On Monday the entire motorsports world was shocked to find out 18-time Indianapolis 500 race winning car owner Roger Penske had acquired not only Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but also the NTT IndyCar Series.

SPEED SPORT President Ralph Sheheen and SPEED SPORT Editor Mike Kerchner sat down moments after the formal announcement at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to discuss the landmark news and what it means for Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the NTT IndyCar Series going forward.

LSU outside linebacker Michael Divinity has left the team for personal reasons, coach Ed Orgeron confirmed Monday.

Orgeron said he would not "close the door" on Divinity returning to the program later this season. LSU announced the senior's departure five days before the top-ranked Tigers' showdown with No. 2 Alabama.

A source told ESPN's Ed Aschoff that Divinity left the Tigers last week. He had five tackles and a sack in LSU's most recent game, a 23-20 win over Auburn on Oct. 26.

Despite missing three games already this season, Divinity leads the Tigers with three sacks. He is the second upperclassmen to leave LSU in recent days for personal reasons, joining junior defensive lineman Justin Thomas.

Divinity did not play in LSU's season opener against Georgia Southern or the Tigers' third game against Northwestern State because of what the team classified as coach's decisions.

He picked up an ankle injury against Vanderbilt on Sept. 21 and then did not play in the next game against Utah State after a bye week, before returning against Florida.

Divinity tied for the team lead in sacks in 2018, but he has played a reduced role this season because of the return of top edge pass-rusher K'Lavon Chaisson and the emergence of Jacob Phillips and Patrick Queen at inside linebacker spots.

Orgeron said LSU "should be fine" against Alabama because Chaisson takes the majority of snaps at the position Divinity also plays, and the coach expressed confidence in backups Andre Anthony and Ray Thornton.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida State athletic director David Coburn said Monday that he made the decision to fire coach Willie Taggart after 21 games because they did not see an advantage to waiting until the end of the season.

Coburn described an emotional conversation with Taggart on Sunday when he delivered the news, adding he had to take into account not only a lack of progress on the field but financial considerations that made it untenable for Taggart to stay in the job.

Taggart went 9-12 at Florida State, and the Seminoles need wins in two of their final three games just to gain bowl eligibility. They are currently 4-5 with a road trip to Boston College on Saturday, then games against Alabama State and No. 10 Florida.

"Frankly, 6-6 isn't good enough," Coburn said.

Coburn said he and Taggart held "explicit conversations" about the expectations at Florida State, and what needed to be done to improve his job security. Coburn pointed to the 27-10 loss to Miami this past Saturday as the final straw, comparing the performance to a season-opening 24-3 loss against Virginia Tech in 2018.

"There's a lot of ways to measure what was happening with the team," Coburn said. "I thought that at the beginning of the season we were making progress. Clemson was a disappointment and I just felt and the president felt since then we just have not looked very good."

Though Coburn was not ready to discuss the financial ramifications, he said the buyout paid to Taggart would be in the $18 million range but that discussions are ongoing and there is no timeline for a settlement. Asked how a cash-strapped athletic department could make the decision to pay out such a large number to move on from its head coach, Coburn discussed lagging season-ticket sales and booster contributions as being large factors.

"It was not an easy decision," Coburn said. "You have to look at season- ticket sales, renewals, new tickets moving forward. Obviously those are tied to booster contributions to the annual fund. You're looking at the implications for concessions, parking, you look at that vis-a-vis the cost of a buyout, cost of a new coaching staff, you have to make a decision."

Coburn said the university would hire a search firm to help find a new coach, and the Florida State boosters would also play a role in the decision. Former Florida State athletic director Stan Wilcox did not use a firm when he hired Taggart in December 2017. Wilcox stepped down from his job to join the NCAA eight months after he hired Taggart, and after a lengthy athletic director search, Florida State opted to go with Coburn, who came over from university administration.

Besides financial considerations and the notion that any new coach coming in won't be given enough time to rebuild, what could complicate the coaching search is long-term stability at the top. Both Coburn and Florida State president John Thrasher are not expected to still be in their positions in the next two to three years. The newly created Florida State University Athletics Association, which now includes both the athletic department and Seminole Boosters, adds a wrinkle that hasn't been a part of any previous coaching search. Coburn said the new FSUAA wouldn't have a huge impact on the way the search is conducted, though he did say the Boosters would be involved.

When asked what he's looking for in his next head coach, Coburn said, "We're looking for somebody that can win national championships. I'm going to look at every option I can find. We're going to win. We're going to get back to the standard of Florida State University football."

Coburn would like to have someone in place by the end of the season, if not before, in the hopes of saving the recruiting class by the early signing date in December.

