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ACC baseball tournament 2026: Schedule, scores, bracket, and more Selection Monday is just one week away, but until the field of 64 teams is announced, there is just one small matter of business.The conference tournaments.While the Patriot League begins play on Monday, the bulk of the conference tournaments kick off on Tuesday, including the ACC Tournament. The ACC is expected to get a host of teams into the field of 64, with some of the latest projections focusing on nine teams, but there are some teams that need a deep run this week in Charlotte to improve their chances of getting into the tournament. According to some of the latest projections three teams in particular — Clemson, Pittsburgh, and NC State — begin the week on the bubble.Here is a look at how the ACC baseball tournament works, the bracket, and more.What is the format for the ACC baseball tournament?All 16 teams that play baseball in the ACC qualify for the ACC conference tournament. Syracuse and SMU do not currently field baseball teams.The top four teams in the standings — Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, and Boston College — are seeded No. 1 through No. 4 and all receive byes to the Quarterfinals, which begin on Thursday. The next four teams in the standings — Miami, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, and Virginia — are seeded No. 5 through No. 8 and receive byes to the second round.The remaining eight teams will meet in the first round.All games are single elimination, building to Sunday’s ACC Championship Game.What are the seeds for the ACC baseball tournament?Here are the seedings for the 2026 ACC baseball tournament, along with conference records:1. Georgia Tech (25-5)2. North Carolina (22-8)3. Florida State (19-11)4. Boston College (18-14)5. Miami (16-14)6. Wake Forest (16-14)7. Virginia Tech (15-15)8. Virginia (14-16)9. NC State (14-16)10. Notre Dame (13-17)11. Louisville (13-17)12. Stanford (13-17)13. California (12-18)14. Pittsburgh (11-19)15. Clemson (10-20)16. Duke (10-20)What is the bracket for the ACC baseball tournament?Here is the bracket for this year’s ACC baseball tournament, courtesy of the ACC:Who are the favorites in the ACC baseball tournament?We start at the top of the standings with Georgia Tech.The Yellow Jackets are coming off the greatest regular season in school history. Georgia Tech polished off its second consecutive regular-season title this weekend, sweeping Boston College on the road to clinch the regular-season conference championship. And they closed out the regular season with another run-rule victory, defeating Boston College by a final score of 15-2 in just seven innings. It was the sixth sweep of an ACC series this season, and in those three wins over the Eagles, Georgia Tech won by a combined score of 38-3, the most lopsided sweep over a Top 25 opponent in school history.The Yellow Jackets can absolutely mash, and enter the conference tournament leading all of baseball in several offensive categories including batting average (.358), hits (674), on-base percentage (.469), scoring (10.7 runs per game), and slugging percentage (.630).However, the Yellow Jackets are the No. 3 team in the country according to the latest Top 25 from D1 Baseball, as North Carolina clocks in at No. 2. While Georgia Tech finished the year with a 45-9 regular-season record North Carolina came in at 43-10-1. When these two teams met in Chapel Hill back in mid-April, North Carolina took two games of the three-game series.ACC baseball tournament schedule and scoresHere is the schedule, and scores, for the ACC baseball tournament.All games are in Charlotte, North Carolina. The lower seed will be the visiting team for each game.First Round: Tuesday, May 19Game 1: No. 16 Duke 21, No. 9 NC State 12 (NC State eliminated)Game 2: No. 12 Stanford 11, No. 13 California 4 (California eliminated)Game 3: No. 10 Notre Dame 5, No. 15 Clemson 4 (Clemson eliminated)Game 4: No. 14 Pittsburgh 16, No. 11 Louisville 8 (Louisville eliminated)Second Round: Wednesday, May 20Game 5: No. 16 Duke vs. No. 8 Virginia, 9:00 a.m., EasternGame 6: No. 12 Stanford vs. No. 5 Miami, 1:00 p.m., EasternGame 7: No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech, 5:00 p.m., EasternGame 8: No. 14 Pittsburgh vs. No. 6 Wake Forest, 9:00 p.m., EasternQuarterfinals: Thursday, May 21Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 1 Georgia Tech, 3:00 p.m., EasternGame 10: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 4 Boston College, 7:00 p.m., EasternQuarterfinals: Friday, May 22Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 2 North Carolina, 3:00 p.m., EasternGame 12: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 3 Florida State, 7:00 p.m., EasternSemifinals: Saturday, May 23Game 13: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 1:00 p.m., EasternGame 14: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 5:00 p.m., EasternChampionship: Sunday, May 24Game 15: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner, 12:00 p.m., Eastern #ACC #baseball #tournament #Schedule #scores #bracket

ACC baseball tournament 2026: Schedule, scores, bracket, and more

Selection Monday is just one week away, but until the field of 64 teams is announced, there is just one small matter of business.

