data-mm-id=”_sieyiutmq”>Even if we were to grade on the easiest curve imaginable, what happened on First Take yesterday would get a failing grade. Even if the bar was set impossibly low and built with two pretty attainable elements — carrying about the subject matter being discussed and not openly insulting an organization for merely existing or fans who support them — Stephen A. Smith would have repeatedly knocked his head on it. The program deigned to briefly discuss the Los Angeles Angels' string of luck over the holiday weekend, a stretch that saw Mike Trout fracture his wrist, Shohei Ohtani leave a start with a blister on his middle finger, and Anthony Rendon hobble himself with a foul ball off his leg. Everyone knows that despite having Trout and Ohtani, the team has not sniffed the postseason in forever. It's exasperating to those who root for the Halos and objectively darkly humorous to those who don't. But this year they are 45-44 and four games outside of the final Wild Card spot, so a chance to change all that exists. As the conversation was wrapping up, someone mentioned the Rendon injury, which drew a dismissive response from Smith. Don't expect to catch Stephen A. Smith at a Los Angeles Angels game any time soon pic.twitter.com/W3tsDJJDiw— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 5, 2023"Oh, who cares?" he said. "The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, no one cares about you. No one. I don't even know. I've been L.A. quite often, I never hear anyone talking about the Angels. We love driving by the stadium, it looks really nice. No one cares. You're irrelevant. Period."There's probably a more eloquent way to put this but I am going to put it this way: what the hell, man? Is that really where the state of this discourse has arrived? There's absolutely no content in there. It's just performance and condescension, even if it's a bit clever and makes for a good social video. And mission accomplished there as the Awful Announcing tweet now been viewed over a half-million times. Smith is probably the most talented person at the company given the way talent translates to interest and monetization. It's an interesting show because he's so goddamn entertaining. But is it really too much to ask that the person on the television is slightly interested in what they're talking about? Especially when it's the premier property amid the daytime lineup. And airing against the backdrop of the most painful job cuts at the network?Maybe it is. This isn't about feeling like one's intellect is being insulted by the sludge necessary to grease the wheels of doing 10 hours of content during the slowest week of the year. This is about wondering about the long game of openly insulting a thing people in the second-biggest media market in the country do care about. At the end of the day, why would any Angels fan subject themselves to First Take again?Sure, maybe they collectively have thick skin but why in the world would you need to have a hard exterior just to make it through whatever is playing in the background of your local Pennzoil waiting room? None of this is going to bother Smith, who is a generational superstar who has maximized and, honestly, deserves all the power he's accrued. He deserves to be in that chair and in front of cameras 20 hours a day because no one can move the needle like he does. It'd also be an interesting experiment to get some truth serum into those who cover baseball or hockey at ESPN and hear what they really think when he bends over backwards to show his indifference toward the topics. Perhaps it's an overstatement to say there's some general Stockholm Syndrome going on for viewers who are watching these shows with hosts that are openly antagonizing and indifferent to the topics but it's not a terrible idea to occasionally remind one's self that you don't have to sit there and take it as there's never been more options elsewhere.
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The Newcastle United keeper was handed his fourth cap at the Aviva Stadium, but his chances of making O Neill s Euro 2016 squad are now in tatters.
Slovakia opened the scoring through Miroslav Stoch, but Elliot was injured as he tried to stop the ball from flying into the top corner.
O Neill refused to give a timeframe for the injury, but the former Aston Villa boss conceded Elliot s problem was serious.
He s not great. He s got a serious knee injury and it s a real disappointment and a dampener on the evening, particularly when he s getting his career together and going well at Newcastle and looking forward…
According to AS, Barcelona defender Gerard Pique is planning on retiring from professional football in 2020 in order to focus his attention elsewhere – on becoming a candidate for the role of club president in 2021.
The 31 year old first joined the club back in 2008 with this year marking his ten year anniversary at the Nou Camp, and it’s fair to say that he’s had a successful run with the Spanish champions. He is already considered to be a club legend with Barca and it doesn’t feel like he has any need to go elsewhere, especially given just how much the fans love him.
