Home

Highlights

Los Angeles Times •

Must Reads: An Irish team was cursed by a priest. One of its living champions hopes to see the losing streak end

On the table sits a notebook; in it a list of villages, towns and cities, each with a notation.

At every stop, whether in Ireland or the United States, it lists a trophy or medal he won. Between them, universities and hospitals — early steps in a medical career that lasted more than 60 years and took him from the Irish village of Swinford to Long Beach.

Padraig Carney has prepared for this interview. If the notebook wasn’t evidence enough, it’s clear from what he’s wearing.

The jersey is newe
iGaming Business •

Blank generation

Gambling sponsorship in sport has become widespread in recent years, but this ubiquity has drawn ever-louder criticism, Daniel O'Boyle writes. With bans either in place or incoming in Europe, will betting brands disappear from strips in the UK? And if so how can the industry adapt to the loss of a major marketing channel - and sport to a significant source of funding?

Gambling sponsorship in sport has become widespread in recent years, but this ubiquity has drawn ever-louder criticism, Daniel O
The Observer •

Notre Dame tops UConn in overtime to advance to national championship game //

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It couldn’t be confined to 40 minutes.

In fact, it couldn’t be confined to one day. This had to finish in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Irish fans may not have liked it, but the stolen inbounds pass to tie the game felt right. There needed to be more. An ending in regulation wasn’t the ending this game deserved.

After all, it always takes overtime to beat them anyway.

And when it got to overtime, the Irish couldn’t take a solid lead and coast. Save that for the other
Los Angeles Times •

The pizza party celebrating LeBron James coming to L.A. goes on without him

The 20-year-old Lakers fan from Huntington Beach hoped to see the team’s new superstar at Blaze Pizza in Culver City, as the chain that James is a part-owner of celebrated his arrival in L.A. by giving away pizza for three hours beginning at 2 p.m.

Giove became resigned to the fact that James was unlikely to arrive. Then he heard people running toward a car at the opposite end of the parking lot. Maybe The King was here after all?

Giove ran back with everyone else. It was a false alarm. One of

iGaming Business

iGaming Business •

Blank generation

Gambling sponsorship in sport has become widespread in recent years, but this ubiquity has drawn ever-louder criticism, Daniel O'Boyle writes. With bans either in place or incoming in Europe, will betting brands disappear from strips in the UK? And if so how can the industry adapt to the loss of a major marketing channel - and sport to a significant source of funding?

Gambling sponsorship in sport has become widespread in recent years, but this ubiquity has drawn ever-louder criticism, Daniel O
iGaming Business •

RG Week special: The outsider perspective

A cultural shift in the industry has seen operators look to ramp up their responsible gaming controls, with many bringing in external help to do so, writes Daniel O’Boyle. But can external consultants really play a role in changing company culture?

A cultural shift in the industry has seen operators look to ramp up their responsible gaming controls, with many bringing in external help to do so, writes Daniel O’Boyle. But can external consultants really play a role in changing company culture?
iGaming Business •

RG Week special: Changing the conversation

The Industry Group for Responsible Gambling’s Responsible Gambling Week has grown rapidly since its 2017 launch. Chair John Hagan explains its aims to Daniel O'Boyle and says the sector needs to prove its year-round commitment to safer gambling

The Industry Group for Responsible Gambling’s (IGRG) Responsible Gambling Week has grown rapidly since its 2017 launch. With negative mainstream perceptions meaning that operators’ commitments to safer gambling are often met with suspicion, it has never
iGaming Business •

Panorama: the fall-out

In the wake of last week's damning BBC report on the industry's treatment of those addicted to gambling, operators are keen to show they've made massive changes. However those campaigning for stricter regulations on operators say they are still hearing similar stories to those featured on the programme.

In the wake of last week's damning BBC report on the industry's treatment of those addicted to gambling, operators are keen to show they've made massive changes. However those campaigning for op
iGaming Business •

SportPesa hits out at regulator amid tax dispute

Kenya's SportPesa is gearing up for a protracted legal battle with the country's government as a dispute that has already seen the operator's mobile payment solution shut down and its activities in the market suspended rumbles on.

Kenya's SportPesa is gearing up for a protracted legal battle with the country's government as a dispute, that has already seen the operator's mobile payment solution shut down and its activities in the market suspended, rumbles on.

The operator told iGamingBusiness.
iGaming Business •

Game design under the spotlight

The player protection debate is evolving to look at how online slots are designed, rather than just how they are offered. Daniel O’Boyle and Jake Pollard investigate.

Much of the player protection debate has focused on action that operators should take, rather a deeper look at how products such as online slots are created.

Yet questions about how the gambling products themselves work have grown louder in recent months, with regulators, legislators and campaign groups all focusing more attentio

Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times •

Must Reads: An Irish team was cursed by a priest. One of its living champions hopes to see the losing streak end

On the table sits a notebook; in it a list of villages, towns and cities, each with a notation.

