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SEC baseball tournament 2026: Schedule, scores, bracket, and more The SEC baseball tournament gets underway later today in Hoover, Alabama.And you might want to pay attention.As is often the case, the SEC baseball tournament sports a very deep field. According to the latest projections, 12 teams from the conference are expected to earn spots in the field of 64 come Selection Monday, but teams that are on the outside looking in — like Vanderbilt — could help themselves with a deep run down in Hoover.But at the top of the conference, teams like Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Auburn, and Alabama are looking to lock down spots as regional hosts in the field of 64.Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 SEC baseball tournament.What is the format for the SEC baseball tournament?The SEC baseball championship is a 16-team, single-elimination tournament. All 16 teams are entered.The top four teams in the conference — Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, and Alabama — are seeded No. 1 through No. 4, and all receive byes to the Quarterfinals, which begin on Thursday. The next four teams in the standings — Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, and Mississippi State — are seeded No. 5 through No. 8 and receive byes to the second round.The remaining eight teams will meet in the first round.All games are single elimination, building to Sunday’s SEC Championship Game.What are the seeds for the SEC baseball tournament?Here are the seeds for the SEC baseball tournament, along with conference record:1. Georgia (24-6)2. Texas (19-10)3. Texas A&M (18-11)4. Alabama (18-12)5. Florida (18-12)6. Auburn (17-13)7. Arkansas (17-13)8. Mississippi State (16-14)9. Ole Miss (15-15)10. Tennessee (15-15)11. Oklahoma (14-16)12. Vanderbilt (14-16)13. Kentucky (13-17)14. LSU (9-21)15. South Carolina (7-23)16. Missouri (6-24)What is the bracket for the SEC baseball tournament?Here is the SEC baseball tournament bracket, courtesy of the conference:Who are the favorites for the SEC baseball tournament?As is often the case, the SEC has one of the deepest conferences in all of college baseball.According to the latest projections for the field of 64, the conference is expected to see 12 teams in the overall field come Selection Monday. Five SEC teams — Georgia, Texas, Auburn, Alabama, and Texas A&M — are expected to be top eight seeds in the field. In addition Mississippi State and Florida are projected to be regional hosts.Georgia is the top seed in the tournament, and with good reason. The Bulldogs posted a 23-7 record in SEC play, and finished 43-12 overall. Georgia also can lean on the SEC Player of the Year in catcher Daniel Jackson, who secured the conference Triple Crown with a .394 batting average, 27 home runs, and 77 runs batted in. Jackson was one of four Bulldogs to earn All-SEC honors, along with third baseman Tre Phelps, outfielder Rylan Lugo, and shortstop Kolby Branch, who was an All-SEC Second-Team selection.Jackson is also the first catcher in Division 1 history to post a 25/25 season, as he added 25 stolen bases along with his 27 home runs.Texas comes into the tournament as the No. 2 seed, and the Longhorns are a balanced squad with some of the top arms in the conference. But Texas also has some youth, as outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. was named the SEC Freshman of the Year after slashing .360/.479/.559 while swiping 20 bases. The Longhorns also have freshman closer Sam Cozart, who posted an ERA of 1.59 along with a WHIP of 0.640, securing eight saves over the season.Then there is ace Dylan Volantis. The lefty was a First-Team All-SEC selection for the second consecutive season, after finishing the year with an 8-1 record and an ERA of 2.05. He posted a WHIP of 0.991 and notched 105 strikeouts, third-most in the SEC.But again, this is a very deep conference. Any of the top seeds in the SEC tournament, including Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, and Mississippi State, could make a deep run this week in Hoover.ACC baseball tournament schedule and scoresHere is the schedule, and scores, for the 2026 SEC baseball tournament.All games are in Hoover, Alabama. The lower seed will be the visiting team for each game.First round: Tuesday, May 19Game 1: No. 16 Missouri 10, No. 9 Ole Miss 8 (Ole Miss eliminated)Game 2: No. 12 Vanderbilt 8, No. 13 Kentucky 5 (Kentucky eliminated)Game 3: No. 10. Tennessee 11, No. 15 South Carolina 6 (South Carolina eliminated)Game 4: No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 LSU, 9:00 p.m. EasternSecond Round: Wednesday, May 20Game 5: No. 16 Missouri vs. No. 8 Mississippi State, 10:30 a.m. EasternGame 6: No. 12 Vanderbilt vs. No. 5 Florida, 2:00 p.m. EasternGame 7: No. 10 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Arkansas, 5:30 p.m. EasternGame 8: Game 4 Winner vs. No. 6 Auburn, 9:00 p.m. EasternQuarterfinals: Thursday, May 21Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 1 Georgia, 4:00 p.m. EasternGame 10: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 4 Alabama, 8:00 p.m. EasternQuarterfinals: Friday, May 22Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 2 Texas, 4:00 p.m. EasternGame 12: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 8:00 p.m. EasterSemifinals: Saturday, May 23Game 13: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 1:00 p.m. EasternGame 14: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 5:00 p.m. EasternChampionship: Sunday, May 24Game 15: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner #SEC #baseball #tournament #Schedule #scores #bracket

