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NBA roundup: Knicks top Celtics to extend home win streak to six; LeBron-led Lakers down Warriors  Josh Hart had 26 points and Jalen Brunson added 25 points and 10 assists as the New York Knicks extended its home winning streak to six games by beating the visiting Boston Celtics 112-106 on Thursday.Boston was within 109-106 ​after a Nikola Vucevic basket with 35.6 seconds left, but a Hart 3-pointer extended the lead to six points with 15.2 seconds remaining. ‌Hart made 5 of 7 3-point attempts, including two in the final minute.New York, which can ​still catch Boston and finish as high as second in the Eastern Conference standings, received 16 points ⁠and 12 rebounds from Karl- Anthony Towns.Jayson Tatum led Boston with 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Payton Pritchard added 23 points and Baylor Scheierman finished with 20. Scheierman made 6 of 7 3-point shots. Jaylen Brown (Achilles) sat out.Rockets 113, 76ers 102Kevin Durant scored a ‌game-high 29 points and drilled a critical late 3-pointer that helped host Houston fend off hard-charging Philadelphia. Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant scored 29 points in the team’s win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Getty Images
                            

                            Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant scored 29 points in the team’s win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Getty Images
                                                    The Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games but had to sweat out the final minutes, when what ‌was once a 28-point lead was trimmed to three. Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson added 19 points ‌apiece ⁠for Houston.The 76ers, who have lost three straight, played without Joel Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy ⁠earlier on Thursday. Tyrese Maxey paced Philadelphia with 23 points while VJ Edgecombe added 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists.Raptors 128, Heat 114Brandon Ingram scored 23 of his 38 points in the first half as Toronto defeated visiting Miami to complete a four-game sweep of the Heat and move into ​fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.RJ Barrett complemented Ingram ‌with 22 points for the Raptors, while Collin Murray-Boyles went perfect from the field in scoring 17 points. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley added 13 and 11 points, respectively.Bam Adebayo bounced back from a disappointing performance Tuesday by tallying 24 points and adding 11 rebounds for Miami. Tyler Herro scored 15 points, while Davion Mitchell added 15 points ‌and 11 assists.Bulls 119, Wizards 108Tre Jones scored 31 points, Collin Sexton had 27 and Leonard Miller ​recorded a career-high 26, fueling visiting Chicago to a victory over Washington.Jones sank 9 of 14 shots from the floor and all 12 of his attempts from the free-throw line for the Bulls, ⁠who rode a strong finish to the third quarter en route to defeating the Wizards for the second time in three days. Miller, who made 11 of 14 shots from the floor, added 11 rebounds to record his second double-double in three games.Washington ‌rookie Will Riley collected 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Julian Reese recorded 16 points and 15 boards. Leaky Black and Anthony Gill each scored 14 points for the undermanned Wizards, who dressed the league-minimum eight players on Thursday.Pacers 123, Nets 94Reserve Obi Toppin collected a season-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Indiana seized control in the first quarter and rolled to an easy victory over Brooklyn.Toppin, the only available player to appear in the NBA Finals last season for Indiana, made 11 of 14 shots in 19 minutes. Micah Potter added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Pacers, ‌who shot 52%, scored 80 points in the paint and outrebounded Brooklyn 66-43.E.J. Liddell led the Nets with a career-high 26 points and a ​career-best 10 rebounds. He made 10 of 16 shots and set his career high for scoring in a third straight game. Rookie Ben Saraf added 19 points and Tyson Etienne contributed 14.Lakers 119, Warriors ⁠103LeBron James tallied 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over ⁠Golden State in San Francisco.Deandre Ayton scored 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and Jake LaRavia added 16 points for the Lakers, who moved into a tie with the Houston Rockets for the No. 4 spot in the ‌Western Conference. Both teams are one game behind the Denver Nuggets. Luke Kennard finished with 14 points, Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. added 12 apiece and Bronny James had 10.Brandin Podziemski and Nate Williams led Golden State (37-43) ​with 17 points apiece. Charles Bassey, Pat Spencer and Malevy Leons each scored 12 points, Seth Curry added 11, and Gary Payton II had 10. Bassey grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds.Published on Apr 10, 2026  #NBA #roundup #Knicks #top #Celtics #extend #home #win #streak #LeBronled #Lakers #Warriors

NBA roundup: Knicks top Celtics to extend home win streak to six; LeBron-led Lakers down Warriors

Josh Hart had 26 points and Jalen Brunson added 25 points and 10 assists as the New York Knicks extended its home winning streak to six games by beating the visiting Boston Celtics 112-106 on Thursday.

Boston was within 109-106 ​after a Nikola Vucevic basket with 35.6 seconds left, but a Hart 3-pointer extended the lead to six points with 15.2 seconds remaining. ‌Hart made 5 of 7 3-point attempts, including two in the final minute.

