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  • Athletes in $2.8 billion college lawsuit tell judge they want to create a players’ association

    Athletes in $2.8 billion college lawsuit tell judge they want to create a players’ association

    The athletes whose lawsuit against the NCAA is primed to pave the way for schools to pay them directly also want a players’ association to represent them in the complex contract negotiations that have overtaken the sport.

    Grant House, Sedona Prince and Nya Harrison wrote to the judge overseeing what’s known as the House settlement, saying that although they are generally happy with the terms of the proposed settlement “there still remains a critical need for structural changes to protect athletes and prevent the failures of the past.”

    That, they said, would be a players’ association, which they believe will help their voices be better heard as the NCAA and its schools move toward a system to share hundreds of millions in TV and ticket revenue with players.

    The players said an association would help standardize name-image-likeness (NIL) contracts to establish minimum payments and health protections “and to create an ecosystem where athletes can thrive.”

    “While professional leagues include athletes in these decisions through their respective players’ associations, the college system continues to prevent our players’ association from representing us at the decision-making tables,” the letter said.

    The settlement, with a price tag of $2.8 billion that will be distributed over the next 10 years to players both past and present, does not address whether athletes should be considered employees of the schools. That’s an issue the NCAA is asking Congress to prevent for fear the costs could wreck college sports.

    The NCAA did not immediately respond to a message from The Associated Press seeking comment Tuesday.

    Earlier this year, the head of the National College Players Association confirmed that a licensing organization that works with the NFL Players’ Association had emailed thousands of college football players, encouraging them to join the NCPA. Separately, the chairman of another group trying to organize college athletes, athletes.org, said it already had some 4,000 members. The players who wrote the letter said they wanted to work with athletes.org.

    A hearing to approve the settlement is set for April 7. The request could shape how U.S. Judge Claudia Wilken views the settlement’s long-term chances of succeeding, but plaintiffs’ attorney Jeffrey Kessler said the letter was an endorsement of the settlement and he doesn’t expect it to impact the agreement.

    “All three of these athletes fully support approval of the settlement but wanted to express their additional views that a players’ association is also desirable,” Kessler said. “I salute their devotion to these issues and their fellow college athletes.”

    Whether college athletes can ever be considered school employees is a thorny topic. There are multiple issues in front of the National Labor Relations Board, including a complaint against USC and the Pac-12; a unionization effort by the men’s basketball team at Dartmouth; an unfair labor complaint against Notre Dame; and a federal lawsuit in Pennsylvania filed by former Villanova football player Trey Johnson.

    All of it could lead to college athletes being granted employee status, though court battles are assured.

    ___

    Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

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  • Fortnite players ‘tricked’ into unwanted purchases are starting to get refunds. Here’s how to apply

    Fortnite players ‘tricked’ into unwanted purchases are starting to get refunds. Here’s how to apply

    NEW YORK — U.S. consumers who were “tricked” into purchases they didn’t want from Fortnite maker Epic Games are now starting to receive refund checks, the Federal Trade Commission said this week.

    Back in 2022, Epic agreed to pay a total of $520 million to settle complaints revolving around children’s privacy and payment methods on its popular Fortnite game. The FTC alleged the video game giant used deceptive online design tactics to trick Fortnite players, including children, into making unintended purchases “based on the press of a single button.”

    Consumers could be charged while doing something as simple as attempting the wake the game from sleep mode, for example, or by pressing a nearby button when trying to preview an item, the agency said. The FTC also accused Epic of blocking some users who disputed the charges from accessing the content they purchased.

    Beyond a $275 million fine related to collecting personal information on players under the age of 13, the settlement included $245 million in customer refunds. Now, the first batch of those refunds are being sent out.

    On Monday, the FTC announced it was sending over 629,00 payments to eligible customers who submitted claims. About half of those refunds are PayPal payments, which should be redeemed within 30 days, and the rest are checks, which should be cashed within 90 days.

    The average refund is about $114, the FTC noted. This first round of payments amounts to a total of more than $72 million, according to the agency — leaving about $173 million left to be distributed.

    Impacted consumers can still apply for a refund online. People who are eligible for these payouts include Fortnite players who were charged in-game currency for items they didn’t want or saw their account locked after complaining to a credit card company about wrongful charges between January 2017 and September 2022 — as well as parents whose child made charges on their credit cards without their knowledge from January 2018 through November 2018.

    You can learn more about applying for a refund on the FTC’s website. The deadline for submitting a claim is January 10, 2025.

    At the time the settlement was announced in December 2022, Epic said it accepted the agreement because it wanted “to be at the forefront of consumer protection and provide the best experience for our players.” The Cary, North Carolina-based added that it was already rolling out changes “to ensure our ecosystem meets the expectations of our players and regulators, which we hope will be a helpful guide for others in our industry.”