The conference tournaments.

While the Patriot League begins play on Monday, the bulk of the conference tournaments kick off on Tuesday, including the ACC Tournament. The ACC is expected to get a host of teams into the field of 64, with some of the latest projections focusing on nine teams, but there are some teams that need a deep run this week in Charlotte to improve their chances of getting into the tournament. According to some of the latest projections three teams in particular — Clemson, Pittsburgh, and NC State — begin the week on the bubble.

Here is a look at how the ACC baseball tournament works, the bracket, and more.

What is the format for the ACC baseball tournament?

All 16 teams that play baseball in the ACC qualify for the ACC conference tournament. Syracuse and SMU do not currently field baseball teams.

The top four teams in the standings — Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, and Boston College — are seeded No. 1 through No. 4 and all receive byes to the Quarterfinals, which begin on Thursday. The next four teams in the standings — Miami, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, and Virginia — are seeded No. 5 through No. 8 and receive byes to the second round.

The remaining eight teams will meet in the first round.

All games are single elimination, building to Sunday’s ACC Championship Game.

What are the seeds for the ACC baseball tournament?

Here are the seedings for the 2026 ACC baseball tournament, along with conference records:

1. Georgia Tech (25-5)
2. North Carolina (22-8)
3. Florida State (19-11)
4. Boston College (18-14)
5. Miami (16-14)
6. Wake Forest (16-14)
7. Virginia Tech (15-15)
8. Virginia (14-16)
9. NC State (14-16)
10. Notre Dame (13-17)
11. Louisville (13-17)
12. Stanford (13-17)
13. California (12-18)
14. Pittsburgh (11-19)
15. Clemson (10-20)
16. Duke (10-20)

What is the bracket for the ACC baseball tournament?

Here is the bracket for this year’s ACC baseball tournament, courtesy of the ACC:

Who are the favorites in the ACC baseball tournament?

We start at the top of the standings with Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets are coming off the greatest regular season in school history. Georgia Tech polished off its second consecutive regular-season title this weekend, sweeping Boston College on the road to clinch the regular-season conference championship. And they closed out the regular season with another run-rule victory, defeating Boston College by a final score of 15-2 in just seven innings. It was the sixth sweep of an ACC series this season, and in those three wins over the Eagles, Georgia Tech won by a combined score of 38-3, the most lopsided sweep over a Top 25 opponent in school history.

The Yellow Jackets can absolutely mash, and enter the conference tournament leading all of baseball in several offensive categories including batting average (.358), hits (674), on-base percentage (.469), scoring (10.7 runs per game), and slugging percentage (.630).

However, the Yellow Jackets are the No. 3 team in the country according to the latest Top 25 from D1 Baseball, as North Carolina clocks in at No. 2. While Georgia Tech finished the year with a 45-9 regular-season record North Carolina came in at 43-10-1. When these two teams met in Chapel Hill back in mid-April, North Carolina took two games of the three-game series.

ACC baseball tournament schedule and scores

Here is the schedule, and scores, for the ACC baseball tournament.

All games are in Charlotte, North Carolina. The lower seed will be the visiting team for each game.

First Round: Tuesday, May 19

Game 1: No. 16 Duke 21, No. 9 NC State 12 (NC State eliminated)
Game 2: No. 12 Stanford 11, No. 13 California 4 (California eliminated)
Game 3: No. 10 Notre Dame 5, No. 15 Clemson 4 (Clemson eliminated)
Game 4: No. 14 Pittsburgh 16, No. 11 Louisville 8 (Louisville eliminated)

Second Round: Wednesday, May 20

Game 5: No. 16 Duke vs. No. 8 Virginia, 9:00 a.m., Eastern
Game 6: No. 12 Stanford vs. No. 5 Miami, 1:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 7: No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech, 5:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 8: No. 14 Pittsburgh vs. No. 6 Wake Forest, 9:00 p.m., Eastern

Quarterfinals: Thursday, May 21

Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 1 Georgia Tech, 3:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 10: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 4 Boston College, 7:00 p.m., Eastern

Quarterfinals: Friday, May 22

Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 2 North Carolina, 3:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 3 Florida State, 7:00 p.m., Eastern

Semifinals: Saturday, May 23

Game 13: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 1:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 14: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 5:00 p.m., Eastern

Championship: Sunday, May 24

Game 15: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner, 12:00 p.m., Eastern

#ACC #baseball #tournament #Schedule #scores #bracket

Sports news

Selection Monday is just one week away, but until the field of 64 teams is announced, there is just one small matter of business.

