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The 4 big winners from WNBA All-Star Weekend WNBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, and it was an action-packed couple of days in Chicago. The competition began on Friday night, as Azzi Fudd, Natisha Hiedeman, Bridget Carleton, Marina Mabrey, Rhyne Howard, and Janelle Salaun battled in the Three-Point Contest.Then, on Saturday night, Team Spoon beat Team Coop 129-122 in the All-Star game, headlined by big performances from Jonquel Jones, Allisha Gray, Caitlin Clark, and Nneka Ogwumike, among others.Here were the biggest winners from All-Star weekend.The Dallas Wings guard became the first-ever rookie to win the Three-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend. Fudd made 17 of 27 threes in the first round, before ultimately edging out Bridget Carleton in the final round with a score of 30 (after hitting 21 of 27 threes). Portland Fire guard Bridget Carleton came in second place.“It’s fun to do because — and I don’t want to sound cocky — but it’s easy to me, just the set shot,” Fudd said after the win. “Take the ball from the rack; it really is muscle memory. It’s what I’ve been doing since I was young.”Fudd is shooting 38.7% from three in her rookie season. As the winner of the three-point shootout, she earned a ,000 prize.Dominique Malonga, Seattle StormThe 20-year-old French phenom dunked for the first time in her WNBA career on Saturday night. Malonga, named an All-Star in her second season, finished the All-Star game with 12 points and 13 rebounds, but no moment was as big as her breakaway slam. She joins Lisa Leslie, Jonquel Jones, Brittney Griner, and Sylvia Fowles as players to have dunked in WNBA history.Malonga is having a superb sophomore campaign for the Storm, averaging 16.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.6% from the field.Jonquel Jones, New York LibertyJonquel Jones’ list of accolades keeps on growing. The Liberty star won All-Star Game MVP after pouring in 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, adding to her collection of hardware that includes a Finals MVP (2024), a Commissioner’s Cup MVP (2023), a league MVP (2021), and six All-Star appearances. Jones became the only player in WNBA history with all four MVP awards.Jones’ weekend, however, was somehow tainted by the fact that a controversial comment of hers was picked up on Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman’s StudBudz stream on Thursday night. Jones told Williams that the Minnesota Lynx deserved to win more than the Liberty in 2024, a comment that almost instantly went viral and angered Liberty fans.“What I said, it didn’t really come out in the way that I meant it,” Jones said Saturday, while visibly emotional. “What I was just saying is that you can have a team that has a lot of chemistry, that is great on paper, that has had a great season, and it’s still not enough to get it done, and that’s what I was trying to explain to her with that whole clip.Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx) and Natisha Hiedeman (Seattle Storm)It was the second consecutive year of the StudBudz stream, and it was once again a huge hit. The 24/7 livestream did not come without its controversial moments (see: above), but Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman successfully took fans behind the scenes for the biggest weekend of the WNBA season while continuing to showcase their own inimitable personalities.On top of the StudBudz stream, both players also had their own on-court responsibilities at All-Star, too.Williams appeared in her third All-Star Game, adding 12 points and 7 assists in 19 minutes off the bench. Hiedeman was not an All-Star, but appeared in the Three-Point Contest. (Hiedeman tallied the lowest score in the field, finishing with 17 points in the opening round).Williams and Hiedeman have now become an integral part of the All-Star Weekend viewing experience. #big #winners #WNBA #AllStar #Weekend

The 4 big winners from WNBA All-Star Weekend

WNBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, and it was an action-packed couple of days in Chicago. The competition began on Friday night, as Azzi Fudd, Natisha Hiedeman, Bridget Carleton, Marina Mabrey, Rhyne Howard, and Janelle Salaun battled in the Three-Point Contest.

Then, on Saturday night, Team Spoon beat Team Coop 129-122 in the All-Star game, headlined by big performances from Jonquel Jones, Allisha Gray, Caitlin Clark, and Nneka Ogwumike, among others.

Here were the biggest winners from All-Star weekend.

The Dallas Wings guard became the first-ever rookie to win the Three-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend. Fudd made 17 of 27 threes in the first round, before ultimately edging out Bridget Carleton in the final round with a score of 30 (after hitting 21 of 27 threes). Portland Fire guard Bridget Carleton came in second place.

“It’s fun to do because — and I don’t want to sound cocky — but it’s easy to me, just the set shot,” Fudd said after the win. “Take the ball from the rack; it really is muscle memory. It’s what I’ve been doing since I was young.”

Fudd is shooting 38.7% from three in her rookie season. As the winner of the three-point shootout, she earned a $70,000 prize.

Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm

The 20-year-old French phenom dunked for the first time in her WNBA career on Saturday night. Malonga, named an All-Star in her second season, finished the All-Star game with 12 points and 13 rebounds, but no moment was as big as her breakaway slam. She joins Lisa Leslie, Jonquel Jones, Brittney Griner, and Sylvia Fowles as players to have dunked in WNBA history.

Malonga is having a superb sophomore campaign for the Storm, averaging 16.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.6% from the field.

Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty

Jonquel Jones’ list of accolades keeps on growing. The Liberty star won All-Star Game MVP after pouring in 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, adding to her collection of hardware that includes a Finals MVP (2024), a Commissioner’s Cup MVP (2023), a league MVP (2021), and six All-Star appearances. Jones became the only player in WNBA history with all four MVP awards.

Jones’ weekend, however, was somehow tainted by the fact that a controversial comment of hers was picked up on Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman’s StudBudz stream on Thursday night. Jones told Williams that the Minnesota Lynx deserved to win more than the Liberty in 2024, a comment that almost instantly went viral and angered Liberty fans.

“What I said, it didn’t really come out in the way that I meant it,” Jones said Saturday, while visibly emotional. “What I was just saying is that you can have a team that has a lot of chemistry, that is great on paper, that has had a great season, and it’s still not enough to get it done, and that’s what I was trying to explain to her with that whole clip.

Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx) and Natisha Hiedeman (Seattle Storm)

It was the second consecutive year of the StudBudz stream, and it was once again a huge hit. The 24/7 livestream did not come without its controversial moments (see: above), but Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman successfully took fans behind the scenes for the biggest weekend of the WNBA season while continuing to showcase their own inimitable personalities.

On top of the StudBudz stream, both players also had their own on-court responsibilities at All-Star, too.

Williams appeared in her third All-Star Game, adding 12 points and 7 assists in 19 minutes off the bench. Hiedeman was not an All-Star, but appeared in the Three-Point Contest. (Hiedeman tallied the lowest score in the field, finishing with 17 points in the opening round).

Williams and Hiedeman have now become an integral part of the All-Star Weekend viewing experience.

#big #winners #WNBA #AllStar #Weekend

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WNBA All-Star Weekend has come and gone, and it was an action-packed couple of days in Chicago. The competition began on Friday night, as Azzi Fudd, Natisha Hiedeman, Bridget Carleton, Marina Mabrey, Rhyne Howard, and Janelle Salaun battled in the Three-Point Contest.

Then, on Saturday night, Team Spoon beat Team Coop 129-122 in the All-Star game, headlined by big performances from Jonquel Jones, Allisha Gray, Caitlin Clark, and Nneka Ogwumike, among others.

Here were the biggest winners from All-Star weekend.

The Dallas Wings guard became the first-ever rookie to win the Three-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend. Fudd made 17 of 27 threes in the first round, before ultimately edging out Bridget Carleton in the final round with a score of 30 (after hitting 21 of 27 threes). Portland Fire guard Bridget Carleton came in second place.

“It’s fun to do because — and I don’t want to sound cocky — but it’s easy to me, just the set shot,” Fudd said after the win. “Take the ball from the rack; it really is muscle memory. It’s what I’ve been doing since I was young.”

Fudd is shooting 38.7% from three in her rookie season. As the winner of the three-point shootout, she earned a $70,000 prize.

Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm

The 20-year-old French phenom dunked for the first time in her WNBA career on Saturday night. Malonga, named an All-Star in her second season, finished the All-Star game with 12 points and 13 rebounds, but no moment was as big as her breakaway slam. She joins Lisa Leslie, Jonquel Jones, Brittney Griner, and Sylvia Fowles as players to have dunked in WNBA history.

Malonga is having a superb sophomore campaign for the Storm, averaging 16.3 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 47.6% from the field.

Jonquel Jones, New York Liberty

Jonquel Jones’ list of accolades keeps on growing. The Liberty star won All-Star Game MVP after pouring in 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 assists, adding to her collection of hardware that includes a Finals MVP (2024), a Commissioner’s Cup MVP (2023), a league MVP (2021), and six All-Star appearances. Jones became the only player in WNBA history with all four MVP awards.

Jones’ weekend, however, was somehow tainted by the fact that a controversial comment of hers was picked up on Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman’s StudBudz stream on Thursday night. Jones told Williams that the Minnesota Lynx deserved to win more than the Liberty in 2024, a comment that almost instantly went viral and angered Liberty fans.

“What I said, it didn’t really come out in the way that I meant it,” Jones said Saturday, while visibly emotional. “What I was just saying is that you can have a team that has a lot of chemistry, that is great on paper, that has had a great season, and it’s still not enough to get it done, and that’s what I was trying to explain to her with that whole clip.

Courtney Williams (Minnesota Lynx) and Natisha Hiedeman (Seattle Storm)

It was the second consecutive year of the StudBudz stream, and it was once again a huge hit. The 24/7 livestream did not come without its controversial moments (see: above), but Courtney Williams and Natisha Hiedeman successfully took fans behind the scenes for the biggest weekend of the WNBA season while continuing to showcase their own inimitable personalities.

On top of the StudBudz stream, both players also had their own on-court responsibilities at All-Star, too.

Williams appeared in her third All-Star Game, adding 12 points and 7 assists in 19 minutes off the bench. Hiedeman was not an All-Star, but appeared in the Three-Point Contest. (Hiedeman tallied the lowest score in the field, finishing with 17 points in the opening round).

Williams and Hiedeman have now become an integral part of the All-Star Weekend viewing experience.

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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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