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LSG vs KKR, IPL 2026: ‘Pant is a bowlers’ captain,’ says Lucknow Super Giants bowling coach Crowe Lucknow Super Giants spin bowling coach Carl Crowe on Wednesday hailed seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami for his keenness to learn and improve.Citing the example of how Shami prepared with fast bowling coach Bharat Arun to scalp dangerous Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma, Crowe said, “Bharat and Shami worked on a new ball four days before the match and Shami bowled that ball to dismiss Abhishek. You’re never too old to learn a new skill. It’s testament to not only Bharat but also Shami’s mindset that as a senior player he’s still very willing to develop new skills, trying to push his game.”ALSO READ: KKR vs LSG, IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders aims for turnaround in form against Lucknow Super GiantsAhead of LSG’s Indian Premier League encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens here, Crowe praised captain Rishabh Pant for being a bowlers’ captain. “He definitely empowers his bowlers. He is someone that is very keen to hear their views in team meetings and he’ll be interested to see what their perspective is and what their plans are.When he enters the room as captain, he says hello to every single person, shakes their hand and as a leader it makes you feel like you’re welcome and you belong.”Crowe spoke enthusiastically about spinner Digvesh Rathi. “His skills are exciting. He’s capable of playing for India in the future. When you’re working with those types of players, what you want to do is guide them rather than restrict them. It’s clear that his energy, his passion, drives his game,” said Crowe.Published on Apr 08, 2026 #LSG #KKR #IPL #Pant #bowlers #captain #Lucknow #Super #Giants #bowling #coach #Crowe

LSG vs KKR, IPL 2026: ‘Pant is a bowlers’ captain,’ says Lucknow Super Giants bowling coach Crowe

Lucknow Super Giants spin bowling coach Carl Crowe on Wednesday hailed seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami for his keenness to learn and improve.

Citing the example of how Shami prepared with fast bowling coach Bharat Arun to scalp dangerous Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma, Crowe said, “Bharat and Shami worked on a new ball four days before the match and Shami bowled that ball to dismiss Abhishek. You’re never too old to learn a new skill. It’s testament to not only Bharat but also Shami’s mindset that as a senior player he’s still very willing to develop new skills, trying to push his game.”

ALSO READ: KKR vs LSG, IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders aims for turnaround in form against Lucknow Super Giants

Ahead of LSG’s Indian Premier League encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens here, Crowe praised captain Rishabh Pant for being a bowlers’ captain. 

“He definitely empowers his bowlers. He is someone that is very keen to hear their views in team meetings and he’ll be interested to see what their perspective is and what their plans are.

When he enters the room as captain, he says hello to every single person, shakes their hand and as a leader it makes you feel like you’re welcome and you belong.”

Crowe spoke enthusiastically about spinner Digvesh Rathi. “His skills are exciting. He’s capable of playing for India in the future. When you’re working with those types of players, what you want to do is guide them rather than restrict them. It’s clear that his energy, his passion, drives his game,” said Crowe.

Published on Apr 08, 2026

#LSG #KKR #IPL #Pant #bowlers #captain #Lucknow #Super #Giants #bowling #coach #Crowe

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Lucknow Super Giants spin bowling coach Carl Crowe on Wednesday hailed seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami for his keenness to learn and improve.

Citing the example of how Shami prepared with fast bowling coach Bharat Arun to scalp dangerous Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Abhishek Sharma, Crowe said, “Bharat and Shami worked on a new ball four days before the match and Shami bowled that ball to dismiss Abhishek. You’re never too old to learn a new skill. It’s testament to not only Bharat but also Shami’s mindset that as a senior player he’s still very willing to develop new skills, trying to push his game.”

ALSO READ: KKR vs LSG, IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders aims for turnaround in form against Lucknow Super Giants

Ahead of LSG’s Indian Premier League encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens here, Crowe praised captain Rishabh Pant for being a bowlers’ captain. 

“He definitely empowers his bowlers. He is someone that is very keen to hear their views in team meetings and he’ll be interested to see what their perspective is and what their plans are.

