data-mm-id=”_5wsp4kzao”>The legends of Albert Belle are vast and unbecoming. There was the time he threatened to kill trick-or-treaters as he ran them off his lawn in a car. Or the time a teammate turned down the temperature in the clubhouse and Belle, who liked a sub-60 temperature, stood up, turned it back down and then smashed the thermometer with his bat. And most famously, he cursed out Hannah Storm and other reporters before Game 3 of the 1995 World Series. But on this day in 1996, Belle took it a step further with the media, hitting a photographer with a baseball. The legend goes that Sports Illustrated was writing a feature on Belle, who told SI writer Michael Babberger that "Sports Illustrated can kiss my black ass." Even though Babberger didn't get an interview with Belle, SI photographer Tony Tomsic still needed to get pictures of the slugger. Tomsic tried to get a few as Belle warmed up on April 6, but Belle, a notorious control freak who hated doing pregame interviews because they interfered with his routine, told Tomsic to stop. Tomsic complied, but Belle still decided to throw two balls at the photographer. One of them cut Tomsic on the hand after he raised it to protect his face. The story was actually swept under the rug initially. It wasn't until two weeks later that Belle was even called into the AL office to explain what happened. Tomsic was treated by the Indians medical staff afterward and declined to press charges on Belle. Belle was not suspended for the incident. Belle accomplished a lot in his career. He was a five-time All-Star, is one of only three players to hit 50 homers and 50 doubles in a season and is one of only six players in MLB history to have nine consecutive 100-RBI seasons. But he'll always be remembered for his temper, outbursts and disdain for the media, one member of which experienced all three in the form of a pair of baseballs thrown at him.
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Prediction: Portugal to win 5-0
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Portugal and Bosnia and Herzegovina will lock horns with each other in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group J this weekend. The match between Roberto Martinez’s side and Faruk Hadžibegić’s team will be held at Estádio da Luz in Lisbon and is scheduled to kick off at 7:45pm UK on Saturday.
Portugal
Portugal are one of the biggest footballing nations who are regularly among the favourites to win major competitions. In Cristiano Ronaldo, the European country have one of the greatest footballers of all time. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward is still going strong and is not showing any signs of slowing down despite playing for Al Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia.
Roberto Martinez�…
Best odds: 1/2
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Many expect the title race in the Premier League this season to be much more interesting and more teams to stake a claim in it than in the last couple of years, given that Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United all played very well towards the end of 2019/20. They could all indeed come much closer to Liverpool and Manchester City this time around.
The first blockbuster of the season is scheduled to take place at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, when Chelsea will take on Liverpool.
Chelsea
As has been said, Chelsea stepped their game up towards the end of last season and secured a top-four finish, together with reaching the FA Cup final. They ended up in fourth place on 66 points, the same as Manchester United in third and four more t…
Unai Emery once again faced questions about Mesut Ozil after Arsenal drew a blank against BATE in the Europa League without the German playmaker.
The Gunners slipped to a shock 1-0 loss in the first leg of the last-32 tie, their misery compounded with the late dismissal of Alexandre Lacazette for violent conduct.
Ozil and Juventus-bound midfielder Aaron Ramsey did not travel for the game in Belarus, with the absence of the former turning into one of the main talking points in Emery s post-match media conference.
However, the former Sevilla boss made clear that Arsenal had prospered without Ozil in their win over Huddersfield Town at the weekend, insisting the side he picked to face BATE was good enough to get a positive result on the road.
Eve…
Didier Deschamps has concerns over the fitness of defensive duo Lucas Digne and Lucas Hernandez as France get ready to play in a new competition at Euro 2020.
France finished top of Group F thanks to a 2-2 draw against fellow qualifiers Portugal on Wednesday, with second-placed Germany also making it through to the last 16.
Reigning world champions France saw Karim Benzema score twice – his first goals at international level since October 8, 2015 – but had to finish the game in Budapest with midfielder Adrien Rabiot playing at left-back.
