Everyone is in the same boat, yet some are paddling with their hands, while others are gripping two oars with an iron grip. You might be confused for thinking that we’re talking of the Ironborn from Game of Thrones instead of the various football authorities around Europe. But after the spread of COVID-19 reached pandemic proportions and football – along with virtually every other sport – was closed down, some competitions took the news better than others.

Is it better to look good on sitting the shore, or throw yourself into the water and start swimming? The Premier League has been accused of the latter when it comes to pushing for an end to the hiatus. With football officially on lockdown until “at least” April 30th, there are myriad tournaments that are either in hiatus or won’t take place for downwards of a year.

Euro 2020 has become Euro 2021. The Nations League may not even take place at all. The F.A. Cup, Champions League and Europa League may be reduced to smaller, single-attendance tournaments to bring them back in line with a timeframe that looks tight even if football were to return in May, which currently seems unlikely at the very least.

The Premier League, however, are still pushing for the season to be completed.

With the killing of March Madness just days before it was set to begin, college basketball fans were suddenly left with a huge void and an uncertainty over how to get their fix. The coronavirus forced March Madness to be dubbed March Sadness, but there’s a little bit of relief in sight for those left unfulfilled. Enter simulated March Madness competitions that are even offering prizes to ease the sting.

One of these competitions is being operated using College Hoops 2K from Electronic Arts. Even though the game was discontinued a decade ago, it’s still better than nothing, given the circumstances, and revives analytics, random number generators and expert opinions to help fans get over the loss of the real thing. Real-game simulations are included (but based on the older data) and the contest also provides other aspects, such as articles and game recaps, as if the action never missed a beat.

Fanvest Wagering Exchange, a fantasy sports startup, has gotten in on the fun, also, offering a simulated beta March Madness Portfolio Challenge. This platform allows users to buy teams at the beginning of each round using “Fanbucks” for the free-to-enter competition. Free doesn’t mean the simulated March Madness tournament isn’t without perks, though, and the users who log the best total gain by the end of the series are eligible to receive cash prizes. There isn’t a lot at stake – the top winner will score just $100 – but it’s still better than sitting at home watching daytime talk shows. John Culver, the co-founder and CEO of Fanvest, is excited about the alternative and asserts, “By innovating and being dynamic, we feel we’re better positioned than traditional sportsbooks.”

There’s also “Corona Madness.” Launched by Jackson Weimer and Josh Safran, it could be as close to the real thing as anyone could expect this year. Soliciting help from family members and friends, they’re running their own March Madness bracket based on the rankings from the regular season, and streaming games on eBaum’s World, a Twitch account that covers odd topics. They even set up a Selection Sunday list that, should the real March Madness have continued, defines which teams are matched up to start the final competition series. According to Safran, “We were looking around the internet and, ultimately, it comes down to no one has anything to do, so why not watch these kids play this video game?”

With the killing of March Madness just days before it was set to begin, college basketball fans were suddenly left with a huge void and an uncertainty over how to get their fix. The coronavirus forced March Madness to be dubbed March Sadness, but there’s a little bit of relief in sight for those left unfulfilled. Enter simulated March Madness competitions that are even offering prizes to ease the sting.

One of these competitions is being operated using College Hoops 2K from Electronic Arts. Even though the game was discontinued a decade ago, it’s still better than nothing, given the circumstances, and revives analytics, random number generators and expert opinions to help fans get over the loss of the real thing. Real-game simulations are included (but based on the older data) and the contest also provides other aspects, such as articles and game recaps, as if the action never missed a beat.

Fanvest Wagering Exchange, a fantasy sports startup, has gotten in on the fun, also, offering a simulated beta March Madness Portfolio Challenge. This platform allows users to buy teams at the beginning of each round using “Fanbucks” for the free-to-enter competition. Free doesn’t mean the simulated March Madness tournament isn’t without perks, though, and the users who log the best total gain by the end of the series are eligible to receive cash prizes. There isn’t a lot at stake – the top winner will score just $100 – but it’s still better than sitting at home watching daytime talk shows. John Culver, the co-founder and CEO of Fanvest, is excited about the alternative and asserts, “By innovating and being dynamic, we feel we’re better positioned than traditional sportsbooks.”