Going into last weekend, the Seminoles had the No. 13-ranked recruiting class, which was up from the 22nd-ranked class in 2019, but a few commitments have already jumped ship.

Jacksonville, Florida, three-star cornerback Derek Bermudez was the first to decommit on Sunday, announcing he will still stay in touch with the staff but he is reopening his recruitment. Georgia athlete Isaiah Dunson, a four-star recruit, decommitted on Monday and was followed by ESPN 300 running back Jaylan Knighton.

The decommitment from Knighton stings as he is the 88th-ranked recruit overall and was the second-highest-ranked commitment in the class for Florida State. The staff is left with 17 total commitments in the class, eight of which are ranked in the ESPN 300. Interim coach Odell Haggins was on the phone into the early hours of Monday morning trying to keep the Florida State class together.

But he also has to keep the current team together. Haggins has experience in this regard, having served as interim head coach when Jimbo Fisher left with one game left in the 2017 regular season. With bowl eligibility on the line, Florida State beat ULM 42-10 and then won its bowl game to save a 7-6 season.

The Seminoles appeared to be a transformed team under Haggins, and that is the hope now that he takes over with three games to play. Haggins, who played at Florida State and has spent 26 years at the school as an assistant, wouldn't discuss the myriad problems that have plagued Florida State on the field this season and opted instead to look ahead to Boston College.

But he did say the team had a good day of practice on Sunday.

"We're moving forward," Haggins said. "Thinking about Boston College, how we're going to plan for them and what are we going to do that's what Willie Taggart would want. He wouldn't want you sulking and crying, he would want you to move forward."

Coburn said Taggart declined the opportunity to meet with the team on Sunday. Coburn and Haggins did instead, and he said players handled the news "like champions."

"We're going to fight," Haggins said. "We're unconquered. Exactly what I told them and that's what they need to hear. They're our kids, and they're going to fight to uphold Florida State University."

ESPN's Tom VanHaaren contributed to this report.

Napoli players will remain sequestered at the club's training centre until Sunday following a run of poor results, club president Aurelio De Laurentiis has said.

Carlo Ancelotti's side have not won for three matches in Serie A and Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Roma saw them drop to seventh in the Serie A table.

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De Laurentiis has decided to take the squad into ritiro -- a fairly common reaction to a poor run of form in Serie A, where players remain on lockdown at the club's training centre for a pre-determined length of time.

"The players will be in ritiro until Sunday, before the call ups for their relevant national sides," De Laurentiis told Radio Kiss Kiss. "Ancelotti is a great manager and a gentleman.

"I have no reason to expect anything more from him. The problem, as far as I am concerned, can only be solved within the group, in the sense that it is not a job which relies on a manager but a blend.

"The players need to find the motivation not just to take on Liverpool or Salzburg, where they have reached their level, which is the reason they were bought and [shows] how they have matured in recent years."

Speaking ahead of the Champions League clash with FC Salzburg, Ancelotti said he was not on board with the decision to go into ritiro.

"The club have taken the decision and we will accept it," Ancelotti said. "But if you ask me whether I agree with it, I would say no."

Napoli have won once in the league since Sept. 29 and recently lost a 2-1 lead to draw 2-2 against Atalanta late on, moments after the referee failed to award them a penalty for a foul on Fernando Llorente.

The controversial penalty decision was even debated in the senate in Italy and De Laurentiis was again critical of the standard of refereeing in Serie A.

"Referees should be managed by the league," he added. "They should all be young, foreign and well paid.

"After three grave errors, they should be taken out of the firing line."

Towards the end of last season, Milan players were ordered into ritiro, while Roma had also done the same earlier in the campaign.

LAFC forward Carlos Vela has been voted MLS MVP, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

The LA Times was first to report Vela winning the award. A formal announcement is set to take place later on Monday.

The honor caps off an outstanding season for Vela, who broke single-season records for goals with 34 as well as combined goals and assists with 49. Vela had 14 goals and 13 assists in 2018, his first in MLS after arriving from La Liga side Real Sociedad.

His production -- he scored in 25 of his 31 appearances -- helped LAFC claim the Supporters' Shield with a league-record 72 points, though the Black and Gold fell short of their ultimate goal, losing in the Western Conference finals to the Seattle Sounders 3-1.

Vela easily outdistanced the competition, garnering 69% of the vote over runner-up Zlatan Ibrahimovic of the LA Galaxy.

Ibrahimovic enjoyed a spectacular season of his own with 30 regular-season goals, but garnered just 14% of the vote. Atlanta United's Josef Martinez, the 2018 MVP, was third.

Missed some of the action around Europe this weekend? Have no fear: Gab Marcotti is here to catch you up with all the talking points in the latest Monday Musings.