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  • Quarterback room in need of more players after transfers | Sports

    Quarterback room in need of more players after transfers | Sports

    The Nebraska football news has been abundant this week. From additions and departures on the coaching staff, players transferring, National Signing Day and more, a lot of turnover is happening. 

    It’s no different in the quarterback room. Freshman signal caller Dylan Raiola is still the guy but he will have different teammates backing him up next season. 

    For starters, freshman quarterback Daniel Kaelin announced he would be transferring on Tuesday. This wasn’t a surprise as the two were in the same recruiting class and Raiola was set to start for the foreseeable future.  

    “I think Danny [Kaelin] did everything the right way,” head coach Matt Rhule said at Wednesday’s media availability. “I respect him. I think he’s going to be a great player. We would love to have him here.”

    Rhule announced on Wednesday that junior quarterback Heinrich Haarberg is willing to switch to another position. Haarberg was mostly used as a decoy, coming in during special situations during the regular season. His six-foot-six frame with his track speed and athleticism shows his pro potential at a different position. 

    “We’ve made a commitment to Heinrich [Haarberg] that we would let him explore some other positions,” Rhule said. “He really wants to be a pro player with his athleticism. That would mean we would probably need to look at a third quarterback.” 

    Anticipate Haarberg to be a legitimate Swiss Army knife with Dana Holgorsen now as the permanent offensive coordinator. Holgorsen utilized Haarberg as a wildcat quarterback when he took over more than previous OC Marcus Satterfield.

    The most likely position for the Kearney native is tight end. The New Orleans Saints do this with Taysom Hill, who takes direct snaps out of a wildcat formation and will routinely line up on the line of scrimmage as well. 

    It’s doubtful that Haarberg would explore options on the defensive side but he was an end at times on the punt unit this season. He also might be utilized as a wide receiver for perimeter blocking and going up for jump balls. With nearly a month to prepare for the bowl game, Haarberg might already see an increased role to close out the season.

    Nebraska also added another quarterback on Wednesday in 4-star signee TJ Lateef. The Elite-11 QB will redshirt barring injuries next season. 

    “TJ [Lateef] is coming in and we’re really high on him,” Rhule said. 

    With Haarberg switching positions, Kaelin transferring and Lateef coming in, that only leaves Nebraska with two scholarship quarterbacks. Even though Haarberg could still play quarterback, Rhule will need to hit the portal to add insurance. 

    “If we need to get a third guy to be (in) that room we would probably do it,” Rhule said. “We probably will. Heinrich (Haarberg) gives us some flexibility.”

    The Huskers also have walk-ons under center with freshman Bode Soukup, sophomore Luke Longval and senior Jalyn Gramstad. Gramstad has another year of eligibility remaining if he desires. Who’s to say these walk-ons will still have a spot on the roster with the incoming 105-player limit? 

    Anticipate Rhule, Holgorsen and the entire offensive staff to go find a decent backup that they can pay in the transfer portal. 

    sports@dailynebraskan.com

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  • 15 Most Loyal Players in Football History [Ranked]

    15 Most Loyal Players in Football History [Ranked]

    Key Takeaways

    • Loyalty is a rare commodity in football that should be acknowledged and applauded.
    • Most players get swayed by bigger financial deals and potential silverware, and don’t repay the faith shown in them.
    • The likes of Francesco Totti and Marco Reus are among the most loyal footballers to ever play the game.



    Loyalty is a rare commodity in football. In an industry as lucrative and silverware-driven as the beautiful game, mega-money contracts and the prospect of competing for the biggest trophies will always deter players from remaining at the clubs that unearthed them, or provided them with the support and platform to flourish.

    Most will jump ship immediately when they believe the grass to be greener elsewhere, and won’t repay the faith shown in them by those who enabled the possibility of a move away in the first place. Particularly in periods of adversity, footballers have been notoriously quick to leave clubs in difficult positions, while leaving for rival teams has become increasingly more common in the modern era.

    There are exceptions to the rule, however. There are those who value what their clubs have given them, and resist outside temptations.

    From Francesco Totti and his love affair with Roma, to Marco Reus and the German’s devout commitment to Borussia Dortmund, GIVEMESPORT have identified the top 15 most loyal players in football history.


    Ranking Factors:

    • Longevity at a given club.
    • Loyalty in times of adversity.
    • Resisting offers from elsewhere.


    15 Thomas Müller

    Bayern Munich (2008-Present)

    Thomas Muller walking off for Bayern Munich

    Joining the Bayern Munich academy at the age of 11, Thomas Müller is still at the Allianz Arena, having turned 35 in September. The German has made over 700 appearances for the Bundesliga club, scoring 245 goals, and has won 12 league titles and two Champions Leagues in the process.

