Deadspin | ‘Patient’ Mariners chase elusive win vs. Rangers Apr 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson looks on during the game between the Rangers and the Mariners at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson is preaching patience. Which is exactly what long-suffering fans of the Seattle Mariners — a franchise celebrating its 50th anniversary season while still seeking its first World Series appearance — don’t want to hear. The host Mariners were shut out this season for the fourth time in 21 games, tied for the most in the major leagues, by the American League West-leading Texas Rangers 5-0 on Friday night. It was Seattle’s fourth consecutive defeat and dropped them to 0-4 against the Rangers this season. The series will continue Saturday in Seattle. “We keep talking about it. We keep looking at things and talking about things and trying things,” Wilson said of the Mariners’ offense, which ranks 28th of 30 MLB teams with a .209 batting average. “But sometimes you look at things and at some point you got to get a break here or there to get things rolling. And just, it doesn’t seem like it’s been there for us right yet. “This is the time of year where you have to be patient. There’s a long season ahead of us.” Mariners third baseman and leadoff hitter Brendan Donovan, one of the offense’s few bright spots, had to leave after three innings Friday due to a left hip issue. Wilson said Donovan would be re-evaluated Saturday. Six Rangers pitchers combined on a six-hitter in the series opener as Jacob deGrom needed 88 pitches to get through four innings and didn’t last the requisite five frames to qualify for the decision. That gave rookie right-hander Gavin Collyer an opportunity for his first MLB victory, and he took advantage of it. “Yeah, Jacob, the pitch count just in the first inning, it drove up and just couldn’t really recover. He still gave us four shutout innings, but we had to cover a lot of innings in the bullpen,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “Jacob was grinding through it. I mean, he didn’t feel great the whole night, and then for the bullpen to come in and do what they did against a really tough team was really impressive. “And Collyer to get his first one. Pretty cool, be a good moment. It was just fun to see him go out there and execute like he did.” Wyatt Langford, Jake Burger and Josh Jung all contributed three hits to the Rangers’ 15-hit attack, and Brandon Nimmo provided the only run Texas needed when he hit a leadoff homer in the first inning. Saturday’s game is scheduled to feature a pair of right-handers in the Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 5.40 ERA) and the Mariners’ George Kirby (2-2, 3.25). Eovaldi has won his past two starts, including 3-2 against the visiting Mariners on April 7 when he went six innings and allowed two runs on six hits, with two walks and seven strikeouts. He then pitched seven scoreless innings in an 8-1 victory against the Athletics on Monday in West Sacramento, Calif. Eovaldi is 3-4 with a 5.27 ERA in 14 career starts against Seattle. Kirby snapped a two-start losing streak with a 6-2 victory against visiting Houston on Monday, when he allowed two runs over 7 2/3 innings. Kirby took the loss against the Rangers and Eovaldi on April 7 despite giving up three runs over eight innings. Kirby is 8-1 with a 1.31 ERA in 11 previous starts vs. the Rangers. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Patient #Mariners #chase #elusive #win #Rangers

Deadspin | ‘Patient’ Mariners chase elusive win vs. Rangers
Apr 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson looks on during the game between the Rangers and the Mariners at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson is preaching patience.

Which is exactly what long-suffering fans of the Seattle Mariners — a franchise celebrating its 50th anniversary season while still seeking its first World Series appearance — don’t want to hear.

The host Mariners were shut out this season for the fourth time in 21 games, tied for the most in the major leagues, by the American League West-leading Texas Rangers 5-0 on Friday night.

It was Seattle’s fourth consecutive defeat and dropped them to 0-4 against the Rangers this season. The series will continue Saturday in Seattle.

“We keep talking about it. We keep looking at things and talking about things and trying things,” Wilson said of the Mariners’ offense, which ranks 28th of 30 MLB teams with a .209 batting average. “But sometimes you look at things and at some point you got to get a break here or there to get things rolling. And just, it doesn’t seem like it’s been there for us right yet.

“This is the time of year where you have to be patient. There’s a long season ahead of us.”