There’s also “Corona Madness.” Launched by Jackson Weimer and Josh Safran, it could be as close to the real thing as anyone could expect this year. Soliciting help from family members and friends, they’re running their own March Madness bracket based on the rankings from the regular season, and streaming games on eBaum’s World, a Twitch account that covers odd topics. They even set up a Selection Sunday list that, should the real March Madness have continued, defines which teams are matched up to start the final competition series. According to Safran, “We were looking around the internet and, ultimately, it comes down to no one has anything to do, so why not watch these kids play this video game?”

With the killing of March Madness just days before it was set to begin, college basketball fans were suddenly left with a huge void and an uncertainty over how to get their fix. The coronavirus forced March Madness to be dubbed March Sadness, but there’s a little bit of relief in sight for those left unfulfilled. Enter simulated March Madness competitions that are even offering prizes to ease the sting.

One of these competitions is being operated using College Hoops 2K from Electronic Arts. Even though the game was discontinued a decade ago, it’s still better than nothing, given the circumstances, and revives analytics, random number generators and expert opinions to help fans get over the loss of the real thing. Real-game simulations are included (but based on the older data) and the contest also provides other aspects, such as articles and game recaps, as if the action never missed a beat.

Fanvest Wagering Exchange, a fantasy sports startup, has gotten in on the fun, also, offering a simulated beta March Madness Portfolio Challenge. This platform allows users to buy teams at the beginning of each round using “Fanbucks” for the free-to-enter competition. Free doesn’t mean the simulated March Madness tournament isn’t without perks, though, and the users who log the best total gain by the end of the series are eligible to receive cash prizes. There isn’t a lot at stake – the top winner will score just $100 – but it’s still better than sitting at home watching daytime talk shows. John Culver, the co-founder and CEO of Fanvest, is excited about the alternative and asserts, “By innovating and being dynamic, we feel we’re better positioned than traditional sportsbooks.”

There’s also “Corona Madness.” Launched by Jackson Weimer and Josh Safran, it could be as close to the real thing as anyone could expect this year. Soliciting help from family members and friends, they’re running their own March Madness bracket based on the rankings from the regular season, and streaming games on eBaum’s World, a Twitch account that covers odd topics. They even set up a Selection Sunday list that, should the real March Madness have continued, defines which teams are matched up to start the final competition series. According to Safran, “We were looking around the internet and, ultimately, it comes down to no one has anything to do, so why not watch these kids play this video game?”

With the killing of March Madness just days before it was set to begin, college basketball fans were suddenly left with a huge void and an uncertainty over how to get their fix. The coronavirus forced March Madness to be dubbed March Sadness, but there’s a little bit of relief in sight for those left unfulfilled. Enter simulated March Madness competitions that are even offering prizes to ease the sting.

One of these competitions is being operated using College Hoops 2K from Electronic Arts. Even though the game was discontinued a decade ago, it’s still better than nothing, given the circumstances, and revives analytics, random number generators and expert opinions to help fans get over the loss of the real thing. Real-game simulations are included (but based on the older data) and the contest also provides other aspects, such as articles and game recaps, as if the action never missed a beat.

Fanvest Wagering Exchange, a fantasy sports startup, has gotten in on the fun, also, offering a simulated beta March Madness Portfolio Challenge. This platform allows users to buy teams at the beginning of each round using “Fanbucks” for the free-to-enter competition. Free doesn’t mean the simulated March Madness tournament isn’t without perks, though, and the users who log the best total gain by the end of the series are eligible to receive cash prizes. There isn’t a lot at stake – the top winner will score just $100 – but it’s still better than sitting at home watching daytime talk shows. John Culver, the co-founder and CEO of Fanvest, is excited about the alternative and asserts, “By innovating and being dynamic, we feel we’re better positioned than traditional sportsbooks.”

