Deadspin | Blue Jays work to continue hot hitting against Twins Apr 10, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (27) hits a three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images The Toronto Blue Jays hope to ride the momentum of a hitting spree into Saturday afternoon when they go for a series win over the visiting Minnesota Twins. The Blue Jays outhit the Twins 14-7 Friday night in their 10-4 victory in the opener of a three-game series. The Twins opened a 4-0 lead on a three-run homer by Ryan Jeffers, who had three hits, and a solo shot by Brooks Lee against Patrick Corbin in Corbin’s Blue Jays debut. Corbin gave up four runs and six hits over four innings. Toronto took the lead with a five-run fourth against Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson. The go-ahead runs came on the first career homer by catcher Brandon Valenzuela, a two-run shot. “The guys in the locker room. … they’ve all been in my corner since I got to the team in spring training,” Valenzuela said. “They gave me the confidence that I needed for this moment.” Teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits, including two doubles, with an RBI. Woods Richardson pitched despite being ill before the game. “He ate something bad today, so he was throwing up,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said. “I mean, after the third, he wasn’t in a great spot. We were hoping to get more out of him, and it just looked like he ran out of gas. I give him credit. He threw up before the game but said he could still go.” Woods Richardson said: “I still have to make pitches, man, no matter how you’re feeling. “You’re going to feel (not good) some days. You’re going to feel good some days. You’re going to feel really (bad) when your body just hurts. Unfortunately, I just had some bad food. I still have to make pitches.” Shelton said after the game that infielder Royce Lewis would be placed on the injured list with a left knee sprain. Reliever Cody Laweryson is to go on the IL with a right forearm strain. Toronto is scheduled to start Eric Lauer (1-1, 4.91 ERA) on Saturday. The left-hander is 1-2 with an 8.80 ERA in four career games (three starts) against the Twins. Illness played a part in his most recent start. He took the loss against the White Sox on Sunday when he allowed two runs in two-plus innings of Chicago’s 3-0 victory. He left after one batter in the third because he was dealing with the flu. He had been scheduled to start April 4 but was given the extra day because of the illness. “It was probably the worst I’ve ever had it,” Lauer said after the game. “I’ve been able to drink my calories more than anything. The hard part is keeping them down.” Minnesota is slated to start Joe Ryan (1-1, 4.40 ERA) in an attempt to split the first two games of the series. In four career starts against Toronto, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA. Ryan earned his first win of the season on Monday against the Detroit Tigers, 7-3. He allowed three runs (two earned), three hits and three walks while matching his season-best seven strikeouts in five innings. Ryan survived a 39-pitch fourth inning. Shelton stayed with him through the fifth as his pitch count mounted. “We needed the fifth out of him,” Shelton said. “I think he threw 40 pitches in the fourth and got away from his delivery a little bit. But that’s what a top-end starting pitcher does. He comes back and settles down.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Blue #Jays #work #continue #hot #hitting #Twins

Deadspin | Blue Jays work to continue hot hitting against Twins
Apr 10, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (27) hits a three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

The Toronto Blue Jays hope to ride the momentum of a hitting spree into Saturday afternoon when they go for a series win over the visiting Minnesota Twins.

The Blue Jays outhit the Twins 14-7 Friday night in their 10-4 victory in the opener of a three-game series.

The Twins opened a 4-0 lead on a three-run homer by Ryan Jeffers, who had three hits, and a solo shot by Brooks Lee against Patrick Corbin in Corbin’s Blue Jays debut.

Corbin gave up four runs and six hits over four innings.

Toronto took the lead with a five-run fourth against Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson. The go-ahead runs came on the first career homer by catcher Brandon Valenzuela, a two-run shot.

“The guys in the locker room. … they’ve all been in my corner since I got to the team in spring training,” Valenzuela said. “They gave me the confidence that I needed for this moment.”

Teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits, including two doubles, with an RBI.

Woods Richardson pitched despite being ill before the game.

“He ate something bad today, so he was throwing up,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said. “I mean, after the third, he wasn’t in a great spot. We were hoping to get more out of him, and it just looked like he ran out of gas. I give him credit. He threw up before the game but said he could still go.”

Woods Richardson said: “I still have to make pitches, man, no matter how you’re feeling. “You’re going to feel (not good) some days. You’re going to feel good some days. You’re going to feel really (bad) when your body just hurts. Unfortunately, I just had some bad food. I still have to make pitches.”

Shelton said after the game that infielder Royce Lewis would be placed on the injured list with a left knee sprain. Reliever Cody Laweryson is to go on the IL with a right forearm strain.

Toronto is scheduled to start Eric Lauer (1-1, 4.91 ERA) on Saturday. The left-hander is 1-2 with an 8.80 ERA in four career games (three starts) against the Twins.

Illness played a part in his most recent start. He took the loss against the White Sox on Sunday when he allowed two runs in two-plus innings of Chicago’s 3-0 victory. He left after one batter in the third because he was dealing with the flu. He had been scheduled to start April 4 but was given the extra day because of the illness.

“It was probably the worst I’ve ever had it,” Lauer said after the game. “I’ve been able to drink my calories more than anything. The hard part is keeping them down.”

Minnesota is slated to start Joe Ryan (1-1, 4.40 ERA) in an attempt to split the first two games of the series. In four career starts against Toronto, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA.