The conference tournaments.

While the Patriot League begins play on Monday, the bulk of the conference tournaments kick off on Tuesday, including the ACC Tournament. The ACC is expected to get a host of teams into the field of 64, with some of the latest projections focusing on nine teams, but there are some teams that need a deep run this week in Charlotte to improve their chances of getting into the tournament. According to some of the latest projections three teams in particular — Clemson, Pittsburgh, and NC State — begin the week on the bubble.

Here is a look at how the ACC baseball tournament works, the bracket, and more.

What is the format for the ACC baseball tournament?

All 16 teams that play baseball in the ACC qualify for the ACC conference tournament. Syracuse and SMU do not currently field baseball teams.

The top four teams in the standings — Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, and Boston College — are seeded No. 1 through No. 4 and all receive byes to the Quarterfinals, which begin on Thursday. The next four teams in the standings — Miami, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, and Virginia — are seeded No. 5 through No. 8 and receive byes to the second round.

The remaining eight teams will meet in the first round.

All games are single elimination, building to Sunday’s ACC Championship Game.

What are the seeds for the ACC baseball tournament?

Here are the seedings for the 2026 ACC baseball tournament, along with conference records:

1. Georgia Tech (25-5)
2. North Carolina (22-8)
3. Florida State (19-11)
4. Boston College (18-14)
5. Miami (16-14)
6. Wake Forest (16-14)
7. Virginia Tech (15-15)
8. Virginia (14-16)
9. NC State (14-16)
10. Notre Dame (13-17)
11. Louisville (13-17)
12. Stanford (13-17)
13. California (12-18)
14. Pittsburgh (11-19)
15. Clemson (10-20)
16. Duke (10-20)

What is the bracket for the ACC baseball tournament?

Here is the bracket for this year’s ACC baseball tournament, courtesy of the ACC:

Who are the favorites in the ACC baseball tournament?

We start at the top of the standings with Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets are coming off the greatest regular season in school history. Georgia Tech polished off its second consecutive regular-season title this weekend, sweeping Boston College on the road to clinch the regular-season conference championship. And they closed out the regular season with another run-rule victory, defeating Boston College by a final score of 15-2 in just seven innings. It was the sixth sweep of an ACC series this season, and in those three wins over the Eagles, Georgia Tech won by a combined score of 38-3, the most lopsided sweep over a Top 25 opponent in school history.

The Yellow Jackets can absolutely mash, and enter the conference tournament leading all of baseball in several offensive categories including batting average (.358), hits (674), on-base percentage (.469), scoring (10.7 runs per game), and slugging percentage (.630).

However, the Yellow Jackets are the No. 3 team in the country according to the latest Top 25 from D1 Baseball, as North Carolina clocks in at No. 2. While Georgia Tech finished the year with a 45-9 regular-season record North Carolina came in at 43-10-1. When these two teams met in Chapel Hill back in mid-April, North Carolina took two games of the three-game series.

ACC baseball tournament schedule and scores

Here is the schedule, and scores, for the ACC baseball tournament.

All games are in Charlotte, North Carolina. The lower seed will be the visiting team for each game.

First Round: Tuesday, May 19

Game 1: No. 16 Duke 21, No. 9 NC State 12 (NC State eliminated)
Game 2: No. 12 Stanford 11, No. 13 California 4 (California eliminated)
Game 3: No. 10 Notre Dame 5, No. 15 Clemson 4 (Clemson eliminated)
Game 4: No. 14 Pittsburgh 16, No. 11 Louisville 8 (Louisville eliminated)

Second Round: Wednesday, May 20

Game 5: No. 16 Duke vs. No. 8 Virginia, 9:00 a.m., Eastern
Game 6: No. 12 Stanford vs. No. 5 Miami, 1:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 7: No. 10 Notre Dame vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech, 5:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 8: No. 14 Pittsburgh vs. No. 6 Wake Forest, 9:00 p.m., Eastern

Quarterfinals: Thursday, May 21

Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 1 Georgia Tech, 3:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 10: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 4 Boston College, 7:00 p.m., Eastern

Quarterfinals: Friday, May 22

Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 2 North Carolina, 3:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 3 Florida State, 7:00 p.m., Eastern

