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Deadspin | Cole Ragans eager to lead Royals to series win vs. Guardians Apr 2, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans (55) pitches during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Cole Ragans will look to guide the visiting Kansas City Royals to a series victory when he starts Wednesday afternoon’s game against fellow left-hander Joey Cantillo and the Cleveland Guardians. Ragans (0-2, 3.60 ERA) allowed an unearned run over six innings in his previous start, a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. He has 13 strikeouts in two starts so far, although he allowed three home runs to the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day. Ragans made the American League All-Star team in 2024 but was limited to 13 starts a season ago because of a groin strain in April and a rotator-cuff strain in June. “I thought he locked it in as he went more and more,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Ragans’ most recent start. “We’re going to take that result every time — six innings. And it looked like he was probably going to get five, but then the fourth, fifth and sixth were really good.” Ragans owns a 1-2 record with a 4.44 ERA and 26 strikeouts and eight walks in five career appearances (all starts) against the Guardians. Star slugger Jose Ramírez is 1-for-13 with a double and four strikeouts against Ragans. After breaking through in 2025 as an effective swing man, Cantillo (0-0, 3.00 ERA) figures to be a key cog in the rotation for Cleveland this season. He allowed one run and four hits while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings in his previous start, against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. The Guardians have won both of his starts. Cantillo told reporters he’s been trying to get his changeup in better form. It didn’t always feel right against the Cubs, he said. “That was definitely a focal point,” Cantillo said. “Like, ‘hey, let’s throw it regardless of how the first couple end up. It’s a pitch we’ve got to throw, so keep throwing it and make the adjustment with it.” Cantillo is 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA in five career appearances (two starts) against Kansas City. He pitched eight shutout innings against the Royals on Sept. 9, and he has allowed no more than two earned runs in any of his past nine starts dating to last season. Cleveland squared this series with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday afternoon, thanks to a walk-off RBI single by Brayan Rocchio in the ninth inning. Rookie infielder Juan Brito made his major league debut and finished with two hits, including a double. Cleveland added Brito to the active roster after placing Gabriel Arias on the 10-day injured list with a strained hamstring. “Getting the first hit was a fantastic moment that’s been a dream of mine since I was a child,” Brito told Guardians TV via a translator. The Royals mustered just one hit against the Guardians, a solo home run by Carter Jensen in the second inning. Cleveland pitchers combined to strike out 14 batters (and walk eight), with the Royals stranding seven runners. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said both pitching staffs had “gutsy” performances because of temperatures in the low 30s. The first pitch was moved ahead five hours because of an even chillier night-time forecast. “It was a tough day to pitch, a tough day to get feel,” Vogt said. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Cole #Ragans #eager #lead #Royals #series #win #Guardians

Deadspin | Cole Ragans eager to lead Royals to series win vs. Guardians
Deadspin | Cole Ragans eager to lead Royals to series win vs. Guardians Apr 2, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans (55) pitches during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Cole Ragans will look to guide the visiting Kansas City Royals to a series victory when he starts Wednesday afternoon’s game against fellow left-hander Joey Cantillo and the Cleveland Guardians. Ragans (0-2, 3.60 ERA) allowed an unearned run over six innings in his previous start, a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. He has 13 strikeouts in two starts so far, although he allowed three home runs to the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day. Ragans made the American League All-Star team in 2024 but was limited to 13 starts a season ago because of a groin strain in April and a rotator-cuff strain in June. “I thought he locked it in as he went more and more,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Ragans’ most recent start. “We’re going to take that result every time — six innings. And it looked like he was probably going to get five, but then the fourth, fifth and sixth were really good.” Ragans owns a 1-2 record with a 4.44 ERA and 26 strikeouts and eight walks in five career appearances (all starts) against the Guardians. Star slugger Jose Ramírez is 1-for-13 with a double and four strikeouts against Ragans. After breaking through in 2025 as an effective swing man, Cantillo (0-0, 3.00 ERA) figures to be a key cog in the rotation for Cleveland this season. He allowed one run and four hits while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings in his previous start, against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. The Guardians have won both of his starts. Cantillo told reporters he’s been trying to get his changeup in better form. It didn’t always feel right against the Cubs, he said. “That was definitely a focal point,” Cantillo said. “Like, ‘hey, let’s throw it regardless of how the first couple end up. It’s a pitch we’ve got to throw, so keep throwing it and make the adjustment with it.” Cantillo is 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA in five career appearances (two starts) against Kansas City. He pitched eight shutout innings against the Royals on Sept. 9, and he has allowed no more than two earned runs in any of his past nine starts dating to last season. Cleveland squared this series with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday afternoon, thanks to a walk-off RBI single by Brayan Rocchio in the ninth inning. Rookie infielder Juan Brito made his major league debut and finished with two hits, including a double. Cleveland added Brito to the active roster after placing Gabriel Arias on the 10-day injured list with a strained hamstring. “Getting the first hit was a fantastic moment that’s been a dream of mine since I was a child,” Brito told Guardians TV via a translator. The Royals mustered just one hit against the Guardians, a solo home run by Carter Jensen in the second inning. Cleveland pitchers combined to strike out 14 batters (and walk eight), with the Royals stranding seven runners. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said both pitching staffs had “gutsy” performances because of temperatures in the low 30s. The first pitch was moved ahead five hours because of an even chillier night-time forecast. “It was a tough day to pitch, a tough day to get feel,” Vogt said. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Cole #Ragans #eager #lead #Royals #series #win #GuardiansApr 2, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans (55) pitches during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Cole Ragans will look to guide the visiting Kansas City Royals to a series victory when he starts Wednesday afternoon’s game against fellow left-hander Joey Cantillo and the Cleveland Guardians.