New York, which can ​still catch Boston and finish as high as second in the Eastern Conference standings, received 16 points ⁠and 12 rebounds from Karl- Anthony Towns.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Payton Pritchard added 23 points and Baylor Scheierman finished with 20. Scheierman made 6 of 7 3-point shots. Jaylen Brown (Achilles) sat out.

Rockets 113, 76ers 102

Kevin Durant scored a ‌game-high 29 points and drilled a critical late 3-pointer that helped host Houston fend off hard-charging Philadelphia.

NBA roundup: Knicks top Celtics to extend home win streak to six; LeBron-led Lakers down Warriors  Josh Hart had 26 points and Jalen Brunson added 25 points and 10 assists as the New York Knicks extended its home winning streak to six games by beating the visiting Boston Celtics 112-106 on Thursday.Boston was within 109-106 ​after a Nikola Vucevic basket with 35.6 seconds left, but a Hart 3-pointer extended the lead to six points with 15.2 seconds remaining. ‌Hart made 5 of 7 3-point attempts, including two in the final minute.New York, which can ​still catch Boston and finish as high as second in the Eastern Conference standings, received 16 points ⁠and 12 rebounds from Karl- Anthony Towns.Jayson Tatum led Boston with 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Payton Pritchard added 23 points and Baylor Scheierman finished with 20. Scheierman made 6 of 7 3-point shots. Jaylen Brown (Achilles) sat out.Rockets 113, 76ers 102Kevin Durant scored a ‌game-high 29 points and drilled a critical late 3-pointer that helped host Houston fend off hard-charging Philadelphia. Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant scored 29 points in the team’s win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Getty Images
                            

                            Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant scored 29 points in the team’s win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
                                                            | Photo Credit: 
                                Getty Images
                                                    The Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games but had to sweat out the final minutes, when what ‌was once a 28-point lead was trimmed to three. Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson added 19 points ‌apiece ⁠for Houston.The 76ers, who have lost three straight, played without Joel Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy ⁠earlier on Thursday. Tyrese Maxey paced Philadelphia with 23 points while VJ Edgecombe added 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists.Raptors 128, Heat 114Brandon Ingram scored 23 of his 38 points in the first half as Toronto defeated visiting Miami to complete a four-game sweep of the Heat and move into ​fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.RJ Barrett complemented Ingram ‌with 22 points for the Raptors, while Collin Murray-Boyles went perfect from the field in scoring 17 points. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley added 13 and 11 points, respectively.Bam Adebayo bounced back from a disappointing performance Tuesday by tallying 24 points and adding 11 rebounds for Miami. Tyler Herro scored 15 points, while Davion Mitchell added 15 points ‌and 11 assists.Bulls 119, Wizards 108Tre Jones scored 31 points, Collin Sexton had 27 and Leonard Miller ​recorded a career-high 26, fueling visiting Chicago to a victory over Washington.Jones sank 9 of 14 shots from the floor and all 12 of his attempts from the free-throw line for the Bulls, ⁠who rode a strong finish to the third quarter en route to defeating the Wizards for the second time in three days. Miller, who made 11 of 14 shots from the floor, added 11 rebounds to record his second double-double in three games.Washington ‌rookie Will Riley collected 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Julian Reese recorded 16 points and 15 boards. Leaky Black and Anthony Gill each scored 14 points for the undermanned Wizards, who dressed the league-minimum eight players on Thursday.Pacers 123, Nets 94Reserve Obi Toppin collected a season-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Indiana seized control in the first quarter and rolled to an easy victory over Brooklyn.Toppin, the only available player to appear in the NBA Finals last season for Indiana, made 11 of 14 shots in 19 minutes. Micah Potter added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Pacers, ‌who shot 52%, scored 80 points in the paint and outrebounded Brooklyn 66-43.E.J. Liddell led the Nets with a career-high 26 points and a ​career-best 10 rebounds. He made 10 of 16 shots and set his career high for scoring in a third straight game. Rookie Ben Saraf added 19 points and Tyson Etienne contributed 14.Lakers 119, Warriors ⁠103LeBron James tallied 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over ⁠Golden State in San Francisco.Deandre Ayton scored 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and Jake LaRavia added 16 points for the Lakers, who moved into a tie with the Houston Rockets for the No. 4 spot in the ‌Western Conference. Both teams are one game behind the Denver Nuggets. Luke Kennard finished with 14 points, Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. added 12 apiece and Bronny James had 10.Brandin Podziemski and Nate Williams led Golden State (37-43) ​with 17 points apiece. Charles Bassey, Pat Spencer and Malevy Leons each scored 12 points, Seth Curry added 11, and Gary Payton II had 10. Bassey grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds.Published on Apr 10, 2026  #NBA #roundup #Knicks #top #Celtics #extend #home #win #streak #LeBronled #Lakers #Warriors

Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant scored 29 points in the team’s win against the Philadelphia 76ers. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

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Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant scored 29 points in the team’s win against the Philadelphia 76ers. | Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games but had to sweat out the final minutes, when what ‌was once a 28-point lead was trimmed to three. Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson added 19 points ‌apiece ⁠for Houston.