    While remaining at Germany’s most successful club, and one of the biggest clubs in the world, doesn’t represent an incredible ability to resist outside temptations, Muller’s pure longevity in Munich, and his commitment to die Roten, must be appreciated. He’s remained with Bayern in periods when they’ve not been the most competitive on the continental front, and reportedly turned down an ‘astronomical’ offer from Manchester United in 2014.


    14 Koke

    Atletico Madrid (2009-Present)

    Koke for Atletico Madrid

    Atlético Madrid’s club-record appearance maker, Koke has remained at Spain’s third biggest footballing institution for the entirety of his career thus far, making over 650 appearances for the first team. Mostly operating in the shadows of Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Spanish footballing landscape, most who are good enough at Atlético have aspirations of joining the two Galactico clubs, or alternatively end up in the Premier League.

    However, these aspirations seemingly haven’t appealed to Koke, who has certainly been at the level to make the step-up to those clubs, or accept a lucrative offer from elsewhere in Europe. Indeed, the elegant midfielder revealed back in 2014 that he rejected an offer from Barcelona to remain at his beloved Atlético, a stern demonstration of loyalty for any Spaniard.


    13 Mark Noble

    West Ham United (2004-2022)

    Mark Noble for West Ham

    Nicknamed ‘Mr. West Ham’, aside from a couple of brief loan spells at Hull City and Ipswich Town, Mark Noble spent his whole career on the East London club’s books. Growing up in Canning Town, close to the Irons’ old ground, Upton Park, the midfielder was a Hammer through and through.

    Noble made 550 appearances for West Ham, was never tempted by the allure of other clubs, and shed tears at the end of his final game for the club in 2022. The definition of a loyal servant, Noble also claimed to have turned down the chance to have an international career via the Republic of Ireland, due to his allegiance to England, who never demonstrated any interest in selecting him. That’s true loyalty.


    12 Jamie Vardy

    Leicester City (2012-Present)

    Leicester City's Jamie Vardy celebrates scoring against Manchester United.

    Only establishing himself as a professional footballer at the age of 25, Jamie Vardy would’ve been forgiven for accepting any lucrative contract offer he received, to maximise his earnings during his short career at the top level. However, after winning the Premier League title with Leciester City in the 2015/16 season, Vardy turned down the chance to join Arsenal and earn presumably substantially more money, while giving himself a better chance of competing for the game’s top honours.

    The Gunners had agreed a deal with the Foxes to sign the striker, but the player himself opted against the switch at the eleventh hour. He could certainly have been the catalyst for the North London outfit to win major silverware, but remained faithful to the club that had given him an opportunity at the highest level in the first place.


    Whereas Danny Drinkwater, N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez all secured big-money moves to major clubs in the 18 months after Leicester’s title win, Vardy stuck around. The maverick centre-forward has gone on to make 475 appearances for Leicester, scoring 194 goals.

    11 Rogerio Ceni

    Sao Paulo (1993-2015)

    Rogerio Ceni

    Making 1,197 appearances in your career is impressive, let alone for one club. Brazilian goalkeeper Rogerio Cerni spent 25 years at Sao Paulo, and despite being widely recognised as one of the best in between the sticks in the world in the mid-2000s, he never opted to depart Serie A for one of Europe’s top leagues, when he certainly could’ve.


    However, what makes Ceni a shoo-in for this loyalty list, is the fact that he’s played more games and more minutes for a single club than any other player in the history of football. He’s literally spent more time on the pitch for one club than anyone else to ever play the sport. That’s some indication of commitment, and he’s even returned to coach the first team on two separate occasions.

    10 Paul McStay

    Celtic (1981-1997)

    MixCollage-21-Oct-2024-03-30-PM-9768

    An apt name for a player commended for his loyalty, Paul McStay spent the entire duration of his 16-year career at Celtic, having developed through the Glaswegian giants’ academy. Making 678 appearances for the Scottish outfit, winning three first division titles and several domestic cups, it would be fair to suggest that there was no reason for him not to continuously commit his future to Celtic Park, given the consistent success and that he was plying his trade in his home nation, close to his hometown of Hamilton.


    However, as a highly-thought of midfielder and prominent figure in the Scottish national team, managing 76 caps and playing in two World Cups, he certainly would’ve had interest from abroad. More lucrative deals and the opportunity to play in one of Europe’s top leagues would likely have been on the table.

    Indeed, McStay reportedly turned down multiple offers from Italy, at a time in which Serie A was arguably the most attractive league in Europe. The likes of Inter Milan, Juventus and Fiorentina made proposals to the Scotsman, but he rejected all of them to remain faithful to his beloved Celtic.