Jump to: Bayern reboot without Kovac | Balotelli abused | Liverpool, Man City slipping? | Roma add to Napoli woes | Andre Gomes' serious injury | Barca slump at Levante | Dortmund fight back | No progress at Man United | Sociedad are for real | De Ligt is Juve's hero | What is Emery doing? | No positives for Real | Leipzig score eight! | Berlin derby drama

Kovac era finally ends at Bayern

The fact that Nico Kovac's future was in doubt after a season during which his team won the Double -- and knowing that had the right candidate been available, Bayern would have replaced him in June -- makes what happened Sunday rather less surprising.

Kovac and Bayern parted ways -- sources close to him say he offered his resignation and they did nothing to persuade him other ways -- and while it's tempting to point to the 5-1 humiliation they suffered on Saturday at the hands of Eintracht Frankfurt, it goes well beyond that.

This team has struggled both to play well consistently and to develop an kind of identity. When they have won big, it has been often either down to the futility of the opposition or because they simply have far better individuals than the opposition. This is what happens when you're one of the four richest clubs in the world. Plus, of course, this season he's also had the benefit of an out-of-this-world Robert Lewandowski, whose absurd torrid scoring streak continued this weekend: he's up to 20 goals in 16 appearances across all competitions.

That's why you can't simply look at results when judging a manager's work. And the question you should ask isn't "is this guy hitting his targets?" but rather "can we get somebody else to do the job better?"

Did Kovac have mitigating factors? Sure. He spent the summer building a certain type of team and then had Philippe Coutinho dropped in the middle of it, two weeks after the start of the season. Coutinho's a great player, sure, but entirely different from the one who had been earmarked for that role. Injuries didn't help either, especially at the back, where he lost Lucas Hernandez and Niklas Sule for the long term. Handling Thomas Mueller and his "managed decline," whether real or imagined, was also something he probably would happily have done without.

Then there's the long shadow of Pep Guardiola, against whom all subsequent Bayern coaches (including Carlo Ancelotti) have been judged. It's a tough standard to live up to and as often happens, there's a fair amount of rose-tinted spectacles at play here.

Bavarian media make a big deal out of this, how the players supposedly felt Kovac's training sessions and approach were unimaginative and amateurish compared to Guardiola's, though that seems a bit of a cop out, too: Guardiola left in 2016, which means less than a third of the squad actually worked with him. But hey, it's Bayern. You'll always be benchmarked against their illustrious past (and Guardiola is a part of that). It's not supposed to be easy. It's supposed to be hard and Kovac simply didn't show that his work was going in the right direction.

Now the focus shifts to his successor. The usual suspects are out there and, on paper, the most illustrious names don't appear a great fit: Arsene Wenger is used to having near-total control, which is a non-starter at Bayern, Max Allegri is supposedly on sabbatical this season (and his football is hardly Guardiolaesque) while Jose Mourinho (come on now...) is also "available."

Then there's Erik ten Hag, who spent time as a youth coach at Bayern and is a better fit in some ways, but getting him out of Ajax in midseason seems a long shot. Plus, lest we forget, this time 12 months ago there were some in Amsterdam calling for his head.

The other plausible big name is Ralf Rangnick, who has sort of had a long-distance flirtation with Bayern for much of his career and who would, ideologically, match where Bayern want to be. He oversees all the Red Bull clubs right now in a director of football role. Again, you'd be talking about forcing a mid-season move, which is never easy, plus you risk running into a Wenger issue: would you accept lack of total control and big personalities like Uli Hoeness in your grill when you're in your sixties?

Bayern have appointed Hans-Dieter Flick as interim boss. He was Jogi Low's long-time assistant with Germany and has the appropriate level of gravitas. He was on Kovac's staff, albeit only since the summer so he's not necessary tainted either. The best thing Bayern could do right now is leave it in Flick's hands for as long as you can while you find a long-term solution. Which, if results and performances turn around, might end up being Flick himself.

Balotelli abused in Verona. Will proper punishment follow?

It happened again. Ten minutes or so into the second half of Brescia's match away to Verona on Sunday, Mario Balotelli was subjected to monkey noises while he dribbled close to the corner flag. On television and for most in the ground, the abuse was inaudible. Plenty nearby heard it, however, and it's chronicled on video taken from the stands. He reacted by smashing the ball into the stands and looking as if he was going to walk off the pitch.

The whole incident felt familiar and again, we heard the same arguments.

Verona coach Ivan Juric said "it didn't happen, it's lies and s---." (We'll give him the benefit of the doubt that you didn't hear it -- most did not -- but maybe next time, since you're not omniscient, simply say "I didn't hear it" rather than instantly blaming the victim.")