There’s also “Corona Madness.” Launched by Jackson Weimer and Josh Safran, it could be as close to the real thing as anyone could expect this year. Soliciting help from family members and friends, they’re running their own March Madness bracket based on the rankings from the regular season, and streaming games on eBaum’s World, a Twitch account that covers odd topics. They even set up a Selection Sunday list that, should the real March Madness have continued, defines which teams are matched up to start the final competition series. According to Safran, “We were looking around the internet and, ultimately, it comes down to no one has anything to do, so why not watch these kids play this video game?”

We live in a time where tennis greats all hail from Europe. Where once we loved the American icons such as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi or worshipped the Antipodean artistry of Lleyton Hewitt or Pat Rafter, we now look up to the Holy Trinity.

[Image credit: Wikimedia Commons]

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have changed tennis history and given the game a future where other European players will have to reach the top of their craft to live up to the reputations that preceded them.

Three decades ago, three other European heavyweights redefined the era in which they played. German phenomenon Boris Becker, Swedish serve & volley specialist Stefan Edberg and clay court craftsman Ivan Lendl all commanded huge respect as they carved out careers that stand up to scrutiny today. We start our look at what each man achieved and how he did it by looking at the Swedish superstar who stepped out of the shadow of a tennis icon and made his own name one of legend.

The football century has only been here for 20 years. Since the new Millennium arrived, however, the action has been spectacular. Record have been broken, new standards have been set and heroes have been set in bronze and will live forever in our memories.

In this series looking at some of the best football teams the century has seen so far, we’ll cast our eye over superstar strikers, midfield maestros and defensive deities. Most importantly, however, is the element of the team. We start with the most success English domestic side of the century so far, Manchester United.

A start born of frustration

The year earlier, United had languished to a third-placed finish in the Premier League, their lowest ranking since its inauguration in the autumn of 1992. Determined to wrestle back control of the league, Sir Alex Ferguson built his team on the cavalier values that had served him so well at the turn of the century. This met with mixed results in the early months of the season, with United beaten five times before 2002 was out. Four away defeats, including at bitter rivals Leeds United and Manchester City, condemned United to the European places rather than a genuine title challenge. David Beckham, in what would transpire to be his final season wearing the red of his boyhood club, was a problem position, and over the course of the season, Ferguson would often rely more on the versatility of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rather than the debonair looks and devilish delivery of the wing wizard Beckham.

Last week, while other sports were deliberating over the possibility of delaying their games, establishing a different set of rules for separate leagues, stalling between elite and grass roots suspensions of activity, tennis acted as a whole, with the sport suspended in its entirety for six weeks at a minimum.

As of today, that projection looks optimistic. Indeed, such is the potential for a longer enforced sabbatical from the sport we all love – indeed, all sports – that such a period is seen as a dream for many, a solution to coronavirus currently not looking imminent. In such moments, hope is a fleeting thing, but tennis players are often those to whom aspiration is not just a way of life, but a mantra that keeps them returning to the court and those white lines which can dictate happiness, monetary reward and spiritual achievement.

How did tennis react to the news that we would not see any action on court for a month and a half? The official announcement on Twitter must have been a difficult moment for all of the ATP Tour, but it came and it was reacted to as you might expect:

The ATP has announced a six-week suspension of the men’s professional tennis tour due to public health & safety concerns over COVID-19.

The UEFA Champions League knockout stage is always where the tournament itself starts properly. That tradition continued across the last two nights of great drama as Spurs departed in sorry style in Germany while Liverpool needed extra time to get past Spanish battlers Atletico Madrid at Anfield. 

RB Leipzig 3-0 Tottenham Hotspur (4-0 on aggregate)

Jose Mourinho set up the tie in Germany with an overwhelming sense of realism when he listed the players that Leipzig would have to lose to match the injury-depleted squad with which the Portuguese manager had at his disposal against Leipzig.