    9 Igor Akinfeev

    CSKA Moscow (2003-Present)

     Igor Akinfeev


    Similarly to McStay, Moscow-born Igor Akinfeev has spent the entirety of his career at one club, with that club being dominant in his home nation. The goalkeeper has been at CSKA Moscow since making his debut at the age of 16 in 2003, and has since made 784 appearances for the Russian outfit, winning six league titles.

    Making more appearances for the Russian national team than anyone barring one, Akinfeev has showcased his talents at multiple major international tournaments, which has caught the attention of several top European clubs. The one-club man was understood to have held talks with Manchester United back in 2009, while he was linked with Arsenal in 2010.

    Ultimately rejecting these moves and remaining loyal to CSKA, the shot-stopper, who had been deemed a wonderkid when he was emerging as a teenager, was perhaps hindered from fulfilling his potential by not making the step away from Russian football.

    8 Paolo Maldini

    AC Milan (1984-2009)

    MixCollage-10-Nov-2024-10-46-AM-8245


    One of the greatest defenders in football history, Paolo Maldini remained at AC Milan for his whole career, and subsequently established himself as one of the best ‘one-club’ footballers of all time, making over 900 appearances for the Italian giants. While enjoying a ridiculously illustrious time with his boyhood club, winning seven Serie A titles and five Champions Leagues, this success did dry up to an extent in the second half of his spell at the San Siro.

    From 2000 onwards, Milan were slightly less competitive at the summit of the Italian top flight, and given he was widely regarded as the best defender on the planet, he could certainly have jumped ship for any club in world football. He didn’t, however, and this outstanding commitment to the Serie A giants, for such a long-time, deserves recognition.

    7 Matt Le Tissier

    Southampton (1986-2002)

    Matt Le Tissier raising his arms in celebration of a goal


    Perhaps the first player on this list who remained loyal to a club that wasn’t successful in regard to silverware, Matt Le Tissier may be a controversial figure nowadays, but his devotion to Southampton should be applauded. Developing through the Saints’ academy, he scored 209 goals in 540 appearances for the south coast side, enjoying four seasons where he managed in excess of 20 goals across all competitions.

    This exceptional productivity inevitably sparked interest from those competing at the top of the English first division. Le Tissier revealed he rejected approaches from both Tottenham and Chelsea, claiming that he couldn’t leave his beloved Southampton. That’s in spite of the fact that the Saints never finished above seventh in his time at the club, and were regularly involved in relegation dogfights.

    6 Gianluigi Buffon

    Juventus (2001-2018)

    Gianluigi Buffon


    An Italian remaining at Italy’s most successful club for the majority of his career may not sound like a particularly remarkable example of loyalty, but Gianluigi Buffon stayed with Juventus through some turbulent times. With the Old Lady relegated to Serie B as a punishment for a betting scandal in 2006, the goalkeeper was expected to leave Turin.

    Widely regarded as one of the best shot-stoppers in the world at the time, he would be forgiven for not wanting to spend at least a year of his career outside of the top flight. However, Buffon opted to remain at Juventus, where he’d eventually make over 700 appearances, across two spells and 19 seasons at the club.

    5 Steven Gerrard

    Liverpool (1998-2015)

    Liverpool Steven Gerrard 2005 Champions League


    While many will claim that staying at one of the world’s most prestigious clubs for almost your entire career is not an impressive feat in regard to faithfulness, Steven Gerrard’s unwavering commitment to Liverpool is actually a rare example of a player resisting the temptations of more money and more success.

    The English midfielder was worthy of numerous league titles and other pieces of silverware, and could have attained this elsewhere, but instead was insistent on trying his best to achieve these triumphs at his childhood club. He was rewarded with a Champions League winners medal in 2005, but a league title evaded him.

    Famously turning down a move to Chelsea in 2004, Gerrard could’ve swapped Anfield for the riches of Stamford Bridge, where he would’ve won multiple league titles, but ultimately chose not to.

    4 Marco Reus

    Borussia Dortmund (2012-2024)

    Marco Reus in action for Borussia Dortmund


    At his scintillating best, Marco Reus was one of the best wingers in world football. Unfortunately for the German, his dazzling career has just two DFB-Pokals to show for it.

    After signing for Borussia Dortmund from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2012, Reus made 429 appearances, scoring 170 goals, for die Schwarzgelben. He spent 12 seasons with the Western German club, before ending his love affair with them this summer by joining LA Galaxy for his swansong period in football.

    Many who have joined Dortmund have notoriously used the club as a stepping stone, before moving to bigger clubs in the future, but Reus refused to take this path. Describing the Bundesliga outfit as his ‘home’, and claiming that he ‘belongs here’ in 2019, Reus is said to have turned down a move to Manchester United in 2014, while the Dortmund CEO revealed in 2015 that the loyal man rejected ‘double the money’ from some of the world’s biggest clubs.