Ragans (0-2, 3.60 ERA) allowed an unearned run over six innings in his previous start, a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. He has 13 strikeouts in two starts so far, although he allowed three home runs to the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day.

Ragans made the American League All-Star team in 2024 but was limited to 13 starts a season ago because of a groin strain in April and a rotator-cuff strain in June.

“I thought he locked it in as he went more and more,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Ragans’ most recent start. “We’re going to take that result every time — six innings. And it looked like he was probably going to get five, but then the fourth, fifth and sixth were really good.”

Ragans owns a 1-2 record with a 4.44 ERA and 26 strikeouts and eight walks in five career appearances (all starts) against the Guardians. Star slugger Jose Ramírez is 1-for-13 with a double and four strikeouts against Ragans.

After breaking through in 2025 as an effective swing man, Cantillo (0-0, 3.00 ERA) figures to be a key cog in the rotation for Cleveland this season. He allowed one run and four hits while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings in his previous start, against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. The Guardians have won both of his starts.

Cantillo told reporters he’s been trying to get his changeup in better form. It didn’t always feel right against the Cubs, he said.


“That was definitely a focal point,” Cantillo said. “Like, ‘hey, let’s throw it regardless of how the first couple end up. It’s a pitch we’ve got to throw, so keep throwing it and make the adjustment with it.”

Cantillo is 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA in five career appearances (two starts) against Kansas City. He pitched eight shutout innings against the Royals on Sept. 9, and he has allowed no more than two earned runs in any of his past nine starts dating to last season.

Cleveland squared this series with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday afternoon, thanks to a walk-off RBI single by Brayan Rocchio in the ninth inning.

Rookie infielder Juan Brito made his major league debut and finished with two hits, including a double. Cleveland added Brito to the active roster after placing Gabriel Arias on the 10-day injured list with a strained hamstring.

“Getting the first hit was a fantastic moment that’s been a dream of mine since I was a child,” Brito told Guardians TV via a translator.

The Royals mustered just one hit against the Guardians, a solo home run by Carter Jensen in the second inning. Cleveland pitchers combined to strike out 14 batters (and walk eight), with the Royals stranding seven runners.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said both pitching staffs had “gutsy” performances because of temperatures in the low 30s. The first pitch was moved ahead five hours because of an even chillier night-time forecast.

“It was a tough day to pitch, a tough day to get feel,” Vogt said.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Cole #Ragans #eager #lead #Royals #series #win #Guardians

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Apr 2, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Royals pitcher Cole Ragans (55) pitches during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Cole Ragans will look to guide the visiting Kansas City Royals to a series victory when he starts Wednesday afternoon’s game against fellow left-hander Joey Cantillo and the Cleveland Guardians.

Ragans (0-2, 3.60 ERA) allowed an unearned run over six innings in his previous start, a 5-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. He has 13 strikeouts in two starts so far, although he allowed three home runs to the Atlanta Braves on Opening Day.

Ragans made the American League All-Star team in 2024 but was limited to 13 starts a season ago because of a groin strain in April and a rotator-cuff strain in June.

“I thought he locked it in as he went more and more,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said of Ragans’ most recent start. “We’re going to take that result every time — six innings. And it looked like he was probably going to get five, but then the fourth, fifth and sixth were really good.”

Ragans owns a 1-2 record with a 4.44 ERA and 26 strikeouts and eight walks in five career appearances (all starts) against the Guardians. Star slugger Jose Ramírez is 1-for-13 with a double and four strikeouts against Ragans.

After breaking through in 2025 as an effective swing man, Cantillo (0-0, 3.00 ERA) figures to be a key cog in the rotation for Cleveland this season. He allowed one run and four hits while striking out six over 5 1/3 innings in his previous start, against the Chicago Cubs on Friday. The Guardians have won both of his starts.

