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IWL 2025-26 Phase 2 to kick off on April 27 in Kolkata — Full list of fixtures, schedule The second phase of the Indian Women’s League 2025-26 will kick off on Monday, April 27, in Kolkata, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said on Thursday.The proceedings will start with East Bengal FC versus Sribhumi FC, a fixture rescheduled from Phase 1, at the East Bengal Ground on April 27.Phase 1, which was held from December 20, 2025, to January 9, 2026, saw 27 matches. The league took a hiatus of more than three months to allow player availability for the senior and Under-20 women’s national teams camps for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in March and the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in April.A further 29 matches will be played in Phase 2 from April 27 to May 18, with the eight teams playing each other in the second leg of the double round-robin format of the league. The matches will be played in two venues — AIFF National Centre of Excellence and the East Bengal Ground. All matches will kick off at 3pm IST and 7pm IST.IWL 2025-26 Phase 2 full list of fixtures East Bengal vs Sribhumi FC – April 27, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST Nita FA vs Kickstart FC – April 30, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST Gokulam Kerala vs SESA FA – April 30, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST East Bengal vs Sethu FC – April 30, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST Sribhumi FC vs Garhwal United – April 30, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST SESA FA vs Kickstart FC – May 3, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST Nita FA vs Garhwal United – May 3, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST Sethu FC vs Sribhumi FC – May 3, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST East Bengal vs Gokulam Kerala – May 3, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST Garhwal United vs Gokulam Kerala – May 6, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST Nita FA vs Sethu FC – May 6, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST SESA FA vs Sribhumi FC – May 6, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST East Bengal vs Kickstart FC – May 6, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST Kickstart FC vs Gokulam Kerala – May 9, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST Garhwal United vs Sethu FC – May 9, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST SESA FA vs East Bengal – May 9, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST Sribhumi FC vs Nita FA – May 9, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST Sethu FC vs SESA FA – May 12, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST Garhwal United vs Kickstart FC – May 12, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST Sribhumi FC vs Gokulam Kerala – May 12, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST East Bengal vs Nita FA – May 12, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST SESA FA vs Nita FA – May 15, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST Gokulam Kerala vs Sethu FC – May 15, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST Sribhumi FC vs Kickstart FC – May 15, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST Garhwal United vs East Bengal – May 15, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST SESA FA vs Garhwal United – May 18, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST Kickstart FC vs Sethu FC – May 18, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST Gokulam Kerala vs Nita FA – May 18, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST Sribhumi FC vs East Bengal – May 18, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST Defending champion East Bengal FC is currently at the top of the table with 18 points from six games, while Sesa FA and Kickstart FC occupy the relegation spots with one and six points, respectively.The team with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned champion. On the other hand, the seventh and eighth-placed sides will be relegated to IWL 2 next season.The top two teams from IWL 2 2025-26 final round will be promoted to IWL 2026-27.Published on Apr 16, 2026 #IWL #Phase #kick #April #Kolkata #Full #list #fixtures #schedule

IWL 2025-26 Phase 2 to kick off on April 27 in Kolkata — Full list of fixtures, schedule

The second phase of the Indian Women’s League 2025-26 will kick off on Monday, April 27, in Kolkata, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said on Thursday.

The proceedings will start with East Bengal FC versus Sribhumi FC, a fixture rescheduled from Phase 1, at the East Bengal Ground on April 27.

Phase 1, which was held from December 20, 2025, to January 9, 2026, saw 27 matches. The league took a hiatus of more than three months to allow player availability for the senior and Under-20 women’s national teams camps for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in March and the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in April.

A further 29 matches will be played in Phase 2 from April 27 to May 18, with the eight teams playing each other in the second leg of the double round-robin format of the league. The matches will be played in two venues — AIFF National Centre of Excellence and the East Bengal Ground. All matches will kick off at 3pm IST and 7pm IST.

IWL 2025-26 Phase 2 full list of fixtures

East Bengal vs Sribhumi FC – April 27, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

Nita FA vs Kickstart FC – April 30, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Gokulam Kerala vs SESA FA – April 30, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

East Bengal vs Sethu FC – April 30, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

Sribhumi FC vs Garhwal United – April 30, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

SESA FA vs Kickstart FC – May 3, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Nita FA vs Garhwal United – May 3, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

Sethu FC vs Sribhumi FC – May 3, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

East Bengal vs Gokulam Kerala – May 3, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

Garhwal United vs Gokulam Kerala – May 6, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Nita FA vs Sethu FC – May 6, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

SESA FA vs Sribhumi FC – May 6, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

East Bengal vs Kickstart FC – May 6, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

Kickstart FC vs Gokulam Kerala – May 9, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Garhwal United vs Sethu FC – May 9, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

SESA FA vs East Bengal – May 9, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

Sribhumi FC vs Nita FA – May 9, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

Sethu FC vs SESA FA – May 12, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Garhwal United vs Kickstart FC – May 12, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

Sribhumi FC vs Gokulam Kerala – May 12, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

East Bengal vs Nita FA – May 12, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

SESA FA vs Nita FA – May 15, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Gokulam Kerala vs Sethu FC – May 15, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

Sribhumi FC vs Kickstart FC – May 15, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

Garhwal United vs East Bengal – May 15, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

SESA FA vs Garhwal United – May 18, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Kickstart FC vs Sethu FC – May 18, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

Gokulam Kerala vs Nita FA – May 18, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

Sribhumi FC vs East Bengal – May 18, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

Defending champion East Bengal FC is currently at the top of the table with 18 points from six games, while Sesa FA and Kickstart FC occupy the relegation spots with one and six points, respectively.