Ryan earned his first win of the season on Monday against the Detroit Tigers, 7-3. He allowed three runs (two earned), three hits and three walks while matching his season-best seven strikeouts in five innings.

Ryan survived a 39-pitch fourth inning. Shelton stayed with him through the fifth as his pitch count mounted.

“We needed the fifth out of him,” Shelton said. “I think he threw 40 pitches in the fourth and got away from his delivery a little bit. But that’s what a top-end starting pitcher does. He comes back and settles down.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Blue #Jays #work #continue #hot #hitting #Twins

Sports news April 11, 2026

Apr 10, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (27) hits a three-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

The Toronto Blue Jays hope to ride the momentum of a hitting spree into Saturday afternoon when they go for a series win over the visiting Minnesota Twins.

The Blue Jays outhit the Twins 14-7 Friday night in their 10-4 victory in the opener of a three-game series.

The Twins opened a 4-0 lead on a three-run homer by Ryan Jeffers, who had three hits, and a solo shot by Brooks Lee against Patrick Corbin in Corbin’s Blue Jays debut.

Corbin gave up four runs and six hits over four innings.

Toronto took the lead with a five-run fourth against Twins starter Simeon Woods Richardson. The go-ahead runs came on the first career homer by catcher Brandon Valenzuela, a two-run shot.

“The guys in the locker room. … they’ve all been in my corner since I got to the team in spring training,” Valenzuela said. “They gave me the confidence that I needed for this moment.”

Teammate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits, including two doubles, with an RBI.

Woods Richardson pitched despite being ill before the game.

“He ate something bad today, so he was throwing up,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said. “I mean, after the third, he wasn’t in a great spot. We were hoping to get more out of him, and it just looked like he ran out of gas. I give him credit. He threw up before the game but said he could still go.”

Woods Richardson said: “I still have to make pitches, man, no matter how you’re feeling. “You’re going to feel (not good) some days. You’re going to feel good some days. You’re going to feel really (bad) when your body just hurts. Unfortunately, I just had some bad food. I still have to make pitches.”

Shelton said after the game that infielder Royce Lewis would be placed on the injured list with a left knee sprain. Reliever Cody Laweryson is to go on the IL with a right forearm strain.

Toronto is scheduled to start Eric Lauer (1-1, 4.91 ERA) on Saturday. The left-hander is 1-2 with an 8.80 ERA in four career games (three starts) against the Twins.

Illness played a part in his most recent start. He took the loss against the White Sox on Sunday when he allowed two runs in two-plus innings of Chicago’s 3-0 victory. He left after one batter in the third because he was dealing with the flu. He had been scheduled to start April 4 but was given the extra day because of the illness.

“It was probably the worst I’ve ever had it,” Lauer said after the game. “I’ve been able to drink my calories more than anything. The hard part is keeping them down.”

Minnesota is slated to start Joe Ryan (1-1, 4.40 ERA) in an attempt to split the first two games of the series. In four career starts against Toronto, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA.

Ryan earned his first win of the season on Monday against the Detroit Tigers, 7-3. He allowed three runs (two earned), three hits and three walks while matching his season-best seven strikeouts in five innings.

Ryan survived a 39-pitch fourth inning. Shelton stayed with him through the fifth as his pitch count mounted.

“We needed the fifth out of him,” Shelton said. “I think he threw 40 pitches in the fourth and got away from his delivery a little bit. But that’s what a top-end starting pitcher does. He comes back and settles down.”

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Blue #Jays #work #continue #hot #hitting #Twins

Bayern Munich scores 101st goal, equals all-time Bundesliga season record <div id="content-body-70851999" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Bayern Munich equalled the all-time Bundesliga ‌goal record for one season ⁠on Saturday when Jamal Musiala headed it into ‌a 1-0 lead against host ‌St Pauli.</p><p>Musiala’s goal ‌in ⁠the ninth ⁠minute was its 101st, matching the record haul from Bayern’s ‌1971/72 campaign. The game is ongoing and there are still ‌five more matches in the season with Bayern ⁠all but certain to break the record.</p><p>The ‌Bundesliga leader, preparing to host Real Madrid next week in their Champions League quarterfinal ‌second leg after their midweek 2-1 win in Spain, is ⁠in the running for ⁠three titles, having also reached ‌the German Cup semifinals.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Leverkusen pips Dortmund</h4><p>Earlier in the day, Bayer Leverkusen bagged a crucial 1-0 victory at second-placed Borussia Dortmund‌ courtesy of captain Robert Andrich’s first -half winner, to stay ⁠in the mix for a top-four finish with five matches left to play.</p><p>The ‌2024 Bundesliga champion is now fifth on 52 points, one behind ‌fourth-placed VfB Stuttgart, which hosts ‌Hamburg ⁠SV on Sunday. The top ⁠four teams qualify for next season’s Champions League.</p><p>It was a disappointing afternoon for Dortmund, which hit the woodwork ‌through Serhou Guirassy in the 83rd but also saw its defender Nico Schlotterbeck jeered by the home fans, who ‌are unhappy by his delays before eventually signing a contract extension this week.</p><p>The Ruhr valley club ⁠is in second place on 64 points with five games left.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 11, 2026</p></div> #Bayern #Munich #scores #101st #goal #equals #alltime #Bundesliga #season #record

#Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home">

mwasimuddin125 0

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">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

mwasimuddin125 0

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

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.

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.

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.

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">