At every stop, whether in Ireland or the United States, it lists a trophy or medal he won. Between them, universities and hospitals — early steps in a medical career that lasted more than 60 years and took him from the Irish village of Swinford to Long Beach.

Padraig Carney has prepared for this interview. If the notebook wasn’t evidence enough, it’s clear from what he’s wearing.

The jersey is newe
Los Angeles Times •

Sparks squelch champion Lynx

As Odyssey Sims was called for an offensive foul midway through the third quarter of the Sparks’ 79-57 victory over the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday night, tensions flared between the two teams.

The crowd at Staples Center erupted in cheers as Maya Moore missed the resulting technical free throw. Seconds later, boos rang out as Candace Parker was called for a foul on a block against Sylvia Fowles.

There wasn’t much proof from the spirit of the players or the fans, but the matchup didn’t mean wha
Los Angeles Times •

LAFC semifinal spot in U.S. Open Cup is in doubt over eligibility of Mark-Anthony Kaye

Despite LAFC beating the Portland Timbers 3-2 on Wednesday, its Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup status remains in doubt because of a dispute over the eligibility of midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye.

The draw for the semifinals of the competition has been delayed while U.S. Soccer considers an official protest from the Timbers on the grounds that LAFC fielded too many international players.

The tournament rules state a professional team “may have no more than 5 foreign players listed,” similar to Major Le
Los Angeles Times •

LAFC out to end Portland Timber's 14-match unbeaten streak in U.S. Open Cup matchup

This time it can’t end in a draw.

For the second time in four days, LAFC will meet the Portland Timbers at Banc of California Stadium. Sunday’s MLS game ended in at scoreless tie, but there will be a winner Wednesday at the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Though it’s the same team, LAFC coach Bob Bradley said the knockout game will be a different challenge.

“We have to play them under very different circumstances; it’s a Cup game and it’s a night game,” Bradley said. “Those are some big differences
Los Angeles Times •

The pizza party celebrating LeBron James coming to L.A. goes on without him

The 20-year-old Lakers fan from Huntington Beach hoped to see the team’s new superstar at Blaze Pizza in Culver City, as the chain that James is a part-owner of celebrated his arrival in L.A. by giving away pizza for three hours beginning at 2 p.m.

Giove became resigned to the fact that James was unlikely to arrive. Then he heard people running toward a car at the opposite end of the parking lot. Maybe The King was here after all?

Giove ran back with everyone else. It was a false alarm. One of
Los Angeles Times •

Galaxy fail to preserve a lead for the second consecutive game, tying 2-2 with D.C. United

D.C. United put the ball in the net twice. The Galaxy did so five times.

But for the Galaxy, only the first two counted.

The Galaxy failed to preserve a lead for the second consecutive game, tying 2-2 on Wednesday night at Stubhub Center with the team that has the worst record in MLS. But with three goals nullified because of offside calls, coach Sigi Schmid was critical of the officials.

“I didn’t think the referee had one of his better games today,” Schmid said.

In the opening five minutes
Los Angeles Times •

Adama Domande has LAFC's first hat trick in 4-1 victory

Adama Diomande entered LAFC’s game against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday evening with an already-prolific tally of four goals in four games. As he came off to a standing ovation in the 75th minute at Banc of California Stadium, he’d improved that to seven goals in five games, scoring the first hat trick in LAFC history and helping his team to a 4-1 victory.

Diomande’s goals came in the 25th, 43rd and 55th minutes as LAFC won its fifth in a row, including two games in the U.S. Open Cup.

Th

Tampa Bay Times

Florida's favorite paper, Tampa Bay's favorite local news site •

Just how fast is DeSean Jackson? The Bucs are starting to understand

TAMPA -- Cornerbacks usually know how DeSean Jackson is going to beat them. With speed.

It's no secret. It's been known since before he entered the NFL, and cornerbacks have been reminded again and again since his 2008 debut.

How fast is Jackson? His 22.6 mph recorded on a 56-yard reception against the Arizona Cardinals was the second-highest top-speed of any ballcarrier in the league last year, behind Chiefs receiver Tyreek Hill. His 17.7 yards per reception, the product of countless deep bal
Florida's favorite paper, Tampa Bay's favorite local news site •

Volkov hopes to prove his surprise selection right

RW Alexander Volkov was not a particularly talked-about player in the lead up to the NHL entry draft. Google his name and you won't find a single front page result about a hockey player. A mixed martial artist, a painter basketball player and a tennis player all appear before the Lightning's second-round draft pick.