Mariners third baseman and leadoff hitter Brendan Donovan, one of the offense’s few bright spots, had to leave after three innings Friday due to a left hip issue. Wilson said Donovan would be re-evaluated Saturday.

Six Rangers pitchers combined on a six-hitter in the series opener as Jacob deGrom needed 88 pitches to get through four innings and didn’t last the requisite five frames to qualify for the decision. That gave rookie right-hander Gavin Collyer an opportunity for his first MLB victory, and he took advantage of it.

“Yeah, Jacob, the pitch count just in the first inning, it drove up and just couldn’t really recover. He still gave us four shutout innings, but we had to cover a lot of innings in the bullpen,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “Jacob was grinding through it. I mean, he didn’t feel great the whole night, and then for the bullpen to come in and do what they did against a really tough team was really impressive.

“And Collyer to get his first one. Pretty cool, be a good moment. It was just fun to see him go out there and execute like he did.”

Wyatt Langford, Jake Burger and Josh Jung all contributed three hits to the Rangers’ 15-hit attack, and Brandon Nimmo provided the only run Texas needed when he hit a leadoff homer in the first inning.

Saturday’s game is scheduled to feature a pair of right-handers in the Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 5.40 ERA) and the Mariners’ George Kirby (2-2, 3.25).

Eovaldi has won his past two starts, including 3-2 against the visiting Mariners on April 7 when he went six innings and allowed two runs on six hits, with two walks and seven strikeouts. He then pitched seven scoreless innings in an 8-1 victory against the Athletics on Monday in West Sacramento, Calif.

Eovaldi is 3-4 with a 5.27 ERA in 14 career starts against Seattle.

Kirby snapped a two-start losing streak with a 6-2 victory against visiting Houston on Monday, when he allowed two runs over 7 2/3 innings. Kirby took the loss against the Rangers and Eovaldi on April 7 despite giving up three runs over eight innings.

Kirby is 8-1 with a 1.31 ERA in 11 previous starts vs. the Rangers.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Patient #Mariners #chase #elusive #win #Rangers

Sports news April 18, 2026

Apr 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson looks on during the game between the Rangers and the Mariners at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson is preaching patience.

Which is exactly what long-suffering fans of the Seattle Mariners — a franchise celebrating its 50th anniversary season while still seeking its first World Series appearance — don’t want to hear.

The host Mariners were shut out this season for the fourth time in 21 games, tied for the most in the major leagues, by the American League West-leading Texas Rangers 5-0 on Friday night.

It was Seattle’s fourth consecutive defeat and dropped them to 0-4 against the Rangers this season. The series will continue Saturday in Seattle.

“We keep talking about it. We keep looking at things and talking about things and trying things,” Wilson said of the Mariners’ offense, which ranks 28th of 30 MLB teams with a .209 batting average. “But sometimes you look at things and at some point you got to get a break here or there to get things rolling. And just, it doesn’t seem like it’s been there for us right yet.

“This is the time of year where you have to be patient. There’s a long season ahead of us.”

Mariners third baseman and leadoff hitter Brendan Donovan, one of the offense’s few bright spots, had to leave after three innings Friday due to a left hip issue. Wilson said Donovan would be re-evaluated Saturday.

Six Rangers pitchers combined on a six-hitter in the series opener as Jacob deGrom needed 88 pitches to get through four innings and didn’t last the requisite five frames to qualify for the decision. That gave rookie right-hander Gavin Collyer an opportunity for his first MLB victory, and he took advantage of it.

“Yeah, Jacob, the pitch count just in the first inning, it drove up and just couldn’t really recover. He still gave us four shutout innings, but we had to cover a lot of innings in the bullpen,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “Jacob was grinding through it. I mean, he didn’t feel great the whole night, and then for the bullpen to come in and do what they did against a really tough team was really impressive.

“And Collyer to get his first one. Pretty cool, be a good moment. It was just fun to see him go out there and execute like he did.”