When he enters the room as captain, he says hello to every single person, shakes their hand and as a leader it makes you feel like you’re welcome and you belong.”

Crowe spoke enthusiastically about spinner Digvesh Rathi. “His skills are exciting. He’s capable of playing for India in the future. When you’re working with those types of players, what you want to do is guide them rather than restrict them. It’s clear that his energy, his passion, drives his game,” said Crowe.

Published on Apr 08, 2026

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#LSG #KKR #IPL #Pant #bowlers #captain #Lucknow #Super #Giants #bowling #coach #Crowe

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Deadspin | After string of 1-run losses, M’s determined to snap slump in clash vs. Rangers <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28671943.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28671943.jpg" alt="MLB: Seattle Mariners at Texas Rangers" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) rounds the bases after he hits a home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>The Seattle Mariners desperately need a win Wednesday afternoon and are asking starting pitcher Bryan Woo to deliver it.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The Mariners will try to salvage the final game of their three-game series against the Texas Rangers, whose 3-2 victory Tuesday clinched their first series victory over Seattle since September 2023. </p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>The Mariners enter Wednesday’s game in Arlington, Texas, as losers of four consecutive games — all by one run — and six of their past seven contests.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The lack of offense helped the Mariners to sqander a quality start Tuesday from George Kirby, who pitched a complete game and gave up three runs on six hits in eight innings in a 3-2 loss. </p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Seattle pounded out eight hits but went only 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>“As opposed to last night, where we weren’t able to get traffic, tonight we got some traffic out there,” manager Dan Wilson said after the Tuesday game. “We were able to work a couple walks and get a couple base hits, but not able to get the significant runs across tonight.”</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>In the opener of the series on Monday, Seattle had just two hits and lost 2-1.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>“Sometimes we get a little anxious and sometimes we try to do too much in those situations,” Wilson said. “The guys in there are trying so hard to break it open. That’s what everybody wants in there. Sometimes in those situations, we need to be able to relax a little bit. But that will come. I think it’s coming. The at-bats were better tonight.”</p> </section><br/><section id="section-9"> <p>Woo (0-0, 1.38 ERA) has made two starts this season, getting two no-decisions. Against the Rangers, the right-hander is 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA in seven career starts.</p> </section> <section id="section-10"> <p>The Rangers will counter with left-hander MacKenzie Gore (1-0, 3.97) who has pitched at least 5 1/3 innings in each of his first two starts and has not given up more than three runs in either. Against Seattle, he has a career record of 1-9 with an 0.69 ERA in two starts.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Texas catcher Kyle Higashioka said he is grateful to have won the series already. </p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>“It’s hugely important,” he said. “[The Mariners] and the Astros are definitely our biggest rivals. Anytime we can beat these guys, it feels good, because they played us really tough, especially the last couple years. It gets tiring losing to the same team.”</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>The Rangers have not been very productive on offense this season, with nine total runs over their past five games but two wins in that stretch. Each of their past five games has been decided by two or fewer runs, and Texas has won two straight on the heels of a four-game losing streak.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>“They’re just coming in, trying to execute and trust their process, doing what we talked about in spring training,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker told The Dallas Morning News. “Seattle is a really tough team. They execute all facets of the game. They’re really well-coached and managed, and they pitch as well as anybody, and they have a dangerous lineup.”</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>The Mariners are still looking for their first series win of the season after splitting four games with Cleveland, then losing two of three games each to the Yankees and Angels and two to the Rangers.</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>Seattle needs the offense to ride to the level of the pitching. Slugger Cal Raleigh is batting just .156, and two cogs in their lineup, Josh Naylor and Julio Rodriguez, are off to miserable starts at the plate.</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>Naylor is batting .104 and Rodriguez .152, and neither has an extra base this season.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-18"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #string #1run #losses #determined #snap #slump #clash #Rangers