The team with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned champion. On the other hand, the seventh and eighth-placed sides will be relegated to IWL 2 next season.

The top two teams from IWL 2 2025-26 final round will be promoted to IWL 2026-27.

Published on Apr 16, 2026

#IWL #Phase #kick #April #Kolkata #Full #list #fixtures #schedule

Sports news , , , , , , , , ,

The second phase of the Indian Women’s League 2025-26 will kick off on Monday, April 27, in Kolkata, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said on Thursday.

The proceedings will start with East Bengal FC versus Sribhumi FC, a fixture rescheduled from Phase 1, at the East Bengal Ground on April 27.

Phase 1, which was held from December 20, 2025, to January 9, 2026, saw 27 matches. The league took a hiatus of more than three months to allow player availability for the senior and Under-20 women’s national teams camps for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in March and the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in April.

A further 29 matches will be played in Phase 2 from April 27 to May 18, with the eight teams playing each other in the second leg of the double round-robin format of the league. The matches will be played in two venues — AIFF National Centre of Excellence and the East Bengal Ground. All matches will kick off at 3pm IST and 7pm IST.

IWL 2025-26 Phase 2 full list of fixtures

East Bengal vs Sribhumi FC – April 27, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

Nita FA vs Kickstart FC – April 30, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Gokulam Kerala vs SESA FA – April 30, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

East Bengal vs Sethu FC – April 30, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

Sribhumi FC vs Garhwal United – April 30, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

SESA FA vs Kickstart FC – May 3, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Nita FA vs Garhwal United – May 3, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

Sethu FC vs Sribhumi FC – May 3, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

East Bengal vs Gokulam Kerala – May 3, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

Garhwal United vs Gokulam Kerala – May 6, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Nita FA vs Sethu FC – May 6, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

SESA FA vs Sribhumi FC – May 6, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

East Bengal vs Kickstart FC – May 6, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

Kickstart FC vs Gokulam Kerala – May 9, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Garhwal United vs Sethu FC – May 9, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

SESA FA vs East Bengal – May 9, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

Sribhumi FC vs Nita FA – May 9, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

Sethu FC vs SESA FA – May 12, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Garhwal United vs Kickstart FC – May 12, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

Sribhumi FC vs Gokulam Kerala – May 12, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

East Bengal vs Nita FA – May 12, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

SESA FA vs Nita FA – May 15, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Gokulam Kerala vs Sethu FC – May 15, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

Sribhumi FC vs Kickstart FC – May 15, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

Garhwal United vs East Bengal – May 15, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

SESA FA vs Garhwal United – May 18, National Centre of Excellence at 3pm IST

Kickstart FC vs Sethu FC – May 18, National Centre of Excellence at 7pm IST

Gokulam Kerala vs Nita FA – May 18, East Bengal Ground at 3pm IST

Sribhumi FC vs East Bengal – May 18, East Bengal Ground at 7pm IST

Defending champion East Bengal FC is currently at the top of the table with 18 points from six games, while Sesa FA and Kickstart FC occupy the relegation spots with one and six points, respectively.

The team with the most points at the end of the season will be crowned champion. On the other hand, the seventh and eighth-placed sides will be relegated to IWL 2 next season.

The top two teams from IWL 2 2025-26 final round will be promoted to IWL 2026-27.

Published on Apr 16, 2026

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#IWL #Phase #kick #April #Kolkata #Full #list #fixtures #schedule