SEC baseball tournament 2026: Schedule, scores, bracket, and more

The SEC baseball tournament gets underway later today in Hoover, Alabama.

And you might want to pay attention.

As is often the case, the SEC baseball tournament sports a very deep field. According to the latest projections, 12 teams from the conference are expected to earn spots in the field of 64 come Selection Monday, but teams that are on the outside looking in — like Vanderbilt — could help themselves with a deep run down in Hoover.

But at the top of the conference, teams like Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Auburn, and Alabama are looking to lock down spots as regional hosts in the field of 64.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 SEC baseball tournament.

What is the format for the SEC baseball tournament?

The SEC baseball championship is a 16-team, single-elimination tournament. All 16 teams are entered.

The top four teams in the conference — Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, and Alabama — are seeded No. 1 through No. 4, and all receive byes to the Quarterfinals, which begin on Thursday. The next four teams in the standings — Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, and Mississippi State — are seeded No. 5 through No. 8 and receive byes to the second round.

The remaining eight teams will meet in the first round.

All games are single elimination, building to Sunday’s SEC Championship Game.

What are the seeds for the SEC baseball tournament?

Here are the seeds for the SEC baseball tournament, along with conference record:

1. Georgia (24-6)
2. Texas (19-10)
3. Texas A&M (18-11)
4. Alabama (18-12)
5. Florida (18-12)
6. Auburn (17-13)
7. Arkansas (17-13)
8. Mississippi State (16-14)
9. Ole Miss (15-15)
10. Tennessee (15-15)
11. Oklahoma (14-16)
12. Vanderbilt (14-16)
13. Kentucky (13-17)
14. LSU (9-21)
15. South Carolina (7-23)
16. Missouri (6-24)

What is the bracket for the SEC baseball tournament?

Here is the SEC baseball tournament bracket, courtesy of the conference:

Who are the favorites for the SEC baseball tournament?

As is often the case, the SEC has one of the deepest conferences in all of college baseball.

According to the latest projections for the field of 64, the conference is expected to see 12 teams in the overall field come Selection Monday. Five SEC teams — Georgia, Texas, Auburn, Alabama, and Texas A&M — are expected to be top eight seeds in the field. In addition Mississippi State and Florida are projected to be regional hosts.

Georgia is the top seed in the tournament, and with good reason. The Bulldogs posted a 23-7 record in SEC play, and finished 43-12 overall. Georgia also can lean on the SEC Player of the Year in catcher Daniel Jackson, who secured the conference Triple Crown with a .394 batting average, 27 home runs, and 77 runs batted in. Jackson was one of four Bulldogs to earn All-SEC honors, along with third baseman Tre Phelps, outfielder Rylan Lugo, and shortstop Kolby Branch, who was an All-SEC Second-Team selection.