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Why Jeremiyah Love brings top-5 value to NFL Draft as a RB <div id="zephr-anchor"><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">The 2026 NFL Draft class is replete with fascinating evaluations.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love might be at the top of that list.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">While Love is a running back, a fact that carries all sorts of questions about positional value, he is entering a league at a time when the <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/natetice.bsky.social/post/3mitw4cqy7k27">running game may be coming back into vogue</a>. The NFL world just saw the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl featuring a surging run game down the stretch, and while the league is still dominated by the passing game, the influx of two-high defenses have seen offenses turn to the run game as at least a powerful complement to their passing attacks.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">But timing is just one aspect of Love’s evaluation that has seen his draft stock rise as the real thing approaches, as the Notre Dame RB has gone from a potential top-ten pick in mock drafts to now a player <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/1108615/nfl-mock-draft-2026-jeremiyah-love-rises-first-round-qbs">viewed in the top five</a>. There is something else.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Love is pure speed at the running back position, a trait that showed up on the field this fall and translated to his workout in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he laid down a 4.36-second 40-yard dash. And what makes Love’s evaluation all the more impressive is how that trait shows up regardless of scheme, and even in the passing game.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Take this touchdown against Syracuse, coming on a zone design:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">This is an outside zone design flowing to the right, but first Love has the vision to identify the inside lane that develops. From there, this is pure speed from the running back, who explodes into the second level before the Syracuse defense has a chance to react. Then keep an eye on the free safety. This is an example of a running back not just erasing an angle, but obliterating it.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">And yes, safeties in the NFL will take better angles, but the thing about Love’s game is that even if you think you have a shot at him, you often do not. His contact balance and spin move are elite traits, traits that turn potential tackles into even bigger gains. Like on this run against Pittsburgh which comes on a gap/power design:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Several things stand out about this one play. First is the scheme, a gap/power design in contrast to the previous example. Love is a schematically-diverse running back, who can hit home runs regardless of the play design.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Second is again the speed, as well as the awareness. After cutting upfield and behind the two pulling blockers, Love rockets into the second level. But this time, the safety has a much better angle on him, with a chance to cut him down for a minimal gain.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Instead, Love anticipates the angle and unleashes his almost-violent spin move, blowing by the safety en route to a 56-yard touchdown. That spin move shows up throughout his film, and will be a weapon for him at the next level.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Here’s another example of this trait, coming on a counter design against USC. Keep an eye on No. 7 in the Trojans’ secondary:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">While the safety has a decent angle on Love, the RB’s pure speed erases that on this 63-yard run.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Love might not be a pure power back, but that does not mean he gets cut down at the initial sign of contact. What he might lack in pure lower-body power he more than makes up for with contact balance. Would-be tacklers need to be sure at the contact point, and technically sound.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Otherwise, things like this happen:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">On the first play against Stanford, you see Love run through several tackle attempts, erasing angles not with his speed, but with his contact balance. The moment a defender mistimes a tackle attempt, or fails to hit the perfect strike point, Love runs through contact, keeping his legs moving and showing enough power to extend plays with balance and strength.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">And on that second example against Pittsburgh, you again see that angle-erasing speed. After making the first defender miss behind the line of scrimmage, Love simply outruns the second defender to the edge, turning what could have been — or should have been — a loss into another explosive run.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">As noted at the outset, while the running game may be slowly coming back into style, the NFL remains a passing-dominated league.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">So when any running back is discussed as an early pick, the question over what they can contribute in the passing game rises to the top of the evaluation. Can that player be a “three-down” back? Can they offer something as a receiver out of the backfield?</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">There may even be some untapped potential in what Love can do as a pass catcher, but when he comes off the board early in the first round, you can expect to see these two plays. First, a wheel route against Texas A&M where the defense loses him in coverage, but you see what he can do with his hands as he extends for this catch, and then get another look at that game-breaking ability to erase angles:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">And then there is this play, a corner route run from a slot alignment:</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Love is working against a linebacker on this play, but it illustrates what he can do as a route-runner when aligned outside. The Notre Dame RB uses two different gears off the line, including a second gear that erases the cushion and stresses the linebacker’s leverage. From there he simply loses the linebacker, leaving him crashing to the turf as Love makes his cut towards the sideline.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Again, expect to see this play highlighted when Love comes off the board on draft night.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">When it comes down to it, Love is the complete package as a running back. A schematically-diverse player who can deliver explosive plays in the running game regardless of scheme, and whose speed and route-running could make him an even more explosive player in the NFL in the passing game.</p></div><div class="duet--article--article-body-component"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">When you think about positional value, that sounds pretty valuable to me.</p></div></div> #Jeremiyah #Love #brings #top5 #NFL #Draft