Verona president Maurizio Setti said "our fan base isn't racist but if it happened, I apologize to him, we'll take action. But we can't screen 20,000 people."' (Enough with the "if it happened" crap. The laws are pretty clear. You're responsible for the behaviour of the people to whom you sell tickets. If you don't like it, go find something else on which to spend your money.) And because stories like this quickly go global, the counterpunching, via social media and elsewhere soon followed.

Yes, Balotelli did the right thing by addressing the issues and even scoring a goal. (Brescia ultimately lost, 2-1.) But whether or not he scores or plays well is not the "best response" to racist abuse. It's not a response at all. It's a guy doing his job.

If there is a shred of comfort to be taken here, it's that referee Maurizio Mariani did exactly what he was supposed to do. He didn't hear the abuse himself but it was quickly reported to him and he applied the protocol (which, in Serie A, is just two steps rather than three). He suspended the game, he called the players to the middle of the pitch and the loudspeaker announced that if it continued, everybody would walk off and Verona would forfeit the game. It did not happen again.

Too often referees in Serie A have been unwilling to apply the protocol. Which, while not perfect, is the best tool to achieve the immediate goal: ensuring players are not racially abused on the pitch. It's critical that they be supported in this for the simple reason that not every target of abuse has the standing of a Balotelli. And by putting his faith in the protocol he's sending a crucial message: let's trust in this and let's report abuse when it happens because the referees and institutions will back us up.

Now, of course, it's up to the institutions to their part. Legally, responsibility rests with the Italian FA's disciplinary office. That's not encouraging because it means a slow-moving, bureaucratic mess. Given that sanctions are based on the percentage of a particular stand that is involved, it looks unlikely that there will be any partial stadium closure, let alone a full one.

While we wait for them to fix their broken system (or not), it's critical that others step up. The league should exercise its influence over clubs, particularly guys like Juric who spout nonsense. Maybe even take legal action against them for hurting the brand. The FA is rumoured to be working on a plan to install enhanced CCTV, body cameras and drones to identify individuals. That's a start -- though again, nobody is holding their breath -- but it will be meaningless if it's not followed by action.

These are complex issues without easy fixes. Knee-jerk carpetbaggers swooping in with instant burn-it-all-down solutions (and then swooping out) are almost as damaging as those who perpetually misunderstand the issue, not just in Italy but across Europe. You may want to listen to the podcast we did with FARE's Piara Powar, whose organisations studies the subject. . Or you can sit at your keyboard and tap away angrily.

Are Liverpool, Man City slowing down?

With less than a week to go to the top-of-the table, Jurgen Klopp vs. Guardiola Premier League extravaganza, both Liverpool and Manchester City had to come from behind to seal all three points. And it's not the first time either that they're showing signs of wear.

Manchester City went a goal down at home to Southampton and Sergio Aguero's equaliser 20 minutes from time was their first shot on target before Kyle Walker scored the winner in a 2-1 victory. Liverpool had to wait even longer after conceding to Aston Villa away: Andy Robertson (three minutes from time) and Sadio Mane (in injury time) turned it into a 2-1 win of their own.

There's a tendency to talk about how wonderfully resilient these two teams are in scoring late goals, especially ones that appear "lucky." Some on social media trotted out the old line "the more I practice, the luckier I get," which is another way of saying they outwork teams. Maybe so, but it could also just be a numbers game.

It's true that they score a disproportionate number of goals (one fifth of their league total) after the 75th minute, but so do most teams. It's just the nature of the sport: well, that and the fact that it includes injury time at the end of games. Liverpool and City score more than most and win more than most, therefore it's not surprising they score late. It could be down to some magical mental toughness or it could be down to opponents tiring (which is what happens against more technically gifted sides), but equally it could simply be down to the fact that they're better and more likely to score at any point in the game, including the final 15 minutes.

It's also worth noting that while these turned out to be tight games, they were one-way traffic for most of the match. And in Liverpool's case especially -- think Bjorn Engels' handball and Roberto Firmino's disallowed goal -- it came down to marginal officiating/VAR calls.

Roll on Sunday's meeting at Anfield.

Drama at Roma overshadows impressive win

Verona wasn't the only Serie A ground where the anti-racism protocol was used. A portion of the Roma support sang offensive songs about Neapolitans during Roma vs. Napoli on Saturday and referee Gianluca Rocchi did what he was supposed to do: halt the game, take the players into the center circle and have the stadium loudspeaker announce the match will be abandoned if it happens again.

The protocol for this is the same as for racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism. In other words, the laws are tougher than elsewhere but it does you no good to have tough laws if you're unwilling or unable to apply them.