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Cuban president vows defense of island if US invades<div data-tracking-skip="true" data-tracking-name="rich-text"><p>Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday said, “We don’t want that [confrontation] but it is our duty to be ready to avoid it… and if it were unavoidable, to win it.”</p> <p>Diaz-Canel made the remarks in <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/cuba/t-19151673">Cuba</a>‘s capital Havana during a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/united-states-of-america/t-19065189">US</a>‘s failed 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion — a CIA-backed operation launched after US-owned properties and businesses on the island were nationalized by Fidel Castro and his fellow revolutionaries.</p> <p>Diaz-Canel told thousands gathered for the event that the nation is “ready” for another attack as US President <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/us-president-donald-trump-russia-ukraine-israel-gaza-tariffs-trade-war/t-19434433">Donald Trump</a> continues to threaten the tiny southern neighbor.</p> <div class="vjs-wrapper embed big"><h2 aria-label="Embedded video — Cuba faces economic collapse as US oil blockade hits tourism" class="headline"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 20 20"><g fill-rule="evenodd"><path d="M14.114 7.599H13.5l.002 4.706h.601l4.582 3.25-.005-11.11zM11.084 4.444l-9.007.002-1.336.797.002 9.514 1.334.793 9.007.006 1.509-.799-.004-9.516z"/></g></svg>Cuba faces economic collapse as US oil blockade hits tourism</h2><video id="video-76398387" controls="" playsinline="" preload="none" poster="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-id="76398387" data-posterurl="https://static.dw.com/image/76424429_605.webp" data-duration="03:25"><source src="https://hlsvod.dw.com/i/vps/webvideos/ENG/2026/BUSI/BUSIENG260317_QWI_Kuba_CMS_01SMW_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8" type="application/x-mpegURL"><source src="https://tvdownloaddw-a.akamaihd.net/vps/webvideos/ENG/2026/BUSI/BUSIENG260317_QWI_Kuba_CMS_01SMW_AVC_1920x1080.mp4" type="video/mp4"><track src="https://www.dw.com/media/subtitles/76412293" srclang="en" label="ENGLISH" default=""><p class="vjs-no-js">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href="https://videojs.com/html5-video-support/" target="_blank">supports HTML5 video</a></p></track></source></source></video></div> <h2>Cuba and the US: A long and contentious history between neighbors</h2> <p>The <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/the-turbulent-history-of-us-cuban-relations/a-76563311">US and Cuba have been archenemies</a> since <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/cubas-revolution/a-76035841">the country’s 1959 revolution</a> and Trump has breathed new life into the 1823 Monroe Doctrine, a US policy designed to thwart European meddling in the Western Hemisphere.</p> <p>Late last year, Trump <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/us-deploys-aircraft-carrier-to-caribbean-as-war-fears-rise/a-74495957">ordered US warships to the Caribbean</a> to sink what the US has described as drug smuggling boats in the region.</p> <p>In January, Trump cited the policy when the US military arrested Venezuelan leader <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/nicolas-maduro/t-75392378">Nicolas Maduro</a> and extradited him to the US to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.</p> <p><a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/whats-next-for-venezuela-oil-after-us-ousts-maduro/a-75383322">After Maduro’s abduction</a>, Trump ordered a blockade of oil and gas to Cuba and began threatening that “Cuba’s next.”</p> <p>After launching a war against Iran on February 28, Trump has again floated the idea of “taking” Cuba, which has also suffered <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/trump-and-blackouts-force-cuba-to-the-negotiation-table/a-76441091">massive nationwide blackouts as a result of the US oil blockade</a>.</p> <h2>Diaz-Canel: ‘Cuba is a besieged state’</h2> <p>In his Thursday remarks, Diaz-Canel called the current situation “very grave,” yet he also drew on the Socialist ideals espoused by Fidel Castro at the start of the Cuban revolution.</p> <p>Further, he rejected Trump’s claims that Cuba is “a failing nation,” accusing the US of looking for a pretext for action.</p> <p>“Cuba is not a failed state. Cuba is a besieged state,” said Diaz-Canel. “Cuba is a state facing multidimensional aggression: economic warfare, an intensified blockade and an energy blockade.”</p> <p>Recently, <a class="internal-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/cuban-president-confirms-talks-with-us/a-76355516">talks between both sides</a> — designed to reduce tensions — have been ongoing, yet few details have emerged.</p> <p>The trade embargo that the US placed on Cuba in response to its revolution remains in place nearly 70 years later.</p> <div class="vjs-wrapper embed big"><h2 aria-label="Embedded video — Is Donald Trump going to take on Cuba next?" class="headline"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 20 20"><g fill-rule="evenodd"><path d="M14.114 7.599H13.5l.002 4.706h.601l4.582 3.25-.005-11.11zM11.084 4.444l-9.007.002-1.336.797.002 9.514 1.334.793 9.007.006 1.509-.799-.004-9.516z"/></g></svg>Is Donald Trump going to take on Cuba next?</h2><video id="video-76719281" controls="" playsinline="" preload="none" poster="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-id="76719281" data-posterurl="https://static.dw.com/image/76729583_605.webp" data-duration="13:04"><source src="https://hlsvod.dw.com/i/vps/webvideos/ENG/2026/NEWS/NEWSENG260408_IsCubaNext_01ICW_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8" type="application/x-mpegURL"><source src="https://tvdownloaddw-a.akamaihd.net/vps/webvideos/ENG/2026/NEWS/NEWSENG260408_IsCubaNext_01ICW_AVC_1920x1080.mp4" type="video/mp4"><p class="vjs-no-js">To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that <a href="https://videojs.com/html5-video-support/" target="_blank">supports HTML5 video</a></p></source></source></video></div> <p><em>Edited by: Wesley Dockery </em></p> </div>#Cuban #president #vows #defense #island #invades

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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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