The 76ers, who have lost three straight, played without Joel Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy ⁠earlier on Thursday. Tyrese Maxey paced Philadelphia with 23 points while VJ Edgecombe added 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists.

Raptors 128, Heat 114

Brandon Ingram scored 23 of his 38 points in the first half as Toronto defeated visiting Miami to complete a four-game sweep of the Heat and move into ​fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.

RJ Barrett complemented Ingram ‌with 22 points for the Raptors, while Collin Murray-Boyles went perfect from the field in scoring 17 points. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley added 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Bam Adebayo bounced back from a disappointing performance Tuesday by tallying 24 points and adding 11 rebounds for Miami. Tyler Herro scored 15 points, while Davion Mitchell added 15 points ‌and 11 assists.

Bulls 119, Wizards 108

Tre Jones scored 31 points, Collin Sexton had 27 and Leonard Miller ​recorded a career-high 26, fueling visiting Chicago to a victory over Washington.

Jones sank 9 of 14 shots from the floor and all 12 of his attempts from the free-throw line for the Bulls, ⁠who rode a strong finish to the third quarter en route to defeating the Wizards for the second time in three days. Miller, who made 11 of 14 shots from the floor, added 11 rebounds to record his second double-double in three games.

Washington ‌rookie Will Riley collected 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Julian Reese recorded 16 points and 15 boards. Leaky Black and Anthony Gill each scored 14 points for the undermanned Wizards, who dressed the league-minimum eight players on Thursday.

Pacers 123, Nets 94

Reserve Obi Toppin collected a season-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Indiana seized control in the first quarter and rolled to an easy victory over Brooklyn.

Toppin, the only available player to appear in the NBA Finals last season for Indiana, made 11 of 14 shots in 19 minutes. Micah Potter added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Pacers, ‌who shot 52%, scored 80 points in the paint and outrebounded Brooklyn 66-43.

E.J. Liddell led the Nets with a career-high 26 points and a ​career-best 10 rebounds. He made 10 of 16 shots and set his career high for scoring in a third straight game. Rookie Ben Saraf added 19 points and Tyson Etienne contributed 14.

Lakers 119, Warriors ⁠103

LeBron James tallied 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over ⁠Golden State in San Francisco.

Deandre Ayton scored 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and Jake LaRavia added 16 points for the Lakers, who moved into a tie with the Houston Rockets for the No. 4 spot in the ‌Western Conference. Both teams are one game behind the Denver Nuggets. Luke Kennard finished with 14 points, Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. added 12 apiece and Bronny James had 10.

Brandin Podziemski and Nate Williams led Golden State (37-43) ​with 17 points apiece. Charles Bassey, Pat Spencer and Malevy Leons each scored 12 points, Seth Curry added 11, and Gary Payton II had 10. Bassey grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds.

Published on Apr 10, 2026

#NBA #roundup #Knicks #top #Celtics #extend #home #win #streak #LeBronled #Lakers #Warriors

Josh Hart had 26 points and Jalen Brunson added 25 points and 10 assists as the New York Knicks extended its home winning streak to six games by beating the visiting Boston Celtics 112-106 on Thursday.

Boston was within 109-106 ​after a Nikola Vucevic basket with 35.6 seconds left, but a Hart 3-pointer extended the lead to six points with 15.2 seconds remaining. ‌Hart made 5 of 7 3-point attempts, including two in the final minute.

New York, which can ​still catch Boston and finish as high as second in the Eastern Conference standings, received 16 points ⁠and 12 rebounds from Karl- Anthony Towns.

Jayson Tatum led Boston with 24 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists. Payton Pritchard added 23 points and Baylor Scheierman finished with 20. Scheierman made 6 of 7 3-point shots. Jaylen Brown (Achilles) sat out.

Rockets 113, 76ers 102

Kevin Durant scored a ‌game-high 29 points and drilled a critical late 3-pointer that helped host Houston fend off hard-charging Philadelphia.

Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant scored 29 points in the team’s win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images

lightbox-info

Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant scored 29 points in the team’s win against the Philadelphia 76ers.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images

The Rockets extended their winning streak to eight games but had to sweat out the final minutes, when what ‌was once a 28-point lead was trimmed to three. Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson added 19 points ‌apiece ⁠for Houston.