On the pitch, Roma's bounce-back continued as they won 2-1. Necessity is the mother of invention and Paulo Fonseca's decision to use Gianluca Mancini in midfield continues to pay dividends. As for Napoli, this was a step back compared to recent outings in which they played well but struggled to capitalize. All of it is catching up with them as they slip out of the top four.

A word on Andre Gomes

Andre Gomes' injury was a chilling reminder in Sunday's 1-1 draw between Everton and Tottenham that this is an athletic pursuit and a contact sport, with the risk of catastrophic injury is ever-present. Careers can end in a blink of an eye, which is why you pray that we'll see him out there again soon.

The horror of the moment and maybe the harsh reminder of the above helps explain the reaction of Son Heung-Min and others immediately after it happened. It's maybe a sign of the times that Son's state of mind received almost as much coverage as Gomes' condition. (On Monday, it was confirmed he'd be out until next season following a successful surgery on his fractured ankle.) Maybe it's because we can all relate to Son to some degree more so than Gomes' plight, which is the sort of horror we'd rather not contemplate.

Barcelona slump at Levante

It looked like Barcelona were on a mini-streak, with seven straight wins across all competitions and just four goals conceded. But it came crashing down away to Levante in the form of a 3-1 defeat that saw them concede three times in seven minutes.

Blame individual errors -- mostly from Gerard Pique, who turned in once of his worst outings in recent memory -- and blame Ernesto Valverde, who seemed to underestimate the opposition in leaving out Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. It's nothing terminal; they have the tools to bounce back right away. But they've now lost as many games (three) as they did in La Liga all season last year. And they'll be without the injured Luis Suarez until after the international break.

Maybe Dortmund aren't finished yet...

It says a lot about the compressed, chaotic nature of the Bundesliga that Borussia Dortmund -- who had won once in their last five and, more importantly, had generally been poor for the past six weeks -- can win a game and leap into second place. That's the good news: everything is wide open both domestically and in Europe. That, and a second half that saw them turn it around against previously undefeated Wolfsburg and go on to a 3-0 win without Paco Alcacer, Jadon Sancho and Marco Reus (who went off injured within half an hour).

The flip side is that it took them ages to break down a deep-lying Wolfsburg side. And while Thorgan Hazard is showing signs of life, defensively there are still issues. Lucien Favre celebrated his birthday over the weekend: that second half may have been the perfect gift ahead of a massive week which sees them take on Inter in a key Champions League game and then travel to face a Bayern side in flux next Saturday.

Solskjaer's running out of excuses

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer called Manchester United's 1-0 defeat at Bournemouth "a step back." Implied, you'd assume, was that he considered what came before -- a home draw with Liverpool and road victories against Partizan, Norwich and Chelsea -- to be a step forward. It wasn't. In fact, it wasn't much of anything unless all you judge is the scores.

Man United's draw with Liverpool featured the sort of defend-and-counter football you can play against big teams and nobody else. Beating Norwich away worked because Daniel Farke tries to play like a big team with ordinary players. Winning at Partizan had two guys making their first start and, at best, five regulars. Chelsea away was B-team Carabao Cup nonsense.

Bottom line? Bournemouth away was a far better test. Premier League midtable talent and a manager who will throw curveballs to gain an edge. And United turned in an uninspired performance, losing 1-0. The focus ought to be on days like this rather than the endless excuses about the number of transfer windows Solskjaer needs in order to turn things around. Right now, simply executing and showing a coherent approach would be enough of a turnaround.

Real Sociedad are a legit title contender

It's true: Real Sociedad are for real. And not just because, after winning 2-1 at Granada, they sit atop La Liga alongside Barcelona and Real Madrid (who, of course, have a game in hand due to their rescheduled clasico). More telling is the fact that they play with a delicious blend of energy, toughness and, yes, fun.

They went away to Granada without Martin Odegaard (not just their star player, but arguably the Player of the Year in La Liga thus far) and gritted out a huge 2-1 win. Scan the team and what strikes most is that beyond a genuine gem of a young winger (Mikel Oyarzabal), the side is full of talented guys who failed to make the grade elsewhere and now have a point to prove: Odegaard, Mikel Merino, Willian Jose and Alexander Isak.

They're hungry and, to paraphrase Eagles lineman Jason Kelce, "hungry dogs run faster."

De Ligt in the headlines as Juve win Turin derby

It's becoming a weekly thing. Matthijs de Ligt is a big boy with big arms and, as such, he seems to have a penchant for getting his limbs in the way of shots. It happened for a fifth time in the derby against Torino. Unlike some of the previous calls, the referee was correct not to award a penalty partly because his arm was closer to his body and partly because there was a deflection immediately before.

