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Deadspin | Reilly Smith tallies twice as Knights down Kraken, win Pacific title Apr 15, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrates with right wing Reilly Smith (19) after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Reilly Smith scored twice during Vegas’ three-goal third period and also had an assist as the Golden Knights rallied for a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken to clinch the Pacific Division title on Wednesday in Las Vegas. It was the 31st multi-goal game of Smith’s career and his second of the season. Jack Eichel had two assists and Shea Theodore and Mitch Marner added goals for Vegas (39-26-17, 95 points), which will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Carter Hart finished with 22 saves for the Golden Knights, who extended their point streak to a season-high 10 games (7-0-3). It is the third Pacific Division title in four years and sixth in nine seasons for Vegas, which improved to 7-0-1 since John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy as head coach. Shane Wright scored a goal for Seattle (34-36-11, 79 points), which is 2-7-1 over its past 10 games. Nikke Kokko made 22 saves for the Kraken, who play their final game of the season on Thursday at Colorado. Seattle took a 1-0 lead at the 2:24 mark of the second period on Wright’s first goal in 17 games. Wright’s quick wrist shot from in front of the net beat Hart on the glove side off a rebound of Jani Nyman’s sharp-angled shot from the left goal line. Vegas tied it late in the second period. Nic Dowd drew back a faceoff in the right circle to Theodore, who snapped a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net. The Golden Knights grabbed a 2-1 lead early in the third period when Marner, stationed in the high slot, redirected Brayden McNabb’s point shot inside the right post. Vegas extended the lead to two goals with 7:59 remaining. Smith roofed a crossing pass from Rasmus Andersson past Kokko’s glove side to finish a 2-on-1 rush. Smith then sealed the win when he tapped in a rebound inside the right post with 3:24 to go. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Reilly #Smith #tallies #Knights #Kraken #win #Pacific #title

Deadspin | Reilly Smith tallies twice as Knights down Kraken, win Pacific title
Deadspin | Reilly Smith tallies twice as Knights down Kraken, win Pacific title Apr 15, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrates with right wing Reilly Smith (19) after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Reilly Smith scored twice during Vegas’ three-goal third period and also had an assist as the Golden Knights rallied for a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken to clinch the Pacific Division title on Wednesday in Las Vegas. It was the 31st multi-goal game of Smith’s career and his second of the season. Jack Eichel had two assists and Shea Theodore and Mitch Marner added goals for Vegas (39-26-17, 95 points), which will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Carter Hart finished with 22 saves for the Golden Knights, who extended their point streak to a season-high 10 games (7-0-3). It is the third Pacific Division title in four years and sixth in nine seasons for Vegas, which improved to 7-0-1 since John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy as head coach. Shane Wright scored a goal for Seattle (34-36-11, 79 points), which is 2-7-1 over its past 10 games. Nikke Kokko made 22 saves for the Kraken, who play their final game of the season on Thursday at Colorado. Seattle took a 1-0 lead at the 2:24 mark of the second period on Wright’s first goal in 17 games. Wright’s quick wrist shot from in front of the net beat Hart on the glove side off a rebound of Jani Nyman’s sharp-angled shot from the left goal line. Vegas tied it late in the second period. Nic Dowd drew back a faceoff in the right circle to Theodore, who snapped a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net. The Golden Knights grabbed a 2-1 lead early in the third period when Marner, stationed in the high slot, redirected Brayden McNabb’s point shot inside the right post. Vegas extended the lead to two goals with 7:59 remaining. Smith roofed a crossing pass from Rasmus Andersson past Kokko’s glove side to finish a 2-on-1 rush. Smith then sealed the win when he tapped in a rebound inside the right post with 3:24 to go. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Reilly #Smith #tallies #Knights #Kraken #win #Pacific #titleApr 15, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrates with right wing Reilly Smith (19) after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Reilly Smith scored twice during Vegas’ three-goal third period and also had an assist as the Golden Knights rallied for a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken to clinch the Pacific Division title on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

It was the 31st multi-goal game of Smith’s career and his second of the season. Jack Eichel had two assists and Shea Theodore and Mitch Marner added goals for Vegas (39-26-17, 95 points), which will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Carter Hart finished with 22 saves for the Golden Knights, who extended their point streak to a season-high 10 games (7-0-3). It is the third Pacific Division title in four years and sixth in nine seasons for Vegas, which improved to 7-0-1 since John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy as head coach.