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Deadspin | Larry Fitzgerald thanks all of Arizona: ‘You gave me a home’ Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026. One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home. After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison. Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad: People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life. But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story. It’s a thank-you letter. I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today. The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes. I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention. You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word. For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it. Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from. It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry. You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain. On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way. When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough. Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for. Belonging. And that sense of belonging changed me. After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own. So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton. It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything. Thank you, Arizona. Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own. Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man. You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football. You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong. Most of all, you gave me a home. With love and gratitude, (signed) Larry Fitzgerald HOF 26 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #homePro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026.

One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home.

After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl.

Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison.

Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad:

People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life.

But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story.

It’s a thank-you letter.

I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today.

The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes.

I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention.

You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word.

For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it.

Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from.

It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry.

You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain.

On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way.


When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough.

Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for.

Belonging.

And that sense of belonging changed me.

After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own.

So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton.

It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything.

Thank you, Arizona.

Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own.

Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man.

You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football.

You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong.

Most of all, you gave me a home.

With love and gratitude,

(signed)

Larry Fitzgerald

HOF 26

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home">Deadspin | Larry Fitzgerald thanks all of Arizona: ‘You gave me a home’ Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026. One day after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, longtime Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald paid for a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic to thank everyone who made a Minnesota native feel welcome in the state he calls home. After being selected by the Cardinals with the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald spent all 17 years of his NFL career in Arizona. He caught 1,432 passes for 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns while earning 11 trips to the Pro Bowl. Fitzgerald ranks second to Jerry Rice on the NFL’s all-time lists for receptions and receiving yards. He stands sixth in touchdown catches, trailing Rice, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Chris Carter and Marvin Harrison. Here’s the message Fitzgerald penned for his Arizona Republic ad: People have asked me countless times what it felt like to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The truth is, it was one of the greatest honors of my life. But this really isn’t a Hall of Fame story. It’s a thank-you letter. I arrived in Arizona as a 20-year-old kid who didn’t know a single person. I had no idea this desert would become the place that would shape me into the man I am today. The day I landed was the same day the nation learned Pat Tillman had lost his life. Pat is one of America’s great heroes. I stepped off the plane into a state where its people were carrying real grief, and something inside me grew quiet. I started paying attention. You learn quickly what loyalty looks like when it isn’t just a word. For the next 17 seasons, I quietly measured myself against the standard Pat Tillman set. I’m still not sure I ever lived up to it. Somewhere along the way, Arizona stopped being the place where I lived and became the place I was from. It happened through a thousand ordinary moments until one day, I realized this was simply home. Not because I was a Hall of Famer. Not because I was a wide receiver. Just because the people of this state allowed me to be Larry. You don’t fall in love with a place because of its stadiums. You fall in love on quiet mornings hiking Camelback Mountain. On crisp fall afternoons walking a golf course. During summers in Flagstaff and standing among the red rocks of Sedona that remind you just how small you are in the best possible way. When I stopped playing football, I walked away quietly. I’m known for my Irish goodbyes. Arizona even gave me that. Yet you kept showing up for me anyway, especially through the work of my foundation. Your support was never conditional. You never asked me to be anything other than myself, and somehow that was always enough. Arizona gave a kid from Minneapolis something he didn’t even know he was searching for. Belonging. And that sense of belonging changed me. After a while, you weren’t cheering for a wide receiver anymore, you were cheering for one of your own. So this isn’t really a story about 17 years in a Cardinals uniform or a bronze bust in Canton. It’s the story of a young man who was welcomed by a state that owed him nothing and gave him everything. Thank you, Arizona. Thank you for letting a kid from somewhere else become one of your own. Thank you for embracing not just the player, but the man. You gave me far more than a career. You gave me friendships that will last a lifetime. You gave me purpose beyond football. You gave me a place where my children will always know they belong. Most of all, you gave me a home. With love and gratitude, (signed) Larry Fitzgerald HOF 26 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home

When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.