    3 Alessandro Del Piero

    Juventus (1993-2012)

    MixCollage-10-Nov-2024-10-47-AM-5437

    Like Buffon, the prolific Alessandro Del Piero remained at Juventus during the club’s season in Serie B in the late 2000s. Despite being one of the most potent goalscorers in Europe, the Italian pledged his allegiance to the Turin side in their darkest days, allowing him to continue what would be a staggering 19-year stay at the club.

    What places him above Buffon on this list is merely the fact that he didn’t leave Juventus until it had become clear that he was surplus to requirements and was no longer at the requisite level to play in Serie A, joining Sydney FC in the A-League for his last dance. Meanwhile, Buffon jumped ship to accept a lucrative offer from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019, albeit at the tail end of his career.

    2 Francesco Totti

    Roma (1993-2017)

    MixCollage-10-Nov-2024-10-50-AM-3483


    Possibly the most iconic ‘one-club man’ in football history, Totti was the poster-boy of Roma, nicknamed ‘the Eighth King of Rome’ and ‘the Emperor’ during his time at the club. Worthy of a statue outside the Stadio Olimpico, the former attacking midfielder rose through the ranks in the Italian capital, making his debut at the age of 16, and retired with I Giallorossi at the age of 40.

    Totti made 786 appearances for Roma in this time, netting 307 goals, and never even flirted with another club, despite winning just one Serie A title. This relative lack of success and extreme longevity is what makes the Italian so deserving of this recognition of loyalty, with Real Madrid understood to be the only team that were remotely close to prying him away from his home.

    1 Alessandro Lucarelli

    Parma (2008-2018)

    Alessandro Lucarelli Parma


    Not a name many will be familiar with, but Alessandro Lucarelli has arguably displayed the most loyalty of any footballer to grace the game. An Italian defender, who had been something of a journeyman before arriving at Parma in 2008, was evidently capable of playing at the highest level, given he was consistently presented with opportunities to play in Serie A by new clubs throughout the first half of his career.

    He finally settled down at Parma, winning the club promotion to the top flight in his debut campaign, before enjoying six straight seasons in Serie A. However, financial struggles hit I Crociati in 2015, and they were subsequently demoted straight to the fourth tier of Italian football.

    Inevitably, there was a significant squad overhaul, with the entire playing staff leaving, aside from Lucarelli. The centre-back would certainly have had offers from Serie A clubs, but pledged to help the club return to the top flight, and took a significant reduced wage in the process.


    Winning three successive promotions, Lucarelli retired at the end of the third, achieving what he’d promised, prompting Parma to retire his number six shirt.

    All Statistics via TransferMarkt – correct as of 02/12/2024

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  • Fantasy football Week 13 waiver wire: Players to consider cutting

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  • Alabama A&M University mistakenly announces football player’s death

    Alabama A&M University mistakenly announces football player’s death

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    Alabama A&M university mistakenly announced the death of one of its football players – before backtracking and confirming that he is very much still alive.

    The school’s athletics team wrongly declared on Wednesday that Medrick Burnett Jr, 20, had died weeks after he was seriously injured during a game.

    The now-deleted statement from Alabama A&M athletic director Dr Paul A. Bryant read: “Today, our Bulldog family is heartbroken by the loss of Medrick Burnett Jr.

    “Medrick was more than an exceptional athlete; he was a remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership, and compassion left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him.

    “While words cannot adequately express our grief, we are humbled by the strength of his family, who stood by his side throughout this unimaginable ordeal.”

    The statement went on to offer condolences to the linebacker’s family and teammates.

    School’s athletics team wrongly declared that Medrick Burnett Jr, 20, (pictured) had died weeks after he was seriously injured in a game

    School’s athletics team wrongly declared that Medrick Burnett Jr, 20, (pictured) had died weeks after he was seriously injured in a game (Alabama A&M)

    But hours later, the athletics team walked back the announcement, confirming that Burnett is still alive.

    “We retract the news of the passing of Medrick Burnett Jr, that was originally advised by an immediate family member on Tuesday evening,” it said in a statement on X.

    “Our staff acted accordingly to the wishes of the family member to inform the A&M community and beyond of this unfortunate occurrence.”

    The college expressed its “immediate regret for disseminating false information.”

    The star linebacker, known as “Meddy,” has been hospitalized for the last month after suffering a serious head injury during a game against Alabama State at Magic City stadium in Birmingham, Alabama, on October 26.

    According to a GoFundMe page, set up to help the 20-year-old in his recovery, Burnett took a serious knock in a “head-on-head collision” with another player.

    He remains in “stable condition” in hospital, said AAMU.