Jackson is also the first catcher in Division 1 history to post a 25/25 season, as he added 25 stolen bases along with his 27 home runs.

Texas comes into the tournament as the No. 2 seed, and the Longhorns are a balanced squad with some of the top arms in the conference. But Texas also has some youth, as outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. was named the SEC Freshman of the Year after slashing .360/.479/.559 while swiping 20 bases. The Longhorns also have freshman closer Sam Cozart, who posted an ERA of 1.59 along with a WHIP of 0.640, securing eight saves over the season.

Then there is ace Dylan Volantis. The lefty was a First-Team All-SEC selection for the second consecutive season, after finishing the year with an 8-1 record and an ERA of 2.05. He posted a WHIP of 0.991 and notched 105 strikeouts, third-most in the SEC.

But again, this is a very deep conference. Any of the top seeds in the SEC tournament, including Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, and Mississippi State, could make a deep run this week in Hoover.

ACC baseball tournament schedule and scores

Here is the schedule, and scores, for the 2026 SEC baseball tournament.

All games are in Hoover, Alabama. The lower seed will be the visiting team for each game.

First round: Tuesday, May 19

Game 1: No. 16 Missouri 10, No. 9 Ole Miss 8 (Ole Miss eliminated)
Game 2: No. 12 Vanderbilt 8, No. 13 Kentucky 5 (Kentucky eliminated)
Game 3: No. 10. Tennessee 11, No. 15 South Carolina 6 (South Carolina eliminated)
Game 4: No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 LSU, 9:00 p.m. Eastern

Second Round: Wednesday, May 20

Game 5: No. 16 Missouri vs. No. 8 Mississippi State, 10:30 a.m. Eastern
Game 6: No. 12 Vanderbilt vs. No. 5 Florida, 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 7: No. 10 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Arkansas, 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. No. 6 Auburn, 9:00 p.m. Eastern

Quarterfinals: Thursday, May 21

Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 1 Georgia, 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 10: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 4 Alabama, 8:00 p.m. Eastern

Quarterfinals: Friday, May 22

Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 2 Texas, 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 8:00 p.m. Easter

Semifinals: Saturday, May 23

Game 13: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 14: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 5:00 p.m. Eastern

Championship: Sunday, May 24

Game 15: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner

#SEC #baseball #tournament #Schedule #scores #bracket

Sports news

The SEC baseball tournament gets underway later today in Hoover, Alabama.

And you might want to pay attention.

As is often the case, the SEC baseball tournament sports a very deep field. According to the latest projections, 12 teams from the conference are expected to earn spots in the field of 64 come Selection Monday, but teams that are on the outside looking in — like Vanderbilt — could help themselves with a deep run down in Hoover.

But at the top of the conference, teams like Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, Auburn, and Alabama are looking to lock down spots as regional hosts in the field of 64.

Here is everything you need to know about the 2026 SEC baseball tournament.

What is the format for the SEC baseball tournament?

The SEC baseball championship is a 16-team, single-elimination tournament. All 16 teams are entered.

The top four teams in the conference — Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M, and Alabama — are seeded No. 1 through No. 4, and all receive byes to the Quarterfinals, which begin on Thursday. The next four teams in the standings — Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, and Mississippi State — are seeded No. 5 through No. 8 and receive byes to the second round.

The remaining eight teams will meet in the first round.

All games are single elimination, building to Sunday’s SEC Championship Game.

What are the seeds for the SEC baseball tournament?

Here are the seeds for the SEC baseball tournament, along with conference record:

1. Georgia (24-6)
2. Texas (19-10)
3. Texas A&M (18-11)
4. Alabama (18-12)
5. Florida (18-12)
6. Auburn (17-13)
7. Arkansas (17-13)
8. Mississippi State (16-14)
9. Ole Miss (15-15)
10. Tennessee (15-15)
11. Oklahoma (14-16)
12. Vanderbilt (14-16)
13. Kentucky (13-17)
14. LSU (9-21)
15. South Carolina (7-23)
16. Missouri (6-24)

What is the bracket for the SEC baseball tournament?