Wyatt Langford, Jake Burger and Josh Jung all contributed three hits to the Rangers’ 15-hit attack, and Brandon Nimmo provided the only run Texas needed when he hit a leadoff homer in the first inning.

Saturday’s game is scheduled to feature a pair of right-handers in the Rangers’ Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 5.40 ERA) and the Mariners’ George Kirby (2-2, 3.25).

Eovaldi has won his past two starts, including 3-2 against the visiting Mariners on April 7 when he went six innings and allowed two runs on six hits, with two walks and seven strikeouts. He then pitched seven scoreless innings in an 8-1 victory against the Athletics on Monday in West Sacramento, Calif.

Eovaldi is 3-4 with a 5.27 ERA in 14 career starts against Seattle.

Kirby snapped a two-start losing streak with a 6-2 victory against visiting Houston on Monday, when he allowed two runs over 7 2/3 innings. Kirby took the loss against the Rangers and Eovaldi on April 7 despite giving up three runs over eight innings.

Kirby is 8-1 with a 1.31 ERA in 11 previous starts vs. the Rangers.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Patient #Mariners #chase #elusive #win #Rangers

Dortmund all but out of Bundesliga title race after Hoffenheim loss <div id="content-body-70878647" itemprop="articleBody">Hoffenheim’s Andrej Kramaric scored two penalties, including one deep in second-half stoppage time, to ‌give the host a 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund ⁠on Saturday and gift Bundesliga leader Bayern Munich the chance to wrap up ‌the title with a win or a draw over ‌VfB Stuttgart on Sunday.Dortmund is on ⁠64 points with four ⁠matches left, while Bayern is 12 points clear at the top and will win its second ‌successive league crown with a win or draw on Sunday.Dortmund was on the back foot throughout the ‌encounter with Kramaric converting a 42nd-minute penalty to give Hoffenheim a fully deserved lead.ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/football/bundesliga/marie-louise-eta-union-berlin-first-match-loss-wolfsburg-bundesliga-football-latest-news/article70878541.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Union Berlin loses on Marie-Louise Eta debut as Wolfsburg secures 2-1 win</a>The ⁠visitor showed no signs of a comeback in the second half ‌with Hoffenheim again in full control of the game, until Serhou Guirassy got the ball at the edge of the box and unleashed an unstoppable low ‌drive to level.But Kramaric scored from the spot again in stoppage time, after a hand ball, to ⁠give the host the three points.Hoffenheim ⁠moved up to fifth place on 54, two behind ‌fourth place, the last spot for a Champions League ticket next season.Published on Apr 18, 2026</div> #Dortmund #Bundesliga #title #race #Hoffenheim #loss

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

mwasimuddin125 0

Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It’s a thank-you letter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Belonging.

And that sense of belonging changed me.

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

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

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

Thank you, Arizona.

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

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

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

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

Most of all, you gave me a home.

With love and gratitude,

(signed)

Larry Fitzgerald

HOF 26

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home">Deadspin | Larry Fitzgerald thanks all of Arizona: ‘You gave me a home’

Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Fitzgerald and his son Devin Fitzgerald unveil his bust during the Class of 2026 enshrinement ceremony at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 8, 2026.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It’s a thank-you letter.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Belonging.

And that sense of belonging changed me.

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

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

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

Thank you, Arizona.

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

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

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

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

Most of all, you gave me a home.

With love and gratitude,

(signed)

Larry Fitzgerald

HOF 26

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Larry #Fitzgerald #Arizona #gave #home

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.

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

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

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

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

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making">

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

mwasimuddin125 0

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

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making">Larry Fitzgerald’s Hall of Fame induction is 25 years in the making

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

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

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

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

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

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

Larry Fitzgerald Jr. was special even back then.

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

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

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

#Larry #Fitzgeralds #Hall #Fame #induction #years #making

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

TOSS

Tiruppur Tamizhans won the toss and chose to bowl first.

PLAYING XIs

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

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

Published on Aug 09, 2026

#TNPL #Live #Allround #batting #display #propels #Nellai #Royal #Kings">