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  • Record 70MILLION votes cast in prestigious Dubai Globe Soccer Awards poll with 10 days still to go – as four Premier League players battle the world’s best for player of the year honour

    Record 70MILLION votes cast in prestigious Dubai Globe Soccer Awards poll with 10 days still to go – as four Premier League players battle the world’s best for player of the year honour

    A whopping 70 million votes have been cast in the Beyond Developments Globe Soccer Dubai Awards with 10 days of polling still to go, equalling last year’s record figure already.

    The competition will take place alongside the 19th Dubai International Sports Conference, at Atlantis, The Palm in partnership and support with Dubai Sports Council, on December 27. 

    Four Premier League stars – Rodri, Cole Palmer, Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah – have made it into the shortlist of 18 competitors vying for the Best Men’s Player prize at the glittering gala after half of the league’s representation was cut following the first round of voting.

    Polling opened two weeks ago to football fans across the world. They have until December 10 to have their say and the winners will be determined by a combination of fan votes and the Globe Soccer Jury, made up of legendary names such as Marcello Lippi, Francesco Totti, Iker Casillas and Luis Figo.

    Last year, some 70 million people from more than 225 countries and territories cast their vote.

    But this figure has already been matched just halfway into the ballot period this time round as fans look to have their say on the players of the year from both the men and women’s games.

    A record 70 million votes have already been cast to decide the world's best players at the Beyond Developments Globe Soccer Dubai Awards with Balon d'Or winner Rodri in contention

    A record 70 million votes have already been cast to decide the world’s best players at the Beyond Developments Globe Soccer Dubai Awards with Balon d’Or winner Rodri in contention

    Cole Palmer is one of the hottest talents in the world and has made it into the final shortlist

    Cole Palmer is one of the hottest talents in the world and has made it into the final shortlist

    Mohamed Salah is also in the final 18 as the Egyptian keeps bagging goals for fun at Liverpool

    Mohamed Salah is also in the final 18 as the Egyptian keeps bagging goals for fun at Liverpool

    The first period of polling closed on Monday and more than twice as many votes were cast as at the same point last year.

    Fans’ votes, received from more than 200 countries across the world, helped determine the finalists across eight of the 12 main categories.

    Additionally, the Globe Soccer mobile app has surpassed 1.5 million downloads, underlining the event’s global appeal. 

    Man City’s Rodri will be hoping to replicate his triumph at the Ballon d’Or in Paris last month after winning the Premier League with his club and Euro 2024 with Spain.  

    His teammate Haaland scooped up the prize in Dubai in 2023 and is in with a shout this year after bagging 34 goals.

    Palmer, meanwhile, carried Chelsea on his back last campaign before scoring a memorable goal in the Euro final against Spain. He already has seven goals in 11 Premier League appearances this season.

    Salah’s future at Liverpool might be uncertain but his importance to Arne Slot’s side is not, as the winger’s goals helped the Reds come back from 2-1 down against Southampton on the weekend to secure three points and surge eight points clear at the top of the league. 

    Elsewhere, Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior has been offered up an opportunity to put his Ballon d’Or snub behind him and end the season with some silverware. 

    Last year's winner Erling Haaland has continued his form in front of goal and is in with a shout

    Last year’s winner Erling Haaland has continued his form in front of goal and is in with a shout

    Meanwhile Vinicius Junior can make up for his Balon d'Or snub with a memorable win in Dubai

    Meanwhile Vinicius Junior can make up for his Balon d’Or snub with a memorable win in Dubai

    The men's player of the year award features stars from seven leagues and will be given on Dec 27

    The men’s player of the year award features stars from seven leagues and will be given on Dec 27

    Two English stars will be hoping to receive the women's player of the year award next month

    Two English stars will be hoping to receive the women’s player of the year award next month

    After news broke earlier on the day of the Paris ceremony that the selection panel had chosen Rodri as their victor, Real Madrid and Vinicius decided to pull the plug on their trip to the gala, held at the Theatre du Chatelet.

    The Spanish giants had hoped that if their Brazilian forward was not given the nod, right-back Dani Carvajal might be handed the gong after winning La Liga, the Champions League and the Euros. 

    But when it was leaked today that the Man City man  was in fact the winner, Real reacted furiously and not a single club representative was there to watch their team win several honours at the event and their players place highly in the main list.

    Carvajal is also in contention at the Dubai Globe Soccer Awards along with teammate and England international Jude Bellingham who secured a league and Champions League double with Los Blancos last season. 

    Old stalwarts Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, winners of seven men’s player of the year awards at the Dubai event over the years, also make the shortlist for their perfomances at Inter Miami and Al Nassr respectively.

    As for best women’s player, Aitana Bonmati will be aiming to follow up her Ballon d’Or nod with another honour here, while English stars Lucy Bronze and Lauren James will be hoping to spring an upset.

