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IPL 2026: Lucknow Super Giants announces George Linde as replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga Lucknow Super Giants has announced South African all-rounder George Linde as its replacement for Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.Lucknow mein swagat hai, George Linde ❤️💙The Protea all-rounder replaces Wanindu Hasaranga in our squad for #TATAIPL 2026 pic.twitter.com/CZaSypy7ZR— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) April 10, 2026The 28-year-old Hasaranga — who was signed by LSG for Rs. 2 crore at the auction — was ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a hamstring injury and had not taken a fitness test to receive the necessary No-Objection Certificate required to participate in the IPL.LSG director of cricket Tom Moody had confirmed during its match against KKR on Thursday that the team had been actively searching for a replacement for Hasaranga.ALSO READ: RR vs RCB, IPL 2026 Guwahati weather updates: Will rain delay today’s match?Linde, who has played three Tests, four ODIs, and 37 T20Is for South Africa, has not played in the IPL before, and will join LSG at his reserve price of Rs. 1 crore. He bowls left-arm spin and bats in the lower-order.The 34-year-old — who has featured in franchise leagues such as SA20, the Hundred, Major League Cricket, and the PSL in the last year — will join LSG’s spin attack alongside the likes of Digvesh Rathi, Shahbaz Ahmed, and M. Siddharth.Published on Apr 10, 2026 #IPL #Lucknow #Super #Giants #announces #George #Linde #replacement #Wanindu #Hasaranga

IPL 2026: Lucknow Super Giants announces George Linde as replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga

Lucknow Super Giants has announced South African all-rounder George Linde as its replacement for Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

The 28-year-old Hasaranga — who was signed by LSG for Rs. 2 crore at the auction — was ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a hamstring injury and had not taken a fitness test to receive the necessary No-Objection Certificate required to participate in the IPL.

LSG director of cricket Tom Moody had confirmed during its match against KKR on Thursday that the team had been actively searching for a replacement for Hasaranga.

ALSO READ: RR vs RCB, IPL 2026 Guwahati weather updates: Will rain delay today’s match?

Linde, who has played three Tests, four ODIs, and 37 T20Is for South Africa, has not played in the IPL before, and will join LSG at his reserve price of Rs. 1 crore. He bowls left-arm spin and bats in the lower-order.

The 34-year-old — who has featured in franchise leagues such as SA20, the Hundred, Major League Cricket, and the PSL in the last year — will join LSG’s spin attack alongside the likes of Digvesh Rathi, Shahbaz Ahmed, and M. Siddharth.

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#IPL #Lucknow #Super #Giants #announces #George #Linde #replacement #Wanindu #Hasaranga

Sports news , , , , ,

Lucknow Super Giants has announced South African all-rounder George Linde as its replacement for Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.

The 28-year-old Hasaranga — who was signed by LSG for Rs. 2 crore at the auction — was ruled out of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a hamstring injury and had not taken a fitness test to receive the necessary No-Objection Certificate required to participate in the IPL.

LSG director of cricket Tom Moody had confirmed during its match against KKR on Thursday that the team had been actively searching for a replacement for Hasaranga.

ALSO READ: RR vs RCB, IPL 2026 Guwahati weather updates: Will rain delay today’s match?

Linde, who has played three Tests, four ODIs, and 37 T20Is for South Africa, has not played in the IPL before, and will join LSG at his reserve price of Rs. 1 crore. He bowls left-arm spin and bats in the lower-order.

The 34-year-old — who has featured in franchise leagues such as SA20, the Hundred, Major League Cricket, and the PSL in the last year — will join LSG’s spin attack alongside the likes of Digvesh Rathi, Shahbaz Ahmed, and M. Siddharth.

Published on Apr 10, 2026



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#IPL #Lucknow #Super #Giants #announces #George #Linde #replacement #Wanindu #Hasaranga