Shane Wright scored a goal for Seattle (34-36-11, 79 points), which is 2-7-1 over its past 10 games. Nikke Kokko made 22 saves for the Kraken, who play their final game of the season on Thursday at Colorado.


Seattle took a 1-0 lead at the 2:24 mark of the second period on Wright’s first goal in 17 games. Wright’s quick wrist shot from in front of the net beat Hart on the glove side off a rebound of Jani Nyman’s sharp-angled shot from the left goal line.

Vegas tied it late in the second period. Nic Dowd drew back a faceoff in the right circle to Theodore, who snapped a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net.

The Golden Knights grabbed a 2-1 lead early in the third period when Marner, stationed in the high slot, redirected Brayden McNabb’s point shot inside the right post.

Vegas extended the lead to two goals with 7:59 remaining. Smith roofed a crossing pass from Rasmus Andersson past Kokko’s glove side to finish a 2-on-1 rush.

Smith then sealed the win when he tapped in a rebound inside the right post with 3:24 to go.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reilly #Smith #tallies #Knights #Kraken #win #Pacific #title

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Apr 15, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrates with right wing Reilly Smith (19) after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the second period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Reilly Smith scored twice during Vegas’ three-goal third period and also had an assist as the Golden Knights rallied for a 4-1 victory over the Seattle Kraken to clinch the Pacific Division title on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

It was the 31st multi-goal game of Smith’s career and his second of the season. Jack Eichel had two assists and Shea Theodore and Mitch Marner added goals for Vegas (39-26-17, 95 points), which will face the Utah Mammoth in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Carter Hart finished with 22 saves for the Golden Knights, who extended their point streak to a season-high 10 games (7-0-3). It is the third Pacific Division title in four years and sixth in nine seasons for Vegas, which improved to 7-0-1 since John Tortorella replaced Bruce Cassidy as head coach.

Shane Wright scored a goal for Seattle (34-36-11, 79 points), which is 2-7-1 over its past 10 games. Nikke Kokko made 22 saves for the Kraken, who play their final game of the season on Thursday at Colorado.

Seattle took a 1-0 lead at the 2:24 mark of the second period on Wright’s first goal in 17 games. Wright’s quick wrist shot from in front of the net beat Hart on the glove side off a rebound of Jani Nyman’s sharp-angled shot from the left goal line.

Vegas tied it late in the second period. Nic Dowd drew back a faceoff in the right circle to Theodore, who snapped a wrist shot into the top right corner of the net.

The Golden Knights grabbed a 2-1 lead early in the third period when Marner, stationed in the high slot, redirected Brayden McNabb’s point shot inside the right post.

Vegas extended the lead to two goals with 7:59 remaining. Smith roofed a crossing pass from Rasmus Andersson past Kokko’s glove side to finish a 2-on-1 rush.

Smith then sealed the win when he tapped in a rebound inside the right post with 3:24 to go.