The 76ers, who have lost three straight, played without Joel Embiid, who underwent an emergency appendectomy ⁠earlier on Thursday. Tyrese Maxey paced Philadelphia with 23 points while VJ Edgecombe added 21 points, six rebounds and eight assists.

Raptors 128, Heat 114

Brandon Ingram scored 23 of his 38 points in the first half as Toronto defeated visiting Miami to complete a four-game sweep of the Heat and move into ​fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.

RJ Barrett complemented Ingram ‌with 22 points for the Raptors, while Collin Murray-Boyles went perfect from the field in scoring 17 points. Scottie Barnes and Immanuel Quickley added 13 and 11 points, respectively.

Bam Adebayo bounced back from a disappointing performance Tuesday by tallying 24 points and adding 11 rebounds for Miami. Tyler Herro scored 15 points, while Davion Mitchell added 15 points ‌and 11 assists.

Bulls 119, Wizards 108

Tre Jones scored 31 points, Collin Sexton had 27 and Leonard Miller ​recorded a career-high 26, fueling visiting Chicago to a victory over Washington.

Jones sank 9 of 14 shots from the floor and all 12 of his attempts from the free-throw line for the Bulls, ⁠who rode a strong finish to the third quarter en route to defeating the Wizards for the second time in three days. Miller, who made 11 of 14 shots from the floor, added 11 rebounds to record his second double-double in three games.

Washington ‌rookie Will Riley collected 23 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, and Julian Reese recorded 16 points and 15 boards. Leaky Black and Anthony Gill each scored 14 points for the undermanned Wizards, who dressed the league-minimum eight players on Thursday.

Pacers 123, Nets 94

Reserve Obi Toppin collected a season-high 26 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Indiana seized control in the first quarter and rolled to an easy victory over Brooklyn.

Toppin, the only available player to appear in the NBA Finals last season for Indiana, made 11 of 14 shots in 19 minutes. Micah Potter added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Pacers, ‌who shot 52%, scored 80 points in the paint and outrebounded Brooklyn 66-43.

E.J. Liddell led the Nets with a career-high 26 points and a ​career-best 10 rebounds. He made 10 of 16 shots and set his career high for scoring in a third straight game. Rookie Ben Saraf added 19 points and Tyson Etienne contributed 14.

Lakers 119, Warriors ⁠103

LeBron James tallied 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds as Los Angeles snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over ⁠Golden State in San Francisco.

Deandre Ayton scored 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and Jake LaRavia added 16 points for the Lakers, who moved into a tie with the Houston Rockets for the No. 4 spot in the ‌Western Conference. Both teams are one game behind the Denver Nuggets. Luke Kennard finished with 14 points, Rui Hachimura and Nick Smith Jr. added 12 apiece and Bronny James had 10.

Brandin Podziemski and Nate Williams led Golden State (37-43) ​with 17 points apiece. Charles Bassey, Pat Spencer and Malevy Leons each scored 12 points, Seth Curry added 11, and Gary Payton II had 10. Bassey grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds.

Published on Apr 10, 2026

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Deadspin | $1 million athlete: Jackie Young, Aces reportedly agree to historic deal <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-900/27353465.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/27353465.jpg" alt="WNBA: Las Vegas-Championship Celebration" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Oct 17, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) arrives on the red carpet during the Aces 2025 Championship celebration at Toshiba Plaza. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>All-Star guard Jackie Young and the Las Vegas Aces are close to agreeing on a one-year deal, according to a Thursday report from ESPN. The deal is expected to be worth $1.19 million, the maximum amount for players not eligible for the WNBA’s max contract of $1.4 million.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>That number would make Young the WNBA’s first million dollar athlete, making in excess of $1 million a year.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-3"> <p>The contract keeps Young, 28, off the free-agent market. The four-time All-Star averaged 16.5 points, 5.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals a game for Las Vegas in 2025, helping the Aces to their third WNBA championship in four years.</p> </section> <section id="section-4"> <p>Young was drafted first overall by the Aces in 2019 out of Notre Dame and signed a contract extension with Las Vegas in May of 2024. Young is a four-time All-Star and two-time All-WNBA selection and was named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2022. She has also won a pair of Olympic gold medals — with the 3×3 team in Tokyo in 2020 and 5-on-5 team in Paris in 2024 — and a national championship with Notre Dame in 2018.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>With Young presumably guaranteed to return, the Aces will attempt to retain center A’ja Wilson, a four-time MVP and two-time Finals MVP who said she wants to come back to Vegas, and guard Chelsea Gray, a six-time All-Star.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #million #athlete #Jackie #Young #Aces #reportedly #agree #historic #deal

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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