 12 hours. From tropical, juicy air yesterday afternoon to a much more comfortable feeling this morning...

OBF: Red Sox are MLB’s Bermuda Triangle

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:59:37 GMT

Only the calamity that used to be the New York Yankees keeps the Red Sox from being the best last-place team in sports.The words “Yankees Suck” have never conveyed as much truth as they do in August of 2023.The Yankees being flat-out atrocious was always salve for fans in Boston, especially when the Red Sox floundered.Lately, the Yankees have become even less relevant than the Red Sox.They can’t even make losing interesting. The Mets own that department.The continued employment of Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman may be the best job insurance for Alex Cora and Chaim Bloom.While Boone doesn’t want to be fired, Cora would probably welcome it.George Steinbrenner would have dumped both Cashman and Boone at least a half-dozen times in the past five years.His son, Hal, appears almost as detached as John Henry.Almost.We miss the days of “Moneyball” John Henry.That John Henry was passionate about the Red Sox. He offered Brad Pitt $12.5 million to run his team.In 2011 John Henry was still spoil...

‘He’s a gamer’: Mike Tauchman delivers a late go-ahead homer in the Chicago Cubs’ 3-2 win over the New York Mets

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 17:59:37 GMT

Jameson Taillon’s phone lights up all the time with texts about his Chicago Cubs teammate Mike Tauchman.Taillon’s close friend and former Pittsburgh Pirates teammate Nick Kingham spent last season playing with Tauchman in the Korea Baseball Organization, where the Cubs outfielder’s career got back on track far from Major League Baseball.Kingham’s texts to Taillon often follow the same theme:“I’m not surprised.”“I knew he was going to come back to MLB.”“If he got a shot, he was going to do well.”Taillon first got a glimpse of what has made Tauchman so successful this year when they played together in 2021 with the New York Yankees.“He’s intense and he’s a gamer and he loves the game,” Taillon said. “He’s super prepared. He puts in the work and he’s studying pitchers. He really works at his craft.”Tauchman’s methodical, grinder approach set up his go-ahead solo home ...