De Ligt earned his bacon at the attacking end, scoring in a tight 1-0 derby win against an uncompromising opponent. Cristiano Ronaldo was quiet, Juve were patchy and this felt like the sort of victory they would often get under Max Allegri. There's nothing wrong with that, as long as it doesn't become a habit.

What is Emery doing at Arsenal?

Every week that passes, you understand Unai Emery less and less. Against Wolves at home, he gave Mesut Ozil his first league start since mid-September and the German played 90 minutes for the first time in nearly six months. It finished 1-1 and while Emery talked about how the game was "equal" and Arsenal didn't concede much, the numbers say otherwise: they were out-shot 24-10 and the xG favoured Wolves by some margin.

Whether it was an olive branch for Ozil or some sort of restructuring of the side, it's tough to see how this ends. It's also counter-intuitive to add an €80m winger (Nicolas Pepe) and then have no place to play him because Ozil mandates that you line up in a midfield diamond.

Trust in Unai, but still...

Another rough weekend for Real Madrid

A scoreless home draw against Real Betis -- who had taken just four of the previous 15 points at stake and whose manager, Rubi, seemed on the verge of the sack -- is nothing to write home about and a spurned opportunity to leap to the top of La Liga for Real Madrid.

Then again, in terms of performance, there were plenty of positives. Eden Hazard continues to grow and the much-maligned (by some) Thibaut Courtois pulled off an outstanding save. There's stuff to work on -- I'm not sure about the continued insistence on Rodrygo in the front three while Luka Modric, making his second start of the season, isn't yet what he was -- but it's by no means a tragedy.

Can Leipzig really win the Bundesliga? (Answer: yes)

Leipzig put eight goals past Mainz just a few days after scoring six (away) to Wolfsburg in the German Cup. Timo Werner scored a hat-trick and set up another three goals in the process. Take it with as much salt as you like, but remind yourself that this is Julian Nagelsmann's first season in charge.

When they turn the screws and ratchet up the intensity, few teams in Europe are as relentless as Leipzig. That's the Rangnick way, though it can also be a double-edged sword over a long season. Keeping them ticking over while playing at this pace all year long will be a challenge, but also, possibly, the key to a Bundesliga title.

Berlin derby full of drama on and off the pitch

There's a rich history to the Berlin derby and a significance that goes way beyond football and into politics, culture and the madness of the cold war. So it's not surprising that the first meeting between Union and Hertha happened this weekend amid massive hype and anticipation.

The game itself was humdrum -- Union won 1-0 -- the spectacle in the stands showcased some of the best of German fan culture right now, light years from the corporate atmosphere in so many grounds elsewhere. On the flipside, it also features excesses: the game was halted when Hertha supporters fired flares on to the pitch.

Can you strike a balance or are they two sides of the same coin? I don't know, but I sure as heck hope somebody figures out how to do it.

Yuvraj Singh believes that an Indian player would have felt insecure and found no support if he had experienced the mental health issues that recently forced Glenn Maxwell to take a break from cricket. It is for this reason that Yuvraj feels the players "deserve" to form an association because Indian cricket has never listened to "player's voice".

Yuvraj is probably the first contemporary player to have voiced support for a players association. The former India allrounder who retired this June claimed players have already had to play "cricket we don't want to" and that they only did it out of the fear of being "thrown out".

"What I would like to see is a players' association coming up because I think the player's voice was never heard before," Yuvraj was quoted as saying by PTI at an event in Mumbai. "So I think a players' association that all other countries have, we should also have. We deserve it because there are a lot of times we have been asked to play cricket that we don't want to. We have to play with the pressure that if we don't play we will be thrown out."

India and Pakistan are the only two countries without a players' association for active cricketers and Yuvraj felt it was time for a change.

"That pressure has to go off the players that even if they are tired or fatigued or carrying injuries, they have to play," he said. "That support should be given to the players. We see outside India if the players are fatigued and tired mentally, like is the case with Maxwell, he has taken a break because he is feeling it. Our players can't do that because they fear they may lose their place.

"The current players need more [support]. Somebody has to stand up and give them the players association. I don't know who's going to do that, but definitely that's something I would like to see happening for the players. Every voice should be heard in players' association, not only captain or vice-captain or senior players'. Every player should be asked about their opinions."

The BCCI did recently approve the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA), meant to serve retired players (male and female). The ICA came into being at the recommendation of the RM Lodha Committee which said it cannot be or act as a trade union but can otherwise represent the interests of the players and look after their welfare.