Lightning fans have become accustomed to seeing the team select players out of Russia, but even among those who've been keeping an eye on Russian prospects, Volkov's selection may h
Florida's favorite paper, Tampa Bay's favorite local news site •

Bucs' ball-hawking defense could help Winston limit his turnovers

Jameis Winston has an impressive-looking group of weapons on offense for 2017. With Mike Evans, Cameron Brate and new additions OJ Howard and Desean Jackson to throw to, he may be perfectly set to take his game up a level in his third year.

Winston's spent plenty of time praising those around him, but he has an equal level of respect for the guys on the other side of the ball. And they might play their own part in helping Winston improve going into this season.

"We have a great defense," Winst

Notre Dame/Saint Mary's Observer

The Observer •

Second-half adjustments allow for Irish comeback, title //

COLUMBUS, Ohio — From junior forward Jessica Shepard’s layup to make the game 12-6 and her score to make it 24-16, 10 minutes and 36 seconds of basketball were played.

Mabrey had a layup attempt swatted away by the ferocious junior center Teaira McCowan.

And those were all the shots Notre Dame took during that stretch, more than a quarter of the game.

It wasn’t that the Irish (35-3, 15-1 ACC) weren’t seeing the ball. They had plenty of possessions, but the second the ball was inbounded, every
The Observer •

McGraw, Irish prepare for championship matchup with Mississippi State //

COLUMBUS, Ohio — In groups of two or three, almost every player in Notre Dame’s locker room was huddled around a phone playing the same song, a tribute to the team by Indiana rapper Tevin Studdard.

“Some guy tweeted it at us,” graduate student forward Kristina Nelson said.

“That was lit. He literally put the whole team, everybody in there,” senior guard Mychal Johnson said.

She’s right. Every member of the roster — the walk-ons, the injured players, the AP second-team All-American that hit th
The Observer •

Notre Dame tops UConn in overtime to advance to national championship game //

COLUMBUS, Ohio — It couldn’t be confined to 40 minutes.

In fact, it couldn’t be confined to one day. This had to finish in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Irish fans may not have liked it, but the stolen inbounds pass to tie the game felt right. There needed to be more. An ending in regulation wasn’t the ending this game deserved.

After all, it always takes overtime to beat them anyway.

And when it got to overtime, the Irish couldn’t take a solid lead and coast. Save that for the other
The Observer •

Irish blow 12-point lead in loss to No. 1 UConn //

The No. 1 team in the nation was on the ropes.

Notre Dame led by as many as 12 points just before halftime and by 10 with just seven and a half minutes left.

One Connecticut preseason All-American did not play a single second-half minute. Another went to the locker room injured in the fourth quarter, with the Irish leading by double-digits.

Notre Dame looked on course to record its first victory over the Huskies since the 2013 Big East Tournament. A 1000th game to remember for Muffet McGraw.
The Observer •

All-American mentality: Quenton Nelson instills high standard as Irish leader //

In the atrium of Notre Dame’s Guglielmino Athletics Complex sits seven iterations of the statue college football players dream of winning.

But behind those seven Heismans sits six more trophies, a selection of some of the “other” individual awards in college football.

In the middle of those six sits the Outland Trophy.

Given to the best interior lineman in the nation, it doesn’t get the recognition the Heisman does. Its purpose, after all, was to recognize the players that John H. Outland fel
The Observer •

Emergence: Daelin Hayes finds his place as a playmaker for Notre Dame's defense //

In 2015, Daelin Hayes was set to play for USC.

He was set to one day stare down Notre Dame quarterback Brandon Wimbush and attempt to sack the Irish signal-caller.

He was set to be teammates with Trojan offensive stars Deontay Burnett, Ronald Jones II and Sam Darnold.

And his favorite college player was Jaylon Smith.

He made no secret of it, admitting he loved to watch Smith in an interview while still committed to one of Notre Dame’s biggest rivals.

When the Irish opened the season that ye
The Observer •

Notre Dame rides strong second half to top Boston College //

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — In the two hours and 15 minutes following Notre Dame and Boston College’s 3:40 p.m. kickoff, there were 89 tweets including the name, “Ian Book.” Almost all were asking to see the sophomore quarterback appear for the Irish over junior Brandon Wimbush.

By the end of the game, Notre Dame fans saw Book.

Or they would have, had ESPN not switched over to Davis Wade Stadium, where Mississippi State was playing LSU.

The network switched over for the same reason Book played: Th
The Observer •

Shouldering the Load: Josh Adams embraces increased responsibility on and off the field //

Nothing but green grass between him and the goal line.

The entire defense behind, chasing the ball-carrier.

That’s a situation Josh Adams, at the time only a freshman, had already seen before. He broke out for a 25-yard touchdown in his debut against Texas, a 70-yard score against Massachusetts and an FBS-season-record 98-yard tear down the sideline against Wake Forest.

It’s a situation he would see himself in again, adding two more touchdown runs of over 40 yards in 2016. Against Temple last