He’s young enough to the point where he could probably keep playing at the highest level for a good few years to come, but if his heart is set on things other than playing, then it may be smart …
Market: Both teams to score
Odds: 2/3 @
Looking to mark their League One return with an opening weekend statement, Wrexham will welcome Wycombe to the Racecourse Ground on Saturday evening.
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Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger is confident he will be fully fit to lead his country at Euro 2016.
The Manchester United midfielder has not played since March due to a knee injury.
Louis van Gaal said of the issue in April: Schweinsteiger is a tragic injury because the expectation is not so good for him in respect of the European Championship, but you never know.
Regardless, Joachim Low has included his skipper in a 27-man provisional squad that must be cut to 23 by next week.
And Schweinsteiger is confident that he will be able to prove his fitness sufficiently to take part in the tournament.
I am fine and I am right on schedule, he told a news conference.
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Cape Verde head coach Bubista has challenged his side to keep believing as they bid to reach the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations when they face South Africa in Yamoussoukro.
The small island nation, ranked 73rd in the FIFA standings, topped their group, beating Ghana and then fighting back to snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw with Egypt before a 1-0 win over Mauritania put them into the last eight.
The Blue Sharks are aiming to reach uncharted waters by making the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time.
As imagens do jogo que qualificou Cabo Verde para quartos de final do CAN. Cabo Verde 1-0 Mauritania
Vista-se a rigor aqui | | | | |
— Federação Cabo-verdiana de Futebol (@fcfcomunica)
Bubista feels there is still mor…
Eden Hazard believes Belgium will head to Euro 2020 stronger than ever and must improve on their third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup.
Roberto Martinez s side have a 100 per cent record after nine games in qualifying for the European Championship and will seek to finish their campaign with a maximum 30 points against Cyprus on Tuesday.
The Red Devils finished third in last year s World Cup and lead the FIFA rankings, and Hazard thinks they are better equipped for their next major tournament.
We have two years more experience than at the World Cup, two more years with the coach, said Real Madrid star Hazard.
We know each other better, we have young players … I think we are stronger. We have developed the winning mentality that we didn t have enoug…
Newport produced a superb second-half fightback to recover from 2-0 to beat 10-man Forest Green 4-2 at Rodney Parade.
An early own goal from Ryan Delaney and a second from Matty Stevens in the 33rd minute put Troy Deeney’s men in control.
But a second yellow card for midfielder Callum Jones six minutes after the restart proved costly for the visitors.
Two goals from Exiles top scorer Will Evans – his 15th and 16th of the season – levelled before Lewis Payne scored a sublime third in the 69th minute with a dipping volley from Bryn Morris’ cross.
Delaney made amends for his early gift as he added a fourth to make sure of the win five minutes from time.
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Besiktas head to Switzerland to take on Lugano at the Stockhorn Arena on Thursday night in the first leg of their Europa League play-off tie. The stakes are high, as the winners of this two-legged clash will earn a spot in the new 36-team Europa League, while the losers will have to settle for a place in the Conference League.
Both teams will be eager to seize a good result in this opening leg, with Besiktas looking to build on their strong European pedigree and Lugano hoping to make the most of their home-field advantage.
Lugano
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Mikel Arteta hailed the phenomenal drive shown by his Arsenal side to push Manchester City all the way in the Premier League title race.
The Gunners moved one point clear of City at the Premier League summit on Sunday with a 1-0 win against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
City have a chance to restore their advantage when they travel to Arsenal s fierce rivals Tottenham on Tuesday, before then hosting West Ham.
Regardless of what happens in midweek, Arsenal will go into their final game of the campaign at home to Everton with the title battle still alive.
Speaking to BBC Sport after his side s latest win, Arteta said: It is a phenomenal thing they are doing.
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Pep Guardiola said he preferred Manchester City s win over Brentford as opposed to a more comfortable scoreline, confirming he is a big fan of Bees head coach Thomas Frank.
Erling Haaland s first-half brace ensured Guardiola s side maintained their perfect start to the season, but they had to come from behind to win 2-1 at the Etihad.
Yoane Wissa s goal after 22 seconds handed Brentford a shock lead, with his strike the fastest ever scored in the Premier League against the reigning champions.
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