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Deadspin | Birdie barrage gives Rory McIlroy largest 36-hole lead in Masters history <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-900/28702379.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28702379.jpg" alt="PGA: Masters Tournament - Second Round" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 10, 2026; Augusta, Georgia, USA; Rory McIlroy reacts after a putt on the 18th green during the second round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Katie Goodale-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy’s quest to become the fourth player to win consecutive Masters might turn into a 36-hole march toward history thanks to a late birdie barrage on Friday that gave him a record six-shot lead heading into the weekend at Augusta National.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>McIlroy carded six birdies over his final seven holes — including a chip-in from 29 yards on No. 17 — to shoot a 7-under-par 65 and sit at 12 under halfway through the 90th Masters. It’s one shot better than the score McIlroy posted in 72 holes last April before winning his first green jacket in a playoff.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>“I knew I had some chances coming in when I was standing on the 12th tee, but I didn’t think I’d birdie six of the last seven,” McIlroy said. “It just shows what you can do around here.”</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The Northern Irishman will be paired in Saturday’s final group with Sam Burns, who shared the 18-hole lead with McIlroy at 5 under. Burns also took advantage of a back nine at Augusta National that gave way to unexpectedly low scores Friday. He closed with three birdies over his final four holes to get under par for the day with a 71 and become the first to reach the clubhouse at 6 under.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>Burns moved into the final pairing when Patrick Reed’s 6-foot par putt on the 18th hole slid left of the cup. That left the 2018 Masters champion with matching 69s to sit at 6 under for the tournament. Reed briefly tied the lead with a birdie on No. 12 to reach 6 under for the first time, which occurred while McIlroy was bogeying No. 10.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Reed climbed to 7 under before suffering his lone bogey of the day at 18.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>“The worst part and the thing that frustrated me most is I hit every golf shot how I wanted to,” Reed said. “On 18 you’re having to get up and down, and then hit the putt where I wanted to and just doesn’t go in. Things like that happen around here. In golf in general.”</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Playing three groups behind Reed, McIlroy was catching fire. He started with a birdie on the 12th hole that surrendered 19 on the day, then drove it into the pine straw on 13 yet managed a birdie anyway. McIlroy repeated the scrambling act on the par-5 15th hole and knocked it to three feet for birdie on the par-3 16th before his Houdini act on 17. The Northern Irishman then hit his approach to six feet on 18 to set the stage for the closing birdie.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>McIlroy holds the largest 36-hole lead in Masters history — and the third largest in any major — despite hitting only five fairways on Friday and 13 of 28 through two rounds. He has managed to hit 13 greens both days while relying heavily on his short game.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>“But my wedge play today was really good. My short game the first two days has been amazing,” McIlroy said. “I’ve built up a nice cushion at this point. My mindset is just trying to keep playing well and keeping my foot on the gas.”</p> </section><br/><section id="section-11"> <p>If he’s able to close out the victory, he would join Jack Nicklaus (1965-66), Nick Faldo (1989-1990) and Tiger Woods (2001-02) as the only players to win consecutive Masters. Only 18 players have won multiple Masters titles at any point in their careers.</p> </section> <section id="section-12"> <p>“I think the next two days for me is really about focusing on myself,” McIlroy said. “It’s hard to avoid those big leaderboards out there, but like I know that I’ve got a lead. So, I don’t need to keep checking it all the time. For me, just really focusing on myself and staying in my own little world out there is the best thing.”</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Reed will be paired on Saturday with England’s Justin Rose, who was the first of three players to reach the clubhouse at 5 under on Friday.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>For a while, it appeared Rose might be set up for a Saturday pairing with McIlroy 12 months after their dramatic playoff showdown. Rose reached 5 under with a birdie on the 11th hole before immediately giving it back on the 12th. He battled back with a birdie on the 15th and parred out from there.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>England’s Tommy Fleetwood and Ireland’s Shane Lowry are also at 5 under and will be paired on Saturday. Another shot back is Tyrrell Hatton, who set the tone for the lower-than-expected scoring in the second round by posting a 6-under 66. He is at 4 under along with Wyndham Clark, Cameron Young, Australia’s Jason Day, China’s Haotong Li and Kristoffer Reitan, only the second Norwegian to compete in the Masters.</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>“This is my best start thus far at Augusta and I’m just really excited to be in this position,” said Clark, whose only other sub-par score in seven previous rounds at the Masters was also a 68 in last year’s second round. “This morning kind of throughout the whole day wasn’t as firm as yesterday. I know we went off in the morning, typically it’s softer.</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>“I think as the tournament goes on, I mean, these greens are going to be concrete. Obviously getting really fast without the wind, so it’s going to really matter hitting it in the fairway and the angles and being patient.”</p> </section><section id="section-18"> <p>The extremely difficult conditions predicted by many players after scores rose throughout Thursday’s first round never materialized on Friday. The scoring average dropped nearly two shots, from 74.65 to 72.85. After only five players broke 70 in the first round, there were 20 scores in the 60s on Friday.</p> </section><section id="section-19"> <p>“There wasn’t a ton of wind. It felt somewhat gettable,” Rose said. “I thought the pins were just a little easier than yesterday.”</p> </section><section id="section-20"> <p>Scottie Scheffler, who was unable to capitalize on the conditions, said he expects Augusta National’s teeth to return for the weekend. The two-time Masters champion and World No. 1 struggled to a 74 that left him at even par for the tournament and 12 shots off McIlroy’s lead.</p> </section><section id="section-21"> <p>“I felt like the greens would get firmer as the week went on, but I think they may have saw how difficult it was late in the day yesterday,” Scheffler said. “It felt like they softened them up a bit today, but I couldn’t imagine them doing that the rest of the weekend.”</p> </section><br/><section id="section-22"> <p>–Derek Harper, Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Birdie #barrage #Rory #McIlroy #largest #36hole #lead #Masters #history