    For the official voting page: https://vote.globesoccer.com

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  • Five area players named finalists for the Titans Mr. Football Award | Local Sports

    Five area players named finalists for the Titans Mr. Football Award | Local Sports

    NASHVILLE, TN (tssaa.org) – The Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Awards will be presented to the top football players in nine classifications of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association on Wednesday, December 10, 2024, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The top kicker in the state will be recognized with a Mr. Football Award, regardless of classification.

    Five semifinalists in each classification were announced on November 7. There are six classifications in Division I and three in Division II. Three finalists for each category were announced by Mike Keith and Titans head coach Brian Callahan at 6:30pm CT/7:30pm ET. The three finalists for each award that were announced today will be the ones invited to attend the awards luncheon at Nissan Stadium, where the winner of each award will be announced.

    A committee of statewide sports writers selected winners based on performance in the 2024 regular season. Academics and character were also taken into consideration. High school head coaches and members of the media nominated the finalists.

    “We are very appreciative of the Tennessee Titans for their continued support of these awards,” stated Mark Reeves, Executive Director of the TSSAA. “Having the awards presented at Nissan Stadium will provide a very special atmosphere for these outstanding student-athletes.”

    This is the 40th year that the Mr. Football Awards have been presented to Tennessee’s best high school football players. A Mr. Football trophy will be presented to the winners of each category. A Mr. Football plaque will be presented to the other two finalists in each category. The other semi-finalists will each receive a certificate.

    Mike Keith, play-by-play voice of the Tennessee Titans, will emcee the awards presentation. A live videostream of the awards will be provided on the Tennessee Titans website.

    2024 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Finalists

    DIVISION I, CLASS 1A

    Nate Adams, Clay County High School

    Bennett O’Neal McDougal, Whitwell High School

    Tate Surber, McKenzie High School

    DIVISION I, CLASS 2A

    Andrew Johnson, Fairley High School

    Jaydon Peete, Milan High School

    Kason William Young, East Robertson High School

    DIVISION I, CLASS 3A

    Eli Graf, Alcoa High School

    Graham Simpson, Westview High School

    Skylan Smith, Covington High School

    DIVISION I, CLASS 4A

    Waylon LaRue, Anderson County High School

    Carson Quillen, Greeneville High School

    Tyler Thompson, Marshall County High School

    DIVISION I, CLASS 5A

    Brenden Anes, Page High School

    Eric Hazzard, Page High School

    Kelvin Perkins, Southwind High School

    DIVISION I, CLASS 6A

    Samuel Iroh, Collierville High School

    Donovan Starr, Ravenwood High School

    Craig Tutt, Oakland High School

    DIVISION II, CLASS A

    Jared Curtis, Nashville Christian School

    Nix Fullen, Tipton-Rosemark Academy

    Jay’len Mosley, Jackson Christian School

    DIVISION II, CLASS AA

    Hutson Chance, Christ Presbyterian Academy

    Kaedyn Marable, Battle Ground Academy

    Noah Spencer, University School of Jackson

    DIVISION II, CLASS AAA

    David Gabriel Georges, Baylor School

    George MacIntyre, Brentwood Academy

    Ethan Utley, Ensworth High School

    KICKER OF THE YEAR

    Elliott Arnold, McCallie School

    Philippe LaForge, Baylor School

    Ethan Lane, Boyd Buchanan High School



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  • This Deteriorating Relationship Involving NBA Players Blamed for Jayson Tatum’s Deafening Olympics

    This Deteriorating Relationship Involving NBA Players Blamed for Jayson Tatum’s Deafening Olympics

    There is a difference between today’s media and what it used to be two decades ago. You could say there are more speculations and rumors around things than before. Especially with athletes like LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and others, situations can get trickier. More importantly, there seems to be a mild distance between the media and the players for the same reason. This feels like a saddening reality for someone like the Detroit Pistons legend Grant Hill. But as the saying goes, “It is what it is.”

    Speaking on The Ringer NBA Show, Hill, dissected the present-day media scenario that played a major role in Jayson Tatum’s disheartening Olympics stint. Steve Kerr benched JT, but the situation created more noise than clarity. From talks about the Boston Celtics’ star’s “villains original” arc to talks about veterans getting the upper hand. There has been a lot of wordplay and maybe reality took a back seat.

    Expressing his disappointment on Kawhi Leonard missing the Olympics glory earlier year, Grant Hill, shared his thoughts. And dare we say it, the NBA legend didn’t hold back. “I say that the theory that was presented was false. I guess it’s not true. But that probably should have been one-on-one in a conversation with him,” Hill commented. “The Tatum thing was just unfortunate and you know, I think what I got a taste of was the noise. I got a taste of how it impacts everything and how it’s hard to shut off.” 