Yuvraj is hopeful that with former India captain Sourav Ganguly recently taking charge as the BCCI president, he might be more open to the idea of a body for active cricketers. "Cricket from the administration point of view and cricketer's point of view are two different things. Someone who has been a very successful captain will run cricket from a player's point of view where cricketers' concerns can be heard. It didn't happen earlier. They [previous administrators] would make decisions and cricketers were not heard. Now he will listen to what cricketers want."

Yuvraj also said the Indian team management and the selectors needed to be more supportive of the players. Recently, India's batting coach Vikram Rathour was critical of Rishabh Pant's approach and had said the youngster needed to understand the fine line between being fearless and careless.

While Yuvraj acknowledged selectors had a tough task, he didn't shy away from saying their thinking wasn't modern enough.

"We do need better selectors, for sure. Selectors' job is not easy. Whenever they select 15 players, there will be talks that what will happen to the other 15. It's a difficult job but their thinking in terms of modern-day cricket is not up to the mark. It's my opinion. I am always in favour of protecting the players and being positive about them. By talking negatively about your players and team doesn't show you in true light. The character only shows when things are going wrong and you motivate the players. In bad times, everyone talks bad. We definitely need better selectors.

"I am talking about team management and selectors only. Everybody has to be supportive towards the players. Jeet rahe hain toh hi yeh haal hai, haar rahe hon to kya hoga? [The team is winning, and still the situation is like this; don't know what will happen if they start losing.] Here it is opposite. When you lose nobody tells you anything but when you win, people start talking. The support staff and the selectors need to be supportive of their players."

Barring a setback in practice Monday, Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young is expected to return from a right ankle sprain for Tuesday's game against San Antonio, league sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

Sources said Young plans to practice Monday for the first time since suffering the injury last Tuesday night. He was injured when he landed on the foot of Miami's Justise Winslow.

The Hawks have played just one game since then -- a loss to the Heat in the second game of a home-and-home on Halloween night.

In his second season, Young is averaging 26.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 7.3 assists.

Young, 21, was second in the Rookie of the Year voting to Dallas' Luka Doncic last season.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters has delayed her WTA Tour comeback because of a knee injury.

Clijsters, 36, says she will not be able to compete in January as she continues rehabilitation and treatment.

"It's a setback but I'm determined as ever to get back to the game I love," the Belgian mother of three said.

Clijsters, who first retired in 2007 to start a family, says she has been "inspired" by other mothers such as Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.

The former world number one returned in 2009 and won three more Grand Slams before her second retirement in 2012.

When her latest return was announced in September, Clijsters said she was targeting a return in January when the 2020 season starts but added she would remain flexible in her scheduling.

As a former world number one, Clijsters is eligible for unlimited wildcards at WTA tournaments. She will need to play three tournaments or earn 10 ranking points to re-establish a ranking.

She said not having to play a set number of tournaments a year has "made the choice a little bit easier".

Clijsters won 41 WTA titles and spent 20 weeks as world number one in her two previous spells.

Her daughter Jada was born in 2008, followed by sons Jack in 2013 and Blake in 2016.

Top titles for Todd and Adderley
By ELIZABETH BOTCHERBY – Squash Mad Correspondent

The Dunlop British Junior Championships 2019 reached a dramatic conclusion as eight of the top seeds triumphed, with Ireland’s Denis Gilevskiy making history by becoming the first Irishman to lift the Boys Under 17 title.

Champions were crowned from five English counties, with Ireland (Denis Gilevskiy) and Scotland (Georgia Adderley, GU19) landing podium finishes for the second consecutive year at one of the most prestigious tournaments on the junior circuit.

In the BU19, second seed Sam Todd (Yorks) defeated [3/4] Lewis Anderson (Warks) 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3 to capture the Don Sanderson Trophy aged just 16. Todd, who had previously claimed the BU13 twice, BU15 and BU17 titles completed the set at the first time of asking.

After Todd took the first two games, Anderson fought back resiliently to claim the third. Todd quickly responded, breezing into a 7-love lead before closing out the match 11-3 to earn his fifth BJC title.

Describing his victory, Todd said: “It feels great to have won all of the age groups and the under 19s feels the best of them all! Playing Lewis is always tricky because we’re both quite explosive and play short a lot. I just had to be patient and not attack too much.”

There was a case of déjà vu in the GU19s as [1] Georgia Adderley (Scot) defeated [3/4] Alice Green (Essex) in a repeat of last year’s final. Adderley, the World No.100, started the better of the two and was quickly up 2-0.

Green quickly replied to snatch the third 11-7 before Adderley wrapped up the victory in a physical fourth game. The match finished 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, marking a third consecutive BJC title for the Scot.

“I’m over the moon,” said a delighted Adderley. “Coming in with the pressure of number one seed is always really hard. Alice gave a really good fight today, so it was a tough one.”