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Deadspin | Blue bloods Denver, Wisconsin clash in Frozen Four championship game <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-900/28694814.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28694814.jpg" alt="NCAA Hockey: Frozen Four-Semifinal 1" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 9, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Wisconsin Badgers defenseman Aiden Dubinsky (28) celebrates with goalie Daniel Hauser (31) after defeating North Dakota Fighting Hawks in the semifinals of the NCAA men’s ice hockey Frozen Four at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>The first-ever Frozen Four played in Las Vegas culminates with historic blue bloods Denver and Wisconsin meeting for a national championship on Saturday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The competitors have taken different paths to the ultimate game. Denver (28-11-3) carries 12-game winning and 16-game unbeaten streaks to be within one victory of its record 11th all-time title. Wisconsin (24-12-2) seeks to complete a Cinderella run to its first crown in two decades after receiving a proverbial second life in the NCAA tournament following a Big Ten quarterfinal loss.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>In their semifinal round games on Thursday, both teams bent but didn’t break.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The Pioneers, who recently won it all in both 2022 and 2024, were outshot 52-26 but topped No. 1 overall seed Michigan 4-3 on senior captain and defenseman Kent Anderson’s double-overtime goal. It was the third-longest game in Frozen Four history.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>“It means everything to play in this national championship game,” Anderson said. “It’s our goal at the beginning of the year. It’s what we work for and what we play for at Denver.”</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Though the Pioneers boast a Frozen Four-high 15 NHL draft picks, this time of year in hockey is all about unsung heroes. Anderson is certainly one of those, having scored just one previous goal this season and five in his first 148 career games.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>“Really proud of him and how he’s led this team,” Denver coach David Carle said. “Not many had him on the ‘BucciOT Challenge.’ No matter.”</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>Meanwhile, the Badgers got goals from Simon Tassy and Ryan Botterill 27 seconds apart in the first period and went 5-for-5 on the penalty kill — including 1:57 of 5-on-3 time in the second — before holding off a late North Dakota surge in a 2-1 win.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-9"> <p>“It doesn’t have to be (a) Mona Lisa,” Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings said. “You just have to find a way to make sure you’re living for another day.”</p> </section> <section id="section-10"> <p>The Badgers entered Thursday with the second-worst penalty kill in the country (70.9%), but they stepped up at the most crucial time against a high-octane offense.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>“Guys took a lot of effort on blocking shots, getting in lanes,” said defenseman Ben Dexheimer, who propelled Wisconsin to its first Frozen Four since 2010 with an overtime goal for a 4-3 win over regional top seed Michigan State on March 28 in Worcester, Mass.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Denver is at its best on the back end, having entered the Frozen Four tied for the fourth-best scoring defense in the country (2.10 goals per game).</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>On that note, the best penalty killers and key reasons why both teams advanced were the goaltenders: Wisconsin’s Daniel Hauser and Denver’s Johnny Hicks — both older freshmen with past Canadian major junior experience.</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>Hauser made 21 saves in Thursday’s game, posting his eighth win in nine starts.</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>However, no goalie on the planet is on a hotter run than Hicks, who is an incredible 15-0-1 with a .957 save percentage since taking over the net from Quentin Miller in December. He stopped a season-high 49 shots against Michigan, staying in the game after taking a third-period hit on a drive to the net.</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>“He’s a battler. He’s unfazed. He was our best player,” Carle said. “Made the saves you’re supposed to. Made a lot that he wasn’t supposed to.”</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>The two teams had one previous national championship meeting in Boston in 1973, with Wisconsin winning 4-2. That was the first of six Badgers titles, the most recent coming in 2006.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-18"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Blue #bloods #Denver #Wisconsin #clash #Frozen #championship #game

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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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