With Spurs employing a false nine in Dele Alli, RB Leipzig had every opportunity to defend in numbers, press in packs and exploit all the gaps in the North London outfits backline. Exploit them they assuredly did, with Marcel Sabitzer scoring twice in a first half that tore Tottenham’s hopes to shreds.

A huge weekend in the English Premier League saw Liverpool virtually seal their first league title since 1990 as Manchester City were undone at Old Trafford and the Merseysiders won a nervy game against Bournemouth at Anfield.

There were other victories for Newcastle at Southampton, Sheffield United at home to Norwich City and Arsenal over West Ham, while Wolves and Brighton could only produce a stalemate. From Saturday evening onwards, however, the games really caught fire and there was some thrilling EPL action. 

Burnley 1-1 Spurs 

Jose Mourinho’s worry lines deepened as he saw his team scramble a draw at Turf Moor as a resolute Burnley side threatened to steal all three points from the Lilywhites.

Tennis greats are never born, only made. While modern greats Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic have set new records in terms of Grand Slam victories, other legends came before them. We have already featured Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors in this series, three men who redefined the sporting focus tennis enjoyed.

Between those greats retiring and the current ‘Holy Trinity’ taking over the mantle as greats who would sweep all before them, however, there was a fantastic yet often overlooked period of tennis, dominated by three Americans – Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Jim Courier. Between then, the trio won an incredible 18 Grand Slam titles. We’ve already written on the power and majesty of ‘Pistol’ Pete Sampras. We continue our look at these understated trendsetters with an indulgence in Andre Agassi bizarre, often frustrating, but ultimately fairytale career.

Of the three American sharpshooters we’re featuring in this series of articles, Andre Agassi’s career is one that almost defies narrative, so broken was the path of his career.

The young Andre Agassi was a fantastic tennis player as a child, winning from the age of 12 pretty consistently. When he was 13, Agassi was sent to Nick Bolleteri’s Florida-based tennis academy, refused to take money for him, he was that good, stating, “Take your check back. He’s here for free.”

Chelsea 2-0 Liverpool

An entertaining tie at Stamford Bridge saw Chelsea knock the league leaders Liverpool out of the F.A. Cup. With the visitors struggling in their Champions League phase tie against Atletico Madrid and losing their first league game to Watford at the weekend, they lost again as Chelsea took them apart on an evening when debutant Billy Gilmour shone in midfield.

Frank Lampard’s side were the more urgent throughout, and goals from Willian and Ross Barkley were enough to see The Blues through to a quarter-final where they will host Leicester City. Willian’s effort squirmed through the hapless Adrian in goal for Liverpool, but there was no stopping Ross Barkley’s strike for the decisive second. The former Evertonian slalomed through the Liverpool side from his own half before jinking into some space ahead of Joe Gomez and smashing an unstoppable shot into the bottom left corner.

Liverpool huffed and puffed, bringing on Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah, but they were impotent in threatening Kepa’s goal and Chelsea prevented the Merseysiders dreaming of the treble any longer. Liverpool may still win the league at a canter, but they may well look back on this period as a worrying sign that next season won’t be as easy as the start of this one was. Chelsea, only alive in this competition, are now joint second favourites to win the F.A. Cup.

A youthful sports bettor who won fame last year for winning over a million dollars has been charged with threatening violence against professional and college athletes as well as their families.

On Wednesday, the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida charged Benjamin Tucker Patz aka Parlay Patz with transmitting threats in interstate or foreign commerce. If convicted, Patz could spend up to five years in federal prison.

The 23-year-old Patz received media coverage late last year after he won over $1.1m in less than two months on parlay wagers with New Jersey sportsbooks operated by William Hill. But the complaint filed Wednesday suggests that Patz was anything but a winner outside the sportsbook.

The complaint features testimony from an FBI agent who detailed numerous incidents in which Patz sent messages to athletes via his Instagram account. Some of these messages referenced unsuccessful bets that Patz had placed on these athletes’ teams and expressed his view that the athletes had cost him money.