Deschamps substituted Hernandez at half-time due to what he described as a minor knee issue, though the Bayern Munich player had also received a yellow card in the 36th minute.
Replacement Digne did not last long …
As quoted by multiple media outlets, Javi Martinez has declared himself ready to leave Bayern Munich when his contract expires at the end of the season.
The 32-year-old Spaniard, who is comfortable playing either as a defensive midfielder or a centre-back, has been at the Allianz Arena for eight years now, since joining from Athletic Bilbao in 2012 for a reported fee of €40 million. He was a very important part of the team which won the 2013 treble, when he famously marked Lionel Messi out of their Champions League semifinal first leg against Barcelona which the Bavarians won by 4-0.
Overall, he has made 252 appearances for the club so far, but last season he lost his place in the starting XI under Hans-Dieter Flick. He was keen to leave this summer, but Flick reporte…
Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata won their first match since the death of head coach and football legend Diego Maradona.
Argentina and Napoli great Maradona – arguably football s greatest ever player – died of natural causes at the age of 60 on Wednesday.
Maradona was buried in a private funeral at the Jardines de Bella Vista cemetery on the outskirts of Buenos Aires after thousands gathered on the streets of the capital to mourn the 1986 World Cup winner on Thursday.
Gimnasia were the first team Maradona had led in his homeland since the mid-1990s after taking charge of the Liga Profesional club last year.
¡Lo jugamos con el corazón!
— #Gimnasia133 (@gimnasiaoficial)
On Saturday, Gimnasia defeated Velez Sarsfield 1-0 away …
Manchester United and Liverpool have been urged by Rio Ferdinand to consider rescuing Raheem Sterling from the wilderness at Manchester City.
Sterling has played a big part in helping City to three Premier League titles since arriving from Liverpool in 2015, but his playing time has reduced this season.
The England international, who was late returning for pre-season training after reaching the Euro 2020 final with his country, has started two of City s six matches this term in all competitions.
He was linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium during the close season at a time when Pep Guardiola s side were trying to bring in striker Harry Kane from Tottenham.
Barcelona are reported to be showing an interest in signing Sterling on loan in January, m…
Arsenal claimed consecutive Premier League victories over Tottenham for the first time since 2014 as they eased past their North London rivals 3-1.
Having initially made a strong start to life under Nuno Espirito Santo, Spurs have now lost three successive league games, with their manager seeing his first derby effectively lost inside the first 45 minutes.
Emile Smith Rowe s 12th-minute strike gave Arsenal a deserved lead, which was doubled when he teed up Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 15 minutes later.
Spurs offered limp resistance and the game was essentially put to bed by the excellent Bukayo Saka, with Son Heung-min s effort a mere consolation for Tottenham.
NORTH LONDON DERBY DUB!
— Arsenal (@Arsenal)
Smith Rowe rewarded Arsenal for …
Atletico Madrid s LaLiga title charge is back on track after a 2-0 win over Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday.
Diego Simeone s side had picked up just five points from their previous four top-flight games to give rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona hope of reining them in at the summit.
They secured a vital three points against Unai Emery s side, though, courtesy of Alfonso Pedraza s first-half own goal and substitute Joao Felix s second-half strike.
The result meant Atleti restored their five-point advantage over second-place Barcelona, who have played a game more, while Real Madrid – who Los Rojiblancos face next weekend – are six points off the top in third.
KEY WIN ON THE ROAD
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— Atlético de Madrid (@atle…
Barcelona could sell Pedri in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the defending La Liga champions are open to selling the midfielder due to financial issues, and that Arsenal are among the clubs who are keen on signing the 21-year-old Spain international midfielder.
Pedri has been on the books of Barcelona since 2020 when he joined from Las Palmas. He is injured at the moment and is unlikely to play again for Barcelona for the rest of the season. The Spain international midfielder has made 13 starts and three substitute appearances in La Liga this season. He has scored two goals and given two assists in those games.
The 21-year-old made two starts and two substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League for Barcelona this campaign. …