Here is the SEC baseball tournament bracket, courtesy of the conference:

Who are the favorites for the SEC baseball tournament?

As is often the case, the SEC has one of the deepest conferences in all of college baseball.

According to the latest projections for the field of 64, the conference is expected to see 12 teams in the overall field come Selection Monday. Five SEC teams — Georgia, Texas, Auburn, Alabama, and Texas A&M — are expected to be top eight seeds in the field. In addition Mississippi State and Florida are projected to be regional hosts.

Georgia is the top seed in the tournament, and with good reason. The Bulldogs posted a 23-7 record in SEC play, and finished 43-12 overall. Georgia also can lean on the SEC Player of the Year in catcher Daniel Jackson, who secured the conference Triple Crown with a .394 batting average, 27 home runs, and 77 runs batted in. Jackson was one of four Bulldogs to earn All-SEC honors, along with third baseman Tre Phelps, outfielder Rylan Lugo, and shortstop Kolby Branch, who was an All-SEC Second-Team selection.

Jackson is also the first catcher in Division 1 history to post a 25/25 season, as he added 25 stolen bases along with his 27 home runs.

Texas comes into the tournament as the No. 2 seed, and the Longhorns are a balanced squad with some of the top arms in the conference. But Texas also has some youth, as outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. was named the SEC Freshman of the Year after slashing .360/.479/.559 while swiping 20 bases. The Longhorns also have freshman closer Sam Cozart, who posted an ERA of 1.59 along with a WHIP of 0.640, securing eight saves over the season.

Then there is ace Dylan Volantis. The lefty was a First-Team All-SEC selection for the second consecutive season, after finishing the year with an 8-1 record and an ERA of 2.05. He posted a WHIP of 0.991 and notched 105 strikeouts, third-most in the SEC.

But again, this is a very deep conference. Any of the top seeds in the SEC tournament, including Texas A&M, Alabama, Florida, Auburn, Arkansas, and Mississippi State, could make a deep run this week in Hoover.

ACC baseball tournament schedule and scores

Here is the schedule, and scores, for the 2026 SEC baseball tournament.

All games are in Hoover, Alabama. The lower seed will be the visiting team for each game.

First round: Tuesday, May 19

Game 1: No. 16 Missouri 10, No. 9 Ole Miss 8 (Ole Miss eliminated)
Game 2: No. 12 Vanderbilt 8, No. 13 Kentucky 5 (Kentucky eliminated)
Game 3: No. 10. Tennessee 11, No. 15 South Carolina 6 (South Carolina eliminated)
Game 4: No. 11 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 LSU, 9:00 p.m. Eastern

Second Round: Wednesday, May 20

Game 5: No. 16 Missouri vs. No. 8 Mississippi State, 10:30 a.m. Eastern
Game 6: No. 12 Vanderbilt vs. No. 5 Florida, 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 7: No. 10 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Arkansas, 5:30 p.m. Eastern
Game 8: Game 4 Winner vs. No. 6 Auburn, 9:00 p.m. Eastern

Quarterfinals: Thursday, May 21

Game 9: Game 5 Winner vs. No. 1 Georgia, 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 10: Game 6 Winner vs. No. 4 Alabama, 8:00 p.m. Eastern

Quarterfinals: Friday, May 22

Game 11: Game 7 Winner vs. No. 2 Texas, 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. No. 3 Texas A&M, 8:00 p.m. Easter

Semifinals: Saturday, May 23

Game 13: Game 9 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 1:00 p.m. Eastern
Game 14: Game 11 Winner vs. Game 12 Winner, 5:00 p.m. Eastern

Championship: Sunday, May 24

Game 15: Game 13 Winner vs. Game 14 Winner

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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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