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    Back in the day, Grant Hill shared that the editorial process vetted stories that were “baked in some truth for the most part,” despite the noises. And the players often hit a jab at the columnists for false narratives. But now, the noise of something that goes viral may not be true. “And I think you know how it applies to the Tatum thing,” Hill opined. “I just think there’s so much noise out there that these guys are so guarded now and are so careful and they don’t have maybe. The same rapport with the media that we had 20 years ago because there’s just a lack of trust. And so the noise was deafening around that.”

    The Olympics episode changed Jayson Tatum‘s gameplay. People debated whether he was ready for the event. If he was, why did they bench him? If not, why did they choose him? Moreover, the online chaos affected the relationship between Tatum and Steve Kerr, and it still affects them. Now, if Tatum walks past Kerr, we think, “He’s ignoring him,” thanks to the Olympics storyline.

    DeMarcus Cousins explained how Jayson Tatum became the victim of Team USA’s old rituals

    There was a lot of chaos after Coach Kerr benched Jayson Tatum. Fans repeated two reasons for feeling that the 26-year-old forward was being let down by his teammates. First, JT had just won the 2024 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics. Second, Tatum proved himself in the league thus he deserved a fair chance to prove himself for the US. But, a former player of the 2016 Olympics winning team DeMarcus Cousins recently explained the possible reason behind JT’s benching.

    ” I’ve been a part of Team USA. I know how that thing works. You have to kind of wait your turn when veteran guys who have been part of the program for years get their chance first. It’s no disrespect to the guys coming up underneath—that’s just how Team USA works. Jayson just happened to be a victim of that moment,” Cousins revealed.

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    In the 2012 London Olympics, veteran players took priority. Despite being the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Anthony Davis was last on the bench. The roster featured stars like Bryant, LeBron, Durant, Anthony, and Chris Paul. Davis, though highly regarded, had to wait for his turn. This shows how experience often trumps potential.

    The media today shapes narratives in ways that often drown out the truth. Players like Jayson Tatum feel the weight of speculation, and the trust between them and the media is fading. Grant Hill‘s reflections highlight how things have changed, with players now more guarded. The noise around Tatum’s Olympics benching proves how viral stories can skew perceptions. In the end, it’s not always about skill; sometimes, it’s about waiting your turn in a game where experience matters more than potential.

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  • Top Three Players You Need To Trade Away

    Top Three Players You Need To Trade Away

    For many leagues, the fantasy football trade deadline doesn’t happen until November 29th. With that being the case last year for ESPN, many commissioners have followed suit. Assuming you’re still able to make trades in your league, this can be the difference between winning and losing a championship. Today I’m going to look at three players you need to trade away before your fantasy football trade deadline.

    1. CeeDee Lamb

    With how talented CeeDee Lamb is, he’s still being valued as the WR8, according to the Fantasy Calc community. Right now, Lamb is averaging 17.5 PPG on the year, and a recent 18.6-point performance is propping his value up. That said, Lamb could easily drop out of the WR1 conversation now that Cooper Rush is his quarterback.

    Even though Lamb has scored at least 16 points in two of those three games, we saw things get ugly in week 10 when he had 8.4 points. We saw an anomaly in week 11, where Rush had 354 yards because the Cowboys were getting blown out. Otherwise, Rush hasn’t thrown for more than 115 yards. When you can get players like Drake London, Garrett Wilson and Mike Evans instead, I would be shipping Lamb off.

    2. Malik Nabers

    Similar to Lamb, Malik Nabers is another talented receiver capped by his quarterback situation. Having Daniel Jones going to the bench isn’t necessarily the main reason why you should trade Nabers. The reason stems more from the fact that the market has failed to react to what Nabers has been doing after week four. No one is denying that Nabers has an elite ceiling, as we’ve seen him score 20-plus points in weeks 2-4.

    The issue is that we’re so far removed from that part of the season and Nabers hasn’t finished with WR1 numbers (more than 15 PPG) since week four. Yet he’s still being ranked as a WR1 by the fantasy community. I’m fine with having him as a high-end WR2, but I would much rather have Garrett Wilson and Evans over Nabers.

    3. Nick Chubb

    It pains me to say that you should sell Nick Chubb because everyone wants to root for him, myself included. Unfortunately, if you want to win your fantasy football league, you can’t let your emotions cloud your judgment. Chubb is averaging 6.2 PPG on the year and that’s paired with some awful efficiency at 3.1 YPC.

    You typically want running backs attached to good offenses which is something Chubb can’t match either. Right now the Browns are 31st in the NFL for points scored per game at 16.2. I would easily rather have Travis Etienne, Javonte Williams, Rico Dowdle or Jonathon Brooks for this fantasy football season.

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