–Field Level Media

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From MRF Pace Foundation to IPL spotlight—Charting Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain’s meteoric rise <div id="content-body-70867956" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowlers have been among the most expensive in this Indian Premier League (IPL). Across their first four games, they have returned an economy of 10.42 and an average of 36.65, the third-highest in the competition, while their dot-ball percentage of 28.9 is the lowest in the tournament.</p><p>The PowerPlay has been even worse. SRH’s four wickets in this phase have come at an economy of 12.04 and an average of 72.25, with seven different bowlers used in the first six overs and only one taking more than a single wicket.</p><p>So, when Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain were handed their IPL debuts against a free-swinging Rajasthan Royals line-up, expectations were low.</p><p>Not, however, for M. Senthilnathan, head coach at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai.</p><p>“Praful’s strength was always the line and length; the length he had was always very solid,” Senthilnathan told  <i>Sportstar</i>. “When he keeps on hitting that length, there could always be some deviation in and out.”</p><p>Monday night delivered. Hinge, as well as Sakib, combined for eight for 58 in eight overs, removing RR’s top five inside the first three overs. Hinge set it up with four wickets in his first two overs, including three in the opening over — the first bowler to do so in an IPL match — before Sakib ensured there was no way back.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Built on repeatable lengths</h4><p>Hinge ripped through the RR top order with the new ball, first dismissing Vaibhav Suryavanshi with a delivery that climbed sharply on him, before splattering Dhruv Jurel’s stumps and having fellow debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius caught in the deep.</p><p>Senthilnathan, who worked with Hinge from 2023 to 2024, first met the 24-year-old during the foundation’s selection trials three years ago, where his potential was immediately apparent.</p><p>“Praful had some injury, so he didn’t bowl much, but from whatever he bowled, we could see that he’s got something. Then he went to rehab, and we got him ready in the off-season from March to August,” he said.</p><p>The recovery from a back injury dominated his 2023 stint, bringing its own physical and mental uncertainties.</p><p>“He had a lot of doubts, everybody goes through it, whether he would be able to play and bowl, those kinds of things will come to anyone,” the coach said. “So, he was doing his rehab, and mentally we were talking to him, just telling him that he would be OK.</p><p>“When he came to the bowling phase, we felt that if the L4 is fractured, then there must be something in his bowling that we need to get right,” Senthilnathan explained. “Nobody has such injuries without any technical fault; there will be something. He was falling off and trying to muscle the ball instead of going forward, so automatically the lateral refraction was happening.</p><p>“So, we started doing a lot of short runs and putting in his mind what we needed to do—go forward rather than twisting or curving his back. We worked on it, and then he went in August, September and played. They (Vidarbha) were also surprised that he was ready, and he had a very reasonable season.”</p><p>Hinge returned to MRF in 2024, this time focused on skill development.</p><p>“We couldn’t put him into hard training when we met in 2023 because of his injury, so in 2024, we really took on the challenge, and he took the challenge as well. He worked on his bowling areas and then worked on skills, looking for the right areas, moving them all from that length.”</p><p>Alongside the technical work came lessons in handling pressure from Aussie fast bowling great Glenn McGrath, who serves as Director at the MRF Pace Foundation.</p><p>“A lot of mental work was also put in by Glenn, about taking the pressure and how to handle pressure in a crunch situation, and at the same time, when there is success, how to handle it,” he noted.</p><p>“These are all very important points, only experience like Glenn McGrath’s would have been able to share.”</p><p>Hinge also went on an exchange programme in Australia, where he trained on the centre wicket at the Gabba alongside current Australian pacers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson.</p><div class="verticle article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/tmkxsn/article70867987.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Praful_MRF.jpeg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/tmkxsn/article70867987.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Praful_MRF.jpeg" alt="Praful Hinge at the CA Centre of Excellence." title="Praful Hinge at the CA Centre of Excellence." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Praful Hinge at the CA Centre of Excellence. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Praful Hinge at the CA Centre of Excellence. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT </p></div><p>“That’s a great experience for these boys,” Senthilnathan said. “When they go there, the wickets are different, they’ll be bowling to different kinds of batters, and the wicket is helpful. When the wicket is helpful, you have to be patient and hitting the right areas is what you need to look at. The length also differs in Australia, so all these things they learn, along with professionalism, how to keep yourself fit, what to eat, how to hydrate, how to train, and taking initiative.”</p><p>That work was evident on Monday night. Hinge later said he had been “manifesting” his performance, but Senthilnathan had a more grounded explanation.</p><p>“You can’t do what Jasprit Bumrah is doing, or Prasidh [Krishna] is doing, but Praful is known for something, which has taken him there. You have got to keep on repeating the same thing, so that’s why he’s confident, because he knows that he can bowl those lengths.”</p><h4 class="sub_head">A peculiar action, and a slower ball</h4><p>While Hinge took the spotlight, Senthilnathan was equally impressed by Sakib.</p><p>“Sakib will bowl 140kmph, and he’s very slippery, somewhere close to Bumrah, everything (his action) is quite fast. He’s got good speed; people have not seen his slower one, which he can also execute easily because of his action, so picking it also will be difficult for the batsmen,” he said.</p><p>“I feel a lot of importance has gone to Praful, but this boy has not bowled any less; he’s given a lesser number of runs, and he’s also got four wickets.”</p><p>Sakib, originally from Bihar, was introduced to the Pace Foundation through fellow cricketers and quickly made an impression.</p><p>“Sakib comes from a very humble background, and everything was new for him when he first came here. Everything is taken care of, and they only have to worry about the training they have to do. That phase was good,” Senthilnathan said.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/j891vb/article70867994.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Sakib_MRF.jpeg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/j891vb/article70867994.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Sakib_MRF.jpeg" alt="Sakib with McGrath and Senthilnathan at the MRF Pace Foundation." title="Sakib with McGrath and Senthilnathan at the MRF Pace Foundation." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Sakib with McGrath and Senthilnathan at the MRF Pace Foundation. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Sakib with McGrath and Senthilnathan at the MRF Pace Foundation. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT </p></div><p>He was later called up as a net bowler with Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2023, but an injury cut his stint short.</p><p>“He did go to CSK as a net bowler, and they were all impressed, but to his bad luck, he had a stiff back,” Senthilnathan explained. “Had he been able to bowl, CSK probably would not have left him, so he went off. Next year, he went to Kolkata Knight Riders, and they actually won that year.”</p><p>The match against RR showcased both sides of his skill set. He hurried an in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal into a catch at third man and later worked through the middle and lower order, including Donovan Ferreira, with a cleverly disguised slower ball after the batter had crossed fifty.</p><p>Senthilnathan believes there is more to come.</p><p>“I still think we have a lot to see of him at the death. Slower ones will come, and yorkers will come, so 140 kmph+ yorkers, if he handles them too, I think then it will be very good. Picking his action is a bit difficult; it’s not easy, not conventional. He sort of falls in front, so that means there’s no lateral reflection.”</p><h4 class="sub_head">A look to the future</h4><p>The immediate challenge for SRH’s new fast-bowling pair is to sustain this impact through the rest of the IPL.</p><p>For Senthilnathan, the message remains simple.</p><p>“IPL is like a lottery, I won’t say anything more than that, because you’re restricted to bowl only four overs. With four overs, you cannot have too many strategies, so basically, you have to bowl what you know to do. You should do what you know best, simple as that.”</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 16, 2026</p></div> #MRF #Pace #Foundation #IPL #spotlightCharting #Praful #Hinge #Sakib #Hussains #meteoric #rise