Semifinals: Saturday, May 23

Game 13: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 1:00 p.m., Eastern
Game 14: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 5:00 p.m., Eastern

Championship: Sunday, May 24

Game 15: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner, 12:00 p.m., Eastern

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#ACC #baseball #tournament #Schedule #scores #bracket

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Europa League final gives Unai Emery chance to extend remarkable record in competition <div id="content-body-71001818" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Europa League specialist Unai Emery is aiming to win the trophy for a record-extending fifth time and with a third different team.</p><p>His Aston Villa team faces Freiburg in Istanbul later on Wednesday when he can further enhance his remarkable record in the competition.</p><p>Having won Europe’s secondary trophy three years running with Sevilla from 2014-16, he then lifted it again with Villarreal in 2021.</p><p>Spot a pattern?</p><p>If his club’s fans are looking for a lucky omen, this is the third team with ‘Villa’ in its name that Emery has guided to the Europa League final and perhaps the third that he will lead to glory.</p><p>Not that the Spaniard, who has been a serial winner during his coaching career, is taking anything for granted.</p><p><b>READ: <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/arsenal-wins-premier-league-after-22-years-how-gunners-won-epl-under-mikel-arteta/article71001494.ece#google_vignette" target="_blank">Arsenal crowned Premier League champion — How Arteta transformed Gunners into winners?</a></b></p><p>“I am not a ‘king’ in this competition,” he said during his pre-match news conference on Tuesday. “I am now, again, with Aston Villa in a new chapter. Everything I did is done, and of course, it’s there in that moment.</p><p>“I need to win tomorrow with the players we have now, with Aston Villa now, with the opponent we will face tomorrow now. It’s a new way, a new moment, and hopefully a new era.”</p><p>Villa, which is fourth in the Premier League and guaranteed to qualify for next season’s Champions League, is the favourite to beat a Freiburg team that is seventh in the Bundesliga and 10 years ago, was playing in Germany’s second division.</p><p>This is its first European final.</p><p>“It is very special,” Freiburg coach Julian Schuster said. “I have so much confidence in my team, and they give me that belief because there’s so much quality. I am not nervous; we have the confidence we need to play a great team and a great coach tomorrow.”</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on May 20, 2026</p></div> #Europa #League #final #Unai #Emery #chance #extend #remarkable #record #competition

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Deadspin | Ivan Herrera blast helps rescue Cardinals against Pirates <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-900/29003725.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/29003725.jpg" alt="MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">May 19, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) hits a single against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Ivan Herrera’s three-run home run in the bottom of the 10th lifted the host St. Louis Cardinals to a 9-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Herrera’s three-run home run — a 410-foot blast to left center field — off Pirates reliever Mason Montgomery (1-1) was the fourth home run of the game for the Cardinals, who won for the fourth time in their past five games and dealt the Pirates their fourth consecutive loss.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Nolan Gorman, JJ Wetherholt and Alec Burleson all hit home runs as well.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Herrera’s heroics followed a single by Wetherholt that put runners at the corners and advanced the ghost runner, Victor Scott II, to third.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>George Soriano (2-0) retired the Pirates in order in the top of the 10th, stranding Brandon Lowe at second.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>The Pirates trailed 6-4 heading into the top of the ninth before loading the bases with no outs on Cardinals closer Riley O’Brien. Marcell Ozuna grounded into a double play, which allowed Nick Gonzales to score. Spencer Horwitz then tied the game with a two-out single to score Konnor Griffin.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-7"> <p>Gorman’s go-ahead, two-run home run off Pirates reliever Evan Sisk with two outs in the bottom of the sixth came after Pittsburgh rallied from a 3-0 deficit with four runs in the top of the fifth, highlighted by a game-tying two-run double by Bryan Reynolds and a go-ahead RBI single by Oneil Cruz.</p> </section> <section id="section-8"> <p>But the Cardinals started their comeback when Pirates starter Mitch Keller hit Burleson with a pitch with one out. Two batters later, Sisk replaced Keller and surrendered the 437-foot blast to center field by Gorman.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Matthew Liberatore started for the Cardinals and struck out nine. But Liberatore lasted only 4 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>The Pirates loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and Lowe scored their first run on a wild pitch by Liberatore, who then struck out Griffin.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>But Reynolds leveled the game by belting a ball to left field to score Jared Triolo and Gonzales. After Ozuna walked, Cruz drove in Reynolds.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Keller went 5 2/3 innings, allowed four runs on four hits and one walk and struck out three.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Ivan #Herrera #blast #helps #rescue #Cardinals #Pirates

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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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