Cantillo told reporters he’s been trying to get his changeup in better form. It didn’t always feel right against the Cubs, he said.

“That was definitely a focal point,” Cantillo said. “Like, ‘hey, let’s throw it regardless of how the first couple end up. It’s a pitch we’ve got to throw, so keep throwing it and make the adjustment with it.”

Cantillo is 1-1 with a 1.62 ERA in five career appearances (two starts) against Kansas City. He pitched eight shutout innings against the Royals on Sept. 9, and he has allowed no more than two earned runs in any of his past nine starts dating to last season.

Cleveland squared this series with a 2-1 victory on Tuesday afternoon, thanks to a walk-off RBI single by Brayan Rocchio in the ninth inning.

Rookie infielder Juan Brito made his major league debut and finished with two hits, including a double. Cleveland added Brito to the active roster after placing Gabriel Arias on the 10-day injured list with a strained hamstring.

“Getting the first hit was a fantastic moment that’s been a dream of mine since I was a child,” Brito told Guardians TV via a translator.

The Royals mustered just one hit against the Guardians, a solo home run by Carter Jensen in the second inning. Cleveland pitchers combined to strike out 14 batters (and walk eight), with the Royals stranding seven runners.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said both pitching staffs had “gutsy” performances because of temperatures in the low 30s. The first pitch was moved ahead five hours because of an even chillier night-time forecast.

“It was a tough day to pitch, a tough day to get feel,” Vogt said.

–Field Level Media

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Oregon coach asks recruits about their favorite ice cream, and it actually makes sense <div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Player evaluation is an inexact science, at best.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">For example, we are just over two weeks away from the 2026 NFL Draft, an endeavor where 32 professional teams, with every resource at their disposal, will still make mistakes after months and months of work. While there are many reasons players do not pan out at the next level, they often stem from what cannot always be seen on film, and rather what is inside that player mentally, and emotionally.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Which is why this moment from Oregon quarterback coach Koa Ka’ai stands out.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Ka’ai met the media recently, and was asked a question about evaluating potential recruits. The coach outlined how that evaluation, from his standpoint, often involves a non-football question.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">What flavor of ice cream does the recruit prefer, chocolate or vanilla?</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Now, Ka’ai does not care what flavor they pick, but he cares that they make a pick at all. He cares that they do not hesitate, and that they show conviction:</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">A quarterback wears many hats on a football team, but one of the ways to think about the position is this way: They need to diagnose and decide. A quarterback as to diagnose what a defense is doing on a particular play and then decide what to do with the football.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Of course, that process happens while some rather large people on the other side of the line of scrimmage are trying to put them in the hospital.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">As Ka’ai noted, “right, wrong, or indifferent” you need to have some kind of “conviction.” If a quarterback gets caught thinking between chocolate or vanilla in a meeting room in June, what will happen on 3rd-and-7 with a pair of linebackers walked up in the A-Gaps?</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Take what Terry Shea, whose coaching lineage includes Trent Green, Matthew Stafford, and Sam Bradford among others, had to say about the position in his fantastic book <em>Eyes Up:</em></p></div><div><blockquote class="duet--article--blockquote _1teeyfa0 ls9zuh9"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1teeyfa8 ls9zuh1">It can be argued that toughness — mental and physical — is as important as talent of self-confidence. One of the most challenging factors about quarterbacking is adjusting to the mental and emotional pressure. The pressure can be enormous in games at all levels. As the game unfolds, a quarterback’s mental toughness is keenly tested. To hang in there when you are worn down and your body hurts. To possess the nerve to release the ball with anticipation. To keep getting up after each hit. To keep coming back. To refuse to lose. This is how mental toughness is defined. A mentally tough quarterback produces the poise to play well in pressure situations and that is a defining virtue of quarterback play.</p></blockquote></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Or consider what none other than Bill Walsh wrote about quarterback play in his book <em>Finding the Winning Edge:</em></p></div><div><blockquote class="duet--article--blockquote _1teeyfa0 ls9zuh9"><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup _1teeyfa8 ls9zuh1">A quarterback must have the ability to handle the stress and pressures that occur during the game. He must be able to control his emotions to a point where he can think clearly, evaluate his options, and act rationally, regardless of the situation. Similar to other aspects of quarterbacking, within a reasonable period of time, an athlete will either show that he can deal with his emotions properly within the framework of the game or demonstrate to the coaching staff (by his actions) that further effort in this regard is a waste of time.</p></blockquote></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">Being decisive is a huge part of quarterback play, as is mental toughness.</p></div><div><p class="duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1">If it takes a question about ice cream to try and solve that particular riddle in evaluating a player, so be it.</p></div> #Oregon #coach #asks #recruits #favorite #ice #cream #sense

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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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