In the BU17, [1] Denis Gilevskiy had to go the distance to earn his second consecutive BJC title following an epic battle against [3/4] Hassan Khalil (Warks). After losing the first game, Gilevskiy regained control to win the next two. Khalil forced a decider but Gilevskiy came from 9-7 down to prevail 7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9, becoming the first Irish champion of the BU17.

“It feels great to win a second British title,” said the Irish no.1. “The final was tough, and it came down to last ditch efforts, but I pulled through and I’m overjoyed. It’s great to put Ireland on the map.”

The GU17 was an equally close encounter. Top seed Torrie Malik (Sussex) had to fight tooth and nail against [2] Saran Nghiem (Lancs) to capture her third BJC title.

Playing in her fifth consecutive BJC final, Malik clinched a tight first game 12-10 before Nghiem replied and took the second 11-8. Malik bounced back to claim the third 11-9 before saving game point in the fourth to triumph 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10.

“It feels amazing to be British champion again,” said a tired Malik. “It was a tough game against Saran, she’s playing really well at the moment. It was a physical game, but it feels amazing to have won and hopefully there’s more to come.”

In the biggest upset of the day [5/8] Tala Abaza (Middx) overpowered GU13 top seed Charlie McCrone (Lancs) to claim her maiden British title. Abaza’s power and athleticism proved to be the difference as she triumphed in straight games 11-8, 11-9, 11-3.

Elsewhere, in the BU15 top seed Jonah Bryant (Sussex) secured his second BJC crown following a straight games victory over [2] Abd-Allah Eissa (Warks) 11-6, 11-8, 12-10. Bryant cruised through the first two games but had to fend off a resurgent Eissa who held game point in the third game.

Describing the moment he won, Bryant said: “It feels great to be champion again. I was just thinking don’t hit a stupid shot, just get it in!”

The GU15 final was a repeat of 2017’s GU13 final with [1] Asia Harris (Yorks) overcoming [2] Amelie Haworth (Hants) to lift her second BJC title. Harris lost a close first game 9-11 but, fired up by a decision that went against her, fought back to win 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8.

“It feels absolutely amazing to be British champion again,” said Harris. “Amelie is an amazing player. When she saved championship point I was thinking, I can’t last another couple of points. My legs were going, I was shaking. But as soon as I hit the drop shot [to win] I was so relieved.”

In the BU13, [1] Alexander Broadbridge (Hants) defeated [3/4] Dylan Roberts (Kent) 11-4, 11-9, 11-6 to claim his first BJC title. Broadbridge made the most of his height advantage and dominated the court to secure a convincing victory.

In a high-quality encounter, [1] Reka Kemescei (Sussex) produced a skilful performance to defeat [3/4] Harriet Broadbridge (Hants) and claim the GU11 title. Broadbridge clawed her way back from 7-1 down to 10-6 in the first game and holding game point in the second, but the first seed held on to win 11-6, 13-11, 11-4.

In the BU11, [1] Jake Johnston (Surrey) beat [2] George Griffiths (Hants) 8-11, 11-2, 11-9, 11-5 to win his maiden British title. 

Dunlop British Junior Championships 2019, University of Nottingham, England.

Final Results:

BU19:
[2] Sam Todd (Yorks) bt [3/4] Lewis Anderson (Warks) 11-4, 11-9, 6-11, 11-3

GU19:
[1] Georgia Adderley (Scot) bt. [3/4] Alice Green (Essex) 11-7, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8

BU17:
[1] Denis Gilevskiy (Ire) bt [3/4] Hassan Khalil (Warks) 7-11, 12-10, 11-8, 5-11, 11-9

GU17:
[1]Torrie Malik (Sussex) bt [2] Saran Nghiem (Lancs) 12-10, 8-11, 11-9, 12-10

BU15:
[1] Jonah Bryant (Sussex) bt [2] Abd-Allah Eissa (Warks) 11-6, 11-8, 12-10

GU15:
[1] Asia Harris (Yorks) bt [2] Amelie Haworth (Hants) 9-11, 11-9, 11-3, 11-8

BU13:
[1] Alexander Broadbridge (Hants) bt [3/4] Dylan Roberts (Kent) 11-4, 11-9, 11-6

GU13:
[5/8] Tala Abaza (Middx) bt [1] Charlie McCrone (Lancs) 11-8 11-9 11-3

BU11:
[1] Jake Johnston (Surrey) bt [2] George Griffiths (Hants) 8-11 11-2 11-9 11-5

GU11:
[1] Reka Kemescei (Sussex) bt [3/4] Harriet Broadbridge (Hants) 11-6, 13-11, 11-4 

Pictures by PETER HATTER courtesy of England Squash