The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.

The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.

That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.

On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.

Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.

But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.

I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.

One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.

In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.

There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.

I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.

Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it.

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making">Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction is 25 years in the making When I arrived to cover the Minnesota Vikings for the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 2000, it was clear I was dealing with a star-studded roster.The team boasted future Pro Football Hall of Famers; wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss and defensive tackle John Randle. Plus, there were a ton of other stars including quarterback Daunte Culpepper, center Matt Birk and running back Robert Smith. The Vikings were loaded with star power.The talent around the team wasn’t relegated simply to the roster, however.That summer I first laid my eyes on a 16-year-old high school junior named Larry Fitzgerald Jr. The son of a local media member and close friend of Vikings’ head coach Dennis Green, Little Fitzy was a ball boy during training camp and on game days. It turns out, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. is very likely the most famous former NFL ball boy in history.On reporting date, fellow reporter Kevin Seifert pointed out Fitzgerald to me and said “that’s a bad man.” Seifert didn’t say that about any of the actual Vikings that day.Fitzgerald was already known as the best Minnesota high school prospect in years and he was considered one of the best high school players in the country. Seifert told me the buzz was that the kid was, no doubt, headed to the NFL in a half decade or so. Seifert was on the money. I’m not sure the Hall of Fame was mentioned or not.But this weekend of course, that’s exactly where Little Fitzy is headed. He will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday as a first-ballot Hall of Famer.Fitzgerald will be remembered as one of the best and most productive wide receivers in league history after an incredible 17-season career with the Arizona Cardinals.I have a ton of memories of being around Fitzgerald, but there’s one that stands out among them all.One day after training camp, a nameless Vikings’ wide receiver camp body was getting extra work on a JUGS machine, catching balls. He was being tutored by Fitzgerald, who was showing this player how to properly approach the incoming ball. This was a child instructing a grown man an NFL team deemed good enough to attend training camp.Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.In addition to his incredible natural football ability, Larry Fitzgerald Jr. stood out for his politeness and good nature. You could tell he was a good kid from the first time you met him.There was no I’m-going-to-be-a-star attitude. He was genuine and he worked his tail off with the rest of the ball boys. There was no entitlement. It was as if he was using his time around an NFL camp as an internship for his future. He passed with flying colors.I’ve always cherished following his career from his days at Pittsburgh in college to his days of dominating the NFL and I’ve enjoyed running into him over the years now and again.Enjoy Canton, Little Fitzy, you’ve earned it. #Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making

Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.

TOSS

Tiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.

PLAYING XIs

Nellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky Bhasker

Tiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T Natarajan

Published on Aug 09, 2026

#TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings">TNPL 2026 Live: All-round batting display propels Nellai Royal Kings to 206/8 Follow Sportstar for extensive coverage of the tenth edition of the TNPL, from live scores and match reports to exclusive analysis and features.TOSSTiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.PLAYING XIsNellai Royal Kings: Athish SR(w), D Santhosh Kumar, Ajitesh Guruswamy, U Mukilesh, Rithik Easwaran, Sonu Yadav(c), Muhammed Adnan Khan, Ramalingam Rohit, Emmanuel Cherian, NS Harish, Rocky BhaskerTiruppur Tamizhans: Tushar Raheja(w), Amit Sathvik, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Mohamed Ali, Uthirasamy Sasidev, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore(c), M Mathivannan, S Mohan Prasath, R Silambarasan, Esakkimuthu A, T NatarajanPublished on Aug 09, 2026 #TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings

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