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IPL 2026: ‘Hazlewood is very confident about his body now,’ says Jitesh Sharma <div id="content-body-70868075" itemprop="articleBody"><p>The return of Josh Hazlewood and the rise of Rasikh Dar have given Royal ​Challengers Bengaluru’s bowling unit real depth and helped the defending ‌Indian Premier League (IPL) champion move top of the ​standings with a win over Lucknow Super ⁠Giants on Wednesday.</p><p>Bengaluru defeated Lucknow by five wickets to draw level on eight points with Rajasthan Royals, edging ahead on net ‌run-rate.</p><p>While veteran batter Virat Kohli remains the headline act and is the leading IPL run-scorer this ‌season with 228 runs, it is the depth ‌of ⁠the bowling unit that has underpinned Bengaluru’s ⁠early consistency.</p><p>Australia quick Hazlewood struggled with hamstring and Achilles injuries last year and missed the T20 World Cup, but after being eased back ​slowly into Bengaluru’s campaign, ‌he is starting to look sharper, vice-captain Jitesh Sharma said.</p><p>“He’s got rest, so he becomes quicker, fitter. He’s very confident about his body now,” he told reporters.</p><p>“He ‌has worked really hard on his injury and ​he’s like a more improved player than last year.”</p><p>Hazlewood’s comeback has coincided with the emergence ⁠of uncapped pacer Dar, who was signed for 60 million Indian rupees ($643,245) ahead of the 2025 season as a ‌long-term investment.</p><p>Dar featured only twice during last year’s title run, with Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal the established pace options.</p><p>Against Lucknow, Dar rewarded that patience, combining with Hazlewood on a dry surface to deny Lucknow any early momentum and returning figures of four for 24.</p><p>Hazlewood complemented the ‌effort with a miserly one for 20, while Krunal Pandya provided control through ​the middle overs.</p><p>“He (Dar) has worked a lot on yorkers and slower ones. He knew the ⁠IPL was around the corner and how one has to ⁠be perfect to play with a certain intensity,” said Jitesh.</p><p>“Errors will be there, so you practise ‌so much that it becomes muscle memory. That’s what helps you perform under pressure.”</p><p>Bengaluru next hosts Delhi Capitals ​on Saturday. </p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 16, 2026</p></div> #IPL #Hazlewood #confident #body #Jitesh #Sharma

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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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